Heyer guys, imagine this: You're in the middle of a super important PowerPoint presentation and everything is running at full speed. You're juggling slides, juggling graphics and then - bang - you suddenly have to make a change. You could now reach for the mouse, click through menus and lose precious seconds. Or you could use the cool superpower you have right under your fingertips: keyboard shortcuts! Yes, that's right, these little keyboard magic tricks not only save you time, but also make you look like a real PowerPoint ninja. So let's dive into the world of keyboard shortcuts and find out how you can take your presentations to the next level with a few simple keystrokes!
Table of contents
Frequently used keyboard shortcuts
Action
Keyboard shortcut
Create a new presentation.
CTRL+N
Add a new slide.
CTRL+M
Apply bold formatting to the selected text.
CTRL+B
Open the Font dialog box.
CTRL+T
Cut selected text, objects or slides
CTRL+X
Copy selected text, objects or slides
CTRL+C
Paste cut or copied text, objects or slides
CTRL+V
Paste a link
CTRL+K
Paste a new comment.
CTRL+ALT+M
Undo the last action
CTRL+Z
Repeat the last action
CTRL+Y
Switch to the next slide
IMAGE-AB
Switch to the previous slide
PICTURE-UP
Start the slide show
F5
Exit the slide show
ESC
Print a presentation.
CTRL+P
Save the presentation
CTRL+S
Close PowerPoint.
CTRL+Q
Working with presentations and slides
Action
Keyboard shortcut
Insert a new slide
CTRL+M
Switch to the next slide
IMAGE-AB
Switch to the previous slide
PICTURE UP
Zoom out
CTRL+MINUS SIGN (-)
Zoom in
CTRL+PLUS SIGN (+)
Complete view.
CTRL+ALT+O
Create a copy of the selected slide.
CTRL+SHIFT+D
Open a presentation.
CTRL+O
Close a presentation.
CTRL+U
Save a presentation under a different name, in a different folder or in a different file format
CTRL+SHIFT+S
Cancels a command, e.g. Save as.
ESC
Open a file last used.
CTRL+O
Copy objects and text
Action
Key combination
Cut the selected object or text
CTRL+X
Copy the selected object or text
CTRL+C
Paste the cut or copied object or text
CTRL+V
Duplicate the selected objects.
CTRL+D or CTRL+drag mouse
Office 2010 and Office 2007: Not available
Copy the formatting of the selected object or text.
CTRL+SHIFT+C
Paste the copied formatting into the selected object or text.
CTRL+SHIFT+V
Copy "Transfer animation".
ALT+SHIFT+C
Office 2010 and Office 2007: Not available
Paste "Transfer animation".
ALT+SHIFT+V
Office 2010 and Office 2007: Not available
Open the Insert content dialog box.
CTRL+ALT+V
Working in objects and text
Action
Keyboard shortcut
Move the focus to the first floating shape, e.g. an image or a text field.
CTRL+ALT+5
Select another object when an object is selected.
TAB or SHIFT+TAB until the desired object is selected
Sending an object one position backwards
CTRL+left square bracket ([)
Office 2010 and Office 2007: Not available
Sending an object one position forward
CTRL+Square bracket right (])
Office 2010 and Office 2007: Not available
Moving an object to the background
CTRL+SHIFT+left square bracket ([)
Office 2010 and Office 2007: Not available
Move an object to the foreground
CTRL+SHIFT+Square bracket right (])
Office 2010 and Office 2007: Not available
Select all objects on a slide.
CTRL+A
Group the selected objects.
CTRL+G
Ungroup the selected group.
CTRL+SHIFT+G
Regroup the selected objects.
CTRL+SHIFT+J
Rotate the selected object clockwise.
ALT+RIGHT KEY
Rotate the selected object counter-clockwise.
ALT+LEFT BUTTON
Playing or pausing media
CTRL+SPACEBAR
Insert a link
CTRL+K
Insert a new comment.
