POT File Extension

PowerPoint Template

File Type pot
Developer Microsoft
Popularity
4.3 (39 votes)
Application Microsoft PowerPoint
Category Data Files, Document Files
Format Binary

What is a POT file?

The POT file extension is linked to PowerPoint Template and belongs to the categories of Data Files and Document Files, which include 7165 files.

The PowerPoint Template (POT) was developed by Microsoft, which created file format and 242 programs to work with them.

POT file support extends to various operating systems, including Windows, Mac OS and Linux. To open a POT file, you can choose from 9 programs such as Microsoft PowerPoint, LibreOffice Impress and WordPerfect Office.

MIME types

application/vnd.ms-powerpoint
application/mspowerpoint

Windows

Mac OS

Linux

How to open a POT file?

If you cannot open a POT file, it is most often due to missing software. Select a program from the list according to your operating system. Then go to the official website of the program developer, download it, and install it on your device.

Thanks to their popularity, Microsoft PowerPoint, LibreOffice Impress and WordPerfect Office are often the go-to programs for managing POT files. If you need the newest version of Microsoft PowerPoint, just access the Microsoft website. From there you can download the installer compatible with all systems.

Once Microsoft PowerPoint is installed, the OS should configure it as the default tool for opening POT files.

Make Microsoft PowerPoint the default POT viewer

Change the default app to open files on Mac

Right click or use Control + Left Click on the desired POT file to access a dropdown menu of actions;
Choose "Open in Application" and click "Other";
Towards the bottom of the window, find the "Enable" menu, which is already set to the default option, "Recommended Programs";
In this menu, select "All Programs" and search for Microsoft PowerPoint. Check the box next to "Always open in app" to make it the default option.

Change a default app in Windows

Start by right-clicking on your POT file, then select the "Open with" option and choose "Choose another app" from the menu that appears;
Inside the popup window, scroll through the list of applications and specifically choose Microsoft PowerPoint as the application to associate with your POT file;
Check the "Always use this app" checkbox and click "OK".

Finding answers to POT file problems

If POT files are giving you trouble, small modifications to your software can help. Check out the troubleshooting tips below to fix these issues.

What can lead to sudden Microsoft PowerPoint crashes?

Insufficient updates for Microsoft products can cause Microsoft PowerPoint to crash. Be sure to regularly install the latest software updates.

A computer restart is often the key to solving numerous common problems. That’s why, it is recommended to restart the computer before making any changes to the software settings.

What is the recommended approach to repair a damaged POT file?

Use a recovery program to open the damaged POT file, and in the menu, click "Repair" to start the repair operation. Wait for the recovery process to finish as it will automatically restore the damaged data files.

What are the ways to check if my POT file is damaged?

Characteristics of corrupted POT data files can include:

The file encounters problems during the opening process or shows error indications;
Editing the archive in Microsoft PowerPoint is hampered by poor overall performance;
The file causes Microsoft PowerPoint or other software to hang or crash during various operations;
An unexplained increase in the size of the POT file;
Actions performed on the file result in the appearance of error notifications;

How to edit a POT file?

To modify POT files, you need to install special software that makes it possible to open and edit data files. Online POT editors are more restricted compared to software designed for PowerPoint Template.

Best POT editors 2026

According to these factors, we have compiled a list of available POT editors.

POT Editor Software	Developer	Platforms	Overall Rating
LibreOffice Impress	TDF	Windows, Mac OS, Linux	4.9 out of 5 (36 reviews)
WordPerfect Office	Corel	Windows	4.9 out of 5 (34 reviews)
OpenOffice Impress	OpenOffice	Windows, Mac OS, Linux	4.6 out of 5 (40 reviews)
Microsoft PowerPoint	Microsoft	Windows, Mac OS, Apple iOS, Android	4.4 out of 5 (40 reviews)

Convert files to and from POT

If handling a POT file is problematic, consider converting it to alternative formats such as PPTX, PPSX, PPS or other supported types.

After converting a POT file, some capabilities may be limited, but you can often convert it back to the original format.