Definitive Guide to the most useful PowerPoint shortcuts!

In today's fast-paced work environment, mastering PowerPoint shortcuts is crucial for creating presentations quickly and effectively. This comprehensive guide provides essential shortcuts grouped into different categories. Whether you're new to PowerPoint or looking to boost your productivity, these shortcuts will streamline your workflow, saving you time and effort.

Basic Shortcuts in PPT The Basic Shortcuts section covers fundamental keyboard shortcuts that are essential for creating and managing PowerPoint presentations efficiently. These shortcuts include actions like creating a new file, saving, printing, and closing files, as well as accessing help and performing basic tasks like spell checking and viewing slide shows.
Command Name	Keyboard Shortcut	Description
New file	Ctrl + N	Create a new PowerPoint file.
Save file	Ctrl + S	Save the current file.
Close file	Ctrl + W (or F4)	Close the current file.
Print	Ctrl + P	Print the presentation.
Save As	Alt + F, A (or F12)	Save a copy of the file with a different name or location.
Exit PowerPoint	Alt + F4	Close PowerPoint.
Open PowerPoint Help	F1	Access the PowerPoint Help menu.
View slide show	F5	Start the presentation from the beginning.
Spell check	F7	Check the spelling in the presentation.
Deleting and Copying Shortcuts in PPT The Deleting and Copying section focuses on shortcuts that streamline the process of deleting and copying content within PowerPoint. These shortcuts allow users to delete characters or words, cut, copy, and paste elements, undo and redo actions, and even create copies of text or images with a simple keyboard combination.
Command Name	Keyboard Shortcut	Description
Delete character left	Backspace	Delete the character to the left of the cursor.
Delete word left	Ctrl + Backspace	Delete the word to the left of the cursor.
Delete character right	Delete	Delete the character to the right of the cursor.
Delete word right	Ctrl + Delete	Delete the word to the right of the cursor.
Cut	Ctrl + X	Cut the selected text or image element.
Copy	Ctrl + C	Copy the selected text or image element.
Paste	Ctrl + V	Paste the contents of the clipboard.
Undo	Ctrl + Z	Undo the last action.
Redo	Ctrl + Y	Redo the previously undone action.
Create a copy	Ctrl + Drag	Create a copy of the selected text or image element.
Drawing and Formatting Shortcuts in PPT The Drawing and Formatting section highlights shortcuts that aid in drawing and formatting objects and shapes in PowerPoint. From grouping and ungrouping elements, resizing and rotating objects, to duplicating and aligning them, these shortcuts empower users to create visually appealing and well-structured slides with ease.
Command Name	Keyboard Shortcut	Description
Group	Ctrl + G	Group selected elements together as a single object.
Ungroup	Ctrl + Shift + G	Ungroup a previously grouped object into individual elements.
Regroup	Ctrl + Shift + J	Regroup previously ungrouped elements into a single object.
Resize while maintaining proportions	Shift + Resize	Resize an element while preserving its aspect ratio.
Resize or extend line along same angle	Shift + Resize (or extend line along same angle)	Resize or extend a line while maintaining its angle or direction.
Resize from center	Ctrl + Resize	Resize an element from its center.
Resize from center while maintaining proportions	Ctrl + Shift + Resize	Resize an element from its center while preserving its aspect ratio.
Rotate in 15-degree increments	Shift + Rotate tool	Rotate the selected element in 15-degree increments using the rotate tool.
Make straight segment while using curve tool	Ctrl + Click (using curve tool)	Create a straight segment while using the curve tool.
Nudge object one grid unit	Arrow Key	Move the selected object precisely one grid unit in the corresponding direction.
Nudge object one pixel	Ctrl + Arrow	Fine-tune the position of the selected object by moving it one pixel at a time.
Create multiple guides	Ctrl + Drag Guide	Duplicate an existing guide by holding Ctrl and dragging it to create additional guides.
Duplicate object	Ctrl + Drag	Duplicate the selected object.
Duplicate object and align	Ctrl + Shift + Drag	Duplicate the selected object and align it with the original.
Copy format of object	Ctrl + Shift + C	Copy the formatting attributes of the object.
Paste format on selected object(s)	Ctrl + Shift + V	Apply the copied formatting attributes to one or more selected objects.
Adding	Ctrl + Y	Quickly add a new slide to the presentation.
Moving bullets up and down	Alt + Shift + Up/Down	Change the position of a bullet point within a list.
Decreasing or increasing indent of bullet	Alt + Shift + Left/Right	Adjust the indentation of a bullet point within a list.
Text and Object Shortcuts in PPT The Text and Object Shortcuts section delves into keyboard shortcuts specifically tailored for text manipulation and object formatting. It includes shortcuts for applying formatting options such as bold, underline, and italic to selected text, as well as aligning text and objects to different positions. These shortcuts enable users to efficiently format and align their content for maximum impact.
Command Name	Keyboard Shortcut	Description
Apply bold formatting to the selected text	Ctrl + B	Quickly apply bold formatting to the selected text, making it stand out.
Apply an underline	Ctrl + U	Underline the selected text, adding emphasis.
Apply italic formatting	Ctrl + I	Apply italic formatting to the selected text, adding style or emphasis.
Apply subscript formatting	Ctrl + =	Apply subscript formatting to the selected text, useful for chemical formulas or equations.
