Copy Formatting in PowerPoint using Buttons or Keyboard Shortcuts
by Avantix Learning Team | Updated March 12, 2021
Applies to: Microsoft® PowerPoint® 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 365 (Windows)
In Microsoft PowerPoint, you can copy shape, picture or text formatting quickly and easily using buttons or keyboard shortcuts.
Recommended article: How to Group and Ungroup in PowerPoint (with Shortcuts)
Do you want to learn more about PowerPoint? Check out our virtual classroom or live classroom PowerPoint courses >
1. Copy formatting using the Format Painter
The Format Painter is a great tool for copying formatting. It appears on the Home tab in the Ribbon in the Clipboard group:
To copy formatting using the Format Painter:
- Format a shape, image or text.
- Insert another shape, image or text.
- Select the first shape, image or text and click Format Painter on the Home tab in the Ribbon in the Clipboard group.
- Click the second shape, image or text to copy the formatting. You may need to drag over text.
If you double-click the Format Painter, it will remain selected and you can copy formatting to multiple shapes, images or pieces of text. Click the Format Painter or press Escape when you're finished copying formatting to turn it off.
2. Copy formatting using Pick Up and Apply Style buttons
There are two style buttons that you can add to the Quick Access Toolbar that can be used for copying formatting. They are Pick Up Style and Apply Style.
These Style buttons are similar to the Format Painter but have a few advantages:
- The style that you pick up remains available even after you perform other tasks.
- These tools may be easier to use when you want to copy formatting to a different slide.
- Apply Style may be easier to use for text.
To add the Pick Up Style and Apply Style buttons to the Quick Access Toolbar (which is above the Ribbon by default):
- Click the arrow to the right of the Quick Access Toolbar. A drop-down menu appears.
- Choose More Commands. A dialog box appears. Note that the Quick Access Toolbar is selected on the left.
- From the drop-down menu under Choose commands from, select All Commands.
- Click the button(s) you want to add.
- Click Add for each button you want to add. In this case, add Pick Up Style and Apply Style.
- Click OK.
- Click Close.
Below is the Options dialog box where you can add buttons to the Quick Access Toolbar:
The Pick-Up Style and Apply Style buttons appear as eyedroppers after they have been added to the Quick Access Toolbar:
To copy formatting using the Style buttons:
- Format a shape, image or text.
- Insert another shape, image or text.
- Select the first shape, image or text and click Pick Up Object Style in the Quick Access Toolbar.
- Click the second shape, image or text. You may need to drag over text.
- Click Apply Object Style in the Quick Access Toolbar.
- Continue using Apply Object Style with other shapes, images or text.
3. Copy formatting using keyboard shortcuts
You can also copy and paste formatting using keyboard shortcuts:
- Format a shape, image or text.
- Insert another shape, image or text.
- Select the first shape, image or text and press Ctrl + Shift + C.
- Click the second shape, image or text. You may need to drag over text.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + V.
- Continue pasting formatting to other shapes, images or text by pressing Ctrl + Shift + V.
Technically, you are using Pick Up Style and Apply Style when you use these keyboard shortcuts.
Subscribe to get more articles like this one
Did you find this article helpful? If you would like to receive new articles, join our email list.
More resources
10 PowerPoint Drawing Tricks and Shortcuts
How to Embed a YouTube Video in PowerPoint
How to Compress Images in PowerPoint (10 Ways)
How to Match Colors in PowerPoint Using the Eyedropper
How to Insert Video in PowerPoint (from a File on Your PC or Shared Drive)
Related courses
Microsoft PowerPoint: Intermediate / Advanced
Microsoft PowerPoint: Design for Non-Designers
Microsoft PowerPoint: Animations Bootcamp
Our instructor-led courses are delivered in virtual classroom format or at our downtown Toronto location at 18 King Street East, Suite 1400, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (some in-person classroom courses may also be delivered at an alternate downtown Toronto location). Contact us at info@avantixlearning.ca if you'd like to arrange custom instructor-led virtual classroom or onsite training on a date that's convenient for you.
Copyright 2023 Avantix® Learning
You may also like
3 Ways to Insert or Type the Euro Symbol in PowerPoint (€)
You can insert the euro sign or symbol (€) in a PowerPoint presentation using built-in PowerPoint commands or keyboard shortcuts (Alt code or AutoCorrect shortcuts).
How to Show or Unhide the Quick Access Toolbar in Word, Excel and PowerPoint
In 2021 and 365 versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint, you now have the ability to hide or unhide the Quick Access Toolbar. So if your Quick Access Toolbar seems to have disappeared, it may simply be hidden. In 2021, Microsoft also removed Undo and Redo / Repeat from the Quick Access Toolbar and moved these commands to the Home tab in the Ribbon.
5 Ways to Insert or Type the Square Root Symbol (√) in PowerPoint (with Shortcuts)
You can insert or type the square root symbol in PowerPoint presentations using built-in commands or keyboard shortcuts. The square root symbol or radical sign can be entered in placeholders, text boxes or in equation blocks on PowerPoint slides. You can use an Alt code shortcut, a Math AutoCorrect entry or create an AutoCorrect entry as a custom shortcut.
Microsoft, the Microsoft logo, Microsoft Office and related Microsoft applications and logos are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in Canada, US and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of the registered owners.
Avantix Learning |18 King Street East, Suite 1400, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5C 1C4 | Contact us at info@avantixlearning.ca