CTRL+ALT+M
Insert an equation.
ALT+EQUAL SIGN (=)
Edit a linked or embedded object.
SHIFT+F10 or the Windows menu key (to open the context menu), then O, ENTER, E
Select text
Action
Key/key combination
Select a character to the right of the cursor
SHIFT+RIGHT KEY
Select a character to the left of the cursor
SHIFT+LEFT KEY
Selects from the cursor to the end of the word
CTRL+SHIFT+RIGHT KEY
Selects from the cursor to the beginning of the word
CTRL+SHIFT+LEFT KEY
Selects from the insertion point to the same position in the previous line.
SHIFT+UP KEY
Selects from the insertion point to the same position in the next line.
SHIFT+DOWN KEY
Selects from the insertion point to the end of the paragraph.
CTRL+SHIFT+DOWN KEY
Selects from the insertion point to the beginning of the paragraph.
CTRL+SHIFT+UP KEY
Select text within an object (where an object is already selected)
ENTER KEY
Selects an object when the text within the object is selected.
ESC
Delete text
Action
Key/key combination
Delete a character to the left of the insertion point
BACKSPACE
Delete a word to the left of the insertion point
CTRL+BACKSPACE
Delete a character to the right of the insertion point
DEL
Delete a word to the right (with the cursor between the words).
CTRL+DEL
Navigate in the text
Action
keys
Move the cursor one character to the left.
LEFT KEY
Move the cursor one character to the right.
RIGHT BUTTON
Move the cursor up one line
UP KEY
Move the cursor down one line
DOWN KEY
Move the cursor one word to the left
CTRL+LEFT KEY
Move the cursor one word to the right
CTRL+RIGHT KEY
Move to the end of a line
END
Move the cursor to the beginning of a line
POS1
Move the insertion point up one paragraph
CTRL+UP
Move the cursor down one paragraph.
CTRL+DOWN
Move the cursor to the end of a text field.
CTRL+END
Move the cursor to the beginning of a text field
CTRL+POS1
Switch to the next title or text body placeholder. If it is the last placeholder on a slide, this action inserts a new slide with the same slide layout as the original slide.
CTRL+ENTER
Increment a paragraph
ALT+SHIFT+LEFT
Decrease a paragraph
ALT+SHIFT+RIGHT
Move the selected paragraphs up
ALT+SHIFT+UP KEY
Move selected paragraphs down
ALT+SHIFT+DOWN
Search and replace text
Action
Keyboard shortcut
Open the Find dialog box
CTRL+F
Opens the Replace dialog box
CTRL+H
Repeat the last Find action
SHIFT+F4
Format text
Action
keys
Open the Font dialog box.
CTRL+T or CTRL+SHIFT+F
Increase the font size.
CTRL+SHIFT+RIGHT ANGLE BRACKET (>)
Reduce the font size.
CTRL+SHIFT+LEFT ANGLE BRACKET (<)
Switch between upper/lower case in the sentence, lower case or upper case.
SHIFT+F3
Assign the "Bold" formatting
CTRL+B
Assign the "Underline" formatting
CTRL+U
Assign the "Italic" formatting
CTRL+SHIFT+K
Assign the formatting "Subscript" (automatic spacing)
Remove manual character formatting, e.g. subscript and superscript
CTRL+SPACEBAR
Center a paragraph.
CTRL+E
Align a paragraph in justified text
CTRL+J
Left-align a paragraph
CTRL+L
Right-align a paragraph
CTRL+R
Working with tables
Action
Key combination
Move insertion point to the next cell
TAB KEY
Move the insertion point to the previous cell
SHIFT+TAB
Move the insertion point to the next row
DOWN KEY
Move the insertion point to the previous row
UP KEY
Insert tab stop character into a cell
CTRL+TAB
Start new paragraph
ENTER
Add a new row at the bottom of the table with the cursor in the last cell of the last row.