Apply superscript formatting	Ctrl + Shift + +	Apply superscript formatting to the selected text, such as for footnotes or exponents.
Increase font size	Ctrl + Shift + >	Increase the font size of the selected text.
Decrease font size	Ctrl + Shift + <	Decrease the font size of the selected text.
Align paragraph left	Ctrl + L	Align selected paragraph to the left of the page
Align paragraph right	Ctrl + R	Align selected paragraph to the right of the page
Align paragraph center	Ctrl + E	Align selected paragraph to the center of the page
Align Left	Alt + 1	Align the selected text or object to the left.
Align Center	Alt + 2	Align the selected text or object to the center.
Align Right	Alt + 3	Align the selected text or object to the right.
Align Top	Alt + F1	Align the selected text or object to the top.
Align Vertical Center	Alt + F2	Align the selected text or object vertically to the center.
Align Bottom	Alt + F3	Align the selected text or object to the bottom.
Move through words	Ctrl + Arrow Left/Right	Move the cursor to the next word on the left/ right.
Select words	Ctrl + Shift Left/Right arrow	Select words to the left or to the right of your cursor.
Select complete line	Shift + fn + Left	Select the text of the line where your cursor is.
Move bullet point up/down	Shift + Alt + Up/Down	Move selected bullet point up or down easily.
Useful Shortcuts in PPT The Useful Shortcuts section introduces a collection of handy shortcuts that enhance productivity and streamline workflow in PowerPoint. These shortcuts cover tasks like duplicating shapes or slides, changing font properties, moving slides within a presentation, adding sections, hyperlinks, and more. By utilizing these shortcuts, users can expedite common tasks and work more efficiently.
Command Name	Keyboard Shortcut	Description
Duplicate (e.g., shape or slide)	Ctrl + D	Quickly duplicate the selected shape, slide, or other elements within PowerPoint.
Change Font	Ctrl + Shift + F	Access the font dialog box to change the font properties of the selected text or object.
Move slide up/down in position	Ctrl + Up/Down	Move the selected slide up or down in the presentation order.
Move slide up/down to last position	Ctrl + Shift + Up/Down	Move the selected slide to the first or last position in the presentation.
Open a new window of the same document	Ctrl + Shift + N	Open a new window displaying the same PowerPoint document.
Add section	Ctrl + , (comma)	Quickly add a section to your PowerPoint presentation for organizing and structuring content.
Add Hyperlink	Ctrl + K	Add a hyperlink to the selected text or object.
Paste Special	Ctrl + Alt + V	Open the Paste Special dialog box for pasting content with specific formatting options.
Working with Presentation Windows The Working with Presentation Windows section focuses on shortcuts that facilitate navigation and management of presentation windows. From minimizing and switching between windows to accessing slide sorter view and returning to normal editing mode, these shortcuts enhance the ability to organize and multitask effectively while working on PowerPoint presentations.
Command Name	Keyboard Shortcut	Description
Minimize presentation window	Alt + F5	Minimize the active presentation window.
Show slide sorter view	Alt + W, I	Switch to the slide sorter view, displaying an overview of all slides in the presentation.
Back to normal mode	Alt + W, L	Return to the normal editing mode.
Working with Slides/Presentations The Working with Slides/Presentations section highlights shortcuts that aid in creating, opening, saving, and navigating through slides and presentations. These shortcuts provide quick access to common tasks like adding new slides, finding and replacing content, and switching between slide views. They enable users to navigate, edit, and manage their presentations efficiently.
Command Name	Keyboard Shortcut	Description
New presentation	Ctrl + N	Create a new PowerPoint presentation.
Open a presentation	Ctrl + O or Ctrl + F12	Open an existing PowerPoint presentation for editing.
Save As	F12	Save the current presentation with a different name or in a different location.
Find	Ctrl + F	Open the Find dialog box to search for specific text or elements within the presentation.
Replace	Ctrl + H	Open the Replace dialog box to find and replace text or elements within the presentation.
New slide	Ctrl + M	Insert a new slide into the presentation.
Exit/Quit	Ctrl + Q or Alt + F4	Exit or quit PowerPoint.
Switch from normal to master view	Shift + Click Slide View button	Switch between normal view and master view for slide layout editing.
Move through placeholders	Tab or Option/Alt + Arrows	Navigate and select different placeholders within a slide.
Windows Shortcuts The Windows Shortcuts section introduces keyboard shortcuts that are not specific to PowerPoint but are useful in managing the overall Windows environment. These shortcuts allow users to perform actions such as showing the desktop, opening Windows Explorer, locking the computer, and switching between open items. By leveraging these shortcuts, users can improve their overall workflow and productivity in working with PowerPoint and other applications on their Windows system.
Command Name	Keyboard Shortcut	Description
Show desktop	Windows Logo + D	Minimize all windows and show the desktop.
Open Windows Explorer	Windows Logo + E	Open Windows Explorer for file management.
Lock computer	Windows Logo + L	Lock the computer and switch to the login screen.
Switch between open items	Alt + Tab	Quickly switch between open applications or windows.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You now have valuable insights into the most useful PowerPoint shortcuts that can revolutionize your presentation creation process. By leveraging these shortcuts, you'll navigate PowerPoint with ease, boost productivity, and create captivating presentations in no time. Start incorporating these shortcuts into your workflow and become a PowerPoint power user. Explore the shortcuts, impress your audience, meet deadlines, and elevate your PowerPoint skills!