Speaker notes are a lifesaver during a presentation, but only if you can actually see them. Printing them gives you a paper backup for rehearsal, a reference at the podium, or a study handout for your audience. This guide shows exactly how to print notes in PowerPoint on Windows, Mac, and the web, and how to save them as a PDF.
What Are Notes Pages?
PowerPoint has a dedicated layout called Notes Pages. Each printed page shows a thumbnail of the slide at the top and your typed speaker notes underneath. That is different from the default "Full Page Slides" option, which prints only the slide with no notes. To print your notes, you simply switch the print layout to Notes Pages.
How to Print Notes in PowerPoint on Windows
- Open your presentation and choose File, then Print (or press Ctrl+P).
- Under Settings, click the layout dropdown that says Full Page Slides.
- In the Print Layout section, choose Notes Pages.
- Pick your printer, page range, and orientation. Portrait works best for dense notes.
- Click Print.
How to Print Notes in PowerPoint on Mac
- Open the presentation and choose File, then Print (or press Command+P).
- If the dialog is collapsed, click Show Details.
- Find the Layout (or "Print What") dropdown and select Notes.
- Set your printer and page range, then click Print.
How to Save Notes as a PDF
Prefer a digital copy? You can save your notes pages as a PDF instead of printing them on paper.
- Windows: Follow the Windows steps above, but choose Microsoft Print to PDF as the printer, then click Print and pick where to save the file.
- Mac: In the Print dialog, open the PDF dropdown in the bottom-left corner and choose Save as PDF.
This gives you a PDF with each slide and its notes on one page, which is easy to share or read on any device.
How to Print Notes in Google Slides
If your presentation lives in Google Slides, the option has a slightly different name.
- Open the presentation and choose File, then Print preview.
- In the toolbar, open the layout dropdown (it usually says "1 slide without notes").
- Select 1 slide with notes.
- Click Print, or choose Save as PDF as the destination.
Customize How Notes Look (Notes Master)
Want bigger note text or a different layout? In PowerPoint, go to View, then Notes Master. There you can resize the slide thumbnail, change the notes font, and adjust the placeholders. Close the master view and print as usual to apply your changes.
Troubleshooting
- Notes aren't printing: Make sure you selected Notes Pages (Windows) or Notes (Mac), not Full Page Slides.
- Notes are cut off: Switch to portrait orientation and shorten long notes, or enlarge the notes placeholder in the Notes Master.
- Text is too small: Increase the notes font in the Notes Master before printing.
- No notes appear: Confirm the notes were typed in the Notes pane (View, then Notes) rather than as text boxes on the slide.
Working With a Downloaded Deck
Downloaded a presentation and want to print its notes? First save it in an editable format. Our free SlideShare downloader can save a public presentation as a PPT, and our SlideShare to PPT tutorial walks through the process. Once it is a PowerPoint file, follow the steps above to print the notes, or turn your notes into a PDF and mark it up with one of the best PDF editor apps.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I print a PowerPoint with notes?
Open File, then Print, change the layout from Full Page Slides to Notes Pages (Windows) or Notes (Mac), then print. Each page shows the slide with its speaker notes below.
Can I print only the notes without the slide image?
PowerPoint's Notes Pages always include a slide thumbnail. To print text only, use the Outline view option, or hide the thumbnail by shrinking it in the Notes Master.
How do I save PowerPoint notes as a PDF?
Choose Notes Pages in the print dialog, then select Microsoft Print to PDF (Windows) or Save as PDF from the PDF menu (Mac).
Why can't I see the Notes Pages option?
It lives inside the print layout dropdown that defaults to Full Page Slides. Open that dropdown and look under Print Layout.
Final Thoughts
Printing your speaker notes takes just a few clicks once you know where the Notes Pages option hides. Switch the print layout, choose portrait for longer notes, and save to PDF when you want a digital copy. With your notes in hand, you will feel far more confident the next time you step up to present.