PowerPoint Keyboard Shortcuts: 86 Shortcuts in a Searchable List

Q: Do these shortcuts work on Mac?

Many work with Cmd instead of Ctrl, but several are different. This list is for PowerPoint on Windows.

Q: Which version is this for?

Microsoft 365 and PowerPoint 2016 or later on Windows.

Q: Can I see my notes while presenting?

Yes. Press Alt+F5 to start in Presenter View. Your notes appear on your screen and only the slides go to the projector.

Q: How do I jump to a specific slide during a show?

Type the slide number and press Enter, or press G to see all slides.

Microsoft PowerPoint · Windows

Every PowerPoint shortcut, one keystroke away.

A searchable reference of 86 keyboard shortcuts for building slides and presenting them — slides, text, objects, slide shows and the pen. Search, filter by category, and tap any shortcut to copy it.

e.g.Ctrl+MorShift+F5

86shortcuts

7categories

25to memorise first

Essential — learn first Productivity — big time-savers Advanced — power users+ together → in sequence

★

Start here — the 25 to memorise first

These cover most of the time you spend building and presenting slides. Learn them first.

#	Shortcut	Action	Why remember it
01	`Ctrl`+`M`	New slide	Adds a slide below the current one.
02	`Ctrl`+`D`	Duplicate	Copies a slide or object in one step.
03	`Ctrl`+`S`	Save	Save often while you build.
04	`Ctrl`+`Z`	Undo	Reverse any change.
05	`Ctrl`+`C`or`Ctrl`+`X`or`Ctrl`+`V`	Copy, cut, paste	Move content between slides.
06	`Ctrl`+`G`	Group	Keep shapes together.
07	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`G`	Ungroup	Edit shapes separately.
08	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`C`or`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`V`	Copy and paste formatting	Make objects look the same.
09	`Ctrl`+`B`	Bold	Emphasise key words.
10	`Ctrl`+`E`	Center text	Center titles and labels.
11	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`>`or`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`<`	Font size	Resize text quickly.
12	`Tab`or`Shift`+`Tab`	Demote / promote bullet	Build bullet levels.
13	`Shift`+`Drag`	Constrain	Straight lines and perfect circles.
14	`Ctrl`+`Drag`	Copy by dragging	Duplicate while placing.
15	`Arrow keys`	Nudge	Move objects precisely.
16	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`]`	Bring to front	Fix overlapping objects.
17	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`[`	Send to back	Put shapes behind text.
18	`F5`	Start slide show	Present from the first slide.
19	`Shift`+`F5`	From current slide	Present from where you are.
20	`N`or`Space`or`Right`	Next slide	Move forward in a show.
21	`P`or`Backspace`or`Left`	Previous slide	Go back in a show.
22	`B`	Black screen	Pause and take attention off the slides.
23	`Ctrl`+`P`	Pen	Draw on slides while presenting.
24	`Esc`	End show	Return to editing.
25	`Ctrl`+`F`	Find	Locate text across all slides.

Essential Shortcuts

File and editing basics for every presentation.

Shortcut	Action	What it does	Example / use case
`Ctrl`+`N`	New presentation	Creates a new blank presentation.	Start a fresh deck.
`Ctrl`+`O`	Open	Opens the Open screen.	Open a recent deck.
`Ctrl`+`S`	Save	Saves the presentation.	Save after every change.
`F12`	Save As	Opens the Save As dialog.	Save a version for a client.
`Ctrl`+`P`	Print	Opens Print.	Print handouts.
`Ctrl`+`W`	Close	Closes the presentation.	Close one deck.
`Ctrl`+`Z`	Undo	Undoes the last action.	Undo a wrong move.
`Ctrl`+`Y`	Redo	Redoes or repeats the last action.	Repeat a formatting change.
`Ctrl`+`C`	Copy	Copies the selection.	Copy a chart.
`Ctrl`+`X`	Cut	Cuts the selection.	Move a shape to another slide.
`Ctrl`+`V`	Paste	Pastes the clipboard.	Paste a copied slide.
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`V`	Paste Special	Opens Paste Special.	Paste as a picture.
`Ctrl`+`A`	Select all	Selects all objects on the slide, or all text in a box.	Move everything at once.
`Ctrl`+`F`	Find	Finds text in the presentation.	Find a product name.
`Ctrl`+`H`	Replace	Replaces text.	Update a year on all slides.
`F7`	Spelling	Checks spelling.	Proofread before presenting.
`Ctrl`+`K`	Hyperlink	Inserts a hyperlink.	Link to a website or slide.
`F4`	Repeat last action	Repeats the last command.	Apply the same colour to shapes.

