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How to rotate a PowerPoint slide?
Anybody using PowerPoint to develop their presentations can learn the skills it takes to design an eye-catching slideshow. However, very few people decide to change the direction in which the slide is rotated.
Often people don’t think twice about changing the direction of the slides from the default setting. When you open a new PowerPoint document, it is set to a landscape layout, with a width greater than the height. Knowing how to rotate a PowerPoint slide can add a bit of uniqueness others don’t often consider.
Keep in mind that when you rotate your PowerPoint slides, this change automatically resizes the text, images, tables, and other aspects of your slides. These aspects will resize to fit the new layout, but it may not look like the original Design before you rotated your slides. For this reason, you may want to keep your slides simple before the rotation or even change the rotation before you begin adding content.
Rotating your slides
By rotating the direction of your slides, you’ll be changing the layout from landscape to portrait. Altering the direction to portrait, or, in other words, rotating your PowerPoint slide 90 degrees, isn’t a formidable skill to learn.
Here are the necessary steps for rotating slide directions in PowerPoint:
- Once you have the document open, new or previously designed, you go up to the top of the screen and select the “Design” tab in the toolbar.
2. When the dropdown menu appears under Design, go down to the “Slide Orientation” option.
3. When you click on Slide Orientation, another dropdown menu will appear, and you’ll choose “Portrait.”
4. Once you select the Portrait option, in place of the landscape layout, all your slides will rotate 90 degrees.
Another way to perform this task would be to use the Slide Master in PowerPoint
- To get to Slide Master, you’ll have to first go up to the “View” tab at the top of the toolbar.
- Once under View, you’ll go down to the “Slide Master” option.
- With Slide Master open, all of your slides will appear displayed in the left panel.
- Once under Slide Master, you can click on the “Design” tab, go down to the “Slide Orientation” section once more, and choose the same “Portrait” option.
Remember, once you’ve rotated PowerPoint slides, you should go up to “File” and click “Save” to make sure your changes will be there when you close and reopen your presentation.
By the conclusion of this tutorial, you should be able to easily use your convenient toolbar and alter your slideshow’s direction. While it may just seem like a tiny, slight change to your presentation, rotating PowerPoint slides is a rare and noticeable design decision.
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Rotate or flip an object
In PowerPoint, you can rotate or flip objects like text boxes, shapes, and pictures.
Tap the object that you want to rotate.
Select the rotation handle at the top of the object, and then drag in the direction that you want.
To flip an object, select Arrange > Rotate > Flip Vertical or Flip Horizontal .
For more precise movement, select Arrange > Rotate > More Rotation Options to see menu options.
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How to Rotate a PowerPoint Slide 90 Degrees
Microsoft PowerPoint allows users to create engaging and eye-catching presentations. Individual slides make up a presentation and can be customized with text and images. The default slide orientation is landscape. Users have the option to change and rotate the slide orientation 90 degrees to portrait. This is often beneficial to appropriately display portrait orientated photos that may be embedded in the slide.
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Launch the PowerPoint presentation of choice. Double-click the document icon from your desktop. Your presentation automatically loads in PowerPoint.
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Click the "View" tab from the top menu and click "Slide Master." The individual slides of your presentation are displayed in the left-pane of the window.
Click the "Design" tab from the top menu.
Click "Slide Orientation" under the Design tab and click "Portrait."
Click "File" and then "Save" to save the new orientation of your PowerPoint presentation.
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How to Rotate PowerPoint Slide – 5 Simple and Easy Methods
- February 7, 2023
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PowerPoint is a presentation tool that helps you present information in a visual way. As such, it’s important to take into account on some of the common presentation problems that can make your slides hard to understand. Now, one of the most common issues with a PowerPoint presentation is the inability to show different slide at the same time.
Instead of showing all the slides at once, many people like to show them one by one. Fortunately, this article will help you learn how to rotate slides in a PowerPoint presentation . In this article you will discover five simple and easy methods that can help you rotate slides in any PowerPoint version.
How to Rotate PowerPoint Slides
In this section, we’re going to learn how to rotate PowerPoint slides. We will see how to rotate images, tables, and even entire presentations. There are two ways to rotate your slides. The first method is by enabling rotation in your PowerPoint settings.
The second method is by using keyboard shortcuts to rotate your slides. The first way to rotate PowerPoint slides is to use the “Settings” option. As mentioned above, to change the rotation setting, click on the “Page Setup” icon in the “PowerPoint” section of the “File” tab. Next, click on the “Settings” button in the “Page Setup” section of the “Page” tab. Once you find the “Rotation” option, you can change the rotation setting from “None” to “Portrait or Landscape”.
Using the ROTATE Menu Bar Option
The “Rotate” option in the “Menu Bar” has the same functionality as the “Rotate” option on the “Settings” tab. In other words, you can select the “Rotation” option from the “Rotate” menu to change PowerPoint’s rotation setting from “None” to “Portrait or Landscape”.
