// troubleshooting guide · google slides
Google Slides Messes Up PowerPoint Formatting
- Status
- Ongoing
- platforms:
- Web
- updated:
- November 15, 2026
- reports:
- 5
- Method
- how we research
RUNBOOK · google-slides/powerpoint-formatting-lost4 FIXES
// quick answer
Importing .pptx into Slides swaps custom fonts, drops Morph, Zoom and complex animations, and can break masters. Use standard fonts, rebuild effects and keep the original file.
Most likely fix: Switch to Google-available fonts first
How to fix it
// try these in order, the most common fix is first
FIX 1Switch to Google-available fonts first
- 01In PowerPoint replace custom fonts with standard or Google Fonts
- 02Import the file into Slides
- 03Fix any remaining text boxes by hand
Did this fix it?FIX 2Rebuild animations
- 01In Slides open Insert > Animation (Motion panel)
- 02Recreate simple Appear or Fade effects
- 03Export a Morph effect as a video or GIF and insert it
Did this fix it?FIX 3Recreate the master
- 01Open Slide > Edit theme
- 02Rebuild layouts and placeholders
- 03Reapply layouts to slides
Did this fix it?FIX 4Keep the original and compare
- 01Keep an untouched .pptx
- 02Compare the import slide by slide before presenting
- 03For PowerPoint recipients, edit the file in PowerPoint instead
Did this fix it?
Symptoms
Text overflows or changes font, animations disappear, slide masters or placeholders shift after opening a PowerPoint file in Slides (or exporting back).
Why it happens
- C-01Custom or embedded fonts are not supported
- C-02Morph, Zoom and complex animations have no Slides equivalent
- C-03Custom slide masters and theme placeholders
- C-04Embedded audio/video and some shape effects
// this guide also covers
- google slides powerpoint formatting
- powerpoint to google slides fonts changed
- google slides animations lost
- convert powerpoint to google slides without losing formatting
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