There are several ways to insert a PowerPoint timeline into your presentation. You can copy and paste, use SmartArt, a template, or an add-in. We'll show you how to do all four using PowerPoint 2019, 2016, 2013; PowerPoint for Microsoft 365; PowerPoint for Mac; or PowerPoint Online.
How to Make a Timeline in PowerPoint
An easy way to get a timeline into your PowerPoint presentation file is to create it in another program, copy it, and paste it into PowerPoint. Simply export the timeline from a program like Microsoft Project or Excel to a graphics format like JPG, GIF, or PNG, and then insert the timeline graphic into PowerPoint as you would insert pictures or clip art. You can also link the timeline in a manner similar to adding Excel data to Word, which will automatically update as you make changes.
PowerPoint also offers a built-in feature called SmartArt that makes adding timelines a breeze. SmartArt objects are configurable graphics that you set up in a point-and-click manner.
To use a SmartArt graphic for a timeline:
