Shortcuts for presenting with confidence
The most valuable PowerPoint shortcuts are the ones you use in front of an audience, when fumbling with the mouse is most noticeable:
- Start: F5 from the beginning, Shift+F5 from the current slide.
- Move: N, Space or → for next; P or ← for previous.
- Jump: type a slide number and press Enter — great for answering questions.
- Pause: B for a black screen, W for white, to pull attention back to you.
- Annotate: Ctrl+P for a pen, E to erase.
Shortcuts for building slides faster
Ctrl+M adds a slide and Ctrl+D duplicates one — often quicker than starting from scratch. Group related shapes with Ctrl+G so they move together, and hold Shift while resizing images so they don't get stretched.
Presentation tips
- Rehearse with Presenter View (Alt+F5) so you can see your notes and the next slide.
- Keep one idea per slide and a minimum 24-point font for readability in large rooms.
- Carry a PDF backup of your deck in case the venue computer doesn't have PowerPoint.
More shortcuts: Word, Excel and Windows.
Frequently asked questions
How do I start a slideshow from the current slide?
Press Shift+F5. F5 starts from the first slide, and Alt+F5 starts in Presenter View with your notes.
How do I black out the screen during a presentation?
Press B to show a black screen, or W for white. Press the same key again to return to your slide — useful for discussion breaks.
How do I jump to a specific slide while presenting?
Type the slide number and press Enter — for example 12 then Enter goes straight to slide 12.
Last updated: 23 September 2026Suggest an improvement · Report a problem