How to Save a PowerPoint File as a Standalone Self-Contained Package

You want to share a PowerPoint presentation with someone who may not have the correct fonts, linked videos, or embedded images on their computer. When you send a standard PPTX file, the recipient sees missing fonts, broken media placeholders, or distorted layouts. PowerPoint includes a built-in feature called Package for CD that collects all linked files and fonts into a single folder or compressed package. This article explains how to create that self-contained package so your presentation looks exactly as you designed it on any Windows computer.

What the Package for CD Feature Does and What It Requires

The Package for CD feature in PowerPoint was originally designed to prepare presentations for burning to a CD-ROM. It packs the PPTX file, all linked media files such as videos and audio clips, and embedded TrueType fonts into a single destination folder. The resulting folder is fully portable. You can copy it to a USB flash drive, upload it to a cloud service, or burn it to a disc. The recipient only needs PowerPoint or the free PowerPoint Viewer to open the presentation. They do not need to install custom fonts or download separate video files.

Before you run the packaging tool, verify that all linked files are accessible from the current presentation. Linked files are items that are not embedded directly into the PPTX file. Common examples are large video files, audio clips, and Excel charts. To check which items are linked, go to File > Info. Click the View Links button in the Related Documents section. The Edit Links to Files dialog shows every linked file. If a link shows a broken path, update it before packaging.

The packaging process does not embed every font. It only packages TrueType fonts that are embedded in the presentation. OpenType and PostScript fonts are not included. To ensure your custom fonts travel with the file, embed them beforehand. Go to File > Options > Save. Under Preserve fidelity when sharing this presentation, check Embed fonts in the file. Choose Embed all characters. This option increases the file size but guarantees the font renders correctly on any PC.

Steps to Create a Self-Contained Package Using Package for CD

1. Open the presentation you want to package
   Launch PowerPoint and open the PPTX file that contains linked media and custom fonts. Make sure all linked files are present on your computer and the links are not broken. Save the presentation before proceeding.
2. Go to File > Export
   Click File on the ribbon, then click Export in the left navigation pane. The Export screen shows several options for saving your presentation in different formats.
3. Click Package for CD
   On the Export screen, click the Package for CD button. A dialog box named Package for CD opens. This dialog contains settings for naming the package, choosing what to include, and selecting the destination.
4. Name your CD or folder
   In the Name the CD field, type a descriptive name for the package. This name becomes the folder name when you copy to a folder or the volume label when you burn to a disc. Use a name like “SalesDeck_2025” so the recipient knows what is inside.
5. Click Options to configure what to include
   Click the Options button in the Package for CD dialog. The Options dialog contains three sections. Under Include these files, check the box Linked files. This ensures all videos, audio, and other linked media are copied into the package. Check the box Embedded TrueType fonts. This copies any fonts that are embedded in the presentation. Under Enhance security and privacy, leave the password fields blank unless you need to restrict editing or opening. Click OK to return to the Package for CD dialog.
6. Choose Copy to Folder
   Click the Copy to Folder button. A Browse dialog opens. Select a location on your hard drive, network drive, or USB flash drive. Click Select. A confirmation dialog asks if you want to include linked files. Click Yes.
7. Wait for the packaging process to finish
   PowerPoint copies the PPTX file, all linked media, and the embedded fonts into the destination folder. A progress bar shows the status. When the process finishes, a dialog confirms the package was created. Click OK.
8. Test the packaged presentation
   Navigate to the destination folder. Open the PPTX file inside the folder. Verify that all videos play, audio clips work, and fonts render correctly. If the presentation uses linked files that were not copied, the packaging step may have failed. Repeat the process from step 1 after fixing broken links.

Alternative Method: Copy to CD Instead of a Folder

If you have a CD or DVD burner and want to distribute the presentation on physical media, click Copy to CD instead of Copy to Folder in step 6. Insert a blank writable disc into your burner. PowerPoint burns the package directly to the disc. This method is rarely used today because most users share files digitally, but it remains available for legacy scenarios.

Common Mistakes When Packaging a PowerPoint Presentation

Linked videos or audio files are missing after packaging

This happens when the Linked files checkbox in the Options dialog was not checked. Reopen the Package for CD dialog, click Options, and verify that Linked files is checked. Also confirm that all linked files exist on your computer. If a linked file was moved or deleted, the packaging tool cannot copy it. Use File > Info > Edit Links to Files to see the full path of each linked file. Update any broken paths before packaging again.

Custom fonts do not appear correctly on the recipients computer

The font was not embedded in the PPTX file before packaging. Go to File > Options > Save. Under Preserve fidelity when sharing this presentation, check Embed fonts in the file. Select Embed all characters. Save the presentation. Then run the Package for CD process again. Note that some font licenses do not allow embedding. If a font is marked as restricted, PowerPoint will not embed it. Use a different font that permits embedding.

The package folder is too large to email

The Package for CD feature does not compress the files. If your presentation contains large videos, the folder size can exceed several gigabytes. Instead of emailing the folder, upload it to a cloud service such as OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox. Share a download link with the recipient. Alternatively, compress the folder into a ZIP file before sending.

PowerPoint says Package for CD is not available

The Package for CD feature is only available in the desktop version of PowerPoint for Windows. It is not present in PowerPoint for Mac, PowerPoint for the web, or the mobile apps. If you use one of those versions, use the alternative method: manually collect all linked files and the PPTX file into a single folder, then embed fonts using File > Options > Save.

Package for CD vs Manual File Collection

Item	Package for CD	Manual Collection
Automation	Copies linked files and fonts automatically	You must locate and copy each linked file yourself
Font handling	Copies embedded TrueType fonts	Embed fonts manually in File > Options > Save
Error prevention	Warns about broken links during packaging	No built-in verification of links
Output format	Folder or CD with an Autorun file	Any folder you create manually
Availability	PowerPoint for Windows only	All PowerPoint versions

Use Package for CD when you have the Windows desktop version and need a one-click solution. Use manual collection when you work on Mac, web, or mobile, or when you need full control over which files are included.

The Package for CD feature in PowerPoint for Windows gives you a reliable way to share presentations that include linked media and custom fonts. You now know how to open the Export screen, configure the Options dialog to include linked files and embedded fonts, and copy the package to a folder or disc. For a more portable solution, compress the resulting folder into a ZIP archive before sharing. As an advanced tip, you can use the Package for CD dialog to add multiple presentations to the same package by clicking the Add button, which lets you bundle several related PPTX files into one self-contained folder.