If you want to rotate your presentation from “None” to “Portrait” or “Landscape”, you can select the “Rotate” option from the “Rotate” menu. Once you select the “Rotate” option, you will find a new option to “Rotate” at the right side of the menu bar. There you can select between “None”, “90”, “180”, “270”, or “360” to rotate your slides accordingly. Note that you can also change the rotation in the menu bar by typing the “Rotate” option.
Using the ROTATE command in PowerPoint Keyboard Shortcuts
The “Rotation” option on the “Rotate” menu has the same functionality as the “Rotation” option on the “Settings” tab. However, the “Rotation” option on the “Rotate” menu is easier to navigate, as you don’t have to click on the “Settings” tab to find the option. To rotate your slides using keyboard shortcuts, simply press the “Ctrl” + “R” keys on your keyboard. Once you press the Ctrl + R keys, PowerPoint will open the “Rotation” menu. Once there, simply select the “Rotation” option to rotate your presentation accordingly.
Using a PowerPoint Template with Shifting Columns
Another method to rotate your PowerPoint presentation slides is by using a PowerPoint template. In such a way, you can shift the columns in your slides to make the information stand out more. For example, if you want to display your company’s mission in your presentation, you can simply use a PowerPoint template to shift the columns to the left side of the screen.
You can find many free PowerPoint templates online. However, if you want to find an attractive yet cost-effective template, you can try www.50shadesofgray.com, where you can find a lot of free templates.
Using a Slideshow Presentation template with Shifting Columns
Another method to rotate your PowerPoint slide is by using a slideshow presentation template. If you are planning to use a slideshow presentation template, you will never have to worry about rotating slides in your PowerPoint presentation. Yes, you heard it right. It’s because the slideshow template will automatically rotate your slides for you. To use a slideshow presentation template, simply open the template file, and then edit the template to change the slides. Once you change the slides, save your file and then open it in PowerPoint.
Now you know how to rotate PowerPoint slides. Rotating PowerPoint slides can help present your information in a visual manner. Furthermore, you can use a template to shift columns or use a slideshow to rotate your slides for better readability. These methods will help you rotate your PowerPoint slides without any problem. However, if you still face some difficulty, you can always consult PowerPoint helpdesk.
Check out our related PowerPoint courses here.
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How to Rotate Slides in PowerPoint

Microsoft PowerPoint is one of the most popular tools used for creating presentations. Whether it's for business or school, PowerPoint presentations make it easy to convey information to audiences. However, not all slides in a presentation may be oriented in the right direction. This is where the ability to rotate slides in PowerPoint comes in handy. In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about rotating slides in PowerPoint to help make your presentations more effective.
Table of Contents
Why Rotating Slides in PowerPoint is Important
Rotating slides in PowerPoint is important for several reasons. Firstly, it helps to improve the overall presentation design by making it more visually appealing. Secondly, rotating slides can help to better convey information on a slide, making it easier for your audience to understand the content. Lastly, it provides more flexibility when designing a presentation, allowing you to orient slides in whichever direction you prefer.
Another reason why rotating slides in PowerPoint is important is that it can help to break up the monotony of a presentation. By rotating slides, you can add variety to your presentation and keep your audience engaged. Additionally, rotating slides can be useful when presenting data or graphs, as it allows you to display the information in a more visually interesting way. Overall, rotating slides in PowerPoint is a simple yet effective way to enhance your presentation and make it more engaging for your audience.
Understanding Slide Orientation in PowerPoint
Before you start rotating your slides in PowerPoint, it's important to understand the different slide orientations that are available. By default, PowerPoint slides are oriented in landscape mode, which means the width of the slide is greater than the height. However, you can also orient your slides in portrait mode, which means the height of the slide is greater than the width. This can be useful for certain types of content, such as charts or diagrams that are taller than they are wide.
Another important aspect to consider when choosing slide orientation is the device or screen on which your presentation will be displayed. If your presentation will be shown on a widescreen monitor or projector, landscape orientation may be the best choice to fill the screen and provide a more immersive viewing experience. On the other hand, if your presentation will be viewed on a mobile device or tablet, portrait orientation may be more suitable to optimize the available screen space.
Different Rotation Options Available in PowerPoint
PowerPoint offers several options for rotating slides, each with its own benefits. The first option is to rotate a slide 90 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise. This is useful when you need to quickly adjust slide orientation without making significant changes. Another option is to flip a slide horizontally or vertically. This is useful when you need to mirror an object in your slide, such as an image or shape. Additionally, you can also rotate an object within the slide, rather than the entire slide itself.
Another rotation option available in PowerPoint is the ability to rotate an object around a specific point. This is useful when you want to create a specific effect, such as a spinning animation. To do this, select the object you want to rotate, click on the "Format" tab, and then click on the "Rotate" dropdown menu. From there, you can choose "More Rotation Options" and adjust the rotation settings as desired.
