presentation ppt portrait

How to change your Microsoft PowerPoint slideshow orientation to portrait mode

• To change your PowerPoint slideshow orientation, you must access the "Slide Size" feature under the "Design" tab. 
• You can then adjust your PowerPoint slideshow from the horizontal landscape to portrait mode through the "Orientation" option. 
• The process looks about the same on both the PowerPoint app and the web browser version, though the menu options will be labeled differently.
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While we're all used to seeing PowerPoint slideshows in landscape orientation, every so often, a presentation may need to be in portrait format.

The process to change your slide orientation looks about the same on both the PowerPoint app and the web browser versions. However, the menus will differ slightly due to spacing, as will the labels. 

For example, when adjusting slide content to fit the new orientation, the app version will ask if you want to scale items up or down, while the online version will ask if you want to maximize items or ensure fit. Despite using different language, the options mean the same thing.

If you want to change your PowerPoint presentation from landscape to portrait, here's how to adjust slide orientation.

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1. Open PowerPoint on your Mac or PC. You can open a presentation you already started or create a new one.

2. Navigate to the "Design" tab.

3. Click the "Slide Size" icon toward the right side of the toolbar. This will immediately open a drop-down menu highlighting your current selection. 

4. Click "Page Setup…" to open a pop-up menu.

5 . Under the "Orientation" section, select the upward-facing portrait option. You'll notice arrows showing which way the text is facing. 

6. Click "OK" when you're done.

7. This will immediately prompt another, smaller pop-up. If there are already items — such as text, charts, or photos — on your slide, you'll be asked if you want to scale content up or down to fit the new slide shape. 

8. Your choice should immediately return you to the slide screen. You'll notice it's been flipped. You may need to adjust content if it's no longer centered or sized to your liking.

How to change portrait orientation in PowerPoint online

1. Launch your PowerPoint presentation. 

2. Click the "Design" tab.

3. Select "Slide Size."

4 . Choose "Custom Slide Size…" next to the gear icon.

5. Select "Portrait." You'll also have the option to change the slide size.

6. Click "OK."

7. Choose how you'd like to scale your content to fit the new slide size: maximize or ensure fit. 

8. Your choice will take you back to your slideshow. You may have to adjust any text or shapes that no longer fit on screen.

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• Main content

How to Change PowerPoint to Portrait? A Step-by-Step Guide

Table of contents.

PowerPoint slides typically use a landscape orientation, where the width of the slide is wider than its height. This layout has become the norm for presentations because it matches the shape of many projectors and computer screens, ensuring that your content looks its best when displayed to your audience.

Landscape and Portrait Slide Sizes?

In PowerPoint, slides are typically set to Landscape orientation by default, coming in two sizes:

• Standard : 4:3 ratio (10×7.5 inches)
• Widescreen : 16:9 ratio (13.33×7.5 inches)

For Portrait slides, the default size is 10×5.626 inches.

Landscape orientation provides a wider space for your content, making it great for including visuals like images, charts, graphs, and tables. The text flows naturally from left to right, which is easier for viewers to read and understand.

On the other hand, Portrait orientation has a taller, narrower layout, with the height exceeding the width. While it’s not as common in presentations, Portrait orientation might be useful for specific situations where a different layout is needed.

How to Change PowerPoint to Portrait  

On windows:.

Step 1 – Open your presentation:  Launch Microsoft PowerPoint and open the presentation you want to modify.

Step 2 – Access the Design tab:  Locate the ribbon at the top of the PowerPoint window. Click on the “Design” tab.

Step 3 – Find the Slide Size options:  Within the “Design” tab, look for the “Customize” group on the right-hand side. Click the dropdown menu under the label “Slide Size.”

Step 4 – Choose “Custom Slide Size”:   Several pre-defined sizes will appear. Instead of selecting one of those, choose the option at the very bottom: “Custom Slide Size.”

Step 5 – Set Orientation to Portrait:  A new window titled “Slide Size” will pop up. Under the “Orientation” section, you’ll see two radio buttons: “Landscape” (which is the default) and “Portrait.” Click the radio button next to “Portrait” to switch the orientation.

Step 6 – Click “OK”:  Once you’ve chosen “Portrait,” simply click the “OK” button at the bottom of the “Slide Size” window.

Step 7 – Choosing Between “Maximize” and “Ensure Fit”

After clicking “OK” in the previous step, PowerPoint might prompt you with a choice between two options:

• Maximize:  This option enlarges your existing slide content to fill the entire portrait space. However, this may cause some elements to appear distorted or cut off.
• Ensure Fit:  This option shrinks your slide content to fit proportionally within the portrait layout. This ensures everything stays visible but may leave extra blank space around the edges.
• Open your PowerPoint presentation.
• Go to the File menu and select Page Setup.
• In the “Page Setup” dialog box, under Orientation, choose Portrait. You can also adjust the width and height values here if needed.

Recommendations:

• For presentations intended to be shown on a screen:  Choose “Maximize” to utilize the full portrait area. Text and images might need slight adjustments to avoid being cropped.
• For printing handouts or notes:  Opt for “Ensure Fit” to guarantee all content remains visible on the printed page, even if there’s extra space.

Are you a Google Slides user? Check our guide on How To Make Google Slides Vertical here !

How to Make a Single Slide Portrait in PowerPoint? 

While PowerPoint doesn’t directly support both orientations within a single file, you can achieve this by linking separate presentations. Here’s how:

Step 1: Open your landscape presentation.

Step 2: Navigate to the slide where you want to insert the link.

Step 3: Add a text box or select existing text to act as the link.

Step 4: Go to Insert > Action.

Step 5: Choose between “Mouse Click” (triggers when you click the text) or “Mouse Over” (triggers when you hover over the text).

Step 6: Select “Hyperlink to:” and choose “Other PowerPoint Presentation” from the dropdown.

Step 7: Locate and select your portrait presentation. Then in “Hyperlink to Slide”, select the slide you want to start from.

Step 8: Click “OK.”

Now, during your presentation, clicking (or hovering, if you chose Mouse Over) the designated text will seamlessly switch to your portrait presentation.

Remember these things while linking the presentation :

• Ensure both presentations are saved in the same folder to avoid broken links.
• Consider using a clear call to action on the linked text, like “Click here for details” or “View data in portrait mode.”

Benefits of Portrait Orientation

There are several reasons why you might need to change the orientation to portrait:

1. Enhanced Viewing Experience

• Vertical Content Suitability : Documents, articles, and social media feeds primarily consist of text, making portrait orientation more efficient in utilizing the screen’s height. This allows for better readability with fewer scrolls needed to view content.
• Focused Viewing : Portrait orientation gives a better view of vertical content like portraits or tall buildings, allowing you to focus on the details without distractions.

2. Considering Device Limits

• Comfortable Handheld Use : Holding a phone or tablet in portrait orientation is often more comfortable for long periods.
• Optimized Screen Space : On smaller screens, portrait orientation might be the only way to see everything without zooming or scrolling sideways.

3. Tailoring to Application Needs

• App-Specific Design : Certain applications are primarily designed for portrait orientation, and using them in landscape mode may result in functionality or display issues.
• Seamless Reading Experience : Many ebooks and webcomics are formatted for vertical scrolling, making portrait orientation preferable for a smooth and uninterrupted reading experience.

Tips for Creating Visually Appealing Portrait Slides

Choosing the Right Images:

• Pick clear, well-lit portraits without blurriness or pixelation.
• Make sure the images match the slide content, avoiding generic stock photos.
• Select portraits that convey emotions and resonate with the audience, considering facial expressions and mood.
• Aim for diversity by including various genders, ethnicities, ages, and backgrounds.

Composition and Design:

• Crop images strategically to highlight the subject’s face and remove distracting background elements.
• Position portraits carefully within the slide layout for balance.
• Use empty space effectively to avoid clutter and draw attention to the portrait.
• Coordinate the color scheme of the portrait with other slide elements.

