To create a mind map in Microsoft PowerPoint, insert a Basic Radial SmartArt graphic, enter your main topic in the center, and add related ideas around it. For several levels of branches, choose Horizontal Hierarchy or arrange shapes and connectors yourself.
The short version
- Central topic and surrounding ideas: Choose Insert > SmartArt > Relationship > Basic Radial.
- Multiple topic levels: Use Horizontal Hierarchy for a branching tree.
- Custom placement: Build a Windows desktop map with shapes and attached connectors.
- Browser option: Insert SmartArt using an available layout or assemble shapes and lines manually.
| Method | Best fit | Main consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Radial SmartArt | A central topic with surrounding ideas | Topic levels determine placement |
| Hierarchy SmartArt | Branches with subtopics | Check the Mac gallery for the layout |
| Convert a topic list | Text already on a slide | Windows desktop workflow |
| Browser SmartArt | An arranged map in PowerPoint for the web | Choose from the available gallery |
| Browser shapes and lines | Manual topic placement online | Arrange shapes and lines yourself |
| Shapes and connectors | A freely arranged Windows desktop map | Attached connectors follow moving nodes |
| Convert SmartArt to shapes | Manual changes to an arranged map | Conversion removes the SmartArt structure |
| Digital ink | A handwritten map | Drawing controls vary by device |
| Convert ink to shapes or text | Handwritten nodes and labels | Requires eligible Microsoft 365 access on Windows or iOS |
| Presentation template | A reusable starting layout | Replace labels and modify shapes |
| Inserted picture | A map created elsewhere | Individual nodes remain inside the picture |
| Mobile camera capture | A paper or whiteboard map | Insert a photograph from your device |
Build a radial map with SmartArt
In PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 on Windows or PowerPoint 2024 for Windows, select Insert > SmartArt. In Choose a SmartArt Graphic, select Relationship > Basic Radial, then select OK. In PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 on Mac, select Insert > SmartArt > Relationship > Basic Radial.
Enter your main topic and related ideas in the Text pane. Your first Level 1 entry becomes the center of the map, while Level 2 entries become the surrounding circles.
In these desktop editions, press Enter to add another entry in the Text pane. Press Tab to move an entry down a level, or Shift + Tab to move it up. Make each idea that belongs around the central topic a Level 2 entry.
Add branches and subtopics with a hierarchy
For several levels of topics, select Insert > SmartArt > Hierarchy > Horizontal Hierarchy in PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 on Windows or PowerPoint 2024 for Windows. Select OK, then enter your topics in the Text pane. In PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 on Mac, check the Hierarchy gallery for Horizontal Hierarchy and select it if available.
Place a subtopic beneath the topic it belongs to, then press Tab to demote it. Use Enter for another entry and Shift + Tab when an entry needs to move up a level. Your topics and subtopics form a branching tree.
To start from a topic list already on a slide in these Windows editions, select the slide text or bulleted list. Open Home > Convert to SmartArt Graphic and choose a suitable graphic. Edit the topics and their hierarchy after conversion.
Create your map in PowerPoint for the web
In PowerPoint for the web, select Insert > SmartArt and choose an available layout. Type or paste your topics beside the bullets in the Text editor. Press Enter to add another item.
Choose from the layouts shown in your browser's gallery. To format the map, select SmartArt > Change Colors or choose an option under SmartArt Styles.
For a manually arranged browser map, select Insert > Shapes and choose shapes for the central topic and branches. Arrange them on the slide and add labels. Use line shapes from the same gallery to show relationships.
Arrange a custom map with shapes and connectors
In PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 on Windows or PowerPoint 2024 for Windows, select Insert > Shapes and choose a shape for your central topic. Drag on the slide to draw it, then add the topic text. Repeat for your related ideas and subtopics, placing each node where you want it.
To connect the topics, select Insert > Shapes and choose a connector under Lines. Drag from a connection point on one node to a connection point on another. Repeat for the remaining branches and subbranches.
Connectors remain attached when you move the nodes. Draw between the nodes' connection points so you can rearrange the map while keeping its relationships intact.
For several branches in succession, right-click the connector in the gallery and select Lock Drawing Mode. Draw the branches, then press Esc to finish.
Turn SmartArt into freely editable shapes
In PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 on Windows or PowerPoint 2024 for Windows, you can convert an arranged SmartArt map into individual shapes. Use this option when you want to customize the shapes and add branches manually.