Finally, PowerPoint also offers the ability to set a custom rotation angle for an object or slide. This is useful when you need to rotate an object or slide to a specific degree, rather than using one of the preset options. To do this, select the object or slide you want to rotate, click on the "Format" tab, and then click on the "Rotate" dropdown menu. From there, you can choose "Custom Angle" and enter the desired rotation angle in degrees.
Step-by-Step Guide to Rotate Slides in PowerPoint
Rotating slides in PowerPoint is a simple process. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to rotate slides in PowerPoint:
- Select the slide you want to rotate
- Click on the "Transitions" tab in the PowerPoint ribbon
- Select "Slide Orientation"
- Select the orientation you want to apply to the slide
It's important to note that when you rotate a slide in PowerPoint, any text or images on the slide will also rotate. This can sometimes cause formatting issues, so it's a good idea to double-check your slide after rotating it to make sure everything looks the way you want it to.
How to Rotate Multiple Slides at Once in PowerPoint
If you need to rotate multiple slides in your presentation, doing it one-by-one can be time-consuming. Fortunately, PowerPoint offers a way to rotate multiple slides at once. Here's how:
- Select the slides you want to rotate
- Click on the "Slide Sorter" view in the PowerPoint ribbon
- Select the "Transitions" tab
- Select the orientation you want to apply to the selected slides
It's important to note that when you rotate multiple slides at once, the orientation will be applied to all selected slides. If you have some slides that need to remain in their original orientation, you will need to select and rotate them separately.
Additionally, if you want to rotate only a portion of a slide, such as an image or text box, you can use the rotation handle located at the top of the object. Simply click and drag the handle to rotate the object to the desired angle.
Using Keyboard Shortcuts to Rotate Slides in PowerPoint
If you want to save time when rotating slides in PowerPoint, you can use keyboard shortcuts. Here are the keyboard shortcuts for rotating slides:
- Rotate clockwise: Ctrl + Shift +
- Rotate counterclockwise: Ctrl + Shift + >
- Flip horizontally: Ctrl + H
- Flip vertically: Ctrl + V
Using keyboard shortcuts in PowerPoint can not only save you time, but it can also make your presentation look more professional. By using shortcuts, you can quickly and easily rotate or flip slides without interrupting the flow of your presentation.
It's important to note that these keyboard shortcuts may vary depending on the version of PowerPoint you are using. If you are unsure of the shortcuts for your version, you can check the help section or do a quick online search to find the correct shortcuts.
Troubleshooting Common Issues when Rotating Slides in PowerPoint
When rotating slides in PowerPoint, you may encounter certain issues such as the content becoming distorted or misaligned. To avoid such problems, try to keep your content centered on the slide and avoid applying too many rotations.
Another common issue when rotating slides in PowerPoint is the loss of image quality. This can happen when the image is rotated too many times or if the image resolution is low. To prevent this, try to use high-quality images and limit the number of rotations. Additionally, you can use the "Compress Pictures" feature in PowerPoint to reduce the file size and improve image quality.
How to Save and Share Rotated Slides in PowerPoint
Once you have rotated your slides in PowerPoint, you can save and share them just like any other presentation. To save your presentation, simply click on the "Save" button in the PowerPoint ribbon. To share your presentation, you can upload it to a cloud storage service like OneDrive and share the link with others.
It's important to note that when you rotate a slide in PowerPoint, it may affect the layout and formatting of your presentation. You may need to adjust the size and position of images and text boxes to ensure they fit properly on the rotated slide. Additionally, if you have animations or transitions in your presentation, you may need to modify them to work with the new orientation of the slide.
Another option for sharing your rotated slides is to export them as a PDF. This can be useful if you want to ensure that the formatting and layout of your presentation remains consistent, regardless of the device or software used to view it. To export your presentation as a PDF, go to the "File" menu, select "Export," and choose "PDF" as the file type.

Advanced Tips for Rotating Slides Effectively in PowerPoint
When rotating slides in PowerPoint, there are several advanced tips you can use to make your presentations more effective. Firstly, try to keep your content aligned with the slide. This will help to prevent any distortion when rotating the slide. Additionally, you can use different backgrounds and contrasting colors to make your rotated slides stand out more. Lastly, consider using animations and transitions to help guide your audience's attention to specific parts of the slide.
Another advanced tip for rotating slides in PowerPoint is to use the "morph" transition. This transition allows you to smoothly transition between two slides that have different orientations. It can be especially useful when rotating a slide from landscape to portrait or vice versa. To use the morph transition, simply duplicate the slide you want to rotate, rotate it to the desired orientation, and apply the morph transition between the two slides.
Finally, when rotating slides in PowerPoint, it's important to consider the overall flow and structure of your presentation. While rotating slides can add visual interest and variety, it's important to ensure that the rotation doesn't disrupt the flow of your presentation or confuse your audience. Use rotations sparingly and strategically, and always test your presentation to ensure that it is clear and easy to follow.