Slides

Add, copy and move slides in Normal view.

Shortcut	Action	What it does	Example / use case
`Ctrl`+`M`	New slide	Inserts a new slide.	Add the next topic.
`Ctrl`+`D`	Duplicate slide	Duplicates the selected slide (in the thumbnail pane).	Reuse a layout.
`Delete`	Delete slide	Deletes the selected slide in the thumbnail pane.	Remove a draft slide.
`Ctrl`+`Up`or`Ctrl`+`Down`	Move slide	Moves the selected slide up or down.	Reorder your story.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Up`or`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Down`	Move to start or end	Moves the slide to the beginning or end.	Send a backup slide to the end.
`Page Up`or`Page Down`	Previous or next slide	Moves between slides in Normal view.	Review slides one by one.
`Home`or`End`	First or last slide	Jumps to the first or last slide (thumbnail pane).	Go back to the title slide.

Text Formatting

Format text inside placeholders and text boxes.

Shortcut	Action	What it does	Example / use case
`Ctrl`+`B`	Bold	Bolds text.	Highlight key numbers.
`Ctrl`+`I`	Italic	Italicises text.	Quotes.
`Ctrl`+`U`	Underline	Underlines text.	Underline a term.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`>`	Increase font size	Increases the font size.	Bigger titles.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`<`	Decrease font size	Decreases the font size.	Fit text in a box.
`Ctrl`+`]`	Font size +1	Increases size by 1 point.	Fine-tune text.
`Ctrl`+`[`	Font size −1	Decreases size by 1 point.	Fine-tune text.
`Ctrl`+`T`	Font dialog	Opens the Font dialog.	Set spacing and effects.
`Shift`+`F3`	Change case	Cycles text case.	Fix CAPS text.
`Ctrl`+`=`	Subscript	Toggles subscript.	CO₂.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`=`	Superscript	Toggles superscript.	m².
`Ctrl`+`Space`	Clear formatting	Removes manual character formatting.	Reset pasted text.
`Ctrl`+`E`	Center	Centers the paragraph.	Center a title.
`Ctrl`+`L`	Align left	Left-aligns the paragraph.	Bullet text.
`Ctrl`+`R`	Align right	Right-aligns the paragraph.	Captions.
`Ctrl`+`J`	Justify	Justifies the paragraph.	Long text blocks.
`Tab`	Demote bullet	Moves a bullet one level down.	Add a sub-point.
`Shift`+`Tab`	Promote bullet	Moves a bullet one level up.	Back to the main point.
`Shift`+`Enter`	Line break	New line without a new bullet.	Two-line labels.

Objects and Shapes

Arrange, align and copy shapes, pictures and text boxes.

Shortcut	Action	What it does	Example / use case
`Ctrl`+`G`	Group	Groups selected objects.	Keep an icon and label together.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`G`	Ungroup	Ungroups a group.	Edit one part of a diagram.
`Ctrl`+`D`	Duplicate object	Duplicates the selected object.	Make a row of boxes.
`Ctrl`+`Drag`	Copy while dragging	Drags a copy of the object.	Place a copy exactly.
`Shift`+`Drag`	Constrain	Keeps lines straight and shapes in proportion.	Perfect circles and squares.
`Arrow keys`	Nudge	Moves the selected object.	Line things up.
`Ctrl`+`Arrow keys`	Fine nudge	Moves the object by a very small step.	Pixel-level alignment.
`Alt`+`Left`or`Alt`+`Right`	Rotate 15°	Rotates the object 15° left or right.	Tilt an arrow.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`]`	Bring to front	Brings the object to the front.	Bring a label above a picture.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`[`	Send to back	Sends the object to the back.	Put a background shape behind text.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`C`	Copy formatting	Copies the formatting of an object.	Copy a shape style.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`V`	Paste formatting	Applies copied formatting.	Make shapes match.
`Tab`or`Shift`+`Tab`	Cycle objects	Selects the next or previous object on the slide.	Select a hidden object.
`Shift`+`F9`	Gridlines	Shows or hides gridlines.	Align objects.
`Alt`+`F9`	Guides	Shows or hides guides.	Keep margins consistent.

