PowerPoint keyboard shortcuts
PowerPoint has two sets of keys, one for building the slides and one for standing in front of them, and Microsoft keeps them on separate pages. Both are here, Windows and Mac side by side, with the comments pane and the Copilot keys Microsoft rolled out in 2026. On Windows, an action with no key of its own can be given one by adding it to the Quick Access Toolbar; on a Mac, you can create your own.
Checked against Microsoft Support — Use keyboard shortcuts to create PowerPoint presentations, Microsoft Support — Use keyboard shortcuts to deliver PowerPoint presentations, Microsoft Support — Use keyboard shortcuts to navigate modern comments in PowerPoint, Microsoft Support — The Copilot Dynamic Action Button in Word, Excel and PowerPoint and Microsoft Support — Keyboard shortcuts for the File menu in Microsoft 365 for Windows. Version: PowerPoint for Microsoft 365, desktop, Windows and Mac, default keys.
Showing the Windows keyboard. Showing the Mac keyboard.
210 shortcuts
The top 20 are the PowerPoint shortcuts this page marks as the ones to learn first, in the order they appear here. The drill asks the marked ones first too, shuffled. Or tick your own and print those.
The 20 to learn first: the shortcuts the PowerPoint page marks as the ones to learn first, in the order they appear on it.
Your own sheet: the PowerPoint shortcuts you ticked.
Presentations and slides
Practise theseCreate a new presentation #WinControl plusNMacCommand plusN
Start a presentation from the template gallery # Opens the PowerPoint template gallery.WinNot listedMacShift plusCommand plusP
Open a presentation #WinControl plusOMacCommand plusO
Open a recent file # On Windows, Ctrl+O opens a file and lists your recent files, so it is the same key as Open.WinControl plusOMacShift plusCommand plusO
Save the presentation #WinControl plusSMacCommand plusS
Save it under a different name, place or format # Esc cancels the dialogue.WinControl plusShift plusSMacShift plusCommand plusS
Print the presentation #WinControl plusPMacCommand plusP
Close the presentation # Microsoft's Windows list gives Ctrl+D here, the same key it gives for duplicating objects, so the Windows key is left out until Microsoft settles it.WinNot listedMacCommand plusW
Quit PowerPoint #WinControl plusQMacCommand plusQ
Move between open presentations #WinNot listedMacCommand plus~
Undo the last action #WinControl plusZMacCommand plusZ
Redo the last action #WinControl plusYMacCommand plusY
Add a new slide # On Windows, Ctrl+Enter in the last placeholder of a slide also adds a slide, with the same layout.WinControl plusMMacShift plusCommand plusN
Duplicate the selected slide #WinControl plusShift plusDMacShift plusCommand plusD
Go to the next slide #WinPage DownMacPage Down
Go to the previous slide #WinPage UpMacPage Up
Move the selected slide up # Moves a selected section the same way.WinControl plusUp arrowMacCommand plusUp arrow
Move the selected slide down #WinControl plusDown arrowMacCommand plusDown arrow
Move the selected slide to the beginning #WinControl plusShift plusUp arrowMacShift plusCommand plusUp arrow
Move the selected slide to the end #WinControl plusShift plusDown arrowMacShift plusCommand plusDown arrow
Format the slide background #WinNot listedMacShift plusCommand plus2
Select every slide # In Slide Sorter or the thumbnail pane. In Outline View the same key selects all the text, and on a slide it selects every object.WinControl plusAMacCommand plusA
Objects, tables and media
Shapes, pictures and text boxes: copying them, stacking them and grouping them.