Comparing Different Methods for Rotating Slides in PowerPoint
There are several different methods for rotating slides in PowerPoint, each with its own benefits. The simplest method is to use the "Slide Orientation" option in the PowerPoint ribbon. However, if you need to rotate multiple slides at once, using the "Slide Sorter" view can be more efficient. Additionally, using keyboard shortcuts can save you time when making quick rotations.
Another method for rotating slides in PowerPoint is to use the "Rotate" option in the "Picture Format" tab. This method is particularly useful if you have images or shapes on your slide that you want to rotate. You can select the object you want to rotate, click on the "Rotate" option, and then choose the degree of rotation you want.
It's important to note that when you rotate a slide in PowerPoint, the content on the slide may become distorted or misaligned. To avoid this, you can use the "Crop" option in the "Picture Format" tab to adjust the size and position of the content on your slide after rotating it. This can help ensure that your slide looks professional and polished.
Creating Dynamic Presentations with Rotated Slides in PowerPoint
Rotating slides in PowerPoint can help to create dynamic and engaging presentations. By experimenting with different slide orientations and rotations, you can create a unique and visually appealing presentation that stands out from the rest. Remember to keep your content centered and aligned with the slide to avoid any distortion, and use animations and transitions to guide your audience's attention to specific parts of the slide.
Related Resources

How to Rotate a Slide in PowerPoint

How to Rotate a Picture in PowerPoint

How to Rotate Slide in PowerPoint

How to Rotate an Image in PowerPoint
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How to Rotate Objects in PowerPoint (4 Ways)

Rotate Shapes, Images and Other Objects in PowerPoint
by Avantix Learning Team | Updated September 18, 2023
Applies to: Microsoft ® PowerPoint ® 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 365 (Windows)
You can rotate objects in PowerPoint by dragging the rotation handle, entering an exact rotation amount or by using keyboard shortcuts. To rotate an object means to turn it around its center. Shapes, images and other objects can be rotated in Normal View or Slide Master View. In this article, we'll talk about rotating two-dimensional objects, not 3D models.
Note: Buttons and Ribbon tabs may display in a different way (with or without text) depending on your version of PowerPoint, the size of your screen and your Control Panel settings. For PowerPoint 365 users, Ribbon tabs may appear with different names. For example, the Picture Tools Format tab may appear as Picture Format and the Drawing Tools Format tab may appear as Drawing Format or Shape Format.
Recommended article: 10 Ways to Compress PowerPoint Presentations to Reduce File Size
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Rotate an object using the rotation handle
You can drag the rotation handle that appears when you select an object to rotate it.
To rotate an object using the rotation handle (circular arrow):
- Select the object by clicking it. If you are selecting a text box or placeholder, click its edge.
- Press the left mouse button and drag the rotation handle that appears in the middle above the object to the right or left. This is called free rotation. If you hold down Shift, PowerPoint will constrain the rotation to 15 degree increments.
- Release the mouse button.
Note the rotation handle that appears above a selected object:

If you rotate multiple shapes, they do not rotate as a group. Each shape rotates around its own center.
Rotate an object by 90 degrees
To rotate an object by 90 degrees:
- Click the Format tab in the Ribbon. This tab may appear as Picture Tools Format, Picture Format, Drawing Tools Format, Drawing Format, Shape Format or Graphic Format depending on the object you have selected and your version of PowerPoint.
- In the Arrange group, click Rotate. A drop-down menu appears.
- Click Rotate Right 90° or Rotate Left 90°.
Below is the Rotate drop-down menu:

Rotate an object by typing rotation values
You can also type exact rotation values to rotate an object. This is helpful if you want to rotate by specific increments such as 10, 45 or 90 degrees.
To rotate an an object by typing rotation values:
- Click More Rotation Options. The Format task pane appears.
- In the Rotation box in the task pane, enter the amount that you want to rotate the object (such as 45, 90, -45 or -90) and then press Enter. You can also click the arrows in the Rotation box to rotate the object.
The Format Shape task pane appears as follows tor a shape with 45 entered in the Rotation box:

Rotate an object using keyboard shortcuts
If you prefer, you can use keyboard shortcuts to rotate an object.
To rotate an object using keyboard shortcuts:
- Press Alt + right arrow or Alt + left arrow to rotate in 15 degree increments.
If you want to rotate a table or a SmartArt object, you'll need to copy the table or SmartArt object, paste it as a picture and then rotate the picture.
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How to Change the Background of Your PowerPoint Slides
How to Group and Ungroup in PowerPoint (with Shortcuts)
How to Use the Built-in Laser Pointer in PowerPoint (with Shortcuts)
How to Remove the Background of a Picture in PowerPoint (2 Ways)
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- February 2023 update: New Slide Libraries available to download!
- January 2023 Update: Agenda Wizard, Format Painters + More
- How to copy and paste formatting in PowerPoint
- PowerPoint How To
- What are the most popular PowerPoint shortcuts?
- Where are PPT templates stored? Finding templates in PowerPoint
- Pasting data into a PowerPoint table without source formatting?
