Convert SmartArt Graphics to Shapes in PowerPoint 2013 for Windows

You can easily convert bulleted text to SmartArt graphics, but many users want to go the other way and convert their SmartArt graphics to bulleted text, or even to individually editable shapes to manipulate further. Yes, you can convert SmartArt graphics to individual shapes, but do remember that this is a one-way process, and you lose any editability for the SmartArt graphics from that point in time. However, converting to shapes does mean that you have complete control over moving, resizing, deleting, or formatting individual shapes.

Follow these steps to convert SmartArt graphics into shapes in PowerPoint 2013 for Windows:

1. Select your existing SmartArt graphic, as shown in Figure 1, below. The SmartArt graphic variant that has been used is the Horizontal Picture List.
2. 
   Figure 1: Horizontal Picture List SmartArt with text

Backup Your Slide Before You Convert?

It's a good idea to create a backup of the slide that contains the SmartArt graphic that you want to convert to shapes. A quick way to create this backup is to select the slide within the Slides Pane, or in the Slide Sorter view. Then press the Ctrl+D keyboard shortcut to make a copy of your slide.


PowerPoint Keyboard Shortcuts

Do you want more keyboard shortcuts?

Explore our PowerPoint Keyboard Shortcuts and Sequences Ebook that is updated for all PowerPoint versions.

2. When the SmartArt graphic is selected, you'll find two contextual tabs activated on the Ribbon. These are the SmartArt Tools Design and the SmartArt Tools Format tabs, as shown highlighted in red within Figure 2, below. Activate the SmartArt Tools Design tab by clicking on it.
3. 
   Figure 2: SmartArt Tools Design tab selected

Contextual Tabs

The SmartArt Tools Design and SmartArt Tools Format tabs are contextual tabs. These tabs are special tabs in the Ribbon that are not visible all the time. They only make an appearance when you are working with a particular slide object which can be edited using special options.
3. Within the SmartArt Tools Design tab, click the Convert button to bring up a drop-down list, as shown in Figure 3, below. Within the list, select the Convert to Shapes option, as shown highlighted in red within Figure 3.
4. 
   Figure 3: Convert SmartArt to Shapes
4. Alternatively, you can right-click the SmartArt graphic to bring up the resultant contextual menu, and choose the Convert to Shapes option, as shown highlighted in red within Figure 4, below.
5. 
   Figure 4: Convert to Shapes option
5. This action will convert SmartArt graphics into a group of shapes, as shown in Figure 5, below.
6. 
   Figure 5: SmartArt graphic converted into a group of shapes
7. Now, right-click the converted SmartArt graphic to bring up a contextual menu. From this contextual menu, choose the Group | Ungroup option, as shown in Figure 6, below.
8. 
   Figure 6: Ungroup converted shapes
6. This action also ungroups all the converted SmartArt graphics into individual shapes, as shown in Figure 7, below.
7. 
   Figure 7: Converted SmartArt graphic ungrouped into individual shapes