Office for Mac Issues

How to Fix PowerPoint 'Presentation Is Deleted or Inaccessible' on Mac

Algirdas Jasaitis Oct 20, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to open presentation files from the PowerPoint Recent list after a macOS update, encountering an error message instead.

Fix PowerPoint Saying Presentation Is Deleted or Inaccessible on Mac

Product: Microsoft PowerPoint
Device & OS: macOS Ventura 13.3
Scenario: Attempting to open a previously saved presentation from the Recent or Home sections in PowerPoint for Mac.
Observed behavior: PowerPoint fails to open the file and displays the error message: "This presentation is either deleted or not currently accessible" because the shortcut in the Recent list points to an outdated location.

Before you start

Verify that the presentation file has not been permanently deleted from your Mac's hard drive or cloud storage, and ensure your cloud drives (like OneDrive) are properly synced and signed in.

Solution 1Recommended

Open the Original File via Finder and Clear the Recent List

Bypass the broken shortcut in the Recent list by locating and opening the actual file directly on your Mac, then clear the outdated entry in PowerPoint.

The Recent list in PowerPoint acts as a collection of shortcuts to the previous locations of your files. If a file is moved, renamed, or if its sync path changes (which can occasionally happen after macOS updates like Ventura 13.3), the shortcut breaks. Finding the original file manually and creating a fresh shortcut will resolve this issue.

Locate the file using Spotlight

Press 'Cmd + Space' on your keyboard to open Spotlight search. Type the exact name of your presentation and press 'Return' to find its current location.

Open the file directly from Finder

Once located, double-click the .pptx file in Finder. If the file opens successfully, the presentation itself is intact and only the PowerPoint shortcut was broken.

Remove the broken shortcut

Return to the PowerPoint application. Navigate to the 'Recent' list, right-click (or Control-click) the file that was showing the error, and select 'Remove from Recent'.

Rebuild the Recent entry

Use 'File > Open' from the top menu bar in PowerPoint to browse for and open your presentation. This action will generate a new, fully functional shortcut in your Recent list.

Open the Original File via Finder and Clear the Recent List

OneDrive and SharePoint Files: If your file is stored in OneDrive, you can also bypass the broken Recent entry by using the 'Open' dialog in PowerPoint and selecting your connected 'OneDrive' location directly.

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If you frequently encounter broken links, sync issues, or missing files in Microsoft PowerPoint, consider trying WPS Office. It provides a stable, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative for viewing, editing, and managing presentations on your Mac.

1. Download and Install: Get WPS Office for Mac from the official website and install the lightweight application.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does PowerPoint say my presentation is deleted when it is not?

This happens when the 'Recent' list in PowerPoint is trying to access the file using an old file path. If the file was moved to a different folder, renamed, or if the cloud sync folder structure changed, the old shortcut breaks, prompting the 'inaccessible' error.

Can a macOS update cause my PowerPoint files to be permanently deleted?

No, a macOS update (such as macOS Ventura 13.3) does not delete your personal files. However, it can sometimes alter system folder structures or cloud storage permissions, causing previously saved shortcuts in Microsoft Office applications to fail.

How do I prevent files from becoming inaccessible in the PowerPoint Recent list?

To prevent broken shortcuts, avoid renaming or moving your presentation files using Finder while the document is still listed in your Recent tab. If you must organize your files, simply open them directly from their new Finder location the next time to automatically update the PowerPoint Recent list.

How can I completely clear the Recent list in PowerPoint for Mac?

Open PowerPoint and navigate to the 'Recent' tab. Right-click on any file in the list and choose 'Remove from Recent'. Some versions also offer a 'Clear unpinned Items' option if you right-click the list, allowing you to clean up multiple outdated shortcuts at once.

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