Microsoft PowerPoint essential keyboard shortcuts to streamline your workflow and boost productivity. In this video, we’ll cover the top keyboard shortcuts every PowerPoint user should know, from basic commands to advanced functions. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, these tips will help you navigate PowerPoint more efficiently and create stunning presentations with ease. Stay tuned to unlock the full potential of Microsoft PowerPoint and become a presentation expert. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more PowerPoint tips and tricks!
Table of Contents : Microsoft PowerPoint Essential Keyboard Shortcuts
Frequently Used Shortcuts
Here’s a list of some of the most frequently used keyboard shortcuts in PowerPoint:
To Do This
Press
Make selected text bold
Ctrl+B
Change the font size for selected text
Alt+H, F, then S
Modify the slide’s zoom
Alt+W, Q
Cut selected text, object, or slide
Ctrl+X
Copy selected text, object, or slide
Ctrl+C
Paste cut or copied text, object, or slide
Ctrl+V
Undo the last action
Ctrl+Z
Save the presentation
Ctrl+S
Insert a picture
Alt+N, P
Insert a shape
Alt+H, S, then H
Select a theme
Alt+G, H
Select a slide layout
Alt+H, L
Go to the next slide
Page Down
Go to the previous slide
Page Up
Go to the Home tab
Alt+H
Move to the Insert tab
Alt+N
Start the slide show
Alt+S, B
End the slide show
Esc
Close PowerPoint
Alt+F, X
Navigate the Ribbon with the Keyboard
The tab-organized strip at the top of PowerPoint is called the ribbon. You can navigate the ribbon using just your keyboard:
Access Keys: Press Alt to see Key Tips, then use the corresponding keys to select commands.
Move Between Tabs: Press Alt, then use the Right Arrow or Left Arrow keys.
Access Key Shortcuts
To Do This
Press
Open the File page
Alt+F
Open the Home tab
Alt+H
Open the Insert tab
Alt+N
Open the Design tab
Alt+G
Open the Transitions tab
Alt+T
Open the Animations tab
Alt+A
Open the Slide Show tab
Alt+S
Open the Review tab
Alt+R
Open the View tab
Alt+W
Open the Tell Me box
Alt+Q, then enter term
Work in Ribbon Tabs with the Keyboard
Select a Tab: Press Alt, then a keyboard shortcut for the tab.
Move Between Commands: Press Tab or Shift+Tab to move forward or backward through commands.
Activate Commands:
Button: Press Spacebar or Enter.
Split Button: Press Alt+Down Arrow, then Tab through options and press Spacebar or Enter to select.
List: Press Down Arrow to open, arrow keys to move, Enter to select.
Gallery: Press Spacebar or Enter, then Tab through items.
Change Focus Using the Keyboard
To Do This
Press
Select the active tab of the ribbon
Alt or F10
Move focus to commands on the ribbon
Tab or Shift+Tab
Move between items on the ribbon
Arrow keys
Expand or collapse the ribbon
Ctrl+F1
Display the context menu
Shift+F10
Move focus to a different pane
F6
Move to the next or previous command
Tab or Shift+Tab
Activate the selected command
Spacebar or Enter
Open the selected list
Down Arrow key
Finish modifying a value and return to the document
Enter
Use Access Keys with Key Tips
Show Key Tips: Press Alt.
Select a Command: Press the letter shown in the Key Tip.
Move Between Panes
To Do This
Press
Rotate the panes in Normal view clockwise
F6
Move counterclockwise among panes in Normal view
Shift+F6
Switch between Thumbnail and Outline View pane
Ctrl+Shift+Tab
Work in an Outline
To Do This
Press
Promote a paragraph
Alt+Shift+Left Arrow
Demote a paragraph
Alt+Shift+Right Arrow
Move selected paragraphs up
Alt+Shift+Up Arrow
Move selected paragraphs down
Alt+Shift+Down Arrow
Show heading level 1
Alt+Shift+1
Expand text below a heading
Alt+Shift+Plus Sign (+)
Collapse text below a heading
Alt+Shift+Minus Sign (-)
Work with Shapes, Pictures, Objects, and WordArt
Insert a Shape:
Press Alt+N, S, then H.
Use Arrow keys to select the shape category.
Press Ctrl+Enter to insert the shape.
Insert a Text Box:
Press Alt+N, X.
Press Ctrl+Enter to insert the text box.
Insert an Object:
Press Alt+N, J.
Move to Object type list with Tab.
Press Ctrl+Enter to insert the object.
Insert WordArt:
Press Alt+N, W.
Use Arrow keys to select the style, then press Enter.
Type your text.
Select a Shape:
Press Tab to cycle forward (or Shift+Tab to cycle backward) until sizing handles appear.
Group or Ungroup Shapes, Pictures, and WordArt
To Do This
Press
Group shapes, pictures, or WordArt
Ctrl+G
Ungroup shapes, pictures, or WordArt
Ctrl+Shift+G
Copy the Attributes of a Shape
The shape with the properties you wish to duplicate should be selected
The shape with the properties you wish to duplicate should be selected.
Press Ctrl+Shift+C to copy attributes.
Select the object to paste attributes to with Tab or Shift+Tab.
Press Ctrl+Shift+V to paste attributes.
