Try These Great Shortcuts to Select Objects and Slides in PowerPoint

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated February 4, 2021

Applies to: Microsoft® PowerPoint® 2013, 2016, 2019 and 365 (Windows)

Check out these great PowerPoint shortcuts to select objects and slides.

Recommended article: Are You Using These 10 Slide Show Tricks During Your PowerPoint Presentations?

1. Select objects one at a time in order on a slide

In Normal View, click in an empty area on the slide or keep pressing ESC so that no objects are selected. Press Tab. Keep pressing tab to move from object to object.

Notably, the tab order is also the reading order of a slide if it is read by an assistive technology program for users with visual impairments.

2. Select a placeholder on a slide

To select a placeholder on a slide in Normal View, click its edge.

If you prefer to use the keyboard, keep pressing ESC until no objects are selected and then keep pressing Tab until you have selected the desired placeholder.

3. Select all objects on a slide

In Normal View, click in an empty area on the slide or keep pressing ESC until no objects are selected, then press Ctrl + A.

4. Select all text in a placeholder or text box

In Normal View, click in a placeholder and then press Ctrl + A.

If using the keyboard:

  1. Keep pressing ESC until no objects are selected.
  2. Keep pressing Tab until the desired placeholder is selected.
  3. Press Enter.

5. Selecting specific objects on a slide

Select the first object and then Shift-click on subsequent objects (you can also Ctrl-click).

6. Select contiguous slides in the Slide Sorter

To select specific slides in the Slide Sorter that are adjacent to each other, in Slide Sorter View, select the first slide and then Shift-click the last slide.

7. Select non-contiguous slides in the Slide Sorter

To select specific slides in the Slide Sorter that are not adjacent to each other, in Slide Sorter View, select the first slide and then Ctrl-click on subsequent slides.

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

How to Highlight Text in PowerPoint (5 Ways)

How to Compress Images in PowerPoint (10 Ways)

How to Make a Picture Transparent in PowerPoint (2 Ways)

How to Remove the Background of an Image in PowerPoint (2 Ways)

How to Crop an Image into a Circle in PowerPoint (Crop to Shape Method)

Related courses

Microsoft PowerPoint: Intermediate / Advanced

Microsoft PowerPoint: Design for Non-Designers

Microsoft Word: Intermediate / Advanced

Microsoft Excel: Intermediate / Advanced

VIEW MORE COURSES >

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 2024 Avantix® Learning

You may also like

How to Fade a Picture or Part of a Picture in PowerPoint (Using a Gradient)

How to Fade a Picture or Part of a Picture in PowerPoint (Using a Gradient)

You can fade a picture in PowerPoint by drawing a rectangle shape on top of the picture and then filling the rectangle with a gradient from opaque to transparent. This technique is often used to fade an image into the background of a slide. Since the rectangle is placed on top of the image and then text may be placed on top of the rectangle, you may need to reorder the objects.

How to Lock an Image, Shape or Other Object in PowerPoint

How to Lock an Image, Shape or Other Object in PowerPoint

You can now lock an image, shape or other object in PowerPoint. Objects can be locked in Normal View or Slide Master View. Only PowerPoint 365 users can lock objects to prevent moving and resizing. This is helpful if you want to select and move other objects on the slide or prevent others from moving or resizing an object. You can lock items using the context menu or the Selection Pane.

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

Summary
7 PowerPoint Shortcuts to Select Objects and Save Time
Article Name
7 PowerPoint Shortcuts to Select Objects and Save Time
Description
Check out these great selection tricks to save time in PowerPoint.
Author
Publisher Name
Avantix Learning

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This