- Consulting Toolkit
- How to create effective consulting slides using Minto Principles
- Missing the McKinsey PowerPoint Shortcuts?
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- How to add Stamps or Stickers to PowerPoint slides?
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- Top 10 PowerPoint Hacks / Shortcuts used by strategy consultants
- Create Faster
PPT Productivity PowerPoint add-in has 200+ time saving features . 'Arrange and Align Shapes' features include shortcuts to select all shapes matching a selected shape color or size, or by 12 other attributes. Also features to quickly align shapes, including aligning to first selected.
The Arrange and Align Shapes features can all be found on the Format Toolbar for PPT Productivity, for Power Tools users (including all Free trial users). The Format Toolbar for PowerPoint can be redocked to the top, bottom or either side of your screen. You can resize the Toolbar and easily toggle to show or hide features or feature groups.
PPT Productivity's features let you spend less time formatting, so you can focus on the story.
Quickly select all shapes on your PowerPoint slide that are the same color or same size as the last shape selected.
The Select by features make it easy to select objects on your PowerPoint slides to update. Easily apply a bulk color change to your PowerPoint slides by selecting a shape and using the Select Same Color Shapes feature.
Similarly, use the Select Same Size Shape feature to select all shapes on the page of the same size - useful for example to change the shape outline or fill color.
If you wish to select multiple colors (or different sizes), continue to add new shapes to the selection by holding down the Ctrl key while clicking. Then another click of Select Same Color or Select Same Size will add to the shapes selected using the shape you just selected.
All PPT Productivity features can be used via the Customizable Shortcut Keys for PowerPoint feature. You can update the shortcut keys to any preferred available combination, but to get you started we have set up the following for selecting shapes:
- Shortcut key to select same color shapes in PowerPoint: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+#
- Shortcut key to select same size shapes in PowerPoint: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Z
Select shapes matching any attribute of the selected Shape on your slide.
Looking to select all objects of same type in PowerPoint? Similar to the Select same color and size feature, this feature offers 12 additional attributes that can be selected to match on:
- Shapes: same type, height, width, or shadow attributes
- Shape colors: fill color, line color or font color
- Font: font name, size, or boldness (i.e., whether bold, not bold, or mixed)
- Text alignment: vertical or horizontal alignment
The Select Shapes by Attribute feature is very handy for updating multiple elements of your slide quickly. If you have used an incorrect shade of color for shape outlines and need to update it, if you need to make all italicized font bold font instead... This feature will save you a ton of time when you need to apply some last minute updates.
- Feature Description
- Video Shortcut Links
Align multiple shapes to left, right, top, bottom, middle (horizontally) or center (vertically) on your PowerPoint slide.
These features let you quickly access alignment buttons to align selected shapes in PowerPoint. Align objects on your PowerPoint slide in less clicks. Use the alignment features to align text boxes, shape, images or other objects. Align objects in PowerPoint relative to each other or to the position on the screen (e.g. center text box will anchor it to the horizontal center of your slide).
Default behavior for this feature is to align to the most extreme positioned shape, consistent with Microsoft's default in PowerPoint. However, you can temporarily or permanently override the default and force alignment to the first shape you select using PPT Productivity's Align to first selected feature.
If you select a single object and an align feature, it will dock to the edge of the slide's text boundary. Read more about the No Fly Zone feature and setting your text boundary
All PPT Productivity features can be used via the Customizable Shortcut Keys for PowerPoint feature. Use a PowerPoint shortcut to align objects. You can update the shortcut keys to any preferred available combination, but to get you started we created the following shortcut keys for aligning shapes in PowerPoint:
- Shortcut key to Align Objects Left Ctrl+Alt+Shift+L
- Shortcut key to Align Objects Right Ctrl+Alt+Shift+R
- Shortcut key to Align Objects Center horizontal Ctrl+Alt+Shift+E
- Shortcut key to Align Objects to Top Ctrl+Alt+Shift+T
- Shortcut key to Align Objects to Bottom Ctrl+Alt+Shift+B
- Shortcut key to Align Objects to Middle Vertical Ctrl+Alt+Shift+M
Align to the first selected shape in PowerPoint using PPT Productivity. Override default PowerPoint alignment to most extremely positioned or outermost shape.
This feature lets you override PowerPoint's default alignment to outermost shape, to align to the first selected shape.
PPT Productivity by default aligns to outermost shape (consistent with standard PowerPoint). But PPT Productivity provides a feature to change the default so that you can align to the first selected shape in PowerPoint. Override the default alignment setting temporarily or permanently.
To temporarily align to first selected shape in PowerPoint, simply Ctrl-click the required PPT Productivity alignment button and your shapes will align to the first selected shape. To make alignment to first selected shape your default setting in PowerPoint, go to PPT Productivity tab > Settings > Shape Alignment. Tick "Align to first selected shape rather than outmost shape". Ctrl-click overrides the default, so once you have updated your default setting, Ctrl-click when clicking alignment buttons will then align to outermost shape.
