Google Slides Keyboard Shortcuts: Complete List for Windows, Mac & Chrome OS (2026)
Keyboard shortcuts in Google Slides can save you hours of work every week. Instead of reaching for the mouse to insert a slide, format text, or switch to presenter view, a single key combination does it instantly keeping your focus on the content, not the clicks.
This guide covers every Google Slides keyboard shortcut for Windows, Mac, and Chrome OS over 100 shortcuts organized by category, verified against Google’s official documentation.
Whether you are a student building a class presentation or a professional putting together a business deck, this is the only reference you need.
Quick Reference
- View shortcuts inside Google Slides: Ctrl + / (Windows) or ⌘ + / (Mac)
- Total shortcuts covered: 100+
- Platforms: Windows, Mac, Chrome OS
- Free PDF cheat sheet: available at the bottom of this page
What Are Google Slides Keyboard Shortcuts?
Google Slides keyboard shortcuts are key combinations that perform actions inside Google Slides without using the mouse or navigating menus. They work across Windows (using the Ctrl key), Mac (using the ⌘ Command key), and Chrome OS, and cover every major task from creating and formatting slides to arranging objects and controlling a live presentation.
Google Slides is part of Google Workspace and runs entirely in the browser, which means its shortcuts work on any computer without installation making them especially useful for students, teachers, and professionals who present from shared or unfamiliar devices.
The fastest way to see every shortcut inside Google Slides: Press Ctrl + / on Windows or Chrome OS, or ⌘ + / on Mac. A searchable shortcut panel opens instantly without leaving your presentation.
Most Used Google Slides Shortcuts
| Action | Windows / Chrome OS | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| New slide | Ctrl + M | Ctrl + M |
| Duplicate slide | Ctrl + D | ⌘ + D |
| Undo | Ctrl + Z | ⌘ + Z |
| Redo | Ctrl + Y | ⌘ + Y |
| Copy | Ctrl + C | ⌘ + C |
| Paste | Ctrl + V | ⌘ + V |
| Cut | Ctrl + X | ⌘ + X |
| Copy formatting | Ctrl + Alt + C | ⌘ + Option + C |
| Paste formatting | Ctrl + Alt + V | ⌘ + Option + V |
| Insert or edit link | Ctrl + K | ⌘ + K |
| Open link | Alt + Enter | Option + Enter |
| Delete text or shape | Delete | Delete |
| Select all | Ctrl + A | ⌘ + A |
| Find | Ctrl + F | ⌘ + F |
| Find and replace | Ctrl + H | ⌘ + Shift + H |
| Find again | Ctrl + G | ⌘ + G |
| Find previous | Ctrl + Shift + G | ⌘ + Shift + G |
| Open file | Ctrl + O | ⌘ + O |
| Ctrl + P | ⌘ + P | |
| Save | Ctrl + S | ⌘ + S |
| Hide / show menus | Ctrl + Shift + F | ⌘ + Shift + F |
| Show all keyboard shortcuts | Ctrl + / | ⌘ + / |
| Alt text for selected object | Ctrl + Alt + Y | ⌘ + Option + Y |
Text Editing Shortcuts
| Action | Windows / Chrome OS | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Bold | Ctrl + B | ⌘ + B |
| Italic | Ctrl + I | ⌘ + I |
| Underline | Ctrl + U | ⌘ + U |
| Subscript | Ctrl + , | ⌘ + , |
| Superscript | Ctrl + . | ⌘ + . |
| Strikethrough | Alt + Shift + 5 | ⌘ + Shift + X |
| Clear formatting | Ctrl + Space | ⌘ + \ |
| Increase font size | Ctrl + Shift + > | ⌘ + Shift + > |
| Decrease font size | Ctrl + Shift + < | ⌘ + Shift + < |
| Left align | Ctrl + Shift + L | ⌘ + Shift + L |
| Right align | Ctrl + Shift + R | ⌘ + Shift + R |
| Center align | Ctrl + Shift + E | ⌘ + Shift + E |
| Justify | Ctrl + Shift + J | ⌘ + Shift + J |
| Move paragraph down | Alt + Shift + ↓ | Option + Shift + ↓ |
