What is the PEZ file format?
A .pez file is a zooming presentation created offline by the Prezi Desktop application (also known as Prezi Classic). The format takes its name from Prezi's signature canvas-based approach: instead of a slide deck, it uses a single canvas with multiple zoomed frames that enables non-linear navigation, zoom-in, rotation and path-based movement across the presentation.
The Prezi Desktop program provided functionalities including rotation, zooming and resizing, and the resulting .pez file could be stored locally, shared as a portable bundle, or uploaded to the Prezi.com website using a registered account.
Internally, a .pez is a renamed ZIP archive containing XML or JSON canvas-structure data, all embedded images, audio and video, and a bundled standalone viewer executable that allows offline playback without installing the full Prezi Desktop application. File sizes typically range from 5 MB to several hundred MB depending on embedded media.
Important: Prezi Classic Desktop was discontinued on June 30, 2022. Since that date, .pez files can no longer be opened or edited in any official Prezi tool - the successor platform, Prezi Next (web-based), does not import .pez files. The bundled standalone player inside the archive may still run on older operating systems but receives no updates. Users who retained .pez files are advised to extract media or convert to PDF or video using archival tools.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWA .pez is a ZIP of presentation data and typically carries no execution risk when extracted in an archive tool. One caution: the bundled standalone player inside the .pez is a platform executable (EXE/app) from Prezi Inc.; run it only if you trust the source of the .pez. Avoid downloading .pez files from untrusted third-party sites pretending to offer Prezi templates - these can bundle unwanted software. Use only .pez files you or trusted colleagues created.
Format details
in a nutshell- DesignPro Labels file - Avery DesignPro and similar label-design software has used .pez for label/design project data; unrelated to Prezi presentations.
- Archiving/compressed placeholder (various) - A handful of legacy tools used .pez as a generic compressed file extension; rare and application-specific.
Programs that open PEZ files
Windows3 apps
Prezi Desktop (Classic) - DISCONTINUED June 30, 2022
Freemium If you have a legacy installation of Prezi Classic Desktop, open the .pez from inside it. New downloads are no longer available. After June 2022, Prezi does not officially support opening .pez.
Standalone player (bundled inside the .pez)
Free Rename the .pez to .zip, extract it, find the bundled player EXE and run it to view the presentation. This works on some systems but is unsupported and may not function on all OS versions.
7-Zip (inspection and media extraction)
Open-source Right-click the .pez > 7-Zip > Open archive (or rename to .zip) to browse and extract the internal files - the canvas XML, images, audio and the bundled player. 
macOS2 apps
Prezi Desktop (Classic) - DISCONTINUED June 30, 2022
Freemium Legacy Prezi Classic Desktop on macOS could open .pez files; no longer available for new download. If still installed, use it to export before the app stops working.
The Unarchiver (inspection)
Free Rename .pez to .zip or use The Unarchiver to extract the ZIP contents for inspection and media recovery. Technical details
deep spec| Container format | ZIP archive (renamed .pez; carries standard PK magic bytes) |
| Compression | DEFLATE per ZIP entry |
| Typical file size | 5 MB - 500 MB (varies greatly with embedded images, audio and video) |
| Canvas structure | XML/JSON definition of the zooming canvas, frames, paths and transitions |
| Embedded media | Images, audio and video files bundled inside the ZIP alongside the canvas data |
| Bundled viewer | A platform-specific standalone Prezi player executable included in the ZIP for offline playback |
| Integrity check | ZIP CRC-32 per entry |
| Operating systems | Windows and macOS (Prezi Classic Desktop) |
| Format status | Discontinued - Prezi Classic Desktop end-of-life was June 30, 2022 |
| Successor | Prezi Next (web-first platform); does not import .pez files |
| Inspection method | Rename .pez to .zip and open with any archive manager to extract internal files |
| Released | circa 2010, with the Prezi Desktop (Classic) offline editing application |
| Latest version | Last version tied to Prezi Classic Desktop, discontinued June 30, 2022 |
| Specification | support.prezi.com |
PEZ conversions
Community Q&A
asked by usersNo questions yet - be the first to ask about PEZ files.