Select and Edit Text and Objects
To Do This
Press
Select one character to the right
Shift+Right Arrow
Select one character to the left
Shift+Left Arrow
Select to the end of a word
Ctrl+Shift+Right Arrow
Select to the beginning of a word
Ctrl+Shift+Left Arrow
Select one line up
Shift+Up Arrow
Select one line down
Shift+Down Arrow
Select an object
ESC
Select another object
Tab or Shift+Tab
Send object back one position
Ctrl+[
Send object forward one position
Ctrl+]
Send object to back
Ctrl+Shift+[
Send object to front
Ctrl+Shift+]
Select text within an object
Enter
Select all objects (on the Slides tab)
Ctrl+A
Play or pause media
Ctrl+SPACE
Select all slides (in Slide Sorter view)
Ctrl+A
Select all text (on the Outline tab)
Ctrl+A
Delete and Copy Text and Objects
To Do This
Press
Delete one character to the left
Backspace
Delete one word to the left
Ctrl+Backspace
Delete one character to the right
Delete
Delete one word to the right
Ctrl+Delete
Cut selected object or text
Ctrl+X
Copy selected object or text
Ctrl+C
Copy and paste a text or object
Ctrl+V
Undo the last action
Ctrl+Z
Redo the last action
Ctrl+Y
Copy formatting only
Ctrl+Shift+C
Paste formatting only
Ctrl+Shift+V
Copy animation painter
Alt+Shift+C
Paste animation painter
Alt+Shift+V
Open Paste Special dialog box
Ctrl+Alt+V
Move Around in Text
To Do This
Press
Move one character to the left
Left Arrow
Move one character to the right
Right Arrow
Move one line up
Up Arrow
Move one line down
Down Arrow
Move one word to the left
Ctrl+Left Arrow
Move one word to the right
Ctrl+Right Arrow
Go to a line’s end
End
Move to the beginning of a line
Home
Move up one paragraph
Ctrl+Up Arrow
Move down one paragraph
Ctrl+Down Arrow
Move to the end of a text box
Ctrl+End
Move to the beginning of a text box
Ctrl+Home
Proceed to the following body text or title placeholder
Ctrl+Enter
Repeat the last Find action
Shift+F4
Move Around in and Work in Tables
To Do This
Press
Move to the next cell
Tab
Move to the preceding cell
Shift+Tab
Move to the next row
Down Arrow
Move to the preceding row
Up Arrow
Insert a tab in a cell
Ctrl+Tab
Start a new paragraph
Enter
Add a new row at the bottom of the table
Tab in the bottom right cell
Edit a Linked or Embedded Object
Press Tab or Shift+Tab to select the object.
Press Shift+F10 to open the shortcut menu.
Press Down Arrow to select Worksheet Object.
Press Right Arrow, then Enter to select Edit.
Format Text
Change or Resize a Font:
Open Font dialog box: Ctrl+Shift+F
Increase font size: Ctrl+Shift+Right Angle bracket (>)
Decrease font size: Ctrl+Shift+Left Angle bracket (<)
Apply Character Formatting:
Open Font dialog box: Ctrl+T
Change between sentence case, lowercase, or uppercase: Shift+F3
Next animation or slide: N, Enter, Page Down, Right Arrow, Down Arrow, or Spacebar
Previous animation or slide: P, Page Up, Left Arrow, Up Arrow, or Backspace
Go to slide number: (number)+Enter
Display a blank black slide: B or Period (.)
Display a blank white slide: W or Comma (,)
Stop or restart automatic presentation: S
End presentation: Esc
Erase on-screen annotations: E
Go to the next slide if hidden: H
Set new timings while rehearsing: T
Re-record slide narration and timing: R
Return to the first slide: Press and hold Left Mouse button
Change pointer to a pen: Ctrl+P
Change pointer to an arrow: Ctrl+A
Change pointer to an eraser: Ctrl+E
Show or hide ink markup: Ctrl+M
Hide pointer and navigation button immediately: Ctrl+H
Hide pointer and navigation button in 15 seconds: Ctrl+U
View All Slides dialog box: Ctrl+S
View the computer task bar: Ctrl+T
Display shortcut menu: Shift+F10
Go to the first or next hyperlink: Tab
Go to the last or previous hyperlink: Shift+Tab
Follow a selected hyperlink: Enter
Control Video and Other Media During a Presentation
Media Shortcuts:
Stop media playback: Alt+Q
Play or pause media: Ctrl+Space
Toggle between play and pause: Alt+P
Go to next bookmark: Alt+End
Go to previous bookmark: Alt+Home
Increase sound volume: Alt+Up
Decrease sound volume: Alt+Down
Mute sound: Alt+U
Seek forward three seconds: Alt+Shift+Page Down
Seek backward three seconds: Alt+Shift+Page Up
Seek forward 0.25 seconds, then pause: Alt+Shift+Right Arrow
Seek backward 0.25 seconds, then pause: Alt+Shift+Left Arrow
Show/Hide audio and subtitles menu: Alt+J
Use these shortcuts to navigate and operate PowerPoint efficiently, enhancing your productivity and making your presentation process smoother.
Conclusion : Microsoft PowerPoint Essential Keyboard Shortcuts
Mastering Microsoft PowerPoint involves more than just understanding its basic features; proficiency in keyboard shortcuts can significantly enhance your efficiency and effectiveness. This comprehensive guide has covered essential shortcuts across various aspects of PowerPoint use, from navigating the Ribbon and working with text and objects to delivering presentations and controlling media.
By incorporating these shortcuts into your workflow, you can streamline your tasks and focus more on creating compelling presentations. Whether you are inserting shapes, formatting text, managing slides, or delivering your presentation, these shortcuts are designed to save you time and effort.
Continued practice and familiarity with these keyboard shortcuts will transform how you use PowerPoint, making your presentation creation process faster and more intuitive. As you integrate these shortcuts into your daily routine, you’ll find yourself working more seamlessly, allowing your creativity and message to shine through your presentations.