Alignment overrides work on all PowerPoint alignment buttons, not just PPT Productivity's buttons. For example: Home ribbon > Arrange > Align > Align left/right/etc
PPT Productivity's align features can be used to quickly align shapes in PowerPoint. Plus you can choose your default alignment point using the anchor.
The shape alignment anchor feature is a setting that lets you choose your preferred default anchor point when aligning shapes. Click the Anchor feature button on the PPT Productivity Format Toolbar and select from the dropdown list of options. You can select to align multiple shapes to:
- Outermost shape: choose to anchor alignment to the outermost shape in PowerPoint when selecting multiple shapes - for example clicking align top would align your shapes to the highest selected shape in PowerPoint
- First selected shape: choose to anchor alignment of selected shapes to the first shape selected in PowerPoint - for example clicking align left would align to the left hand side of the first selected shape on your slide
- Last selected shape: choose to anchor alignment of selected shapes to the last shape selected in PowerPoint - for example clicking align left would align to the left hand side of the last selected shape on your slide (Align to last shape selected was requested by several BCG alum. Read about other PPT Productivity features that BCG alums love )
- Slide: choose to anchor alignment of selected shapes to your PowerPoint slide - for example clicking align center horizontal would align the center of all selected shapes to the center of the slide (this option also works for single selected shapes as well as multiple shapes)
- No Fly Zone: choose to anchor to the No Fly Zone - for example clicking align left would align to the left of your No Fly Zone - perfect when you want to align diagrams with text for example (this option also works for single selected shapes as well as multiple shapes)
If you're an alum using the McKinsey aligned shortcut keys option , you can also use the McKinsey shortcut Alt + G to Align top and group.
PPT Productivity's Customizable PowerPoint Shortcuts feature can be used to quickly align shapes in PowerPoint via shortcuts.
PPT Productivity comes with pre-set extra shortcut keys for alignment in PowerPoint. You can assign additional shortcuts or change existing shortcuts. To assign shortcut keys:
- Go to PPT Productivity tab on PowerPoint ribbon > Settings > Shape Alignment, and tick "Align to first selected shape rather than outmost shape".
- Then Shift+click on each alignment button to assign your shortcut key, OR filter for commands named "FirstSelected" in the Shortcut Key Manager (PPT Productivity tab > Manage Custom Shortcut Keys).
The Align shapes in PowerPoint shortcuts align shapes relative to each other if multiple shapes are selected, or to the extreme border if only one shape is selected. You can combine the align shortcut keys with the No Fly Zone for PowerPoint feature, to align shapes to a set text boundary.
All PPT Productivity features can be used via the Customizable Shortcut Keys for PowerPoint feature. You can update the shortcut keys to any preferred available combination, but to get you started we created the following shortcut keys for aligning shapes in PowerPoint:
- PowerPoint Shortcut to Align Left: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+L
- PowerPoint Shortcut to Align Right: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+R
- PowerPoint Shortcut to Align Center horizontal: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+E
- PowerPoint Shortcut to Align Top: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+T
- PowerPoint Shortcut to Align Bottom: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+B
- PowerPoint Shortcut to Align Middle Vertical: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+M
Fix crooked lines in PowerPoint easily with these timesaving buttons.
How to make a line straight in PowerPoint? PPT Productivity's straighten horizontal line and straighten vertical line features make it easy to quickly straighten crooked lines. There are separate feature buttons for horizontal lines and vertical lines. The features will straighten single lines or groups of lines. Simply select the line(s) you need to fix and click the relevant straighten line button.
You can also use these features to straighten lines across multiple slides - simply select the slides from the thumbnail view and click either feature button.
This feature lets you quickly straighten existing lines in your presentation. Wondering how to draw a straight line in PowerPoint? When you're adding a new line to your slide hold the shift key while drawing the line, to keep it straight.
Swap the position of two objects in PowerPoint to switch location. Swap shapes in PowerPoint in a single click! Choose from Swap Position, Swap Vertically or Swap Horizontally feature buttons.
PPT Productivity add-in's PowerPoint Swap Shapes features let you quickly edit PowerPoint slides to swap the position of two selected objects, so the selected objects switch positions. The swap position in PowerPoint feature works for shapes, images and text boxes.
Wondering why there are different buttons? The impact of a swap is different if you're swapping shapes that are different sizes (refer to the video above to watch an example of each type of swap):
- Swap Position Vertical: Swaps the position of two selected objects. Anchors to the same top and bottom boundaries, retaining the same vertical gap between the shapes
- Swap Position based on centres rather than top left: Feature Enhancement released February 2023 Perfect when arranging different sizes shapes /images that are centre aligned in rows and columns (for example box tables used by McKinsey alums!) and you want to swap locations based on center points. To use this feature, press Ctrl+Click with any of the above feature buttons
All PPT Productivity features can be used via the Customizable PowerPoint Shortcuts feature. You can update Point shortcut keys to any preferred available combination and add new shortcuts. To get you started, we set up the following swap objects powerpoint shortcuts:
- PowerPoint Shortcut to swap shapes: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+S
- PowerPoint Shortcut to swap positions horizontally: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+~
- PowerPoint Shortcut to swap positions vertically: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+!