Text and Content:

• Keep text brief on the portrait slide to avoid overshadowing the image.
• Choose a clear, readable font that matches the overall style.
• Place text thoughtfully to ensure important parts of the portrait are visible.

Additional Considerations:

• Use filters sparingly to enhance the mood without compromising image quality.
• Consider adding subtle overlays or textures for visual interest.
• Maintain a consistent visual style for a professional look.

Closing Thoughts

Changing PowerPoint to portrait orientation is a straightforward process that lets you customize your presentations to fit different purposes. Whether you’re making a vertical infographic or getting slides ready for a poster presentation, these steps will help you easily switch between landscape and portrait orientations in Microsoft PowerPoint.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why change slide orientation in powerpoint.

While landscape dominates presentations, switching to portrait in PowerPoint can be beneficial for showcasing tall content like portraits and infographics, creating handouts, adapting to specific screens, or adding visual variety. However, this format has limitations – you can’t mix orientations and content might require adjustments. Choose the orientation that best suits your content and presentation goals.

Can I mix Portrait and Landscape slides in one presentation?

While directly combining them isn’t possible, you can achieve a similar effect. Here’s how:

Create two separate presentations: One in landscape and another in portrait.

Link the presentations: Insert hyperlinks in your main presentation (landscape) to specific slides in the portrait presentation.

Does changing one slide’s orientation affect the whole presentation?

Yes. By default, all slides in a presentation share the same orientation (landscape or portrait). Changing one slide’s orientation will automatically adjust the entire presentation to match.

Can I revert my portrait PowerPoint back to landscape?

Yes, you can easily revert to landscape by adjusting the slide size settings.

Are there specific templates designed for portrait presentations?

Some templates are optimized for portrait mode, or you can customize existing ones.

Is there a quick way to switch between Landscape and Portrait in PowerPoint?

Unfortunately, there’s no single shortcut key to change the entire presentation’s orientation. However, you can access the orientation settings through the following methods:

• Go to the “Design” tab. In the “Customize” section, you’ll find the “Slide Size” option. Clicking the dropdown menu allows you to choose between Landscape and Portrait.
• Right-click on any slide. Select “Size and Layout” from the context menu. A window will appear where you can choose the desired orientation.

How to put PowerPoint in portrait mode for handouts?

In Print settings under “Handouts,” choose a portrait layout option like “2 Slides per Page (Portrait)” to display your slides in portrait on printed handouts.

What happens to my existing content if I change the orientation to portrait?

PowerPoint will attempt to scale your existing content to fit the new orientation. However, depending on the amount of content and its layout, adjustments might be necessary to ensure everything displays correctly.

Will my presentation work on all projectors if it’s in portrait orientation?

While most modern projectors can handle portrait presentations, some older models might have limitations. It’s recommended to test your presentation on the specific projector beforehand if unsure.

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Home Blog PowerPoint Tutorials How To Change Page Orientation in PowerPoint to Portrait

How To Change Page Orientation in PowerPoint to Portrait

The page orientation in a presentation slide, also known as the PowerPoint portrait orientation, is the way in which the rectangular slide is oriented for normal viewing while presenting. The two most common types of orientation are portrait and landscape and these are the two formats available in Microsoft PowerPoint.

In PowerPoint, it is very easy to change the page orientation from landscape to portrait or vice versa. Here we will show you how to change PowerPoint to portrait and modify the slide orientation so you can use a portrait layout format instead of the default landscape style.

Table of Contents:

Why Change Slide Orientation in PowerPoint?

Benefits of portrait orientation, how to make powerpoint portrait by changing the page orientation.

• How to Change Slide Orientation in PowerPoint
• How to Change Slide Orientation in PowerPoint 2011 for Mac

Applying Portrait Orientation to Templates

When it comes to creating a compelling PowerPoint presentation, choosing the right slide orientation is more important than you might think. The default landscape orientation is suitable for many scenarios, but there are situations where switching to portrait orientation, like how to change to portrait in PowerPoint, can greatly enhance your presentation’s effectiveness.

• Focus on Vertical Content: Portrait orientation is particularly useful when your content is more vertically oriented. For example, if you’re showcasing a series of tall images, vertical charts, or lengthy textual content, portrait orientation ensures that your audience can see the entire content without excessive horizontal scrolling.
• Print-Friendly: Portrait orientation aligns well with standard paper sizes. So, if you intend to print your slides or create handouts, portrait orientation allows for a seamless transition from digital to printed materials.
• Emphasize Storytelling: Portrait orientation encourages a more storytelling-friendly layout. It can be ideal for sequential storytelling, timelines, or presentations with a clear top-to-bottom flow.
• Mobile and Tablet Compatibility: With the rise of mobile devices, portrait orientation works well for presentations viewed on smartphones and tablets. This ensures your content is easily readable, even on smaller screens.

Switching to portrait orientation offers several advantages that can help you create more engaging and visually appealing PowerPoint presentations:

• Enhanced Readability: Portrait orientation allows for larger text and graphics, making your content more readable, especially from a distance.
• Visual Impact: It provides a unique, eye-catching format that can captivate your audience and make your presentation stand out.
• Improved Aesthetics: Certain types of content, such as tall images and vertical infographics, look more aesthetically pleasing in portrait orientation.
• Storytelling and Sequencing: Portrait orientation encourages a storytelling approach, enabling you to present information in a more structured and sequential manner.
• Print and Handout Compatibility: If you plan to distribute handouts or print your slides, portrait orientation ensures a seamless transition from digital to physical formats.

You can change the slide orientation in Microsoft PowerPoint by using a special setting in the PowerPoint Ribbon, under Slide Size option. This option will help to change landscape to portrait in PPT, and it can also be used to change PowerPoint slide size to a different format or aspect ratio. Follow these steps in order to change the landscape orientation to portrait orientation in Microsoft PowerPoint.

1. Open the PowerPoint presentation and then click on the  Design tab at the top menu.

4. To change the slide orientation from PPT landscape to portrait , just select the Portrait option by checking the corresponding radio button. This process demonstrates how to change a PPT to a portrait in a straightforward manner.

5. A new dialog box will appear, this time asking what to do while scaling to a new slide size. Here you can choose to maximize the visible area or Ensure Fit to scale it down and ensure the new design will fit on the new slide format.

• Maximize: This option lets you take advantage of the entire slide dimension to cover the slide with the current content.
• Ensure Fit: This option will scale the current content down to ensure it will fit on the new slide. Depending on your design, by choosing this option you may find two empty bars at the top or bottom of the slide as displayed in the thumbnail examples shown below.

Finally, here we can see the new orientation applied to the PowerPoint presentation. The following screenshot shows our Kite PowerPoint template adjusted to a portrait format and ready to be used to design a flyer or eye-catching brochures in PowerPoint.

Did you know? The portrait word definition comes from the fact that a close-up portrait of a person’s face and upper body is more fitting for a canvas or photo where the height of the display area is greater than the width, and is more common for the pages of books. Landscape originally described artistic outdoor scenes where a wide view area is needed, but the upper part of the painting would be mostly sky and so is omitted. [source: Wikipedia]

How to Change Slide Orientation in PowerPoint

In Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 you can also change the slide orientation. This option is located in the Design menu under the Page Setup section as shown in the screenshot below.

How to Change Slide Orientation in PowerPoint 2011 for Mac

If you are using Mac instead of Windows, then you can also change the slide orientation in Microsoft PowerPoint 2011. In this case, the Page Setup option is located under the Themes menu.