Practise theseCut the selected text, object or slide #WinControl plusXMacCommand plusX
Copy the selected text, object or slide #WinControl plusCMacCommand plusC
Paste what you cut or copied #WinControl plusVMacCommand plusV
Open the Paste Special dialogue #WinControl plusAlt plusVMacControl plusCommand plusV
Duplicate the selected objects # Control on a Mac too, not Command. Not in PowerPoint 2010 or 2007.WinControl plusDorControl plusdragMacControl plusDorControl plusdrag
Copy the formatting of the selection #WinControl plusShift plusCMacShift plusCommand plusC
Paste that formatting onto the selection #WinControl plusShift plusVMacShift plusCommand plusV
Copy the animation of the selected object # The Animation Painter. Not in PowerPoint 2010 or 2007.WinAlt plusShift plusCMacOption plusShift plusCommand plusC
Paste that animation onto another object #WinAlt plusShift plusVMacOption plusShift plusCommand plusV
Select every object on the slide #WinControl plusAMacCommand plusA
Select the next object # With one object already selected. Shift+Tab goes the other way.WinTabMacTab
Move the focus to the first floating shape # A floating shape is something like a picture or a text box.WinControl plusAlt plus5MacNot listed
Group the selected objects #WinControl plusGMacOption plusCommand plusG
Ungroup the selected group #WinControl plusShift plusGMacOption plusShift plusCommand plusG
Regroup the objects #WinControl plusShift plusJMacOption plusCommand plusJ
Bring the object forward one layer # Not in PowerPoint 2010 or 2007 for Windows.WinControl plusShift plusRight bracketMacOption plusShift plusCommand plusF
Send the object back one layer #WinControl plusShift plusLeft bracketMacOption plusShift plusCommand plusB
Bring the object to the front #WinNot listedMacShift plusCommand plusF
Send the object to the back #WinNot listedMacShift plusCommand plusB
Rotate the object 15 degrees clockwise #WinAlt plusRight arrowMacOption plusRight arrow
Rotate the object 15 degrees anticlockwise #WinAlt plusLeft arrowMacOption plusLeft arrow
Resize the selected objects #WinNot listedMacShift plusarrow key
Nudge the selected object # It moves in the direction of the arrow.WinNot listedMacarrow keyorCommand plusarrow key
Open the Format pane for the selected object #WinNot listedMacShift plusCommand plus1
Play or pause media while editing #WinControl plusSpace barMacSpace bar
Insert a hyperlink #WinControl plusKMacCommand plusK
Insert an equation #WinAlt plusEqualsMacNot listed
Edit a linked or embedded object # Shift+F10 opens the context menu; the Menu key does the same.WinShift plusF10thenOthenEnterthenEMacNot listed
Move to the next table cell # In the last cell of the last row, Tab adds a new row. Shift+Tab goes back a cell.WinTabMacTab
Insert a tab character in a table cell #WinControl plusTabMacOption plusShift plusTab
Moving through and selecting text
Inside a text box or placeholder. Press Enter on a selected object to get into its text, and Esc to get back out to the object.
Practise theseMove one word to the left #WinControl plusLeft arrowMacOption plusLeft arrow
Move one word to the right #WinControl plusRight arrowMacOption plusRight arrow
Move to the start of the line #WinHomeMacHomeorFunction key plusLeft arrow
Move to the end of the line #WinEndMacEndorFunction key plusRight arrow
Move up one paragraph #WinControl plusUp arrowMacOption plusUp arrow
Move down one paragraph #WinControl plusDown arrowMacOption plusDown arrow
Move to the start of the text box #WinControl plusHomeMacCommand plusUp arrow
Move to the end of the text box #WinControl plusEndMacCommand plusDown arrow
Move to the next title or body placeholder # In the last placeholder on a slide, it adds a new slide with the same layout.WinControl plusEnterMacNot listed
Select to the end of the word #WinControl plusShift plusRight arrowMacOption plusShift plusRight arrow
Select to the start of the word #WinControl plusShift plusLeft arrowMacOption plusShift plusLeft arrow
Select to the end of the paragraph #WinControl plusShift plusDown arrowMacOption plusShift plusDown arrow
Select to the start of the paragraph #WinControl plusShift plusUp arrowMacOption plusShift plusUp arrow
Select to the end of the line #WinNot listedMacShift plusCommand plusRight arrow
Select to the start of the line #WinNot listedMacShift plusCommand plusLeft arrow