Evenly distribute shapes in PowerPoint so they each have the same spacing between them. Distribute vertically in PowerPoint or distribute horizontally in PowerPoint with these time saving features (separate feature buttons for each).
PPT Productivity exposes common formatting features to the Format Toolbar, providing one click access to save you time. Quickly arrange multiple objects or shapes that you want to make equidistant from each other.
Even spacing of shapes on your slide (particularly for repeated shapes like chevrons), make your slides look more polished. There is a feature to distribute shapes vertically and a feature to distribute shapes horizontally. The distribute vertically and horizontally features will equally distribute PowerPoint shapes, text boxes and images.
PowerPoint introduced equidistance markers from 2013, but using equidistance markers is time consuming when distributing a larger number of shapes. Distribute evenly features are in the Gaps feature group on the PPT Productivity Format Toolbar .
Combine this feature with the squeeze or expand gaps feature, to perfect your slide formatting.
PowerPoint add-in PPT Productivity lets you specify a horizontal gap or space between objects in PowerPoint, for perfect spacing.
Quickly specify the horizontal gap between one or more selected shapes or objects on your PowerPoint slide. For example set the horizontal gap between selected shapes to be 10pts or 4pts (you can enter whatever number you prefer). Perfect for making PowerPoint shape spacing exact and consistent.
The Set Horizontal Gaps feature is in the Gaps group on the Format Toolbar .
PowerPoint add-in PPT Productivity lets you set a specific vertical gap or space between objects in PowerPoint.
This feature lets you quickly specify the vertical gap between one or more selected shapes or objects on your PowerPoint slide. For example set the vertical gap between selected shapes to be 2pts or 20pts (enter whatever number you prefer). Perfect for making your spacing exact and consistent.
The Set Vertical Gaps feature is in the Gaps feature group on the Format Toolbar .
Reduce or expand the space between each of the selected shapes.
PowerPoint add-in PPT Productivity's squeeze and expand features let you quickly contract or expand spacing between selected shapes or objects on your PowerPoint slide (aka Nudging shapes together or further apart). Nudge shapes or objects closer together to make more space on your PowerPoint slide to fit in another shape. Expand the spacing between shapes to balance the empty space on the slide.
The space added or removed on each click is small, so you can incrementally adjust spacing.
Combine this feature with the distribute evenly feature to perfect your slide formatting.
Remove gaps between shapes in PowerPoint, either vertical or horizontal, so the shapes appear to be stacked on top of or beside each other.
PowerPoint add-in PPT Productivity's remove gaps features easily remove all gaps between selected shapes or objects. Shapes are repositioned so they are touching, but not overlapping. Vertically this is also known as stacked shapes, horizontally it's also called abutting shapes. The feature removes gaps, but does not change other alignments.
For example, stacking objects beside each other will not change any variations in horizontal alignment.
If you find that you need to stack shapes in PowerPoint frequently, use the PPT Productivity Customizable PowerPoint Shortcuts feature to add a shortcut key to remove gaps
Want to layout a slide with separate text boxes, but manage them as grouped into rows? PPT Productivity can help.
Group by Row is a feature that lets you group all objects on a slide, based on the rows that they are aligned to.
This makes formatting and rearrangement of the slide easier when you want a well aligned slide without using a table. Standard PowerPoint provides the option to select objects and group them.
But PPT Productivity's Group by Row feature lets you group all or selected objects on a slide based on their existing close alignment to rows.
You do not need to select each individual object.
Group by Row and Group by Column are features that were requested by our McKinsey alumni users. If you're a McKinsey alumni, read more about the many other features we think you'll love.
If you find that you need to group by row in PowerPoint frequently, use the PPT Productivity Customizable PowerPoint Shortcuts feature to add a PowerPoint shortcut for group by row
Want to quickly format a slide by grouping objects into vertical alignment? PPT Productivity's Group by Columns feature can help.
Group by Column is a feature that lets you group all objects on a slide based on the columns they are broadly aligned to. This makes formatting and rearrangement of the slide easier. Standard PowerPoint provides the option to select objects and then group them. However the Group by column feature lets you click the feature on a slide and all objects will be grouped according to their existing close alignment to columns.
If you find that you need to group by column in PowerPoint frequently, use the PPT Productivity Customizable PowerPoint Shortcuts feature to add a PowerPoint shortcut for group by column
PPT Productivity add-in for PowerPoint gives you a feature to pull a shape or object to the front or push it to the back of a set of shapes or objects on your PowerPoint slide in a single click.
In addition to offering new features in PowerPoint, PPT Productivity exposes common standard formatting features to the Format Toolbar - providing one click access to save you time.
Send to back/ bring to front buttons enable fast layering of objects on the slide.
You can also use the PPT Productivity features to send backward one position or to bring forward one position .
