Flip a Picture Horizontally or Vertically on a PowerPoint Slide
by Avantix Learning Team | Updated February 22, 2025
Applies to: Microsoft® PowerPoint® 2016, 2019, 2021 and 365 (Windows)
You can easily flip an image in PowerPoint using the Ribbon or by dragging a sizing handle. Images can be flipped horizontally or vertically on a slide.
Contents
Note: Buttons and Ribbon tabs may display in a different way (with or without text) depending on your version of PowerPoint, the size of your screen and your Control Panel settings. For PowerPoint 365 users, Ribbon tabs may appear with different names. For example, the Picture Format tab may appear as Picture Tools Format.
Screenshots in this article are from 365 but are similar in other versions of PowerPoint.
Recommended article: 10 Ways to Compress PowerPoint Presentations to Reduce File Size
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In this article, we'll be using Normal View but you can use the same strategies in Slide Master View.
Use the Ribbon to flip an image
To flip an image using the Ribbon:
- In Normal View, select the image on the slide by clicking it.
- Click the Picture Format or Picture Tools Format tab in the Ribbon.
- In the Arrange group, click Rotate. A drop-down menu appears.
- Click Flip Horizontal or Flip Vertical.
The Rotate drop-down menu appears as follows:
Use a sizing handle to flip an image
There is a little-known trick you can use in PowerPoint. Simply drag the sizing handle that appears when you select an image to flip it.
To flip an image using a sizing handle:
- In Normal View, select the image on the slide by clicking it.
- Hover over a corner sizing handle (white circular handle) that appears on the top left or top right corner of the image.
- Press the left mouse button and drag to the right, left or bottom of the image until it flips. You will need to drag just past the image until it flips. If you are dragging the top left sizing handle, drag to the right or down. If you are dragging the top right sizing handle, drag to the left or down.
In the example below, note the sizing handles that appear when you select a picture:
If you change your mind, simply press Ctrl + Z to undo.
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More Resources
How to Embed a YouTube Video in PowerPoint
How to Recolor a Picture in PowerPoint (4 Ways)
How to Add Background Music to Play on All Slides in PowerPoint
How to Insert a Video in PowerPoint (from a File on Your PC or Shared Drive)
How to Add Animation in PowerPoint (Animate Text, Images and Other Objects)
Related courses
Microsoft PowerPoint: Intermediate / Advanced
Microsoft PowerPoint: Design for Non-Designers
Microsoft PowerPoint: Animations Bootcamp
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Image credit(s) / application screenshot(s): Microsoft
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