Understand
Learn what a custom skill is and where it adds value to presentation work.
Copilot / Presentation productivity
Make PowerPoint work repeatable.
Custom skills give Copilot a clear, reusable playbook for common presentation tasks — from refining slide copy to preparing speaker notes.
Reusable instructionsConsistent outputsBuilt for your way of working
Use
Find and invoke an available skill from Copilot in PowerPoint.
Build
Create a focused skill with clear output and boundaries.
1. Understand
What you’ll learn
Custom skills turn a recurring presentation task into a reusable Copilot playbook.
Recognise the use case
Pick a repeatable task with a clear outcome, such as checking slide clarity or shaping speaker notes.
Use an available skill
Find a skill from Copilot, select it, or call it directly with an @mention.
Create your own
Write a focused SKILL.md file and add it through Manage skills.
Before you begin
Use a supported PowerPoint and Copilot environment where skills are enabled for your account. Control names and availability can vary by release and organisation.
Review access and feature availability with your IT or Microsoft 365 owner before relying on this workflow.
What’s a custom skill?
It’s a reusable set of instructions that gives Copilot a repeatable way to perform a specialised PowerPoint task.
2. Use
Use a skill in PowerPoint
Open Copilot, find skills, and invoke the right one.
Open Copilot
Open the Copilot pane in your presentation.
Choose skills
Select +, then select Choose skills to browse what’s available.
Invoke it
Select a skill or call it in your prompt, for example @copyedit-this-presentation.
Copilot in PowerPoint — enlarged control view
1+
2Choose skills
3@copyedit-this-presentation
The numbered callouts match the written steps. This illustration keeps the controls readable without relying on a full-window screenshot.
Quick check
How can you invoke a skill directly in Copilot?
Apply the boundary
Your skill rewrites an approved revenue figure. What should you change in its instructions?
I don’t see the controls, can’t upload, or the skill isn’t behaving as expected
Control names and availability can vary by release and organisation. Review access and feature availability with your IT or Microsoft 365 owner.
Check the SKILL.md structure, name, description, expected output, and boundaries. Keep the package simple and test it on a practice presentation.
3. Build
Build a personal skill
Each skill lives in its own folder and includes a SKILL.md instruction file.
Required structure
My skill folder→SKILL.md
---
name: copyedit-this-presentation
description: Editorial review for an existing PowerPoint presentation.
---
Use when an existing presentation needs an editorial review.
Review slide text for clarity, consistent terminology, and overly dense bullets.
Expected output: for each suggestion, provide slide number, issue, and proposed wording.
Boundaries: do not invent facts, change figures, or alter approved claims. Preserve the author’s intent.
Editing approach: suggest changes only. Do not apply edits unless the user explicitly asks.Practice exercise
Try it
Create the copyediting skill, run it on a practice presentation, and review its suggestions.
Success looks like
It identifies unclear text and inconsistent terminology without changing the intended meaning.
Manage skills — enlarged control view
1Manage skills
2Add skill
3Select or upload SKILL.md
Use these steps as a readable reference; the written instructions remain complete without an image.
Add it to PowerPoint
- Open Manage skills.
- Select Add skill.
- Paste, upload, or add the skill from the designated OneDrive Skills folder.
- Enable it when you’re ready to use it.
Before you upload
- Use a clear, action-oriented name.
- Describe when the skill should be used.
- Specify the expected output and boundaries.
- Keep the package simple: PNGs, PDFs, and nested ZIP folders aren’t supported for skill ZIP uploads.
Check
Flip the cards
What is a custom skill?
Reusable instructions that keep Copilot consistent.
When should I use one?
For repeated presentation tasks that need the same approach every time.
What must a skill define?
When to use it, the expected output, and clear boundaries.