| Move paragraph up | Alt + Shift + ↑ | Option + Shift + ↑ |
| Increase indent | Ctrl + ] | ⌘ + ] |
| Decrease indent | Ctrl + [ | ⌘ + [ |
| Bulleted list | Ctrl + Shift + 8 | ⌘ + Shift + 8 |
| Numbered list | Ctrl + Shift + 7 | ⌘ + Shift + 7 |
| Next misspelling | Ctrl + ‘ | ⌘ + ‘ |
| Previous misspelling | Ctrl + ; | ⌘ + ; |
Slide Navigation & Filmstrip Shortcuts
| Action | Windows / Chrome OS | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Move to previous slide | Page Up / ↑ | Page Up / ↑ |
| Move to next slide | Page Down / ↓ | Page Down / ↓ |
| Move focus to first slide | Home | Home |
| Move focus to last slide | End | End |
| Move slide up in filmstrip | Ctrl + ↑ | ⌘ + ↑ |
| Move slide down in filmstrip | Ctrl + ↓ | ⌘ + ↓ |
| Move slide to beginning | Ctrl + Shift + ↑ | ⌘ + Shift + ↑ |
| Move slide to end | Ctrl + Shift + ↓ | ⌘ + Shift + ↓ |
| Select previous slide | Shift + ↑ | Shift + ↑ |
| Select next slide | Shift + ↓ | Shift + ↓ |
| Zoom in | Ctrl + + | ⌘ + + |
| Zoom out | Ctrl + – | ⌘ + – |
| Zoom to 100% | Ctrl + 0 | ⌘ + 0 |
| Move to filmstrip | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + F | ⌘ + Option + Shift + F |
| Move to canvas | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + C | ⌘ + Option + Shift + C |
| Open speaker notes panel | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + S | ⌘ + Option + Shift + S |
| Open animations panel | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + B | ⌘ + Option + Shift + B |
| Open Explore | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + I | ⌘ + Option + Shift + I |
| Open revision history | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + H | ⌘ + Option + Shift + H |
| Open dictionary | Ctrl + Shift + Y | ⌘ + Shift + Y |
| Present slides | Ctrl + F5 | ⌘ + Enter |
| Exit current mode | Esc | Esc |
Arrange Objects Shortcuts
| Action | Windows / Chrome OS | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate object | Ctrl + D | ⌘ + D |
| Group objects | Ctrl + Alt + G | ⌘ + Option + G |
| Ungroup objects | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + G | ⌘ + Option + Shift + G |
| Send backward | Ctrl + ↓ | ⌘ + ↓ |
| Bring forward | Ctrl + ↑ | ⌘ + ↑ |
| Send to back | Ctrl + Shift + ↓ | ⌘ + Shift + ↓ |
| Bring to front | Ctrl + Shift + ↑ | ⌘ + Shift + ↑ |
| Select next shape | Tab | Tab |
| Select previous shape | Shift + Tab | Shift + Tab |
| Nudge up | ↑ | ↑ |
| Nudge down | ↓ | ↓ |
| Nudge left | ← | ← |
| Nudge right | → | → |
| Nudge by larger increment | Shift + Arrow key | Shift + Arrow key |
| Rotate counterclockwise 1° | Alt + Shift + ← | Option + Shift + ← |
| Rotate clockwise 1° | Alt + Shift + → | Option + Shift + → |
| Rotate counterclockwise 15° | Alt + ← | Option + ← |
| Rotate clockwise 15° | Alt + → | Option + → |
| Resize larger horizontally | Ctrl + Alt + B | ⌘ + Option + B |
| Resize larger vertically | Ctrl + Alt + I | ⌘ + Option + I |
| Resize larger (both) | Ctrl + Alt + K | ⌘ + Option + K |
| Resize smaller (both) | Ctrl + Alt + J | ⌘ + Option + J |
| Resize smaller vertically | Ctrl + Alt + 9 | ⌘ + Option + 9 |
| Resize smaller horizontally | Ctrl + Alt + W | ⌘ + Option + W |
| Exit crop mode | Enter | Enter |
Google Slides vs PowerPoint Keyboard Shortcuts: Key Differences
Google Slides and Microsoft PowerPoint share many keyboard shortcuts, but several important ones differ. If you are switching between the two tools or presenting on a device where only one is available knowing these differences saves time and avoids mistakes mid-presentation.
