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How to switch from PowerPoint to LibreOffice Impress

LibreOffice Impress is the presentation program in LibreOffice, the free and open source office suite. It opens and saves PowerPoint .pptx presentations, works offline on Windows, macOS and Linux, and includes a presenter console for presenting on two screens. Most presentations come across unchanged; you only need to check a few effects that are exclusive to PowerPoint.

Updated: · 3 min read · How we choose the alternatives

In short

  • Opens and saves .pptx, and exports to PDF in one click.
  • Slide masters, transitions, animations, notes and a presenter console.
  • Free forever, with no ads and no account.

It’s for you if…

  • You make presentations for class, work or a thesis defence.
  • You want to work offline without a subscription.
  • You need to open the PPTX files people send you and return them in the same format.

Better pick something else if…

  • Your presentations rely on editable SmartArt, the Morph transition or VBA macros.
  • You need to edit the same presentation at the same time as others: Google Slides or ONLYOFFICE fit better.

From PowerPoint to LibreOffice Impress: equivalents

PowerPointLibreOffice Impress
RibbonClassic toolbar or tabbed view (View › User Interface › Tabbed)
Slide MasterView › Master Slide
Transitions“Slide Transition” deck in the sidebar
Animations“Animation” deck in the sidebar, with motion paths
Presenter ViewPresenter Console (with a second monitor)
Speaker notesView › Notes
SmartArtImported as grouped shapes: it looks the same but isn’t editable SmartArt
Calibri fontCarlito: same metrics, so text doesn’t shift

Step by step

  1. Download LibreOffice

    Download it for free from libreoffice.org for Windows, macOS or Linux. Impress comes included with Writer (documents) and Calc (spreadsheets).

  2. Make .pptx the default format

    Go to Tools › Options › Load/Save › General and, under “Always save as”, choose PowerPoint 2007-365 for presentations. PowerPoint users will then open them with no extra steps.

  3. If you miss the ribbon

    Go to View › User Interface and choose “Tabbed”: you get a toolbar similar to PowerPoint’s ribbon.

  4. Open your presentations and check them

    Open your .pptx files as usual and go through every slide. Look at SmartArt, embedded videos and special transitions, which is where differences show up.

  5. Rehearse with the presenter console

    Connect the second monitor or projector and press F5: your screen shows the next slide, your notes and the time. If it doesn’t appear, turn it on under Tools › Options › LibreOffice Impress › General.

  6. Bring a backup PDF

    File › Export as PDF keeps the exact look of every slide. If the computer you present on doesn’t have LibreOffice or your fonts, the PDF will look the same anywhere.

Files and formats

Opens and saves PPT, PPTX and PPSX, as well as its own ODP format, an open standard. Exports to PDF and to PNG or JPG images. If you share presentations with PowerPoint users, save as PPTX; if the presentation is just yours, ODP is the most faithful format.

What you won’t find

Tips

LibreOffice ImpressOpen Source
Go to the official site of LibreOffice ImpressSee all alternatives to PowerPoint →

Frequently asked questions

Is LibreOffice Impress compatible with PowerPoint?

Yes, it opens and saves .pptx. Ordinary presentations look the same; check SmartArt, videos and special transitions before presenting.

Does it have a presenter view like PowerPoint?

Yes. The Presenter Console shows the next slide, your notes and a timer on your screen while the audience only sees the slide.

Is it free for businesses too?

Yes. LibreOffice is free software (MPL licence) and can be used for free at home, at school and in companies.

Independent: we have no commercial relationship, sponsorship or affiliation with PowerPoint or with these alternatives, and nobody pays us to recommend them. Links go to their official websites and are not affiliate links; the site is funded only by Google AdSense ads, which don't influence the selection. Learn more.

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