1. Go to the Themes menu and click on the Slide Size button.

2. Then, click Page Setup…

Applying portrait orientation to PowerPoint templates is a simple process that can add a fresh and unique touch to your presentations. Here’s how you can do it:

• Open a Blank Presentation: Start with a blank PowerPoint presentation or the one you wish to modify.
• Design Tab: Click on the “Design” tab at the top menu to access the design options.
• Slide Size Menu: Next, click on the “Slide Size” menu button located on the right side of the toolbar. This menu allows you to adjust the slide size and orientation.
• Custom Slide Size: Choose the “Custom Slide Size” option to open the Slide Size dialog box. Here, you can customize the slide size properties to suit your needs.
• Select Portrait Orientation: To change from PowerPoint landscape to portrait, check the radio button for “Portrait” under the “Slides” section.
• Scaling Options: You will be prompted with a dialog box asking how you’d like to scale your content to fit the new slide size. Choose between “Maximize” or “Ensure Fit” depending on your design preferences.

By applying portrait orientation to templates, you can create visually striking presentations that are tailored to your content and audience, ensuring that your message is delivered effectively and memorably.

By using a different slide orientation format in PowerPoint you can control how the slide will be displayed either while presenting or while designing a PowerPoint presentation that you plan to print later. For example, this can be very useful if you want to design a flyer, a poster for a University, or even a restaurant menu from Microsoft PowerPoint.

• Page Orientation at Wikipedia

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How to Change PowerPoint Slide Orientation

Change orientation first so elements don't drop off the slide

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What To Know

• In Windows: In Normal view, press Design > Slide Size > Custom Slide Size . Under Orientation , select Vertical, and set the Height and Width .
• On the web: Design > Slide Size > Custom Slide Size > Portrait > OK . Then choose how slides fit the screen.
• On a Mac: File > Page Setup . Select Portrait , adjust the size as needed, and press OK .

This article explains how to change the orientation of PowerPoint slides between portrait and landscape. Instructions in this article apply to PowerPoint for Microsoft 365, PowerPoint 2019, PowerPoint 2016, PowerPoint 2013, PowerPoint 2010, PowerPoint 2007, PowerPoint for Mac, and PowerPoint Online.

Change Slide Orientation in PowerPoint for Windows

The steps used to change the page orientation between landscape and portrait are the same in all versions of PowerPoint 2013 for Windows and newer.

In the Normal view, click the Design tab.

Select Slide Size .

Select Custom Slide Size .

Use the buttons in the Orientation section to select a vertical orientation or enter dimensions in the Width and Height fields.

Select OK to apply the changes.

Change Slide Orientation in PowerPoint 2010 and 2007 for Windows

Follow these steps to change from landscape to portrait slide orientation in older versions of PowerPoint for Windows.

Select the Design  tab, and in the  Page Setup  group, click  Slide Orientation .

Choose Portrait .

Press OK to save your changes.

Change Slide Orientation in PowerPoint for Mac

To change the page orientation from landscape to portrait in PowerPoint for Mac 2011.

Select the  File  menu and choose Page Setup .

In the  Page Setup  dialog box, across from Slides , select the  Portrait orientation. As an alternative, select custom dimensions in the Size section, making the height greater than the width.

Choose OK to apply the changes.

Change Slide Orientation in PowerPoint Online

For a long time, PowerPoint Online didn't offer a portrait orientation slide, but that has changed.

Select the Design tab.

Select Slide Size , then choose Custom Slide Size .

Select the Portrait orientation image.

You have the choice to either choose Maximize , which maximizes the use of the available slide space, or click Ensure fit , which makes sure that the slide content fits on the vertical portrait orientation.

Landscape and Portrait Slides in the Same Presentation

There is no simple way to combine landscape slides and portrait slides in the same presentation. If you've worked with slide presentations, you know that this is a basic feature. Without it, some slides won't present the material effectively, such as with a lengthy vertical list, for example. There is a workaround if you must have this capability.

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How to Change PowerPoint Slides to Portrait – 2 Easy Methods

(Note: This tutorial on how to change PowerPoint slides to Portrait is suitable for PowerPoint 2013 and later versions including  Office 365 )

PowerPoint has always been the backbone of every business meeting and discussion. Most high-school students and graduates find this software helpful in presenting their papers and projects. 

Not all PowerPoint presentations need to be in the default landscape orientation. Say you want to present detailed calculations and analytical charts; you can easily customize the setting in a few clicks. 

Do you know how to change the slide orientation to portrait? I’ll show you how to change PowerPoint to portrait in 2 easy methods in this article.

You’ll learn:

Landscape and Portrait Slide Size:

• Steps Involved in Changing Slide Orientation to Portrait
• Method to Change Particular PowerPoint Slides to Portrait 

Related reads:

How to Change Slide Size in PowerPoint? A Simple Guide

How to Save PowerPoint as Video? A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Make a Flowchart in PowerPoint? 2 Easy Methods

The default slide orientation in PowerPoint is Landscape orientation, available in two sizes:

• Standard – 4:3 ratio  (10×7.5 inches)
• Widescreen – 16:9 ratio (13.33×7.5 inches)

And the default slide size of the Portrait slide is 10×5.626 inches.

How to Change PowerPoint to Portrait?

In the following steps, I will show you the 2 easy methods on how to change PowerPoint to portrait.

Steps Involved in Changing PowerPoint Slides to Portrait

• Method to Change Particular PowerPoint slides to Portrait. 

To create a new PowerPoint presentation, go to the File Tab and click on New > Blank Presentation from the Microsoft PowerPoint homepage.

• Delete the default layout text boxes (Click to add Title and Subtitle) from the blank slide to customize your presentation. You can change the slide orientation and start working on your content.

• The default slide orientation in PowerPoint is the Landscape , which is, without a doubt, the best way to present projects.
• To change the default slide orientation, go to the Design tab on the homepage and choose the Slide Size drop-down box from the Customize section.

• The Slide size drop-down box lists Standard size , Widescreen size , and Custom Slide Size options. Select the Custom Slide Size option.

• The Custom Slide Size dialog box opens with a list of customization options for your presentation.

• You can manually enter the specific dimensions for your presentation in the width and height settings bar. You will notice that the Slide orientation is default set to Landscape mode. Make sure to change it to the Portrait option next to it.

• There are two Slide scaling options: Maximize and Ensure Fit . The Maximize fit zooms the data, and the Ensure fit makes the content fit in your slide.

• Choose either of the scaling options to change the orientation of your presentation to Portrait that best complement the data.

To change the default orientation of your existing presentation, follow the same procedure. However, note that the entire format of the presentation will be modified and aligned weirdly. Please make the necessary changes, such as text box alignment, charts, tables, and misoriented images, to the present Portrait version.

We saw how to change PowerPoint to portrait using the Slide Size option in this method.

Suggested reads:

How to Create a Timeline in PowerPoint? 2 Proven Methods

How to Add Notes to PowerPoint? 6 Easy Steps

How to Embed a Video in PowerPoint? 4 Easy Steps

Method to Change Particular PowerPoint slides to Portrait. 

Firstly, Microsoft Office does not permit having different slide orientations within the same PowerPoint presentation. You can either have an entire presentation in Landscape mode or the entire presentation in Portrait mode. 

However, there is a way to carry it out for a particular slide that will convey the message. 

• The first step is to create two separate presentations, the first one that predominantly contains your project and the other one in portrait/landscape based on your convenience. 
• For this example, let’s consider the presentation containing the sales of books in a table format, and I’ve named it Portrait .

• Create the next presentation in the default orientation. Here, I have created two slides and named them Landscape for our reference.

• In the next step, hyperlink an object or a text from one PowerPoint presentation by highlighting it. Thus, clicking on the object will redirect to the slide from the other presentation.
• Select a text from the slide you want to jump to the Portrait slide. Go to Insert Tab and select the Action icon from the Links section to do that.

• The Action Settings dialog box appears. Click on the Hyperlink To drop-down box.

• Choose the location of the Portrait slide presentation and click OK to hyperlink the slide to your current presentation.

• This method may sound unconvincing, but the Slideshow works perfectly. I have attached a short screen recording of the method.

Place the Hyperlink at the end of your Slideshow for better convenience. Otherwise, you’ll be unable to jump back to the remaining slides.