Select the text inside the selected object # Esc does the reverse: from the text, it selects the object around it.WinEnterMacReturn
Delete the word to the left #WinControl plusBackspaceMacCommand plusDelete
Delete the word to the right # With the cursor between words.WinControl plusDeleteMacFunction key plusOption plusDelete
Promote the paragraph #WinAlt plusShift plusLeft arrowMacCommand plusLeft bracket
Demote the paragraph #WinAlt plusShift plusRight arrowMacCommand plusRight bracket
Move the selected paragraphs up #WinAlt plusShift plusUp arrowMacNot listed
Move the selected paragraphs down #WinAlt plusShift plusDown arrowMacNot listed
Find text in the presentation # On a Mac this goes to the Search in Presentation box rather than a dialogue.WinControl plusFMacCommand plusF
Find and replace # On a Mac it opens the Find and Replace pane.WinControl plusHMacShift plusCommand plusH
Repeat the last find #WinShift plusF4MacNot listed
Open the Font dialogue #WinControl plusTorControl plusShift plusFMacCommand plusT
Make the font bigger #WinControl plusShift plus>MacShift plusCommand plus>
Make the font smaller #WinControl plusShift plus<MacShift plusCommand plus<
Open the Paragraph dialogue #WinNot listedMacOption plusCommand plusM
Cycle the case of the selection # Between sentence case, lower case and upper case. Microsoft warns that macOS settings can clash with the function keys on a Mac.WinShift plusF3MacShift plusF3
Make the selection bold #WinControl plusBMacCommand plusB
Put the selection in italics #WinControl plusIMacCommand plusI
Underline the selection #WinControl plusUMacCommand plusU
Make the selection subscript # With automatic spacing.WinControl plusEqualsMacControl plusCommand plusEquals
Make the selection superscript # With automatic spacing.WinControl plusShift plusPlusMacControl plusShift plusCommand plusEquals
Remove manual character formatting # Such as subscript and superscript. Control, not Command, on a Mac.WinControl plusSpace barMacControl plusSpace bar
Centre the paragraph #WinControl plusEMacCommand plusE
Justify the paragraph #WinControl plusJMacCommand plusJ
Align the paragraph left #WinControl plusLMacCommand plusL
Align the paragraph right #WinControl plusRMacCommand plusR
Start a list with round bullets as you type # At the start of a line. Start with - for hyphens, > for arrow bullets, <> for diamonds, --> for arrows or => for double arrows, then Space.Win*thenSpace barMac*thenSpace bar
Look up the selected word in the thesaurus #WinNot listedMacControl plusOption plusCommand plusR
Views, panes and zoom
Practise theseZoom in #WinControl plusPlusMacCommand plusPlus
Zoom out #WinControl plusMinusMacCommand plusMinus
Zoom to fit the window #WinControl plusAlt plusOMacOption plusCommand plusO
Switch to Normal view #WinNot listedMacCommand plus1
Switch to Slide Sorter view #WinNot listedMacCommand plus2
Switch to Notes Page view #WinNot listedMacCommand plus3
Switch to Outline View #WinNot listedMacCommand plus4
Switch to Slide Master view #WinNot listedMacOption plusCommand plus1
Switch to Handout Master view #WinNot listedMacOption plusCommand plus2
Switch to Notes Master view #WinNot listedMacOption plusCommand plus3
Switch between Outline View and the thumbnail pane # Control, not Command, on a Mac.WinControl plusShift plusTabMacControl plusShift plusTab
Show or hide the guides #WinAlt plusF9MacControl plusOption plusCommand plusG
Show or hide the grid #WinShift plusF9MacShift plusF9
Move clockwise through the panes # In Normal view. Also how you reach a task pane from the slide; you may need to press it more than once.WinF6MacF6
Move anticlockwise through the panes #WinShift plusF6MacShift plusF6
Show or hide the Notes pane # In Normal view.WinAlt plusWthenPthenNMacNot listed
Open the Selection pane # Alt+H then S then L then P opens it too. Microsoft points to it for selecting several objects from the keyboard.WinAlt plusF10MacNot listed
Show only the level 1 headings in Outline View #WinAlt plusShift plus1MacNot listed
Expand the text below a heading in Outline View #WinAlt plusShift plusPlusMacNot listed
Collapse the text below a heading in Outline View #WinAlt plusShift plusMinusMacNot listed
Switch drawing mode on or off #WinNot listedMacControl plusCommand plusZ
Open help #WinF1MacF1
Running the slide show
These work while the show is running full screen, with or without Presenter View.
