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52 Essential PowerPoint Shortcut Keys to Uplift Your Productivity
Knowing the right PowerPoint shortcut keys can save you a significant amount of time and make your workflow much smoother. In this article, we’ll explore some of the most essential PowerPoint keyboard shortcuts that every professional should know. Whether you’re a seasoned or amateur presenter, these shortcuts will help you navigate, edit, and present your slides more efficiently. Let’s dive in and unlock the full potential of PowerPoint.
Basic PowerPoint shortcut keys
These shortcuts are essential for everyday tasks and can significantly speed up your workflow:
| Ctrl + C | Copy selected object or text |
| Ctrl + X | Cut selected object or text |
| Ctrl + V | Paste cut or copied object or text |
| Ctrl + Shift + C | Copy the format of the selected object or text |
| Ctrl + Shift + V | Paste copied formatting to the selected object or text |
| Ctrl + A | Select all |
| Ctrl + Y | Redo last action |
| Ctrl + X | Redo last action |
| F4 | Repeat last command |
| Ctrl + F1 | Show or hide the ribbon shortcut |
Working with Files and Slides in PowerPoint
These shortcuts help you quickly manage your file and slides, ensuring a smooth editing process.
| Ctrl + O | Open an exiting file |
| Ctrl + N | Open a new file |
| Alt + F4 | Close the file |
| Ctrl + S | Save the file |
| Ctrl + M | Insert a new slide |
| Ctrl + D | Duplicate the selected slide |
| Ctrl + Up | Move the selected slide up |
| Ctrl + Down | Move the selected slide down |
Editing Text in PowerPoint
These shortcuts make text formatting and editing more efficient, allowing you to focus on content creation.
| Ctrl + B | Make text bold |
| Ctrl + I | Italize text |
| Ctrl + U | Underline text |
| Ctrl + Shift + > or Ctrl + ] | Increase font size of text |
| Ctrl + Shift + < or Ctrl + [ | Decrease font size of text |
| Ctrl + L | Align paragraph to the left |
| Ctrl + E | Align paragraph to the center |
| Ctrl + R | Align paragraph to the right |
| Ctrl + J | Justify paragraph |
| Ctrl + T | Open the Font dialog box |
| Ctrl + F | Find text |
| Ctrl + H | Replace text |
| Ctrl + K | Insert a hyperlink to text |
| Shift + F3 | Change text between uppercase, lowercase, and title case |
| Alt + Shift + Up / down | Move bullet point up / down |
Editing Objects in PowerPoint
These shortcuts are must-know for designing and arranging objects in your slides, ensuring a polished and professional look.
| Ctrl + D | Duplicate the selected object |
| Ctrl + G | Group the selected objects |
| Ctrl + Shift + G | Ungroup the grouped objects |
| Shift + F9 | Show / hide gridlines |
| Alt + F9 | Show or hide guides |
| Alt + F10 | Open or close the selection pane |
| Alt + H + G + R | Bring to font |
| Alt + H + G + K | Bring to back |
| Alt + H + G + F or Ctrl + Shift + [ | Bring forwards |
| Alt + H + G + B or Ctrl + Shift + ] | Bring backwards |
| Alt + H + G + A + C | Align selected objects to the center |
| Alt + H + G + A + M | Align selected objects to the middle |
| Alt + H + G + A + H | Distribute selected object horizontally |
| Alt + H + G + A + V | Distribute selected object vertically |
Working with Slides in PowerPoint
These shortcuts help you manage your presentation effectively, allowing you to focus on delivering your message.
| F5 | Start slide show from beginning |
| Shift + F5 | Start slide show from current slide |
| Esc (during slide show) | End slide show |
| B (during slide show) | Turn the screen white |
| W (during slide show) | Turn the screen black |
Final Words
Mastering these PowerPoint shortcut keys can significantly enhance your productivity. However, some shortcuts (e.g., distributing selected objects horizontally) can be challenging to memorize. The good news is that you can customize your Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) to create your own shortcut keys. Read this article to learn how!
By incorporating these shortcuts into your slide creation, you’ll be able to create, edit, and present your slides with ease like a professional. Start practicing these shortcuts today and see the difference they make in your PowerPoint presentations!