PowerPoint Template Distribution Overview

There are three main methods for distributing PowerPoint templates within an organization via Microsoft 365. Each method has its own advantages and use cases. Below is an overview of the common methods, including explanations, pros and cons, and a comparison table.

1. Organization Assets Library (OAL) via SharePoint

What is it?
A central SharePoint document library registered as an Office Template Library. Templates in this library automatically appear in PowerPoint, Word, and Excel under the 'Company' or 'Organization' tab.

Advantages:

• Templates are directly available in Office apps (desktop and web).
• Centralized management via SharePoint.
• Also supports images and logos as organization assets.

Use when:

• You want centralized, managed distribution of templates.
• Users shouldn’t have to download or open templates via links.

2. Distribution via OneDrive or SharePoint without OAL

What is it?
You share a folder with PowerPoint templates via a shared OneDrive folder or SharePoint site without registering it as an official OAL.

Advantages:

• Quick implementation, no PowerShell required.
• Users can download and save templates locally.

Disadvantages:

• Templates don’t appear automatically in PowerPoint.
• Users must open or copy them manually.

Use when:

• You need a temporary solution.
• You don’t have access to SharePoint PowerShell or admin rights.

3. Distribution via Intune or Group Policy (GPO)

What is it?
You use Microsoft Intune or Group Policy to distribute templates locally to users’ machines, for example to the folder:
C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates

Advantages:

• Templates are available locally, even offline.
• Full control over versioning and distribution.

Disadvantages:

• Requires endpoint management (Intune or GPO).
• Less suitable for hybrid or BYOD environments.

Use when:

• Your organization uses Intune or Active Directory.
• You want full control over template versions.

Bonus: Using Custom PowerPoint Starter Files (.POTX)

You can also create .POTX files and store them on a shared network drive, add them to an intranet portal, or distribute via email or Teams. However, this is more manual and less scalable.

Comparison Table