We saw how to change PowerPoint to portrait using the Hyperlink option in this method.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many orientations are available in powerpoint.

Microsoft Office Powerpoint contains Portrait and Landscape orientations. The default orientation is the Landscape one.

Is it possible to combine Portrait and Landscape orientations in a single Presentation?

It is impossible to have a combination of orientations within a single PowerPoint. However, you can do so by hyperlinking a particular slide inside your presentation.

By changing one slide orientation, does it affect the entire Presentation?

The answer is Yes; the Slide orientation applies to all slides by default. Therefore, changing the orientation of one slide to Landscape or Portrait will affect the entire PowerPoint presentation.

Is there a Shortcut to change orientation in Powerpoint?

There is no dedicated shortcut key to change PowerPoint slides to Portrait. However, the same can be done in just a few clicks. Click on the Design Tab > Slide Size > Custom Slide Size > Portrait and click OK.

Closing Thoughts

In this article, we saw how to change PowerPoint slides to portrait in a few easy steps. Upgrade your presentation skills by utilizing what PowerPoint offers and customize your project with an orientation that magnifies the important information.

Please check out our free resources center if you need more high-quality PowerPoint guides.

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Simon Calder

Chris “Simon” Calder was working as a Project Manager in IT for one of Los Angeles’ most prestigious cultural institutions, LACMA.He taught himself to use Microsoft Project from a giant textbook and hated every moment of it. Online learning was in its infancy then, but he spotted an opportunity and made an online MS Project course - the rest, as they say, is history!

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Blog > How to show PowerPoint slides in Portrait orientation

How to show PowerPoint slides in Portrait orientation

01.01.20   •  #powerpointtips.

In this tutorial you'll learn how to switch your PowerPoint slides from landscape to portrait orientation. You can either watch our video, or follow the steps below:

Go to the Design tab and click on Slide size and choose Custom slide size in the dropdown.

In the dialog, under Slides switch from Landscape to Portrait and click on OK . Depending on the size of your slidedeck, this may take a few seconds.

Now you can select how the contents of your existing slides will be resized to portrait format. There are two options available:

• Maximize Images and content are scaled to fill the whole slide. Attention: it's possible that images get cut off on left and right!
• Ensure fit Images and content are fitted so that they are fully visible.

Now all your slides are in portrait format! However, if you use graphics as background images in some of your slides, changing the orientation can cause unexpected distortion of the images. You'll need to correct this manually.

Related articles

About the author.

Daniel Amerbauer

Daniel is the Co-founder and CEO of SlideLizard. Perfectionist by nature, but also a passionate designer and developer.

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The big SlideLizard presentation glossary

.odp file extension.

.odp files are similar to .ppt files. It's a presentation which was created with Impress and contains slides with images, texts, effects and media.

.pps file extension

A .pps file is a slide show. They are similiar to .ppt files but they open as a slide show if you double-klick them. They later got replaced by .ppsx files.

Outline view

The outline view in PowerPoint shows a list with the whole text of all slides on the left of the screen. There are no images and graphics displayed in this view. It's useful for editing the presentation and can also be saved as a Word document.

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How to Change From Landscape to Portrait in PowerPoint

If you’re looking to change the orientation of your PowerPoint slides, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we will walk you through step-by-step instructions for changing your slide orientation from landscape to portrait, customizing your slide size and dimensions, and creating visually appealing slides. We will also cover common mistakes to avoid and troubleshooting tips for when you encounter issues while switching between the two orientations. Finally, we will discuss how to print your slides in either portrait or landscape mode, templates to use, and advanced techniques for designing portrait slides in PowerPoint.

Table of Contents

Why you might need to change from landscape to portrait

There are several reasons why you might need to change the orientation of your PowerPoint slides. For example, portrait orientation is better suited for slides that feature vertical content such as charts, graphs, or images. On the other hand, landscape orientation works better for slides that require horizontal content, such as maps or timelines. Additionally, portrait slides offer a more traditional book-like look and feel while landscape slides offer more space for wider graphics and overall design.

Another reason why you might need to change from landscape to portrait is when you need to print your slides. Portrait orientation is better suited for printing on standard letter-sized paper, while landscape orientation is better suited for printing on larger paper sizes such as legal or tabloid. It’s important to consider the printing requirements of your presentation when deciding on the orientation of your slides.

Lastly, the orientation of your slides can also affect the way your audience perceives your presentation. Portrait orientation can create a more intimate and focused atmosphere, while landscape orientation can create a more expansive and dynamic atmosphere. Depending on the message you want to convey, you may need to switch between orientations to achieve the desired effect.

Step-by-step instructions for changing slide orientation

To change your slide orientation in PowerPoint, follow these simple steps:

• Open the presentation you want to change the orientation for.
• Go to the “Design” tab in the ribbon.
• Click the “Slide Size” button located at the top right of the screen.
• Select “Custom Slide Size” from the dropdown menu.
• In the “Custom Slide Size” dialog box, choose “Portrait” or “Landscape” from the “Slides” orientation dropdown.
• Click “OK” to save the changes.

It’s important to note that changing the slide orientation may affect the layout of your slides. For example, if you change from landscape to portrait, you may need to adjust the size and placement of your images and text boxes to ensure they fit properly on the slide.

Additionally, if you have already added content to your slides, changing the orientation may cause some of your content to be cut off or moved to a different location. It’s always a good idea to preview your presentation after changing the slide orientation to ensure that everything looks the way you want it to.

Customizing your slide size and dimensions

When you change your slide orientation, you may also want to change the slide’s size or dimensions to better accommodate the new orientation. To do so, follow these steps:

• Open the presentation you want to change the size or dimensions for.
• Click “Slide Size” located at the top right of the screen.
• In the “Custom Slide Size” dialog box, you can change the height and width of your slide.

It’s important to note that changing the slide size or dimensions may affect the layout of your content. If you have already added images or text boxes to your slides, they may need to be adjusted to fit the new dimensions. Additionally, changing the size of your slides may also affect the file size of your presentation, so be mindful of this if you plan to share or upload your presentation.

Another option for customizing your slide size is to choose from a variety of pre-set sizes. In the “Slide Size” dropdown menu, you can select from options such as “Standard (4:3)”, “Widescreen (16:9)”, or “Custom”. Choosing a pre-set size can save you time and ensure that your slides are optimized for the device or screen you will be presenting on.

Tips for creating visually appealing portrait slides

When designing portrait slides, it’s essential to keep a few things in mind. Firstly, ensure you keep your texts brief and to the point. This helps to improve readability and avoid cramming the slide with too much information. Secondly, use images and other visuals that complement your message and add context to your content. Thirdly, maintain a consistent theme, layout, and color scheme to ensure your presentation looks professional and pulled-together.

Another important tip to keep in mind when creating portrait slides is to use high-quality images. Blurry or pixelated images can detract from the overall look and feel of your presentation. Make sure to use images that are clear, crisp, and relevant to your message.

Lastly, don’t be afraid to add some personality to your slides. While it’s important to maintain a professional look, adding some humor or personal anecdotes can help to engage your audience and make your presentation more memorable. Just be sure to keep it appropriate and relevant to your topic.

Common mistakes to avoid when changing slide orientation

While changing slide orientation may seem easy, there are still some common mistakes that people make. One of the most common mistakes is not adjusting the slide’s size or layout to fit the new orientation, which can lead to a distorted look. Another common mistake is using too much text or images, which make the slides look crowded and unappealing.

Another mistake to avoid when changing slide orientation is not considering the audience’s viewing experience. For example, if the presentation is going to be viewed on a mobile device, a landscape orientation may not be the best choice as it may require the viewer to rotate their device. Additionally, not taking into account the lighting and contrast of the presentation can make it difficult for the audience to read and understand the content.

