PowerPoint and Google Slides shortcuts
Slideshow, editing, the 6x6 rule and presenter mode: enough to build and run a presentation without leaving the keyboard.
Display and presentation shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
F5 |
Start the slideshow from the beginning |
Shift + F5 |
Start from the current slide |
Esc |
Exit presentation mode |
B |
Black screen (visual pause) |
W |
White screen |
Arrow / Space |
Next slide |
Editing and layout
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Ctrl + M |
New slide |
Ctrl + D |
Duplicate the selected object or slide |
Shift + drag |
Resize while keeping proportions |
Ctrl + G / Ctrl + Shift + G |
Group / ungroup objects |
Alt + drag (Windows) |
Duplicate an object by moving it |
Structuring an effective presentation
- One idea per slide; the title summarises the message, not just the topic.
- The 6x6 rule (a guideline): aim for 6 lines max, 6 words per line.
- Outline view (View → Outline) lets you write the whole text structure before worrying about visuals.
Presenter view (turn it on before F5) shows your notes and the timer on your own screen without the audience seeing them.
Slide Master
View → Slide Master lets you edit layout, fonts and colours once for the whole presentation — far more reliable than reformatting every slide individually, and essential for a consistent visual identity.
Transitions and animations: use sparingly
| Type | Effect on the audience |
|---|---|
| Simple transition (fade) | Subtle, professional |
| Complex transition (cube, rotate) | Distracts from the content, avoid in a professional setting |
| Element-by-element entrance animation | Useful for controlling reading pace |
Too many different animations in one presentation hurts perceived credibility — consistency (one or two animation types, reused throughout) is almost always better than variety.
Exporting and sharing
| Format | Use |
|---|---|
| Fixed sharing, identical on every device | |
| Video (MP4) | Presentation with narration and automatic timing |
| Image per slide (PNG/JPEG) | Inserting into another document |
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