Conversion removes the SmartArt structure, and Microsoft says the resulting shapes cannot be converted back into the original SmartArt graphic. Select the map, then choose SmartArt Design > Convert > Convert to Shapes. Customize the resulting shapes and add branches using the shapes and connectors workflow.
Draw a handwritten mind map
In PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 or PowerPoint 2024 on Windows and Mac, select Draw and choose a pen. Draw the central topic, branches, and handwritten labels using supported mouse, pen, or touch input. On Windows, if the Draw tab is hidden, open File > Options > Customize Ribbon and select Draw.
On Mac, press Esc when you finish drawing. On iPad, iPhone, and Android, use PowerPoint's device-specific drawing controls to create your handwritten topics and connections.
Eligible Microsoft 365 subscribers on Windows and iOS can convert selected ink into shapes or text when connected experiences are enabled. Tap the ink or select it with Lasso, then choose Draw > Ink to Shape for nodes or Draw > Ink to Text for labels. If recognition is incorrect, select More Suggestions. Conversion handles the selected elements without automatically building a complete mind-map hierarchy.
Start from a presentation template
In PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 or PowerPoint 2024 on Windows, select File > New, choose a suitable template, and select Create. On Mac, select File > New from Template, choose a template from the gallery, and select Create. Replace its topic labels and modify its shapes to build your map. In PowerPoint for the web, select File > New > Browse templates.
To browse Microsoft's catalog, open the PowerPoint templates page and select View all presentation templates. Choose a suitable starting presentation, then replace its labels and modify its shapes for your topics.
If you have a .potx template file to use in the browser, first open it in desktop PowerPoint. Select File > Save As, choose PowerPoint Presentation (.pptx), and save it. Upload the presentation to online storage, then use File > Open in PowerPoint for the web.
Insert a finished map or photograph
Save or export your completed map as an image. In PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 on Windows or PowerPoint 2024 for Windows, select Insert > Pictures > This Device. Select the image, choose Insert, and resize it on the slide. In PowerPoint for the web, select Insert > Pictures > This Device, then browse to and select the image in the dialog box that opens.
Your map's individual nodes remain part of the picture. If you want to edit topics as separate slide elements, build the map with SmartArt or manually drawn shapes.
For a paper or whiteboard map, select Insert > Pictures > Camera in Android PowerPoint and take a photograph. Tap the check mark, adjust the crop, and tap the check mark again. On iPad, select Insert > Image > Camera, take the picture, and tap Use Photo.
On iPhone, tap Camera, take the picture, and tap Use Photo. Use PowerPoint's camera insertion workflow to capture new paper or whiteboard maps following Microsoft Lens's retirement.
Fix misplaced topics and detached branches
If your radial map puts a topic in the wrong position, check its level in the Text pane. The first Level 1 entry supplies the center, so use Tab or Shift + Tab to make surrounding ideas Level 2 entries.
If a branch in your Windows desktop shapes map does not stay attached when you move a node, choose a connector under Insert > Shapes > Lines. Draw it between connection points on both nodes so it remains attached as you rearrange them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you insert SmartArt using only the keyboard?
Yes, in PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 or PowerPoint 2024 on Windows with a U.S. keyboard layout, press Alt, N, then M in sequence. Use Up Arrow or Down Arrow to select a category, then press Tab to reach the layouts. Use the arrow keys to choose a layout and press Enter to insert it.
Can you draw a mind map with a Mac trackpad?
Yes, in PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 for Mac version 16.22.19021100 or later with a built-in or connected trackpad. Select Draw and turn on Draw with Trackpad, then move the drawing window with two fingers and draw with one finger. Hold Command for precise positioning, pause at the starting point, then draw.
Can you draw a mind map during a slideshow and keep it?
Yes, you can retain slideshow drawings in current Windows and Mac desktop PowerPoint. On Windows, select Slide Show > From Beginning or From Current Slide; on Mac, select Slide Show > Play from Start or Play from Current Slide. Open the pen control, choose Pen, draw your map, then end the slideshow and select Keep. PowerPoint for the web permits slideshow drawing but cannot save those onscreen annotations.
Can Copilot create a mind map in PowerPoint?
With eligible Copilot access in PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 on Windows, Mac, or the web, you can request a slide containing your central topic, branches, and desired SmartArt layout. Open Copilot Chat using the Copilot icon at the bottom-right, enter the request, then review and correct the generated slide with PowerPoint's editing tools. You are applying Copilot's slide editing and SmartArt generation capabilities to your requested map structure. Availability depends on your subscription and organizational settings.