| Action | Google Slides (Windows) | PowerPoint (Windows) | Match? |
|---|---|---|---|
| New slide | Ctrl + M | Ctrl + M | Same |
| Duplicate slide | Ctrl + D | Ctrl + D | Same |
| Undo | Ctrl + Z | Ctrl + Z | Same |
| Redo | Ctrl + Y | Ctrl + Y | Same |
| Copy / Paste / Cut | Ctrl + C / V / X | Ctrl + C / V / X | Same |
| Bold / Italic / Underline | Ctrl + B / I / U | Ctrl + B / I / U | Same |
| Find | Ctrl + F | Ctrl + F | Same |
| Find and replace | Ctrl + H | Ctrl + H | Same |
| Start presentation (from beginning) | Ctrl + F5 | F5 | different |
| Start presentation (current slide) | Ctrl + Shift + F5 | Shift + F5 | different |
| Group objects | Ctrl + Alt + G | Ctrl + G | different |
| Ungroup objects | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + G | Ctrl + Shift + G | different |
| Insert comment | Ctrl + Alt + M | Alt + N + L | different |
| Strikethrough | Alt + Shift + 5 | Ctrl + Shift + S (some versions) | different |
| Send backward | Ctrl + ↓ | Ctrl + [ (Mac: ⌘ + [) | different |
| Bring forward | Ctrl + ↑ | Ctrl + ] (Mac: ⌘ + ]) | different |
| Zoom in / out | Ctrl + + / Ctrl + – | Alt + W + Q (opens zoom dialog) | different |
| Select all | Ctrl + A | Ctrl + A | Same |
| Ctrl + P | Ctrl + P | Same |
The most common mistake when switching from PowerPoint to Google Slides: pressing F5 to present. In Google Slides, F5 does nothing you need Ctrl + F5 on Windows or ⌘ + Enter on Mac.
Presentation Mode Shortcuts
These shortcuts work while you are actively presenting (after pressing Ctrl+F5 / ⌘+Enter).
| Action | Windows / Chrome OS | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Start presentation (from beginning) | Ctrl + F5 | ⌘ + Enter |
| Next slide | → or Space | → or Space |
| Previous slide | ← | ← |
| Go to specific slide (e.g. slide 7) | 7 then Enter | 7 then Enter |
| First slide | Home | Home |
| Last slide | End | End |
| Open speaker notes | S | S |
| Open audience tools | A | A |
| Toggle laser pointer | L | L |
| Show blank black slide | B or . | B or . |
| Show blank white slide | W or , | W or , |
| Return from blank slide | Any key | Any key |
| Toggle captions (English only) | Ctrl + Shift + C | ⌘ + Shift + C |
| Toggle full screen | F11 | F11 |
| Ctrl + P | ⌘ + P | |
| Stop presenting / exit | Esc | Esc |
Comments Shortcuts
| Action | Windows / Chrome OS | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Insert comment | Ctrl + Alt + M | ⌘ + Option + M |
| Open comment discussion thread | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + A | ⌘ + Option + Shift + A |
| Reply to current comment | R | R |
| Move to next comment | J | J |
| Move to previous comment | K | K |
| Resolve comment | E | E |
| Exit current comment | U | U |
Screen Reader & Accessibility Shortcuts
| Action | Windows / Chrome OS | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Enable screen reader support | Ctrl + Alt + Z | ⌘ + Option + Z |
| Verbalize selection | Ctrl + Alt + X | ⌘ + Option + X |
| Enable braille support | Ctrl + Alt + H | ⌘ + Option + H |
| Verbalize from cursor location | Ctrl + Alt + R | ⌘ + Option + R |
Frequently Asked Questions About Google Slides Shortcuts
What is the shortcut to start a presentation in Google Slides?