TAB KEY
Move a slide
Action
Key combination
Move the selected slide or section upwards in the specified order.
CTRL+UP
Move the selected slide or section down in the specified order.
CTRL+DOWN
Move the selected slide or section to the beginning.
CTRL+SHIFT+UP KEY
Move the selected slide or section to the end.
CTRL+SHIFT+DOWN KEY
Working with views and sections
Action
Key combination
Switch to the speaker view.
ALT+F5
Switch to the screen presentation.
F5
Switch between outline and thumbnail view.
CTRL+SHIFT+TAB
Switch to full screen view (hide menus).
CTRL+F1
Show or hide guide lines
ALT+F9
Show or hide the grid
SHIFT+F9
Navigate through areas in the Normal view in a clockwise direction.
F6
Navigate through areas in the Normal view counterclockwise.
SHIFT+F6
Switch between the Thumbnail view and Outline view areas.
CTRL+SHIFT+TAB
Display the headings of level 1 in the Outline view.
ALT+SHIFT+1
Expand text in the outline view below a heading.
ALT+SHIFT+PLUS SIGN (+)
Reduce text in the outline view below a heading.
ALT+SHIFT+MINUS SIGN (-)
Selects the entire text in the outline view.
CTRL+A
Select all slides in the slide sorting view or in the thumbnail area.
CTRL+A
Display the help menu.
F1
Working with the selection area
Action
Key combination
Open the selection area.
ALT+F10 ALT+H, S, L, P Office 2007: ALT+J, D, A, P
Move focus through the different areas
F6
Display the context menu
SHIFT+F10 or Windows menu key
Move the focus to a single element or a group
UP or DOWN key
Moves the focus from an element in a group to the parent group
LEFT BUTTON
Moves the focus from a group to the first element in this group
RIGHT BUTTON
Expand a selected group and all its subordinate groups
Asterisk (*) (only on the numeric keypad)
Extend group with focus
Plus sign (+) (only on the numeric keypad) or NEXT-RIGHT KEY
Reduce group with focus
Minus sign (-) (only on numeric keypad) or LEFT LEFT KEY
Move the focus to an element and select the element.
SHIFT+UP or DOWN
Select a highlighted element
SPACEBAR or ENTER key
Cancels the selection of a highlighted element.
SHIFT+SPACEBAR or SHIFT+ENTER
Move a selected element to the front
CTRL+SHIFT+F
Move a selected element backwards
CTRL+SHIFT+B
Show or hide a selected element
CTRL+SHIFT+S
Rename a selected element
F2
Switch the keyboard focus within the selection area between the tree view and the Show all and Hide all buttons.
TAB KEY or SHIFT+TAB
Reduce all groups (with the focus in the structure view of the selection area).
ALT+SHIFT+1
Expand all groups
ALT+SHIFT+9
Working with the task area
Action
Key combination
Switch from another area or category in the program window to a task area. (You may need to press F6 more than once.)
F6
If a task area option is in focus, switch to the next or previous option in the task area.
TAB KEY or SHIFT+TAB
Display the full set of commands in a task pane menu. For example, you can access the Close, Move or Resize buttons of a task pane.
CTRL+SPACEBAR Office 2010: CTRL+DOWN KEY
Switch to the next command in the task pane menu.
UP and DOWN keys
Select the highlighted option in the task area menu.
ENTER BUTTON
Move or change the size of the task area after the corresponding command has been selected.
Arrow keys
Close the task area
CTRL+SPACEBAR, C
Open the ribbon
Action
Key combination
In the ribbon, switch to the You want... or Search field and enter a search term to get help or help content.
ALT+Q, then enter the search term.
Open the File menu.
ALT+F
Open the Home tab and format slides, fonts, paragraphs or drawings.
ALT+H
Open the Insert tab and insert slides, tables, images, illustrations, forms, links, text, symbols or media.
ALT+I
Open the Draw tab and access the drawing tools.