Start and Run a Slide Show

Start the show and move between slides while you present.

Shortcut	Action	What it does	Example / use case
`F5`	Start from beginning	Starts the slide show from slide 1.	Begin your talk.
`Shift`+`F5`	Start from current slide	Starts from the selected slide.	Resume after a question.
`Alt`+`F5`	Presenter View	Starts the show in Presenter View.	See notes on your laptop screen.
`N`or`Space`or`Right`or`Enter`	Next	Next slide or animation.	Move forward.
`P`or`Backspace`or`Left`	Previous	Previous slide or animation.	Go back.
`Number`+`Enter`	Go to slide	Type a slide number and press Enter.	Type 12 and Enter for slide 12.
`Home`or`End`	First or last slide	Jumps to the first or last slide.	Go back to the agenda.
`B`	Black screen	Shows a black screen; press again to return.	Pause for discussion.
`W`	White screen	Shows a white screen; press again to return.	Whiteboard-style pause.
`G`or`Minus`	All slides	Shows thumbnails of all slides.	Jump to any slide.
`Ctrl`+`S`	All Slides dialog	Opens a list of all slides.	Go to a slide by title.
`H`	Hidden slide	Goes to the next hidden slide.	Show a backup slide.
`S`	Stop or restart	Stops or restarts an automatic show.	Pause a kiosk show.
`Esc`	End show	Ends the slide show.	Back to editing.

Pen and Pointer

Annotate slides during a slide show.

Shortcut	Action	What it does	Example / use case
`Ctrl`+`P`	Pen	Changes the pointer to a pen.	Circle a key number.
`Ctrl`+`L`	Laser pointer	Changes the pointer to a laser pointer.	Point at a chart.
`Ctrl`+`E`	Eraser	Changes the pointer to an eraser.	Remove one mark.
`E`	Erase all	Erases all drawings on the slide.	Clean up after explaining.
`Ctrl`+`A`	Arrow pointer	Changes the pointer back to an arrow.	Stop drawing.
`Ctrl`+`H`	Hide pointer	Hides the pointer and navigation buttons.	Clean screen.
`Ctrl`+`M`	Show or hide ink	Shows or hides your annotations.	Compare before and after.

View and Ribbon

Move around PowerPoint’s interface from the keyboard.

Shortcut	Action	What it does	Example / use case
`Ctrl`+`F1`	Collapse ribbon	Shows or hides the ribbon.	More room for the slide.
`Alt`or`F10`	Key tips	Shows ribbon key tips.	Reach any command.
`Alt`+`Q`	Search	Jumps to the Search box.	Find a command by name.
`F6`	Next pane	Moves between the slide, notes and thumbnail panes.	Type speaker notes.
`Shift`+`F10`	Context menu	Opens the right-click menu.	Mouse-free editing.
`Ctrl`+`Mouse wheel`	Zoom	Zooms in or out on the slide.	Edit small details.

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Tips for faster slides

Build one slide well, then press Ctrl+D in the thumbnail pane to duplicate it instead of starting each slide from scratch.

While presenting, press B when you want the audience to look at you, not the screen. Press it again to come back.

Use Ctrl+Shift+C and Ctrl+Shift+V to make every box, arrow and label match.

FAQ

Do these shortcuts work on Mac?

Many work with Cmd instead of Ctrl, but several are different. This list is for PowerPoint on Windows.

Which version is this for?

Microsoft 365 and PowerPoint 2016 or later on Windows.

Can I see my notes while presenting?

Yes. Press Alt+F5 to start in Presenter View. Your notes appear on your screen and only the slides go to the projector.

How do I jump to a specific slide during a show?

Type the slide number and press Enter, or press G to see all slides.

More shortcut guides

Shortcut references for the other apps you use every day.

Excel shortcuts Word shortcuts Google Sheets shortcuts AutoCAD commands

Compiled by Ajay Anand · XL n CAD — 86 shortcuts for Microsoft PowerPoint on Windows. Microsoft and PowerPoint are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.