To start a Google Slides presentation from the beginning, press Ctrl + F5 on Windows or Chrome OS. On a Mac, press ⌘ + Enter. This launches the slideshow in full-screen mode from the first slide. To present from the current slide instead, use Ctrl + Shift + F5 on Windows.
How do I group objects in Google Slides with a keyboard shortcut?
To group objects in Google Slides, select all the objects you want to group, then press Ctrl + Alt + G on Windows or ⌘ + Option + G on Mac. To ungroup them, press Ctrl + Alt + Shift + G on Windows or ⌘ + Option + Shift + G on Mac.
What is the shortcut to duplicate a slide in Google Slides?
To duplicate a slide in Google Slides, select the slide in the filmstrip and press Ctrl + D on Windows or ⌘ + D on Mac. The duplicated slide will appear immediately after the selected slide. You can also duplicate an object on a slide using the same shortcut.
How do I send an object backward in Google Slides using a keyboard shortcut?
To send an object one step backward in Google Slides, select the object and press Ctrl + ↓ (Down Arrow) on Windows or ⌘ + ↓ on Mac. To send it all the way to the back, press Ctrl + Shift + ↓ on Windows or ⌘ + Shift + ↓ on Mac.
How do I align objects using a shortcut in Google Slides?
Google Slides does not have a single-key shortcut for aligning objects directly. To align objects, select them and use the Arrange menu: press Alt + Shift + A (Windows) to open the Arrange menu, then navigate to Align. Alternatively, use the Tool Finder shortcut Alt + / and type “align” to access alignment options quickly without a mouse.
Can I use Google Slides keyboard shortcuts on a Mac?
Yes, Google Slides has a full set of keyboard shortcuts for Mac. Most Windows shortcuts use Ctrl; on Mac, the equivalent is the ⌘ Command key. However, some shortcuts differ entirely for example, Find and Replace is Ctrl + H on Windows but ⌘ + Shift + H on Mac, and starting a presentation is Ctrl + F5 on Windows but ⌘ + Enter on Mac.
Are Google Slides shortcuts the same as PowerPoint shortcuts?
Google Slides and PowerPoint share many common shortcuts such as Ctrl + C to copy, Ctrl + Z to undo, and Ctrl + D to duplicate. However, key differences exist: starting a presentation in PowerPoint uses F5, while Google Slides uses Ctrl + F5. Grouping objects in PowerPoint uses Ctrl + G, while Google Slides uses Ctrl + Alt + G.
What are the most important Google Slides shortcuts for beginners?
The most important Google Slides shortcuts for beginners are: Ctrl + M to add a new slide, Ctrl + D to duplicate a slide, Ctrl + Z to undo, Ctrl + F5 to start presenting, and Ctrl + / to open the full list of shortcuts inside Google Slides. Learning these five shortcuts first will cover the actions you use most in every presentation.
Final Thoughts
Keyboard shortcuts are one of the fastest, lowest-effort ways to become noticeably better at Google Slides. You do not need to memorize all 100+ at once start with the five in the Quick Reference box at the top of this page, use them daily for a week, and they will become automatic.
Once those feel natural, work through one category at a time. Presentation mode shortcuts alone especially the blank screen (B), laser pointer (L), and speaker notes (S) can transform how confident you look in front of an audience.
A few things worth remembering from this guide:
- Mac users: your shortcuts use ⌘ Command instead of Ctrl, but several like starting a presentation (⌘ + Enter) and Find & Replace (⌘ + Shift + H) are completely different, not just a key swap.
- Chromebook users: most shortcuts are identical to Windows, but navigation keys like Page Up and Home work differently use Search + ↑ and Search + ← instead.
- Switching from PowerPoint: the two shortcuts that trip people up most are grouping objects (Ctrl + Alt + G, not Ctrl + G) and starting a presentation (Ctrl + F5, not F5).
If you want a physical reference, download the free PDF cheat sheet above and keep it at your desk until the shortcuts become second nature.
For more Google Workspace keyboard shortcuts, see our guides on Google Docs Keyboard Shortcuts and Google Sheets Keyboard Shortcuts learning all three together gives you a complete productivity system across the entire suite.
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