Change the Default Template or Theme in PowerPoint 2010

When launched, you will notice that PowerPoint opens with an empty presentation of just one slide. Typically, you will find placeholders for the slide's title and subtitle here. Any text you type within these placeholders shows up in black over a white slide background. This is the default look that PowerPoint provides -- but you don't have to use this default look all the time. You can change this look to something else -- for example, do you want to use your custom PowerPoint template or Theme as the default? Or even any of the other templates / Themes built within PowerPoint.

Before we show you how you can change the default template / Theme, let's explore what you get when you launch PowerPoint. You get the one slide blank presentation, as shown in Figure 1, below -- but there's more here than what meets the eye. First of all, this blank presentation also has a template / Theme -- you will find the template / Theme name mentioned on the Status Bar, as shown highlighted in red within Figure 1, below.


Figure 1: The blank presentation slide has its own secrets

Now that we know that this default blank template / Theme influences the black text on white slide look, can we change this to something else? Yes! And to do that, you need to follow any of the two alternative options. The first option creates a default template. The second option creates a default Theme. Choose the one that works for you.

Save a Default Template

Follow these steps to save your own default template in a specified location and also provide it with the right name:

1. Open a template file or a presentation based on the template you want to use as your default.
   
   
2. Click File menu to bring up Backstage view, as shown in  Figure 2. From the File menu choose the Save As option, see Figure 2 again.
   
   
   Figure 2: Save As option to be selected
   
   
3. This brings up the Save As dialog box, as shown in Figure 3.
   
   
   Figure 3: Save As dialog box
   
   
4. Within the Save As dialog box, select PowerPoint Template (*.potx) from the Save as type list, as shown highlighted in red within Figure 4.
   
   
   Figure 4: Save as type list
   
   
5. PowerPoint automatically chooses the correct folder for you when you choose to save as a template -- notice the area highlighted in blue within Figure 5, below. Can't read the folder path? Just click on the area to see the actual path (see Figure 6).
   
   Accept the folder location and provide a name to the template. Remember, the template must be named Blank.potx, as shown highlighted in red within Figure 5.
   
   
   Figure 5: Provide a file name
   
   
   Figure 6: Click to find out the path to the folder
   
   
6. Hereafter, when you choose the File | New | Blank option, or even just launch PowerPoint -- then a presentation will be created based on the template you chose as the default blank template.
   

Save a Default Theme

Follow these steps to save a default Theme:

1. Start a new blank presentation.
   
   
2. Access the Design tab (highlighted in red within Figure 7) of the Ribbon.
   
   
   Figure 7: Design tab of the Ribbon
   
   
3. Within the Themes group, click the More button (highlighted in blue within Figure 7, above) to bring up the Themes drop-down gallery, as shown in Figure 8.
   
   
   Figure 8: Themes drop-down gallery
   
   
   Tip: Is the Theme that you want to be the default not visible here? You must then first apply your Theme to the open presentation to see it within the Themes drop-down gallery -- explore our Applying Themes in PowerPoint, Word, and Excel 2010 tutorial to learn more.
   
   
   
4. Now, right-click any of the Themes to bring up a context menu, as shown in Figure 9. Within the context menu select the Set as Default Theme option, highlighted in red within Figure 9.
   
   
   Figure 9: Set as Default Theme option
   
   
5. Behind the scenes, PowerPoint automatically chooses the correct folder and saves the active Theme within that folder. The Theme is saved as Default Theme.thmx, as shown highlighted in red within Figure 10.
   
   
   Figure 10: Default Theme file within the appropriate location
   
   
6. Hereafter, when you choose the File | New | Blank option, or even just launch PowerPoint -- then a presentation will be created based on the Theme you chose to be the default.
   
   

See Also:

Change the Default Template or Theme in PowerPoint 2013 for Windows
Change the Default Theme in PowerPoint 2011 for Mac
Change the Default Template or Theme in PowerPoint 2007 for Windows
Change the Default Template in PowerPoint 2003 for Windows