MC1492156 - Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows: Smarter Keep Source Formatting slide pasting experience

Microsoft 365 Message Center announcement MC1492156.

MS Message Center's Summary

Microsoft is updating PowerPoint for Windows to import only necessary slide masters and layouts when users paste content using Keep Source Formatting. This change helps reduce file bloat and improves co authoring performance. The rollout runs through October 2026. Administrators should inform help desk staff about the new paste behaviour and the available fallback setting for users who prefer the legacy import method.

Administrator impact
No direct administrator action is required.
End user impact
Pasted slides will bring in fewer background design elements, resulting in smaller file sizes and faster opening times.
Importance
2/10: This is a minor productivity enhancement with an available user setting to revert the behaviour if needed.

Microsoft Summary

PowerPoint for Windows now imports only necessary slide masters and layouts when pasting slides with Keep Source Formatting, reducing file size and improving performance. Users can revert to the old behavior via a setting. Rollout began September 2026, completing by October 2026. No action required.

Message Center ID
MC1492156
Category
stay Informed
Severity
normal
Services
Microsoft 365 apps
Tags
Feature update, User impact
Published
2026-10-08
Last updated
2026-10-08
Expires
2026-12-04

[What and why] We're improving the PowerPoint Keep Source Formatting paste experience. When users paste slides using Keep Source Formatting, PowerPoint will now import only the slide masters and layouts required for the pasted slides instead of importing all slide masters and layouts from the source presentation. This change helps reduce presentation file size, improve performance when opening large presentations, and enhance collaboration experiences such as co-authoring by minimizing unnecessary design content in presentations. Users who prefer the previous behavior can continue using it through a setting that allows them to choose their preferred slide paste experience. [Rollout schedule] General Availability (Worldwide): Rollout began in late September 2026 and is expected to complete by late October 2026. [Impact on your organization] Who is affected Users of Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows who paste slides using the Keep Source Formatting option. Platforms and services Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows What will happen When users paste slides with Keep Source Formatting, PowerPoint will import only the slide masters and layouts required by the pasted slides. Presentation file sizes may be reduced because unnecessary slide masters and layouts will no longer be imported by default. By minimizing unnecessary design content, smaller presentations may open faster and perform better during collaboration and co-authoring scenarios. Users who prefer the previous behavior can continue using it through a setting that allows them to bring over all slide masters and layouts from the source presentation. [Action required and recommendations] No action is required. [Compliance considerations] No compliance considerations identified. Review as appropriate for your organization.