It’s also important to remember that changing slide orientation can affect the overall flow and structure of the presentation. If not done carefully, it can disrupt the natural progression of the content and confuse the audience. Therefore, it’s important to plan and test the new orientation before presenting to ensure a smooth and effective delivery.

Troubleshooting common issues when switching between landscape and portrait

If you encounter issues when trying to switch between landscape and portrait orientations, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can try. Firstly, ensure that you have adjusted the orientation and size of all the slides in your presentation. Secondly, check that all the images and graphics are oriented correctly, especially after resizing your slides. Finally, try using the “Fit to Slide” option in the “Picture Format” tool to ensure that your images fit correctly within the slide.

Another common issue that may arise when switching between landscape and portrait orientations is the misalignment of text and other elements on your slides. To fix this, you can adjust the margins and padding of your text boxes and other elements to ensure that they fit correctly within the new orientation.

If you are still experiencing issues after trying these troubleshooting steps, it may be helpful to check if there are any updates available for your presentation software. Sometimes, software updates can fix bugs and glitches that may be causing issues with orientation changes. Additionally, you can try reaching out to the support team for your presentation software for further assistance.

Using templates to make the transition easier

If you’re unsure how to design your portrait slides, you can use PowerPoint templates that are readily available in the application. With templates, you can create consistent and well-designed slides quickly without worrying about the minute details. Simply go to the “File” menu, click “New,” and select the category/type of template that suits your presentation.

Using templates not only saves time, but it also ensures that your presentation has a professional look and feel. Templates come with pre-designed layouts, color schemes, and fonts that are visually appealing and easy to read. Additionally, templates can be customized to fit your specific needs. You can add your own images, change the color scheme, and adjust the layout to suit your presentation style. With templates, you can create a polished and effective presentation without spending hours on design.

How to print slides in portrait or landscape mode

Printing slides in PowerPoint is relatively straightforward. Once you have changed your slide orientation, simply go to the “File” menu and click “Print.” From there, select the orientation that matches your slides under the “Settings” or “Properties” options. Alternatively, you can preview your slides in “Print Preview” to adjust the settings before printing.

It is important to note that the orientation of your slides may affect the overall layout and design of your presentation. For example, if you have a lot of text on your slides, printing them in landscape mode may be more beneficial as it allows for more space and easier readability. On the other hand, if you have a lot of images or graphics, printing in portrait mode may be more suitable.

Additionally, when printing slides, you may want to consider the type of paper you are using. If you are presenting to a large audience, using high-quality paper with a glossy finish can enhance the overall look and feel of your presentation. However, if you are printing slides for personal use or for a smaller audience, regular printer paper may suffice.

Advanced techniques for designing portrait slides in PowerPoint

Once you’re comfortable with the basics, you can explore more advanced techniques for designing portrait slides in PowerPoint. For example, you may choose to animate your text or images for added visual appeal or use third-party plugins to add unique visual elements. These design choices are more flexible and customizable, and they ultimately depend on the type of presentation you’re creating.

In conclusion, changing your slide orientation from landscape to portrait, or vice versa, is a process that requires attention to detail and understanding of PowerPoint’s features and capabilities. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily switch between slide orientations, customize your slides, and create professional-looking presentations that match your content and intended audience.

Another advanced technique for designing portrait slides in PowerPoint is to use the master slide feature. This allows you to create a consistent design across all your slides, including the background, font, and color scheme. You can also add placeholders for text and images, which makes it easier to create new slides quickly and efficiently. By using the master slide feature, you can save time and ensure that your presentation looks polished and professional.

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How to Create a Portrait-oriented PowerPoint Presentation

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PowerPoint presentations are a powerful tool for conveying information, and while landscape orientation is the default choice for most presentations, there may be instances where you need to create a portrait-oriented PowerPoint. Portrait orientation can be particularly useful when designing slides for posters, infographics, or vertical displays. In this blog post, we will guide you through the steps to create a portrait-oriented PowerPoint presentation that effectively communicates your content.

Step 1: Adjust Slide Size

• Open PowerPoint and create a new presentation or open an existing one.
• Go to the “Design” tab in the ribbon at the top of the screen.
• Click on the “Slide Size” button, located on the far right side of the ribbon.
• From the drop-down menu, select “Custom Slide Size.”

Step 2: Set Custom Slide Dimensions

• In the “Slide Size” dialog box that appears, choose “Custom” from the “Slides sized for” drop-down menu.
• Enter the desired dimensions for your portrait-oriented slide. Typically, portrait slides have dimensions like 1080 pixels wide by 1920 pixels tall or 720 pixels wide by 1280 pixels tall. However, you can adjust the dimensions based on your specific requirements.
• Click on the “OK” button to apply the changes.

Step 3: Rearrange Slide Layouts (Optional)

• With your new slide dimensions set, you may notice that the default slide layouts no longer align properly.
• Go to the “Slide Master” view by clicking on the “View” tab in the ribbon and selecting “Slide Master.”
• Adjust the placement and sizing of text boxes, images, and other slide elements in the Slide Master view to ensure they fit within the portrait orientation.
• Exit the Slide Master view by clicking on the “Close Master View” button in the ribbon.

Step 4: Modify Individual Slides (Optional)

• Return to the normal slide view by clicking on the “Normal” button in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
• Adjust the layout of each individual slide as necessary to accommodate the portrait orientation. This may involve resizing images, repositioning text boxes, and rearranging elements to create an aesthetically pleasing design.

Step 5: Customize Content

• Begin creating your presentation by adding text, images, charts, and other media elements.
• Keep in mind the vertical layout and optimize your content to fit the portrait orientation effectively.
• Use the available space wisely, ensuring that the content is legible and well-organized.

Step 6: Save and Present

• Once you have finished creating your portrait-oriented PowerPoint presentation, save your work.
• Click on the “File” tab in the ribbon and select “Save As” to choose a location and name for your presentation file.
• When it’s time to present, connect your computer to the display or projector and launch the presentation in slideshow mode.
• Test the presentation beforehand to make sure everything is displayed correctly and is easily readable.

Creating a portrait-oriented PowerPoint presentation allows you to explore new possibilities for displaying your content. By adjusting the slide size, modifying layouts, and customizing the content, you can effectively communicate your message in a vertical format.

How-To Geek

How to make slides vertical in powerpoint.

Want to switch the slides in your PowerPoint presentation from horizontal to vertical? Or use both in the same slideshow? Here's how to do it!

Quick Links

Change slides from landscape to portrait, use vertical and horizontal slides in the same presentation.

When you open a new PowerPoint presentation, the slides are horizontal by default. However, you can change them to vertical orientation in a few simple steps. Here’s how to switch your slides from landscape to portrait layout.

First, open your PowerPoint presentation. In the "Customize" group of the "Design" tab, select "Slide Size." Click "Custom Slide Size" ("Page Setup" on Mac) in the drop-down menu.

The "Slide Size" dialog box appears. In the "Slides" group of the "Orientation" section, select the radio button next to Portrait or Landscape, and then click "OK."

A new dialog box appears. Here, you can maximize or resize the content so it fits the slide's new orientation. Select the option that works best for you, and you're all done!

Microsoft doesn’t provide this functionality. But if you link two presentations together, you can create the illusion that both landscape and portrait slides are in the same slideshow.

Keep in mind that once you link two presentations together, you break that link if you move either of them to a different location. To prevent this, move both presentations into the same folder before you link them.

In this example, we assume the first presentation has landscape slides, and the second has portrait. We open the first presentation and navigate to the slide from which we want to create the link. Once there, we select an object to use to insert the link. You can insert a link in text, images, or objects.

To illustrate our point, we’ll use a text box.

Next, we navigate to the "Links" group under the "Insert" tab and select "Action."

In the "Action Settings" dialog box that appears, we select the radio button next to "Hyperlink to." We open the drop-down menu, and then select "Other PowerPoint Presentation."

File explorer should open. We select the presentation to which we want to link, and then click "OK."

