Existing powerpoint files are blank when opened on my Mac, how do I get back to work?

Question

Hi everyone,

When I turned on my Macbook today, I realised that every powerpoint file I opened would show up blank with a "click to add first slide" prompt.

However, the same files open normally if I am using Powerpoint online and navigate via my OneDrive:

This is a huge problem, because I need to edit my work locally on my laptop, with intermittent internet.

Besides, if I do anything else than quitting powerpoint when the file is open empty on desktop, then I loose all the slides (they're replaced by an empty pptx file).

I've been using Powerpoint on Macbook pro 2021 (part of my 365 subscription) without issues for year.

I've just updated Powerpoint to the latest version and it didn't help.

I am running Mac OS Sequoia 15.6.1.

I really hope I can solve this asap, as I use powerpoint a lot for my work!

thanks

<PII: Moderator removed>

Answer 1

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Dear @Nicolas REMY,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A Forum!

Thank you very much for sharing the screenshots and the detailed description. I’m really sorry that this issue is affecting your work, especially when you rely on PowerPoint frequently. I understand how frustrating it must be to see all slides appear as “Click to add first slide” even though the content is still visible in PowerPoint Online.

After reviewing your symptoms, this behavior usually happens when PowerPoint for Mac cannot load the slide XML content properly. This may occur after a macOS update (including macOS Sequoia 15.6.x) where some local PowerPoint cache, rendering components, fonts, or sandbox permissions become corrupted.

Because PowerPoint Online uses the cloud rendering engine, the same files still open normally on the web which confirms the files themselves are not damaged, only the local PowerPoint app is having trouble reading them.

To help resolve this, please try the following steps:

1.Reinstall Office from Microsoft’s official website:

If you installed Microsoft PowerPoint from the Mac App Store, please uninstall it and reinstall the full version from Microsoft’s website, as it includes the complete desktop rendering engine (see steps and link below):

• Go to Applications > select Microsoft PowerPoint > choose Move to Trash.
• Download it directly from Microsoft website instead.

You can see this link for more details for it: Download, install, or reinstall Microsoft 365 or Office 2024 on a PC or Mac

2.Try opening PowerPoint in Safe Mode (optional check):

This helps determine if an add-in or extension is causing the issue. See more detailed instructions in here: Start up your Mac in safe mode

Please note that our support is limited to providing guidance based on official Microsoft documentation. Any third-party resources or references shared above are intended solely for informational or consultative purposes. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy, reliability, or continued availability of third-party content, and we recommend exercising discretion when referring to such materials. 

3.Reset PowerPoint’s permissions:

macOS updates may revoke file‑access permissions. So please kindly check: Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Files and Folders > Locate Microsoft PowerPoint > Ensure access is enabled for:

• Desktop
• Documents
• Downloads
• OneDrive folders

4.Clear PowerPoint’s Local Cache:

Please kindly follow this article: Clear the Office cache

I hope this information can help you and please feel free to update to me in comment section.

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Answer 2

I was getting the same behavior. When I opened an existing file for the first time (I think after the most recent MS365 or possibly MacOS update), I got the "click to add first slide", but if I closed the file and reopened, it opened to the content in the file that existed before. I did a little investigating and if I redownloaded a file to a new folder from an email where I first received it, it would open appropriately, while the version of that file that I had downloaded previously would first open with the blank file (but then be ok if I reopened it). So, I think that any files that are newly saved or downloaded may not be affected by this bug.

Also, I just quit powerpoint and reopened it and think maybe the issue is resolved for me (after opening about a dozen old files and not getting the issue. So, that's a first thing to try I guess.

Apple MacBook Pro running Tahoe 26.2 (25C56); O365 Powerpoint 16.105