Michael Anderson
Former journalist turned tech writer with a passion for helping professionals enhance productivity through AI.
Introduction
Whenever I need to put together a presentation – doesn’t matter if it’s for my job, a class project, or just something fun – Google Slides is where I always end up. It’s completely free, super simple to figure out, and honestly has way more cool tricks up its sleeve than you’d expect from a free tool. But here’s the thing: the default horizontal layout doesn’t always cut it. Maybe you’re designing a poster, creating an Instagram Story, or mocking up a mobile app interface. That’s when vertical slides come in handy. I remember struggling to figure this out the first time I needed a vertical slide for a social media post—Google Slides kept defaulting to widescreen! If you’ve been there, don’t worry.
This guide will walk you through how to make Google Slides vertical in a few simple steps, even if you’re a total beginner.
Why Choose Vertical Slides?
Vertical slides can make your content pop in ways horizontal ones can’t. These work like a charm for phone-friendly presentations, digital handouts, or visual explainers. Let’s say you’re posting stuff to Instagram, TikTok, or Pinterest – vertical slides feel right because they match how we naturally scroll through our phones. Bonus? They also kill it for physical stuff you print out, like café menus or event posters. Plus, Google Slides gives you the flexibility to tweak layouts to fit your vision, so why not experiment with a vertical format?
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Google Slides Vertical
Step 1: Open Google Slides
First things first, head to Google Slides. clicking “New,” and selecting “Google Slides.” If you already have a presentation you want to make vertically, just open that file. New to Google Slides? No stress—it’s all cloud-based, so you don’t need to download anything.
Step 2: Access the Page Setup Menu
When your presentation is open, go to the top menu bar and click “File.” Scroll down and select “Page setup.” By default, Google Slides uses a widescreen format, usually 16:9 or 4:3, which is great for projectors but not for vertical designs. The Page Setup menu is where magic happens.
Step 3: Set Your Slide Dimensions
In the Page Setup box, you’ll spot a list with options like ‘Standard (4:3 ratio)’ or ‘Widescreen (16:9).’ Pick ‘Custom’ at the bottom – that’s where the magic happens. Here’s the trick: flip the usual numbers so the height is larger than the width. Most folks use either classic paper size (8.5″ x 11″) for printables or the phone-friendly 9″ x 16″ for social media stuff. Designing for screens? Try 1080 x 1920 pixels – that’s the sweet spot for HD crispness. Just remember: type width first, then height (but make sure that second number’s bigger!), then hit ‘Apply.
Step 4: Apply and Adjust Your Slides
After hitting “Apply,” your slides will switch to the new vertical format. If you had content already, it might look a bit wonky—text boxes or images could be stretched or misaligned. Take a moment to resize or reposition elements to fit the new layout. For new slides, you’re starting fresh, so add text, images, or shapes as needed. Pro tip: preview your slide on a phone or tablet to make sure it looks clean and readable.
Step 5: Save and Share Your Vertical Presentation
Don’t stress about losing your progress – Google Slides saves automatically as you work. Want to use your slides elsewhere? Just click File > Download and pick your format: PDF works great for printing, while PNG keeps your images sharp. Sharing is a breeze too – hit that blue Share button and either email the link directly or copy-paste it to your team. Seriously, it couldn’t be simpler!
Tips for Designing Vertical Slides
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Use high-quality images: Vertical slides shine with visuals, so pick images that look sharp and fit the taller format.
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Keep text short: Long paragraphs can overwhelm a vertical slide, especially on mobile. Stick to bullet points or concise phrases.
Mistakes to Watch Out For
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Overcomplicating the design: Vertical slides look best with clean, simple layouts. Don’t cram too many elements into one slide.
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Ignoring font size: Text that’s too small is hard to read on phones. Aim for at least 16–20pt fonts for body text.
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Skipping the preview: Always test your slides on the device or platform you’re targeting to catch any formatting issues.
Common Vertical Slide Dimensions
Not sure which dimensions to pick? Here are some popular choices for vertical slides:
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8.5 x 11 inches: Standard letter size, ideal for printed posters or handouts.
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9 x 16 inches: Matches the aspect ratio of most smartphone screens, great for social media stories or mobile presentations.
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1080 x 1920 pixels: Perfect for digital projects needing HD quality, like Instagram or TikTok posts.
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4 x 6 inches: Good for smaller printed materials or photo-style slides.
Feel free to experiment with custom sizes based on your project, but these are solid starting points.
Conclusion
Don’t let the vertical switch intimidate you – it’s way simpler than you’d guess, and honestly? Your creativity’s about to level up. Whether you’re building a scroll-friendly slideshow for phones, cooking up Pinterest-worthy graphics, or crafting a crisp poster design, these steps’ll have you sorted in minutes. Seriously, just start clicking around with portrait layouts – you’ll surprise yourself with what you dream up!
FAQ: Making Google Slides Vertical (Portrait Mode)
Q: Can I switch an existing presentation to vertical without messing up my slides?
A: Yes! Go to File > Page Setup > Custom and enter your vertical dimensions. However, existing content might stretch or overlap. You’ll need to tweak text boxes, images, and other items to match the new layout. Quick tip: Make a copy of your original file first to keep a backup.
Q: Why does my text look squished after switching to portrait mode?
A: This happens because the slide’s width shrinks when you go vertical. Simply resize text boxes and reduce font sizes slightly. For mobile-focused designs, stick to short headlines and bullet points for better readability.
Q: Can I mix horizontal and vertical slides in the same presentation?
A: Unfortunately, no. Google Slides applies the same page setup to all slides in a file. If you need both orientations, create separate presentations and link them using clickable buttons or hyperlinks.
Q: What’s the best vertical size for Instagram Stories or Reels?
A: Go with 1080 x 1920 pixels (that 9:16 size everyone uses). You’ll get perfect phone-screen proportions this way – no more awkward cropping when you post to Instagram Reels, TikTok, or anywhere else. Plus, your graphics will stay razor-sharp instead of turning into pixel soup!
Q: Will my vertical slides print correctly?
A: Yep – just make sure your slide size matches your actual paper. If you’re using regular printer paper (that 8.5×11 inch stuff), those numbers work perfectly. Always save as a PDF first (File > Download > PDF) and peek at the margins before hitting print – saves you from wasting paper if something’s off!
Q: How do I preview my vertical slides on a phone?
A: Open the Google Slides app on your device or share the presentation link to your phone’s browser. Swipe through the slides to test how they look in portrait mode. Adjust font sizes or images if anything feels too small.
Q: Are there pre-made vertical templates for Google Slides?
A: Yes! Search for “portrait” or “vertical” in Google Slides’ template gallery (Template Gallery > Browse Templates). Websites like SlidesCarnival and SlideModel also offer free vertical templates—just upload them to your Google Drive.
Q: Why can’t I see the Page Setup button?
A: Oh that’s sneaky – first, double-check that you’re actually editing (not just viewing) the slides. Click the File menu in the top-left corner. If you’re on mobile, force your browser into desktop mode – that burger menu hides until you trick your phone into thinking it’s a computer!
Q: Can I use animations and transitions in vertical mode?
A: Yup! All Google Slides features, like animations, transitions, and embedded videos, work just fine in portrait mode. Just make sure your vertical design leaves enough room for moving elements.
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