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:
- Keep pressing ESC until no objects are selected.
- Keep pressing Tab until the desired placeholder is selected.
- 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.
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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
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