You can use Shortcut keys in PowerPoint to send to back or bring to front.
- Keyboard Shortcut to Send object to back using Ctrl+Shift+[
- Keyboard Shortcut to Send object to front: Ctrl+Shift+]
One click access to send a shape or object backward or pull it forward in a set of shapes or objects on your PowerPoint slide.
Send backward/ bring forward buttons enable fast layering of objects on the slide.
The send backward and bring forward shortcuts may not always appear to be working but this is because PowerPoint is sending them back or bringing them forward relative to all elements on the slide, not just the immediately surrounding elements (you can see this in the video above by watching the Selection Pane shown to the right of screen). You can turn on the Selection Pane from the PPT Productivity ribbon.
You can use Shortcut keys in PowerPoint to send backward or bring forward one position:
- PowerPoint Shortcut to Send object backward one position: Ctrl+[
- PowerPoint Shortcut to Send object forward one position: Ctrl+]
Flip shapes or rotate shapes in PowerPoint.
PPT Productivity exposes common formatting features to the Format Toolbar - providing one click access to PowerPoint features to save you time. The four flip and rotate features enable fast adjustment of shapes or objects on your slide.
Using the features on the PPT Productivity Format Toolbar you can flip shapes in PowerPoint 180 degrees. There are separate feature buttons to flip shape horizontally and to flip shape vertically. You can also rotate shapes in PowerPoint 90 degrees. There are separate feature buttons for rotating clockwise or rotating counter-clockwise
Use shortcut keys to flip shapes or rotate shapes in PowerPoint. All PPT Productivity features can be used via the Customizable Shortcut Keys for PowerPoint feature. You can update the shortcut keys to any preferred available combination, but to get you started PPT Productivity has shortcut keys in PowerPoint to flip and rotate shapes:
- Keyboard Shortcut to flip shape horizontal in PowerPoint: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+O[
- Keyboard Shortcut to flip shape vertical in PowerPoint: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+I[
- Keyboard Shortcut to rotate shape clockwise in PowerPoint: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+>[
- Keyboard Shortcut to rotate shape anticlockwise in PowerPoint: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+<
Easily Group, Ungroup and Regroup shapes or objects in PowerPoint. Single click access from the Format Toolbar.
How to group in PowerPoint? PPT Productivity exposes common PowerPoint formatting features on the Format Toolbar , providing one click access to save you time. Group shape features are in the Arrange group on the Format Toolbar.
Group, Ungroup, Regroup enable fast editing, for example when stretching or shrinking shapes in PowerPoint. If you grouped several shapes but need to ungroup them for separate editing, simply select any of the previously grouped shapes or objects on the slide and use the Regroup button to reform the group.
You can also use Shortcut keys in PowerPoint to Group, Ungroup or Regroup shapes, images or objects:
- Keyboard Shortcut to Group objects in PowerPoint: Ctrl+G
- Keyboard Shortcut to Ungroup objects in PowerPoint: Ctrl+Shift+G
- Keyboard Shortcut to Regroup objects in PowerPoint: Ctrl+Shift+J

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IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
A 90-degree turn is one-quarter of turn regardless of direction. If a person imagines himself standing looking straight ahead and then turning to face the right side or the left side, he has made a 90-degree turn.
A 90-degree angle has an internal angle equivalent to 90 degrees and forms a perfect L shape. It is also known as a right angle. Ninety-degree angles are found in both geometry and trigonometry. A small square in the angle’s corner symboliz...
The cosine (cos) of 90 degrees is zero. This value is taken from the unit circle, a commonly used device in mathematics that assigns values to the trigonometric functions of sine and cosine.
On the Design tab, in the Page Setup group, click Slide Orientation. Click Slide Orientation · Click Portrait. Select Portrait.
Once you select the Portrait option, in place of the landscape layout, all your slides will rotate 90 degrees. Another way to perform this task
How to rotate a PowerPoint slide · 1. Open the design tab · 2. Select "slide size" · 3. Choose your desired slide orientation · 4. Click on "
Training: In PowerPoint, you can rotate or flip objects like text boxes, shapes, and pictures. Watch this video to learn how.
How to Rotate a Single Slide or All Slides in Your PowerPoint Deck · To rotate a single selected object, hold down the "ALT" key while dragging the object with
Microsoft PowerPoint allows users to create engaging and eye-catching presentations. Individual slides make up a presentation and can be customized with
To rotate your slides using keyboard shortcuts, simply press the “Ctrl” + “R” keys on your keyboard. Once you press the Ctrl + R keys
PowerPoint offers several options for rotating slides, each with its own benefits. The first option is to rotate a slide 90 degrees clockwise or
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Rotate an object by 90 degrees · Select the object by clicking it. If you are selecting a text box or placeholder, click its edge. · Click the Format tab in the
Flip or rotate · Keyboard Shortcut to flip shape horizontal in PowerPoint: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+O[ · Keyboard Shortcut to flip shape vertical in