---
title: ".ppt file — what it is and how to open it"
description: "A .ppt file is a PowerPoint Presentation (legacy binary). The pre-2007 PowerPoint format. How to open one on Windows, macOS and Linux, and what to convert it to."
url: https://atoneplace.net/file/ppt/
site: "At One Place"
---

# .ppt files

**.ppt file: PowerPoint Presentation (legacy binary)**

The pre-2007 PowerPoint format.

## What opens a .ppt file

- **Windows:** Microsoft PowerPoint, LibreOffice Impress, WPS Office
- **macOS:** Microsoft PowerPoint, Keynote (built in), LibreOffice Impress
- **Linux:** LibreOffice Impress, OnlyOffice
- **In a browser:** Google Slides, PowerPoint for the web

## What a .ppt file is

PPT is the binary presentation format from PowerPoint 97 through 2003. Current PowerPoint still opens it and offers to upgrade the file, and LibreOffice Impress and Google Slides read it as well. As with the other legacy Office formats, it can carry macros and is treated with suspicion by mail filters, so converting once to PPTX is worth doing.

## Converting it

A .ppt file is commonly converted to .pptx, .pdf, .odp or .jpg. It is a binary format, so a text editor will show unreadable characters rather than its contents.

## Details

- **Extension:** .ppt
- **Full name:** PowerPoint Presentation (legacy binary)
- **Category:** Documents
- **MIME type:** application/vnd.ms-powerpoint
- **Created by:** Microsoft
- **Format:** Binary

## Common questions

### How do I open a .ppt file?

On Windows use Microsoft PowerPoint; on macOS use Microsoft PowerPoint; on Linux use LibreOffice Impress. The pre-2007 PowerPoint format.

### What is a .ppt file?

PowerPoint Presentation (legacy binary). PPT is the binary presentation format from PowerPoint 97 through 2003. Current PowerPoint still opens it and offers to upgrade the file, and LibreOffice Impress and Google Slides read it as well.

### Can I convert a .ppt file?

Yes. It is usually converted to .pptx, .pdf, .odp or .jpg, either by exporting from one of the programs listed above or with a format converter.

## Related pages

- [.pdf — Portable Document Format](https://atoneplace.net/file/pdf/)
- [.docx — Word Document (Open XML)](https://atoneplace.net/file/docx/)
- [.xlsx — Excel Workbook (Open XML)](https://atoneplace.net/file/xlsx/)
- [.pptx — PowerPoint Presentation (Open XML)](https://atoneplace.net/file/pptx/)
- [.txt — Plain Text File](https://atoneplace.net/file/txt/)
- [.doc — Word Document (legacy binary)](https://atoneplace.net/file/doc/)
- [.xls — Excel Workbook (legacy binary)](https://atoneplace.net/file/xls/)
- [.md — Markdown Document](https://atoneplace.net/file/md/)
- [.rtf — Rich Text Format](https://atoneplace.net/file/rtf/)
- [.pages — Apple Pages Document](https://atoneplace.net/file/pages/)
- [.odt — OpenDocument Text](https://atoneplace.net/file/odt/)
- [.eml — Email Message](https://atoneplace.net/file/eml/)

## Sources

- Media Types Registry — IANA (https://www.iana.org/assignments/media-types/)
- Official vendor product documentation — At One Place (/about/)