Practise theseStart the slide show from the beginning #WinF5MacShift plusCommand plusReturn
Start the slide show from the current slide #WinShift plusF5MacCommand plusReturn
Start the slide show in Presenter View # Works even with one screen. With a second display connected, Presenter View starts on its own.WinAlt plusF5MacOption plusReturn
Play the next animation or go to the next slide #WinNorEnterorPage DownorRight arroworDown arroworSpace barMacNorPage DownorRight arroworDown arroworSpace bar
Play the previous animation or go back a slide #WinPorPage UporLeft arroworUp arroworBackspaceMacPorPage UporLeft arroworUp arroworDelete
Go to a particular slide # Type the slide's number, then press Enter.Winslide numberthenEnterMacslide numberthenReturn
Black the screen out, or bring the slide back #WinBorFull stopMacBorShift plusBorFull stop
White the screen out, or bring the slide back #WinWorCommaMacWorShift plusWorComma
End the slide show #WinEscapeMacEscapeorMinusorCommand plusFull stop
Go back to the first slide # On Windows, holding both mouse buttons down for two seconds does the same.WinHomeMacFunction key plusLeft arrow
Go to the last slide #WinEndMacFunction key plusRight arrow
Open the All Slides dialogue #WinControl plusSMacNot listed
List the slide show shortcuts # During the show. On Windows, the arrow keys move between the tabs of the Slide Show Help dialogue.WinF1MacSlash
Show the Windows taskbar during the show #WinControl plusTMacNot listed
Go to the next hotspot on the slide # Hotspots are links, animation triggers, audio and video.WinTabMacTab
Go to the previous link on the slide #WinShift plusTabMacShift plusTab
Follow the selected link #WinEnterMacReturn
Pointer, pen and media in the show
Practise theseTurn on the laser pointer #WinControl plusLMacCommand plusL
Turn the pointer into a pen #WinControl plusPMacCommand plusP
Turn the pointer back into an arrow #WinControl plusAMacCommand plusA
Turn the pen into an eraser #WinControl plusEMacNot listed
Hide the pointer # On Windows it hides the navigation buttons as well.WinControl plusHMacCommand plusI
Hide the pointer while the mouse moves #WinNot listedMacControl plusH
Show the pointer while the mouse moves #WinNot listedMacCommand plusU
Show or hide ink markup #WinControl plusMMacNot listed
Erase what you drew on the screen #WinEMacShift plusE
Switch the camera used for the cameo # PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 only.WinAlt plusXMacOption plusX
Play or pause media during the show # The media keys work with video inserted from your computer, not with online video.WinAlt plusPorControl plusSpace barMacNot listed
Stop the media #WinAlt plusQMacNot listed
Go to the next bookmark in the media #WinAlt plusEndMacNot listed
Go to the previous bookmark in the media #WinAlt plusHomeMacNot listed
Turn the volume up #WinAlt plusUp arrowMacNot listed
Turn the volume down #WinAlt plusDown arrowMacNot listed
Mute the sound #WinAlt plusUMacNot listed
Skip forward three seconds #WinAlt plusShift plusPage DownMacNot listed
Skip back three seconds #WinAlt plusShift plusPage UpMacNot listed
Step forward a quarter of a second and pause #WinAlt plusShift plusRight arrowMacNot listed
Step back a quarter of a second and pause #WinAlt plusShift plusLeft arrowMacNot listed
Presenter View and rehearsing
Presenter View puts your notes on your screen while the audience sees only the slides.
Practise theseMove between the regions of Presenter View # The buttons above the slide, the buttons at the top right, and the notes.WinF6MacNot listed
Move to the next control in Presenter View # On Windows, within the current region. On a Mac, keyboard navigation has to be on under System Settings, Keyboard; Shift+Tab goes back.WinTabMacTab
Press the control that has the focus #WinNot listedMacSpace bar
Leave the notes and move to the next control # In the notes, Tab types a tab character instead.WinNot listedMacControl plusTab
Skip ahead without the audience seeing the slides in between # Tab to the Slide Navigator first, hold Option while you find the slide, then let go of Option to jump to it.WinNot listedMacOption plusLeft arroworOption plusRight arrow
Scroll the notes down a line #WinControl plusDown arrowMacNot listed
Scroll the notes up a line #WinControl plusUp arrowMacNot listed
Scroll the notes down a screen #WinControl plusPage DownMacNot listed
Scroll the notes up a screen #WinControl plusPage UpMacNot listed
Read out the next line of the notes #WinAlt plusAMacNot listed
Read out the previous line of the notes #WinAlt plusZMacNot listed
Read out the time elapsed # The timer starts when Presenter View does.WinAlt plusWMacNot listed
Read out what comes next # The next slide, the next animation, or the end of the show.WinAlt plusQMacNot listed
Close Presenter View #WinEscapeMacNot listed
Set new timings while rehearsing #WinTMacNot listed
Keep the original timings while rehearsing #WinOMacNot listed
Advance on a mouse click while rehearsing #WinMMacNot listed
Record the slide's narration and timing again #WinRMacNot listed
Comments and Copilot
Apart from adding a comment, the comment keys work only while the comments pane has the focus.
