Keyboard Sequences for PowerPoint 365 for Windows

Many users are familiar with keyboard shortcuts for PowerPoint 365 for Windows, yet there are no real shortcuts for tasks users need to perform all the time. This includes changing PowerPoint's views or even aligning or reordering slide objects.

Thankfully, there are many keyboard sequences that work for these tasks in PowerPoint 365 for Windows. Most sequences entail that you press two buttons, and then press the third button after a moment.

So if the keyboard sequence is listed as Alt + S > H, then you must press the Alt and S keys together, let go of those two keys and then press the H key.

If you discover a keyboard sequence not listed here, please get in touch with us through our feedback form.

Animation Sequences

First, access the Animation Task Pane:

Alt + A > C
Brings up the Animation Task Pane

Then reorder your animations:

Alt + A > E
Move the selected animation to play one step earlier

Alt + A > L
Move the selected animation to play one step later

Selection

Alt + H > G > P
Brings up the Selection Task Pane

F6 to cycle clockwise through panes in the Normal view, and then Ctrl + Spacebar > C
Closes active Task Pane

Working with Slides

Alt + H > I > L
Opens the Insert Outline dialog box

Alt + H > F > O
Show the Office Clipboard Task Pane

Alt + H > I > R
Brings up the Reuse Slides Task Pane

Alt + N > T > X
Insert Excel Spreadsheet

Alt + R > RS
Opens the Smart Lookup Task Pane

Alt + S > H
Hide/unhide the selected slide

Alt + W > N
Open a new window containing a view of the current presentation

Alt + H > Q
Reset the position, size, and formatting of the slide placeholders to their default settings

Alt + N > C
Opens the Insert Chart dialog box

Alt + S > N > R
Start recording from the current slide

Alt + W > E
Cascade the open document windows on the screen so that they overlap

Alt + W > F
Fits the slide to current window

Alt + W > X
Opens the Grid and Guides dialog box

Backstage View Options

Alt + F > I
Brings up the Info Pane

Alt + F > T
Opens the PowerPoint Options dialog box

Alt + F > Z
Brings up the Share Pane

Alt + F > E
Brings up the Export Pane

Alt + F > D
Brings up the Account Pane

PowerPoint Tools

Alt + T > A
Brings up the AutoCorrect Options dialog box

Alt + T > L
Brings up the Language dialog box

Alt + T > O
Brings up the PowerPoint Options dialog box

Alt + T > R
Brings up the Research Task Pane

Alt + T > S
Brings up the Spelling Task Pane

Aligning and Distributing Slide Objects

First make sure you choose whether you want to align objects to each other or to the slide:

Alt + H > G > A > O
Activates the Align Selected Objects to Each Other option

Alt + H > G > A > A
Activates the Align Selected Objects to Slide option

Then choose the Alignment options:

Alt + H > G > A > B
Align objects Bottom

Alt + H > G > A > C
Align objects Center

Alt + H > G > A > L
Align objects Left

Alt + H > G > A > M
Align objects Middle

Alt + H > G > A > R
Align objects Right

Alt + H > G > A > T
Align objects Top

You can also distribute selected slide objects:

Alt + H > G > A > H
Distribute objects Horizontally

Alt + H > G > A > V
Distribute objects Vertically

Working with Themes and Backgrounds

Alt + G > T > F
Brings up the Format Background Task Pane

Alt + G > H > M
Opens the Choose Theme or Themed Document dialog box

Alt + G > H > S
Opens the Save Current Theme dialog box

Alt + G > V > C > C
Opens the Create New Theme Colors dialog box

Alt + G > V > F > C
Opens the Create New Theme Fonts dialog box

PowerPoint Views

Alt + W > L
Change to Normal view

Alt + W > D
Change to Reading view

Alt + W > H
Change to Handout Master view

Alt + W > T
Change to Notes Page view

Alt + W > I
Change to Slide Sorter view

Alt + W > K
Change to Notes Master view

Alt + W > M
Change to Slide Master view

Alt + W > P > O
Change to Outline view

Alt + S > B
Keyboard shortcut: F5
Play in Slide Show view from the first slide

Alt + S > C
Keyboard shortcut: Shift + F5
Play in Slide Show view from the current slide

PowerPoint Keyboard Shortcuts and Sequences Ebook

PowerPoint 365, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2007 and 2003 for Windows

PowerPoint 365, 2019, 2016 and 2011 for Mac

PowerPoint for the Web on Windows and Mac

Have you ever used keyboard shortcuts and sequences in PowerPoint? Or are you a complete keyboard aficionado? Do you want to learn about some new shortcuts? Or do you want to know if your favorite keyboard shortcuts are documented?

Go and get a copy of our PowerPoint Keyboard Shortcuts and Sequences ebook.