5 Easy Ways to Get Beautiful Icons into Your PowerPoint Slides

The world goes by so fast. As humans, we need quick and easy ways to process information.

And that's precisely what icons do!

Icons provide essential instructions or descriptions through visual representation. And the cool part? This is usually done in the form of a single image.

Think about it: We all know that a circle with a diagonal line means ‘no’. We also know that a cart on a website signifies purchasing something. Oh, and don't forget the magnifying glass indicating a search bar.

Tiny as they seem, icons are an innovation for visual communication. They’re simple, they create major impact, and they make your presentation look amazing.

So, here are five methods to get icons into your PowerPoint slides:

VIDEO TUTORIAL

5 Ways To Get Icons Into Your PowerPoint Slides

Method #1: The Easy Way

This is pretty basic stuff, you guys.

While in PowerPoint, click on the icon button and a wide range of categories will load up.

Design-wise, they're 'okay' and will get the job done. But personally, I prefer mine a little 'sexier' (See methods 2 and 3)!

Anyway, once you've chosen your icon, click insert and choose the color you want for your icon. All done.

Method #2: The Intuitive Way

When I discovered this method, I was over the moon. 

Why, you ask? Because we get to create icons from emojis!

Here are the steps:

  1. Insert a text box anywhere in the slide.
  2. If you’re on Windows 10, hold the Windows key and Period key (.), and if you’re on a Mac, hold down your Command, Control and Space Bar keys.
  3. Choose an emoji.
  4. Done!

And if you’re concerned with the lack of editability, don’t be. PowerPoint’s Merge Shapes functions have you covered. Check out the video to know more!

Method #3: The Awesome Way

This is our 'go to method' when it comes to designing slides for our clients. It ensures the absolute best quality measures are in place, and leaves a lot of room for creativity.

This step involves finding SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) icon files and bringing them (and sometimes editing them) into your PowerPoint slides. It really is as easy as that.

You can find SVG icons on websites like The Noun Project, IconMonstr, and Flaticon.

But be warned: Grabbing icons from different online resources isn’t as easy as you think. In most cases, you’ll need to either attribute the designer or pay for use.

Method #4: The Manual Way

This method involves creating custom-made icons by using simply using PowerPoint shapes.

Noble? Yes.

Smart use of your time? Not at all.

Still, kudos to those who persist!

Method #5: The Lazy Way

This method’s easy, but that 'quality finish' just won’t be there.

All you have to do is find and import a PNG file into your PowerPoint slide, make the icon white and add a colored background. Voila!

What's Your Best Approach?

Always remember that each method comes with its own merits so choose the method which will meet your presentation’s requirements.

Don't be afraid to try them all, either. The undo button is one click away, so use it liberally.

And hey, don’t forget to explore PowerPoint’s functions! Keep your presentations up-to-date, and of course, sexy.

Which of the five methods do you prefer? Do you have other ways to import or create icons in PowerPoint?

Let me know in the comments below!

Yousef "Yoyo" Abu Ghaidah

Yousef "Yoyo" Abu Ghaidah

Yousef "Yoyo" Abu Ghaidah is a PowerPoint ninja that founded Slide Cow, a learning platform for all things PowerPoint, presentations and public speaking. When he's not designing slides or giving presentations, he's on another coffee run.
  • Does not seem to work on Mac Powerpoint. The option to Ungroup is grayed out after importing the EMF file to Powerpoint.

  • Yep, that’s because EMF is a Microsoft-focused file type it seems. I’m not sure how Mac users got around it, but what I keep hearing is using Adobe Illustrator is key!

  • Fantastic overview that’s really going to help me spice up my PPTs! I couldn’t agree more that icons/visuals are key to any slide deck, and I need to utilize them much more. Thanks for this!

  • That’s awesome KC! Although I will say, please do check back on this same post because we’re updating the guide for 2019!

  • Hello! I just stumbled upon your YouTube channel a few days ago. I always avoid doing the PP slides, but now, I fell in love. Thank you!

  • Very helpful! Regarding Method #3, how do you like to attribute owners of icons? In an appendix of a presentation? In a footnote of the slide? Hyperlinking the icon (not sure if this suffices as attribution)?

  • How do I add an icon, like the “chart” icon to my presentation? I don’t have the option an Icon button?

  • Hi Yousef, could you please let me know how I can connect several objects or icons (circle, lines, pentagon, etc.) to make it easy in replicating the task. Thanks

  • Hi Yousef, could you please let me know how I can connect several objects or icons (circle, lines, pentagon, etc.) to make it easy in replicating the task. Thanks
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