To save a copy of a Keynote presentation in another format, you export it in the new format. This is useful when you need to send the presentation to people who are using different software. Any changes made to the exported presentation don’t affect the original.

Note: If the original file has a password, it applies to copies exported in PDF, PowerPoint, and Keynote ’09 formats, but you can change or remove it.

Save a copy of a Keynote presentation in another format

  1. Open the presentation, then choose File > Export To > [ file format] (from the File menu at the top of your screen).

    The File menu open with Export To selected and its submenu showing export options for PDF, PowerPoint, Movie, HTML, Images, and Keynote ’09.

  2. Specify export settings:

    • PDF: These files can be opened and sometimes edited with applications like Preview and Adobe Acrobat. Each slide appears on its own page of the PDF. Select the checkbox next to presenter notes and skipped slides if you want to print them. If you select “Print each stage of builds,” each build is printed on its own page, in the same order as they appear in the presentation. To include comments in the PDF, select the “Include comments” checkbox.

      Click the Image Quality pop-up menu, then choose an option (the higher the image quality, the larger the file size). If you added image, drawing, audio, or video descriptions for assistive technology (for example, VoiceOver), they’re automatically exported. To include accessibility tags for large tables, click Advanced Options, then choose On.

      Note: For more PDF options, click Cancel, choose File > Print, then click Show Details at the bottom of the print options.

    • PowerPoint: If the file needs to be compatible with an older version of Microsoft PowerPoint (1997-2003), click Advanced Options, then choose .ppt from the pop-up menu.

    • Movie: To export only part of the presentation, select From and enter the beginning and ending slide numbers. If you recorded a narration, you can click the Playback pop-up menu, then choose Slideshow Recording. Otherwise, your presentation is self-playing and advances to the next slide or build according to the time intervals you enter. If you have an animation that’s set to advance following a previous build or transition, it’s not affected by the time interval you enter.

      Click the Resolution pop-up menu, then choose a resolution. To set a custom resolution, click Custom at the bottom of the menu.

    • Animated GIF: The slides you select are exported as an animated GIF that you can send or post. See Create an animated GIF in Keynote on Mac.

    • Images: Choose the slides you want to export as images, and select an image format for your slides. The higher quality the image, the larger the file size.

    • HTML: Open the index.html file to open your presentation in a web browser. Animations and builds are also exported with your presentation.

    • Keynote ’09: This format can be opened by Keynote 5.0 through 5.3.

  3. If there’s a password checkbox, do one of the following:

    • Set a password: Select the “Require password to open” checkbox, then enter a password. It applies only to the exported copy.

    • Keep the original presentation password: Make sure the “Require password to open” checkbox is selected.

    • Use a different password for the exported copy: Select the “Require password to open” checkbox, click Change Password, then set a new password.

    • Export the copy without a password: Deselect the “Require password to open” checkbox.

  4. Click Next, then type a name for the presentation (without the filename extension, such as .pdf or .ppt, which is appended to the name automatically).

  5. Enter one or more tags (optional).

  6. To choose where to save the presentation, click the Where pop-up menu, choose a location, then click Export.