Key takeaways
PowerPoint offers two ways to build a flowchart: Insert a SmartArt graphic, or draw it manually from the Shapes library.
SmartArt is a fast option for simple process diagrams, but it caps how many shapes you can add and how freely you can arrange them.
The Shapes library uses standard flowchart symbols: ovals for start and end points, rectangles for process steps, and diamonds for decisions.
Turning on gridlines and smart guides keeps shapes aligned and evenly spaced as your flowchart grows.
Connectors link your shapes, but you may need to reattach them after rearranging the layout.
It’s easiest to build a flowchart in Lucidchart, then insert it into your slides with the add-in and refresh it whenever the source document changes.
Nothing loses an audience faster than a slide crammed with text. When you need to show a decision path or a multistep process, a flowchart adds clarity fast.
PowerPoint includes basic shape tools that handle simple diagrams. This guide covers how to create a flowchart in PowerPoint using SmartArt and the Shapes library. You'll also learn how to build one in Lucidchart, an intelligent diagramming solution, and insert it into your slides.
How do you make a flowchart in PowerPoint?
You can make a flowchart in PowerPoint in two ways: Insert a SmartArt graphic, or build it manually using the Shapes library. SmartArt is quicker for standard diagrams, while the Shapes library gives you more control. This section covers both methods, plus a quick grid setup that keeps everything aligned.
For many students, educators, and professionals, Microsoft PowerPoint is the go-to presentation software. It wasn't designed for diagramming, though, so a PowerPoint flowchart requires more manual effort than a purpose-built diagramming application.
If you want to skip the formatting work, see how you can create the same flowchart faster in Lucidchart later in this guide.
Optional: Set up a grid for easier alignment
A grid makes it much easier to line up shapes as your flowchart in PowerPoint grows. To turn one on:
Select the View tab and check the Gridlines box.
Customize your gridline settings by selecting View > Grid and Guides.
Enable helpful options like "Snap objects to grid" and "Display smart guides when shapes are aligned” as desired to make it easier to design your flowchart.
How do you create a flowchart with SmartArt?
SmartArt graphics are ready-made sets of shapes, so they're faster than starting from scratch but less flexible. Use them for quick, standard diagrams with a handful of steps.
1. Select a flowchart layout from the SmartArt menu
Go to Insert > SmartArt to open the list of diagram types. Choose Process to view flowchart layouts, then click one to add it to the slide.
2. Add text and shapes to your flowchart
Click the placeholder text and type. Each text box will automatically resize to fit. To add a box, select the shape closest to where you want the new one. Then, on the SmartArt Design tab, click the arrow next to “Add Shape.” Choose Add Shape After or Add Shape Before. You can also add a shape by pressing Enter in the SmartArt Text window.
Note that some layouts limit how many shapes you can add. If you need a different structure, change it from the Layouts group on the SmartArt Design tab without losing your text.
3. Customize your flowchart
Selecting a SmartArt graphic reveals two tabs at the top of the editor. Use the SmartArt Design tab to change the diagram type, apply a preset color scheme, or add shapes. Use the Format tab to adjust color, text, and fonts.
How do you build a flowchart with the PowerPoint Shapes library?
The Shapes library takes longer than SmartArt because you add each box and connector yourself, but it gives you full control over flowchart shapes and layout.
1. Add and position shapes
Go to Insert > Shapes and scroll to the Flowchart section. Hover over any shape to see its name. Select a shape, then click and drag to draw it.
Pro tip: Create one shape, then copy and paste it to maintain consistent sizing. Resize by dragging the corners, and rotate with the handle above the shape.
2. Connect shapes
Go to Insert > Shapes and choose a connector from the Lines section. Click and drag from one shape to another to link them. Connectors stay attached, but you may need to adjust them if you rearrange the layout.
3. Label shapes and lines
Select a shape and start typing to label it. To label a line, add a text box by going to Insert > Text Box. Position it near the connector.
4. Customize your flowchart
Double-click any shape or line to open the Format Shape pane, where you can edit fill color, line weight, and opacity. Drag to select multiple shapes to move, or format them together. To keep everything tidy, use the Size & Properties button on the Format Shape tab, and match your symbols to standard flowchart symbols.
How do you make a flowchart in Lucidchart?
For faster creation and more robust diagrams, you can build your flowchart in Lucidchart manually, with Lucid AI, opens in a new tab, or using a template, opens in a new tab and then bring it into PowerPoint using the Lucidchart Add-in. You'll need a free Lucidchart account to get started.
To save time and effort, use Lucid AI, opens in a new tab to create a flowchart from a prompt. To begin, click the Lucid AI button on the left side of the editor. Type in a description of the flowchart you want to create. In seconds, Lucid AI will make a diagram for you that you can then iterate on until it’s finished. You can also use voice-to-text to verbally describe your prompt rather than typing.
To create a flowchart from a template or blank document in Lucidchart, follow these steps:
1. Choose a template or start from scratch
Click the Templates icon in the left toolbar of your account, find the flowchart template you’d like, and click Use > Use template. To start with a blank canvas instead, select + > Lucidchart > Blank document. Once in the document, click the Shapes button on the left of the editor and drag and drop shapes from the Flowchart section onto your document. To connect them, hover over one of the dots on a shape's border, then click or drag to draw a line. If you’d like more shapes to work with, add more libraries anytime using the More shapes button.
2. Add text
Double-click a shape and type to label it, then adjust the font, size, and color using the top toolbar. You can also add standalone text by clicking anywhere on your document and typing. To label a line, double-click it and type.
3. Format and style your flowchart
Click the Themes icon to the left of the editor, which looks like a droplet symbol, to apply a professional theme in one click. Use the Properties bar for other formatting and styling.
Pro tip: Hold Shift to select and edit multiple objects at once.
Advanced customization features
Lucidchart includes features that go well beyond a basic PowerPoint flowchart:
Change shapes instantly by clicking any shape and selecting the Change Shape button that appears; it swaps the shape while preserving its text and connections.
Link shapes to live data from sources like Google Sheets, Excel, or CSV files, and refresh them instantly as needed for an always up-to-date visual.
Add layers to organize complex diagrams and control what's visible.
Prefer to work in a Microsoft or Google app? You can also make a flowchart in Word, opens in a new tab, in Excel, opens in a new tab, or in Google Docs, opens in a new tab with the same Lucidchart add-in.
How do you insert a Lucidchart diagram into PowerPoint?
Once you’ve created a Lucidchart diagram, you can insert it onto a PowerPoint slide in a few easy steps.
1. Install the Lucidchart Add-in
In PowerPoint, go to Home > Add-ins and search for Lucidchart. Select Add, then follow the steps to connect your Lucid account. If you need help, see our help center install article, opens in a new tab.
2. Select a diagram to add to your slide
With the Add-in open, browse your document library right inside PowerPoint and select which document you’d like to insert. When you edit the source document later, you can refresh the diagram to update the version on your slide.
Alternative: Export as an image
Prefer a flat image? Export your diagram instead:
In Lucidchart, go to File > Export.
Choose a file type, such as PNG or JPEG, and click Download.
Insert the file into PowerPoint like any other image.
Lucidchart is part of the Lucid Visual Collaboration Suite, so your diagrams stay connected across the apps your team already uses.
