So you have a big presentation coming up and you want your PowerPoint slides to look great. The built in themes just aren't going to cut it. The good news is that it's quick and easy to add custom themes to PowerPoint for a unique look. 

Also, before you jump into this quick tutorial, be sure to grab a copy of our free eBook: The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations. It will help you master the presentation process, from: initial idea, through writing, design, and delivering with impact.

How to Download and Install Your PowerPoint Template Quickly

Watch this short tutorial screencast or follow the quick steps that complement this video.

1. Download a Premium PowerPoint Template 

I'm using the Simplicity theme, which is one of the professional PowerPoint templates available for purchase from GraphicRiver.

2. Extract Your Downloaded PowerPoint Template

After you've downloaded the premium PowerPoint template, you have a zip file. After extracting it, you wanna find the .THMX or the THMX files. 

At this point, make a folder where you're going to store all of your PowerPoint themes which you can put basically anywhere. 

For now, just make a folder called templates on your desktop and move the .THMX files into it. Click on the Explorer window at the top and copy the path to the folder where your templates are. 

3. Install Your Premium PowerPoint Template

Let's jump back over to PowerPoint. 

Go to the File Options menu and in the Save panel, find the box that says Default Personal Templates Location. This is the folder where PowerPoint will look for your templates.

Paste in the path to where your custom templates are stored and then press OK. 

When you create a new presentation, click on Personal and now your custom templates are showing. Click on one of the new themes to get started and it creates a new presentation. 

4. Check That It's Working Right!

If you go to the Home tab and then choose Layout, you can see that your custom PowerPoint templates are now installed and ready to be used.

More PowerPoint Tutorial and Template Resources

If you need more PowerPoint tutorials and helpful resources, follow these links: 

• Microsoft PowerPoint
  30+ Professional PowerPoint Templates: For Better Business PPT Presentations
  Sean Hodge
• Microsoft PowerPoint
  How to Create a PowerPoint Presentation From a PPT Template
  Sven Lenaerts
• Microsoft PowerPoint
  43 Effective PowerPoint Presentation Tips (To Improve Your Skills)
  Brad Smith

Learn All About How to Make Great Presentations (Free eBook)

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Discover More Presentation Options 

You can also find additional professional presentation options in our Ultimate Guide to the Best Microsoft PowerPoint Templates or browse through the thousands of Premium PowerPoint designs on GraphicRiver.