What Is a PPSX File?

PPSX files are PowerPoint slide shows that open directly to the presentation. Here's how to use one or convert one to PPTX or MP4

By
Tim Fisher
Photo of Tim Fisher, Lifewire GM and Writer
Tim Fisher
Senior Vice President & Group General Manager, Tech & Sustainability
  • Emporia State University
Tim Fisher has more than 30 years' of professional technology experience. He's been writing about tech for more than two decades and serves as the SVP and General Manager of Lifewire.
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Updated on April 7, 2023

What to Know

  • A PPSX file is a PowerPoint slide show.
  • Open one with one of Microsoft's free PowerPoint viewers.
  • Convert to PPTX, MP4, PDF, etc. with PowerPoint or another compatible editor.

This article describes what a PPSX file is and how it's different from the more common PPTX file. We'll also look at how to open a PPSX file for viewing or editing, and how to convert it to a different format that's easier to use.

What Is a PPSX File?

A file with the PPSX file extension is a Microsoft PowerPoint slide show. It serves as an update to PPS, a format used for the same purpose in MS Office versions 2007 and earlier.

These files open directly to the presentation because they're meant to be used just for presenting the slideshow. PowerPoint files that open directly into the editing mode are saved with the PPTX extension.

PPSX files in Windows that open with Microsoft PowerPoint

PPSX files use XML and ZIP to organize and compress the different parts of the file, just like Microsoft's DOCX and XLSX file formats.

How to Open a PPSX File

The absolute quickest way to view a PPSX file is to do it in your browser. This PPSX online viewer at GroupDocs works quickly and doesn't make you log in. Google Slides is another option, but you do need to log in to your Google account.

Your next best option is Microsoft's free PowerPoint Viewer program. It's helpful if you just need to view the presentation and not do any editing. Of course, PowerPoint works, too, for both viewing and editing it, as does Microsoft's free online PowerPoint tool.

If you're using a version of PowerPoint older than 2010, you can open the file only if the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack is installed.

Since presentation mode starts immediately, you can't just double-click or double-tap the file to edit it with PowerPoint. Instead, you have to open PowerPoint first and then use the menu to browse for it. Then, you can edit it just like you can PPTX files.

Other free presentation software, like WPS Office Presentation and LibreOffice Impress, can open PPSX files, too. OpenOffice Impress supports the format as well, but you may need to open the program first, and then choose the Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 XML option when looking for the file.

Although it isn't free (but there is a trial option), Ability Office is another program that supports this format.

How to Convert a PPSX File

Using one of the free viewers or editors from above lets you convert a PPSX to PPTX, PDF, SWF, GIF, and many other formats. Some of these formats may only be seen from an Export menu, not the regular Save As menu.

For example, the GroupDocs online viewer supports exporting to PDF.

PowerPoint can save a PPSX file to MP4 or WMV through the File > Export > Create a Video menu (remember, you have to open PowerPoint first, open the file there, and then access those menus). Use the File > Save As menu for several other choices.

PowerPoint Save As options
PowerPoint Save As options.

A free file converter is another way you can convert it to a different format. These are useful if you don't have any of the programs mentioned above. Zamzar and DocsPal are online converters that can save the slide show to formats like PPT, DOCX, PNG, and JPG.

For an offline option, we recommend Filestar. It runs on Windows and macOS, and can save the PPSX file to dozens of other formats.

Since the two formats are so similar, it may be as easy as changing the file extension from .PPSX to .PPTX to treat the file as a PPTX file. However, since changing the file extension doesn't actually convert the file, some programs may not recognize it as a valid presentation file.

Still Can't Open It?

If none of those programs or websites work to view, edit, or convert your file, double-check the file extension. Check that you're not confusing it with a similar file extension. Lots of files look like they're related, but the formats are actually different, and they therefore work with different software.

PPX and PPP files, for example, are documents used with non-Microsoft software. PSX is a similar looking one, but it's reserved for save files created by PlayStation video games.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How do you open a PPSX file on Android? To open a PPSX file on an Android, download the PowerPoint Android app from Google Play; download the PPT Viewer app from Google Play; or download any other PowerPoint viewer app, such as the Microsoft Office app.
  • How do you open a PPSX file on a Chromebook? There is no Microsoft Office application compatible with Google Chromebook, but if you have an online Microsoft Office account, you can log in to PowerPoint Online to open PowerPoint files.
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