Back at the "Actions Settings" dialog box, the file path of the second presentation should appear in the "Hyperlink to" box. If everything looks good, click "OK."

The link now shows up in the selected object.

When you click this link, it seamlessly transitions you to the second presentation. In Slide Show view, this creates the illusion that you have slides of both orientations in the same slideshow.

However, if you want to return to presentation one, you must link back to it from presentation two.

How to Change Slide Orientation to Portrait in PowerPoint

By default, Microsoft PowerPoint sets the slide orientation to landscape, meaning the width is greater than the height and gives you a rectangular look when presenting.

But, you can also rotate the slide orientation to portrait mode so it would appear vertical when being presented. This can be helpful if you want to show the slide on the monitor or projector with a vertical configuration.

Here is how to do that!

It is highly recommended to use the recent version of Microsoft PowerPoint to get a better sense of the tutorial. If you want to rotate the slide’s content, please refer to this guide .

How to make PowerPoint slide portrait

In the following guide, you will learn how to change slide orientation from landscape to portrait. Make sure the presentation file is done because you probably need to do some trial and error to ensure the new orientation would not break the design.

1. Go to the  Design  menu.

2. Click on  Slide Size , and select  Custom Slide Size…

3. On the  Slides  section, select  Portrait , and then  OK . You may also want to change the size if you wish.

4. Select either  Maximize  or  Ensure Fit . I can’t dictate which option is the best for your slide, but according to my experience, Ensure Fit is worked the most.

5. Finally, the PowerPoint slide turned into a portrait view.

The guide above is based on the Colorful Venn Diagram PowerPoint Template . You can get the template for free and use it on your presentation project.

The portrait slides still able to show on the normal projector configuration (landscape). However, it may leave a noticeable blank on both sides of the slide.

In addition, you probably need to rearrange each object after the orientation changed. This will ensure the slide design looks perfect, even in portrait mode.

Some tips for adjusting content:

• Reposition text boxes and graphics closer together or further apart to improve balance and flow.
• Wrap text  and resize text box dimensions as needed so text doesn’t get cut off.
• Rotate objects  like images to better fit the portrait layout.
• Resize charts or tables  to utilize the extra vertical space.
• Add text wraps  to images to fit text around them cleanly.
• Align items  near the top, middle, or bottom depending on placement priorities.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with layouts to find the optimal arrangement for each slide.

When to Use Portrait vs. Landscape Orientation

In summary, here are some best practices on when to switch to portrait layouts:

• Use portrait for text-heavy slides  – Fits more bullet points, paragraphs, and other dense text content.
• Use portrait for tall images or charts  – Accommodates vertical visuals without cropping or shrinking.
• Use portrait when printing  – Allows larger text size and may reduce number of printed pages.
• Use landscape for graphical slides  – Provides room for visuals and text side-by-side.
• Use landscape as the default  – Ideal for on-screen viewing and works for most slide content.

The ideal orientation depends on your specific presentation and audience needs. Don’t be afraid to experiment with both portrait and landscape to determine what works best for your message and visuals. The ability to easily switch between the two is a valuable tool in PowerPoint.

How do I change a PowerPoint slide to portrait?

To change a PowerPoint slide to portrait, follow these steps: 1. Click the  Design  tab. 2. Select  Slide Size . 3. Choose  Custom Slide Size . 4. Under  Orientation , select  Portrait . 5. Click  OK  to apply the changes.

How do I change the horizontal and vertical position of an image in PowerPoint?

To change the horizontal and vertical position of an image in PowerPoint: 1. Click on the image to select it. 2. Right-click and choose  Size and Position . 3. In the  Format Picture  panel, adjust the horizontal and vertical position values under the  Position  section.

What are the benefits of using portrait orientation in PowerPoint?

Portrait orientation allows you to fit more text on a slide and is better for displaying tall images or charts. It also provides more vertical space for content and creates a more formal, professional look.

Does portrait orientation work on mobile devices?

Yes, portrait orientation adapts well to mobile devices like smartphones and tablets since they are normally held vertically.

How do I change the slide orientation in PowerPoint for Mac?

On a Mac, go to Design > Slide Size > Page Setup, change orientation to portrait, and click OK to change the slide layout.

About The Author

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How to Change Slide Orientation in PowerPoint

Most PowerPoint (PPT) presentations are in 16:9 format, aka landscape orientation, which is great for presenting on most monitors and projectors. But there’s so much more you can do with your slide orientation.

We’ll run through various options for choosing a different orientation for PowerPoint. From vertical to portrait to widescreen – you’ll learn how to set the orientation you want in no time at all.

Stay flexible: adapt to circumstances

There will be times when you encounter the odd challenge in presenting; for example, you might come across 4:3 monitors/projectors or pivot monitors in portrait orientation. To make sure that your presentation is the most effective it can be no matter what the circumstances, you may need to adapt it to an appropriate size or orientation. Portrait orientation is also generally better than landscape for creating handouts or printing a presentation.

PowerPoint portrait orientation: the advantages

You may have already discovered that there are times when a landscape PPT slide orientation just doesn’t work very well. For example, when you want to use an organizational chart to clearly present key employees and their roles within the company. What to do? Well, it’s easy – use the portrait PPT slide orientation. It’s great for org charts and so much more.

How to set PPT slide orientation to portrait

1. Open the presentation.

2. Go to the Design tab and select Slide Size .

3. Now select Custom Slide Size .

4. Choose Portrait under Orientation > Slides .

5. Confirm your selection with OK .

6. A PowerPoint dialog box will now open for you to choose between Maximize and Ensure Fit .

Maximize will enlarge your content, which means some images may no longer be displayed correctly. With Ensure to Fit, PowerPoint will attempt to fit all your content into the new orientation.

Set the PPT orientation for individual slides

Portrait orientation can be a good way to enhance your presentation, but things are often a bit more complicated. Many PowerPoint templates are tailored to landscape orientation , so it’s often only possible to create your whole presentation in either landscape or portrait orientation . You can alter the PPT slide orientation for your entire presentation as shown above. But if you just want the one slide in portrait orientation, we’ll show you how to do that.

To create a presentation containing slides in two different orientations, you need to create two versions of the same presentation – one in landscape and one in portrait — and then link them together. (Don’t panic; we’ll show you how!)

To link, first select an object, such as a text box, in your main presentation (let’s say this is in landscape orientation). This object will serve as the link base. Now go to the Insert tab and select Action .

PowerPoint will now open the Action Settings dialog box, so you can select how to open the presentation you put in portrait format. After Click Hyperlink to and then on Other PowerPoint presentation .

Now select your second presentation (in this case, the one in portrait orientation) and click OK . A link to the presentation in portrait orientation will now be created on the slide you selected. To go back to your original presentation from the linked presentation (for instance when you’ve finished with the slides in portrait orientation and want to return to landscape), simply repeat the process to create another link back.

PowerPoint portrait slides: print to fit

If you want to create a PDF from your presentation, for example print a slide, you can set the PPT slide orientation and size manually. To do this, first change the orientation to portrait and then select Custom under Paper Size . Now enter 21.6 cm for the width and 27.9 cm for the height (or whatever dimensions your paper happens to be).

Set another PPT slide orientation

PowerPoint doesn’t just offer portrait and landscape; there are other slide orientations which you can use to add impact to your PowerPoint presentation.

The first option here is to change the size of your slides. To do this, simply click Design > Slide Size and choose between Standard , Widescreen or Custom Slide Size .

If the selected content can’t be scaled automatically, you’ll need to choose either Maximize or Ensure Fit . Once again, you have the choice of an enlarged version, possibly without graphics, or a reduced but complete version of your slides.

4:3, 16:9, A3, banner and many more options

To use a size other than Standard or Widescreen , select Custom Slide Size from the Slide Size dropdown menu. Click the down arrow under Slides sized for: to see several options as well as their dimensions.

