Not all software updates feel like improvements.
Microsoft has retired PowerPoint’s long-standing Reuse Slides feature. For teams that build presentations regularly, this may seem like a small change. In practice, it can have a noticeable impact on workflow efficiency and brand consistency.
If your team used PowerPoint frequently, Reuse Slides was one of those quiet features that saved considerable time.
It allowed you to browse another presentation from within a side panel and insert only the slides you needed. You could also choose whether to retain the original formatting.
For businesses, that level of control mattered.
It helped maintain consistent branding across proposals, client reports, sales decks, and training materials. Logos, layouts, and design standards stayed aligned without rebuilding slides from scratch.
For busy teams, it reduced duplication of effort and kept presentations polished and professional.
Microsoft has stated that Reuse Slides was removed because alternative methods now achieve the same outcome. Maintaining overlapping features no longer aligns with its goal of streamlining the user experience.
From a technical standpoint, this may be logical.
From a practical standpoint, many users valued the simplicity and precision of a single, dedicated feature that worked seamlessly.
The ability to reuse slides has not disappeared. It simply requires a different approach.
You can open both presentations at the same time and drag and drop slides between them. In most cases, formatting, animations, and embedded media remain intact.
Alternatively, selecting View and then New Window opens a duplicate of your current presentation. This allows you to work on a new version while preserving the original.
These methods are effective. However, they may require minor formatting adjustments, particularly when moving slides between decks with different master layouts.
For organisations that rely heavily on PowerPoint for sales presentations, internal reporting, or client communication, even small workflow changes can compound over time.
When processes become slightly less efficient, productivity can quietly decline. Inconsistent formatting can also weaken brand presentation, especially in client-facing materials.
The key is proactive adaptation. Ensuring your team understands the new workflow prevents confusion and reduces time spent correcting avoidable issues.
Software platforms like Microsoft 365 will continue to evolve. Features will be added, refined, and occasionally removed. The difference for your business lies in how you respond.
Rather than seeing this as a setback, it can be an opportunity to strengthen structure and improve consistency.
Here is how to adapt without losing efficiency:
Standardise your core decks
Create a master presentation template for proposals, reports, and training. Store it in SharePoint or Teams so everyone works from the same approved source.
Maintain a central slide library
Build a dedicated slide library containing approved slides. This reduces reliance on scattered past presentations and improves consistency.
Train your team on the updated workflow
Run a short internal session on drag and drop between windows and using View > New Window effectively to minimise disruption.
Review your Slide Master settings
A well-structured master layout reduces formatting inconsistencies when slides are moved between decks.
Reassess your broader Microsoft 365 setup
Feature removals can reveal existing inefficiencies. This is a good moment to review how your team builds, stores, and shares presentation materials.
Change is inevitable. Productivity loss does not have to be.
At Perigon One, we help businesses navigate Microsoft updates without sacrificing efficiency.
From workflow optimisation to broader Microsoft 365 support, our focus is simple. Keep your systems aligned, your processes structured, and your team productive.
If you would like support adapting to changes like this, our team is here to help.
