Michael Anderson
Former journalist turned tech writer with a passion for helping professionals enhance productivity through AI.
Introduction
Ever wondered how to switch up your PowerPoint slides? Maybe you want some slides tall (portrait) and others wide (landscape). I’ve been there, and it’s not as hard as it seems! In this post, I’ll show you how to rotate slides and even mix both styles in one presentation. Let’s dive in.
Why Rotate Slides?
Most PowerPoint slides are wide by default. That’s great for lots of things, but sometimes a tall slide works better—like for a big photo or a long list. Problem is, PowerPoint doesn’t let you mix tall and wide slides in one file. Don’t stress, though—I’ve got a fix for that too.
Option 1: Make All Slides Tall
If you want every slide in portrait mode, it’s super simple. Here’s what to do:
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Open your PowerPoint file.
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Click the Design tab up top.
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Find the Slide Size button (it’s usually on the right).
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Click it, then pick Custom Slide Size.
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Choose Portrait in the little box that pops up.
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Hit OK.
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PowerPoint will ask you to pick Maximize or Ensure Fit.
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Maximize uses all the space but might cut stuff off.
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Ensure Fit shrinks things to fit. I usually go with Ensure Fit to be safe.
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Done! Now all your slides are tall. Easy, right? But if you only want some slides rotated, keep reading.
Option 2: Mix Tall and Wide Slides
Want both styles in one presentation? PowerPoint won’t do it directly, but here’s a trick I love: make two files and connect them. It’s like magic! Here’s how:
Step 1: Split Your Work
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Make one PowerPoint file for wide (landscape) slides.
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Make another for tall (portrait) slides. (Use the steps above to set it to portrait.)
Step 2: Link Them Up
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Open your wide-slide file.
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Pick a slide where you want to jump to a tall one.
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Add a shape or text box to click on.
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Go to Insert > Links > Action.
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Choose Mouse Click, then Hyperlink to > Other PowerPoint Presentation.
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Find your tall-slide file, pick a slide, and hit OK.
Step 3: Link Back
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Open your tall slide file.
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Add a link back to the wide-slide file the same way.
Step 4: Keep Them Together
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Save both files in the same folder so the links don’t break.
Step 5: Try It Out
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Start with the wide file. Click your link—it’ll switch to the tall file. Click again to come back. Smooth, huh?
It takes a little setup, but it works like a charm. I usually label my links, like “See Tall Slide,” so it’s clear what’s happening.
Quick Tips
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Fix Your Stuff: After rotating, check your images and text. They might need a nudge to look right.
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Printing: Preview your slides before printing. Tall slides can look funny on paper if you’re not careful.
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Test It: Run your presentation on another computer to make sure the links work.
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Keep It Simple: Don’t cram too much on tall slides. Use space for clean, bold ideas.
Conclusion
There you go! You can rotate all your slides to portrait or mix it up with some clever linking. I’ve used these tricks in my own presentations, and they always get a “wow” from the crowd. Give it a shot—play around and see what works for you. Happy presenting!
FAQ: Rotating PowerPoint Slides (Portrait & Landscape)
Q1: Can I mix portrait and landscape slides in ONE PowerPoint file?
A: Unfortunately, no. PowerPoint doesn’t support mixed orientations in a single presentation. But here’s the workaround: Create two separate files (one portrait, one landscape) and link them using clickable actions. It’s seamless during your slideshow!
Q2: Why does my text look weird after switching to portrait mode?
A: Rotating slides can scramble your layout. Always choose “Ensure Fit” (not “Maximize”) when changing orientation. Then, manually adjust text boxes and images. Pro tip: Check slide spacing in both views before finalizing!
Q3: Will rotating slides affect my images/videos?
A: Possibly! High-res images usually scale fine, but videos might get cropped. Double-check media placement after rotating. For portrait slides, use taller visuals like infographics or vertical photos to fill space naturally.
Q4: How do I print portrait PowerPoint slides correctly?
A: Go to File > Print > Full Page Slides. Under “Settings,” select Portrait Orientation and choose your paper size. Always preview! Tall slides sometimes cut off margins on standard printers.
Q5: My links between portrait/landscape files broke! Help!
A: Keep BOTH PowerPoint files in the same folder on your computer or USB drive. If you move one, the links break. Test on another PC—sometimes security settings block inter-PPT linking.
Q6: Is there a faster way than linking two files?
A: Not really—PowerPoint’s slide orientation settings apply to the whole deck. For quick mixes, try embedding PDFs: Save portrait slides as PDFs, then insert them into your landscape PPT as objects.
Q7: Can I rotate just ONE slide to portrait?
A: Nope. You’ll need the two-file method mentioned above. Rotate individual slides isn’t a native PowerPoint feature (yet!).
Q8: Why use portrait slides anyway?
A: Perfect for mobile viewing, social media posts, resumes, or long-scrolling content! Portrait grabs attention in sea of landscape slides. Just don’t overload them—keep tall slides clean and visual.
Q9: Do transitions work between linked files?
A: Yes! When you click the action button, it jumps smoothly to the other file. Set both presentations to “Browsed at Kiosk” mode (Slide Show > Set Up Slide Show) for uninterrupted viewing.
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