On-screen Show will crop the slides to 4:3, 16:9 and 16:10 dimensions. What you should consider when changing from 4:3 to 16:9 can be found here . And why you should rather use 16:9 here .

Widescreen sets the dimensions to 33.867 cm x 19.05 cm.

Both versions look the same when viewed, but Widescreen gives you more surface area for your content. Be careful when printing: Widescreen won’t fit on a regular sheet of paper without scaling it first.

Other options include Banner and Letter – PowerPoint offers you a variety of interesting options.

Customize your dimensions: inches, pixels or centimeters

You can change the setting for dimensions under Custom Slide Size . To change the height or width of your slide, simply enter the desired dimensions followed by in, cm or px.

Select OK to save your changes. Once again, you may need to choose Maximize or Ensure Fit to scale the content properly.

Set a default slide orientation for your presentations

If you’ve found a format for PowerPoint that really suits the presentations you create, set a slide size that you want to work with in the future. This will be your new Theme . Once you’ve done that, go to the Design tab, click the arrow under Themes and select Save Current Theme . Your new theme will now be listed under Themes > Custom and can be used for future presentations.

Important: avoid distorted content when changing your slide orientation

When you’re working with different ppt orientations, be aware that you may have to rearrange or scale your slide content to make everything look coherent.

Conclusion: Change your ppt slide orientation quickly and easily!

It can be tricky to present all the facts and depth of content to your audience in a landscape orientation presentation. Choosing another orientation can create interesting new visual perspectives to keep your audience’s attention.

Looking for help with a specific slide orientation for PPT? We’re more than happy to advise and help you. Please feel free to contact us at [email protected] with any questions or worries about your presentations.

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Change the page orientation in PowerPoint between landscape and portrait

Select the Design tab:

Near the right end, select Slide Size , and then click Custom Slide Size .

In the Slide Size dialog box, select Portrait , then select OK .

In the next dialog box, you can select Maximize to take full advantage of the space available, or you can select Ensure Fit to make sure that your content fits on the vertical page.

On the Design tab, click Slide Size .

Click Page Setup .

In the Page Setup dialog box, under Orientation , click the orientation that you want:

There are separate orientation settings for Slides (projected on-screen) and for Printed notes, handouts, and outlines .

Click the Design tab of the toolbar ribbon, and then, near the right end, click Slide Size .

On the Slide Size menu that appears, select Custom Slide Size .

The Slide Size dialog box opens.

In the Slide Size dialog box, select Portrait , and then select OK .

When PowerPoint for the web is unable to automatically scale your content, it prompts you with two options:

Maximize : Select this option to increase the size of your slide content when you are scaling to a larger slide size. Choosing this option could result in your content not fitting on the slide.

Ensure Fit : Select this option to decrease the size of your content when scaling to a smaller slide size. This could make your content appear smaller, but you’ll be able to see all content on your slide.

Use portrait and landscape orientation in the same presentation

Change the size of your slides

Rotate a text box, shape, WordArt, or picture

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How to Make Just One Slide Portrait in PowerPoint Using a Workaround

Lee Stanton Lee Stanton is a versatile writer with a concentration on the software landscape, covering both mobile and desktop applications as well as online technologies. Read more August 28, 2021

When creating presentations, PowerPoint allows you to choose between the portrait or landscape orientation. Once selected, it’ll be applied throughout all slides. What if you want to mix it up?

We’ll discuss whether it’s possible to make one of the slides portraits in PowerPoint and more.

Can I Make Just One Slide Portrait in PowerPoint?

Unfortunately, PowerPoint doesn’t allow you to change the orientation for certain slides. You’d have to change the orientation of your entire presentation.

You can always insert a portrait-oriented image or crop your photos to make them fit the screen. In addition, PowerPoint allows you to fit the size of your slides to your monitor.

Although PowerPoint doesn’t allow mixed orientations, there’s a workaround that involves two presentation decks.

How to Make Just One Slide Portrait in Windows

Windows users can follow the steps below to insert one portrait slide:

• Create two presentation files. The first file is the master deck in landscape mode and the second file should contain that one portrait slide.

When you enter the slide show and go to the linked text, picture, or object, hover over or click it, depending on the option chosen. The portrait slide will appear on your screen. When you want to exit the portrait slide, press “Esc” and you’ll return to the landscape presentation.

If you want to use multiple portrait slides, we recommend creating a separate PowerPoint file for all of them and linking them to the main file.

Tip: When creating the two presentation files, do it in the same folder for easier navigation.

How to Make Just One Slide Portrait on a Mac

As with Windows, there’s a workaround. Follow the steps below:

• Create two PowerPoint files: one for your official presentation and the other for the single portrait slide to be inserted. Keep both in the same folder.
• Open the presentation deck and go to where you want to insert the portrait slide. Select the text, object, or picture to be connected to the portrait slide.
• Go to the “Insert” tab and press “Action.” If you have an older Mac, go to the “Slide Show” tab and press “Action.”
• Choose when you would like the portrait slide to appear. You can select “Mouse Click” or “Mouse Over.” For the latter, the portrait slide will open when you hover over the linked location.
• Press “Hyperlink to.”
• Choose “Other PowerPoint presentation” from the drop-down menu.
• Find the presentation that you want to link and press “Ok” twice.

Link Two or More Presentations to Switch Orientations

Unfortunately, PowerPoint doesn’t allow you to combine portrait and landscape in one file. But you can create just one portrait slide in a PowerPoint file and link it to your landscape presentation. Although it may seem complicated, this is the best solution available so far and it works for both Windows and Mac.

How did you manage this problem? Have you found any other solution or are you satisfied with the method as discussed above? Let us know in the comments.

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Lee Stanton February 9, 2024

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Can I change the Orientation of just one slide in PowerPoint?

By: Author Shrot Katewa

There are times when you wish to create only one slide of a different size in a PowerPoint presentation. This means you want to have both portrait and landscape slide sizes in the same presentation. Is it possible to do this? This is a question that had us scratching our heads! We did a lot of tinkering and quite a bit of research and we share what we found in this post. But first, let’s answer the question.

Can you change the orientation of a single slide in the same PowerPoint presentation? You CAN NOT create two slides of different sizes or orientations in the same presentation. Unlike Word, PowerPoint does not have this capability! But you can do a couple of other things.

In the rest of the article, I’ll show you a couple of different methods on how you can change the layout of just one slide in PowerPoint. So, let’s get started!

A Quick Note Before We Begin – if you want to make jaw-dropping presentations, I would recommend using one of these Presentation Designs . The best part is – it is only $16.5 a month, but you get to download and use as many presentation designs as you like! I personally use it from time-to-time, and it makes my task of making beautiful presentations really quick and easy!

What are Portrait and Landscape slide orientation in PowerPoint?

Powerpoint, by design, is made to allow slides to be created in a landscape mode. In this format, the information is mostly created to be read from left to right. This is a natural slide format as it shadows the way our computer screens are designed.

PowerPoint also has a Portrait mode (see image above). This kind of format is higher than it is wider. In the Portrait layout, the information is laid out from top to bottom. It gets its name from the hand-drawn canvas portrait paintings of the yesteryears which were drawn by hand on a canvas of a similar layout.

PowerPoint allows us to efficiently switch between the two slide layout formats. However, the problem is that when you switch between the two layouts, PowerPoint changes all the slides to the chosen layout rather than a single slide.

Is there any work around to show different slide sizes in the same PPT?

PowerPoint is a very powerful tool if it is fully understood. There are several things you can do with PowerPoint which it is not designed to do. For example, you can create social media posts, create videos, business cards, and much more using PowerPoint.

Even so, it is not the perfect application and sometimes you come across a situation where there seems to be no solution. Having a single portrait slide with other landscape slides in PowerPoint is one such issue.

There seem to be only two possible methods to achieve this desired result. Let’s have a look at it.