Practise theseAdd a comment # It is anchored to whatever is selected: text, an object or the slide.WinControl plusAlt plusMMacShift plusCommand plusM
Post the comment or reply #WinControl plusEnterMacCommand plusReturn
Go to the comments pane #WinF6MacF6
Open the comments pane # When the pane is hidden.WinAlt plusthenZthenCMacNot listed
Go to the next comment thread #WinDown arrowMacDown arrow
Go to the previous comment thread #WinUp arrowMacUp arrow
Expand the comment thread #WinRight arrowMacNot listed
Collapse the comment thread #WinLeft arrowMacNot listed
Move to the reply box # On a Mac the reply box goes into editing, so a second Tab types a tab character; Ctrl+Tab moves on instead.WinTabMacTab
Jump between a comment and what it is anchored to # Works both ways: from the comment to the object, and from the object to its comment.WinAlt plusF12MacOption plusF12
Move the focus to the Copilot button # The button appears only for accounts with access to Copilot. Microsoft is rolling these keys out across apps and languages; until they reach yours, F6 moves to the button. On Windows, with the Copilot chat pane open, Alt+C goes to its text box instead.WinAlt plusCMacControl plusCommand plusI
Rewrite the selected text with Copilot # Opens Copilot's rewrite options for the selected text box.WinShift plusF8MacNot listed
Driving the ribbon
Press Alt in PowerPoint for Windows and a letter appears over every tab and command. Add-ins can add tabs of their own, with their own letters.
Practise theseShow the key tips over the ribbon # Then press a tab's letter, or move with the arrow keys.WinAlt plusorF10MacNot listed
Go to the Tell Me or Search box # Then type what you are looking for.WinAlt plusQMacNot listed
Open the Home tab # Slides, fonts, paragraphs and drawing.WinAlt plusHMacNot listed
Open the Insert tab # Slides, tables, pictures, shapes, links, text boxes, symbols and media.WinAlt plusNMacNot listed
Open the Draw tab #WinAlt plusJthenIMacNot listed
Open the Design tab # Themes and slide settings.WinAlt plusGMacNot listed
Open the Transitions tab # The effects between one slide and the next.WinAlt plusKMacNot listed
Open the Animations tab #WinAlt plusAMacNot listed
Open the Slide Show tab # Setting up and playing the show.WinAlt plusSMacNot listed
Open the Review tab # Spelling, the accessibility checker and comments.WinAlt plusRMacNot listed
Open the View tab # Views, gridlines and guides, zoom, windows and macros.WinAlt plusWMacNot listed
Open the Recording tab # Screen recordings, audio and video in the presentation.WinAlt plusEMacNot listed
Expand or collapse the ribbon #WinControl plusF1MacNot listed
Show the tooltip for the ribbon item in focus #WinControl plusShift plusF10MacNot listed
Pick a slide layout #WinAlt plusHthenLMacNot listed
Pick a theme #WinAlt plusGthenHMacNot listed
Change the font size #WinAlt plusHthenFthenSMacNot listed
Insert a text box #WinAlt plusNthenXMacNot listed
Insert a shape #WinAlt plusNthenSthenHMacNot listed
Insert a picture from your device #WinAlt plusNthenPthenDMacNot listed
Open the Zoom dialogue #WinAlt plusWthenQMacNot listed
Next
Word
Most of Word's shortcuts are decades old, but Microsoft has moved a few, and this page follows its current list, except where a row's note says otherwise.
Excel
Excel rewards the keyboard more than any other program on this site: the difference between a competent user and a fast one is almost entirely in this list.
OneNote
Microsoft documents far more OneNote keys for Windows than for the Mac, so many Mac cells here say Not listed rather than guess.
macOS
These work in the Finder and, with few exceptions, in every app that follows Apple's conventions.
PowerPoint keyboard shortcuts — comboshelf.com. Checked 27 September 2026 against Microsoft Support — Use keyboard shortcuts to create PowerPoint presentations.