ALT+J, I
Open the Design tab and apply designs and customize slides.
ALT+G
Open the Transitions tab and add transitions between slides.
ALT+K
Open the Animations tab and add animations to slides.
ALT+A
Open the Slide show tab and set up and play the slide show.
ALT+S
Open the Review tab, check spelling and accessibility and add comments.
ALT+R
Open the View tab and preview presentation layouts, show and hide gridlines and guides, set zoom magnification, manage windows and view macros.
ALT+W
Open the Recording tab and manage screen recordings, audio and video in your presentation.
ALT+C
Open the Help tab, browse PowerPoint, contact support and give feedback.
ALT+Y, 2
Working in the ribbon with the keyboard
Action
Keyboard shortcut
Select the active tab on the ribbon and activate the keyboard shortcuts
ALT or F10 To switch to another tab, use shortcut keys or the arrow keys.
Moving the focus to commands in the ribbon
TAB or SHIFT+TAB
Move down, up, left or right between the elements in the ribbon
Arrow keys
Displays the tooltip for the ribbon element that is currently in focus.
CTRL+SHIFT+F10
Activates a selected button or a selected control element.
SPACEBAR or ENTER key
Opens the list for a selected command
DOWN KEY
Opens the menu for a selected button
ALT+DOWN KEY
Switch to the next command in an open menu or submenu
DOWN KEY
Expand or collapse the ribbon
CTRL+F1
Open a context menu
SHIFT+F10 or Windows menu key
Switch to the submenu when a main menu is open or selected
LEFT BUTTON
Call up help for the currently selected command or control element in the ribbon.
F1
Other useful key combinations in the ribbon
Action
Key combination
Change the font size for selected text
ALT+H, F, S
Open the Zoom dialog box
ALT+W, Q
Print all slides in your presentation as full-page slides with your default printer settings (if the Print dialog box is open)
ALT+P, P
Select a design
ALT+G, H
Select a slide layout
ALT+H, L
Show or hide the Notes area in the Normal view
ALT+W, P, N
Open the clipboard
ALT+H, F, O
Tool for inserting a text field
ALT+N, X
Paste an embedded document or spreadsheet as an object
ALT+N, J
Insert WordArt
ALT+N, W
Insert an image from your device
ALT+N, P, D
Insert a shape
ALT+N, S, H
10 useful tips and tricks for working with PowerPoint
Master of master slides: Master slides are like the king of the PowerPoint kingdom. They help to make the look of your presentation consistent. Could save you a lot of time!
Make images lighter: If your presentation is getting too big, try compressing images. Nobody likes huge files. And if you want images with a transparent background, think of the magical "PNG" format.
Keyboard shortcuts rock: Here's the deal: keyboard shortcuts are your best friends. They'll make you a PowerPoint ninja. So, learn a few of them to save time.
Don't go overboard with transitions: Transitions between slides can be cool, but don't make it too colorful. No one likes a presentation that looks like fireworks.
Use animations cleverly: Animations can add life to your presentation, but use them sparingly. Too many animations tend to confuse.
Notes for speakers: If you are presenting to an audience, use the notes to give yourself pointers. You don't want to lose the thread, do you?
Use design templates: You don't have to be a design genius. PowerPoint has cool design templates. Choose a suitable one and customize it to your taste.
SmartArt for clever graphics : SmartArt is brilliant for visualizing complex information. Try it out for diagrams and such.
Embed multimedia: Make your presentation more exciting by adding videos and music. Your audience will love it.
Save regularly : And last but not least, don't forget to save regularly. It would be terrible if all your work got lost, wouldn't it?
1118, 1007, 917, 913
Keyboard shortcuts PowerPoint - Shortcuts at a glance
Together with his brother Matthias, Stefan Petri runs the popular specialist forum PSD-Tutorials.de and the e-learning platform TutKit.com, which focuses on the training and further education of digital professional skills.