Method 1 – Embed external links to a slide in Portrait mode

One way to resolve the issue of not being able to insert a single Portrait slide in the middle of a bunch of landscape slides could be using links. Let’s look at a pictorial example. For the sake of this example, we shall denote the presentation in which we need to showcase the portrait slide format as the “Target presentation”.

Step 1 – Create two separate presentations for both layouts and save them

What you need to do is to create two separate PPT presentations. Create your Portrait slide layout separately that you need to put in the target presentation. Therefore, we should have two different presentations as shown in the above image. Make sure to save both presentations before proceeding ahead.

Step 2 – Identify target slide for embedding the portrait layout slide

Add text on a blank slide in your target presentation where you intend to display the portrait format slide. Now, what we need to do is insert a hyperlink. This can be easily done by first inserting the text in the text box.

Then go to the “Insert” tab and click on “Action”. (Please note – these instructions are for Mac) A dialogue box will open up. In the dialogue box, select the second option “Hyperlink to”.

Upon choosing the second option, a dropdown menu will show up. You’ll need to scroll down and select “Other PowerPoint presentation”.

Step 3 – Add the hyperlink to embed the portrait slide 

Browse and open the destination folder in which the portrait presentation is saved. Simply, browse to the location of the destination folder, click on the desired portrait powerpoint file and click “OK”. PowerPoint will then ask you to choose the slide number (if you have more than 1 slides in the PPT). Select the slide number that you wish to display, and click “OK”.

Now you will notice that the text that we have used to link to the portrait file will turn blue and get underlined. This is because it has now become a hyperlink.

Step 4 – Check to verify that the desired result has been achieved

Make the presentation in full screen mode by clicking on the “Slide Show” button on the bottom bar in your target presentation.

When your presentation turns full screen, you just need to hover over the hyperlinked text and click on it.

You’ll notice that the slide in the portrait mode is now visible in your main presentation. One thing you need to be aware of is that the slide is still not present in the target presentation. All we are doing is tricking PowerPoint to open a slide from a different presentation by creating a hyperlink. Thus, every time you need to open the portrait slide, you’ll need to come to this specific slide that contains the hyperlink and click on it. To go back to your target presentation from the portrait slide, simply press escape button on your keyboard denoted by “Esc” (top left corner of the keyboard)

Method 2 – Copy the contents of your Portrait slide, and paste it in your target PPT as an image

Okay, so this second cool little hack is simple and pretty straightforward. In this method, even though we may not be able to change the slide layout of just one slide, we will be able to achieve the desired result. Let’s have a look at how to do it –

Step 1 – Open both PPTs and add a black box that covers the complete slide in the target presentation

As a first step, open both the presentations. In the target presentation, add a blank slide. Next, insert a shape such that it covers the complete landscape slide end-to-end. Remove the border, and make the color of the shape to black. Adding a black shape is an optional step. The purpose of adding this black box is to mimic the background of a presentation in full screen. You’ll see what I mean in just a minute.

Step 2 – Copy contents of the portrait slide and paste it as an image in the target PPT

Open the portrait slide layout that you would like to put on the target presentation. Copy all the contents of that slide and paste it on the desired slide in the target presentation. As soon as you paste the items, scroll to the right bottom corner of the items that you have pasted, and you will notice additional pasting options with a clipboard icon that appears. Click on the small box with a clipboard icon, and a dropdown will appear. Simply select the “Paste as picture” option from the dropdown. This will ensure that your portrait slide is now an image.

Step 3 – Resize and align the image to the centre of the slide

Now we need to resize the image to fit the height of the landscape layout. Align the top left corner of the image with the top left corner of the slide (or you could align the top right corner of the image with the top right corner of the slide). Next, we shall resize the image from the diagonally opposite corner (in our example, it will be the bottom right corner). Remember, we should always resize the image proportionately so that it doesn’t distort the image. To do that, simply press the “Shift” key and while dragging the image.

Next, align this image to the centre of the slide. An easy way to align images and shapes in PowerPoint is using “Align tools”. Simply select the image by clicking on it. You’ll notice a “Picture Format” option that appears in the menu bar on the top. Click on the “Align” button. A dropdown will appear. Just select “Align to centre” under horizontal align options. You’ll notice that the image has moved to the centre of the screen.

Steps described above can help you lock the aspect ratio of any image in PowerPoint. The process is similar when you wish to lock the aspectAs a last step, click on the “Slide Show” button to make the PowerPoint presentation full screen. You’ll notice that you’ve successfully displayed a portrait layout on a landscape slide. While, you may not have been able to change the layout of the slide itself, putting the portrait slide as an image helps us essentially achieve the same result. ratio of not just an image but also of any other shape such as a square, circle or rectangle.

Pro tip – Worry about portrait slides only if the output screen can display in portrait mode

After reading the method 2 described above, I know you’re probably wondering “I didn’t want to paste an image in the slide. I wanted to have a portrait slide inserted in my landscape presentation”. However, you may need to keep in mind that almost all the screens on which you would be displaying your “Portrait” presentation, would by default have a landscape layout. In other words, unless you’re viewing the portrait slide on a screen that displays the output in a portrait mode such as a cell phone, your portrait slide will always have a blank space on the side!

Thus, there can be several other variations to the method 2 described above. For instance, you could also save your portrait slide as a PDF, and copy and paste that PDF file on the target presentation. Even in such a scenario method 2 will work just fine! What matters is to really understand the principle that portrait slides will always have blank space on the sides if the output screen can only display in landscape mode.

As mentioned earlier, there is no straightforward way to have both portrait and landscape slide sizes in the same presentation. Then again, before you break your head over it, you should ask yourself, is it really that important to have a portrait slide in your presentation as the slide may most likely be displayed in a landscape mode due to the output screen layout. If it is important, then you can follow the methods described above.

I hope the tips mentioned in the article were helpful to you, and that it saves you time in the future as well to create an effective presentation.

Our goal on this blog is to create content that helps YOU create fantastic presentations; especially if you have never been a designer. We’ve started our blog with non-designers in mind, and we have got some amazing content on our site to help you design better.

If you have any topics in mind that you would want us to write about, be sure to drop us a comment below. In case you need us to work with you and improve the design of your presentation, write to us on [email protected] . Our team will be happy to help you with your requirements.

Lastly, your contribution can make this world a better place for presentations. All you have to do is simply share this blog in your network and help other fellow non-designers with their designs!

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How to Make a “Good” Presentation “Great”

• Guy Kawasaki

Remember: Less is more.

A strong presentation is so much more than information pasted onto a series of slides with fancy backgrounds. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others. Here are some unique elements that make a presentation stand out.

• Fonts: Sans Serif fonts such as Helvetica or Arial are preferred for their clean lines, which make them easy to digest at various sizes and distances. Limit the number of font styles to two: one for headings and another for body text, to avoid visual confusion or distractions.
• Colors: Colors can evoke emotions and highlight critical points, but their overuse can lead to a cluttered and confusing presentation. A limited palette of two to three main colors, complemented by a simple background, can help you draw attention to key elements without overwhelming the audience.
• Pictures: Pictures can communicate complex ideas quickly and memorably but choosing the right images is key. Images or pictures should be big (perhaps 20-25% of the page), bold, and have a clear purpose that complements the slide’s text.
• Layout: Don’t overcrowd your slides with too much information. When in doubt, adhere to the principle of simplicity, and aim for a clean and uncluttered layout with plenty of white space around text and images. Think phrases and bullets, not sentences.

As an intern or early career professional, chances are that you’ll be tasked with making or giving a presentation in the near future. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others.

• Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist at Canva and was the former chief evangelist at Apple. Guy is the author of 16 books including Think Remarkable : 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference.

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Digital Transformation Tech Talk presentation slides – 9 April 2024

This publication contains the presentation slides of the second Digital Transformation Tech Talk webinar of 2024. During this webinar, we looked at latest updates on digital transformation for the aged care sector.

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• Digital transformation for the aged care sector

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