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When it comes to PowerPoint, there are many options, tools, and shortcuts that most people are not aware of. Lucky for you, we have a list of 7 nifty little PowerPoint tricks and hacks that will allow you to create nicer-looking slides in record time and make you look like a magician on stage. And who doesn’t like magicians?

1. Navigate Slides Like a Pro

Imagine you’re going through your slide deck, in presenter mode, and accidentally jump to the wrong slide. What should you do in such a situation? Simply use the arrow keys on your keyboard. Hit the right arrow key to go forward and the left arrow key to go backward. It’s that simple. Also, if you ever want to navigate to a particular slide in your presentation, simply type in the slide number on your keyboard, and then press the Enter key.

For example, let’s say we are on slide #1 in our presentation and want to jump to slide #3. Simply press 3 on the keyboard and then press enter. Lastly, a third method to advance forward in your presentation is by clicking the left mouse button using your computer mouse (if you use a mouse, of course). This technique can really come in handy when you want to stand up and move around the room, and there is no slide clicker in the room (or the clicker isn’t working for some reason). Just hold your mouse in your hand as you walk around and click away on that left button to advance through your deck. No more yelling across the room “next slide” as you go through your presentation.

These PowerPoint shortcuts are essential for smooth navigation, making you look like a pro in front of your audience.

2. Open Hyperlinks Seamlessly

Most people think the only way to select a hyperlink in a presentation is by dragging the mouse cursor across the slide during your presentation and selecting the link. While this method surely works fine, it can add an unnecessary pause in the flow of presentation as you move your mouse across the screen to select the link. As a result, it can sometimes take away your audience’s attention for a few seconds. You can avoid dragging your mouse across the screen like this by simply hitting the Tab key instead.

It’s certainly not a huge deal but can be slightly distracting … especially if you have several hyperlinks throughout your deck. To avoid this unnecessary distraction, when you have hyperlinks inserted on your slides and want to open them up, just hit the Tab key (to select the hyperlink) and press enter! And “abracadabra”! No more moving your mouse across the screen to click on the hyperlink! This is one of those simple yet effective PowerPoint tricks that can keep your presentation smooth and professional.

3. Create Transparent (Invisible) Hyperlinks

Most people think that they can only add a hyperlink to a text box. Not true. There are times when you may not want any text on the slide at all and want just a full-size image on the slide that links to something (like a video or website). So how would we add a hyperlink in this situation?

You can work around this by creating transparent links in PowerPoint which makes your hyperlink invisible. Creating invisible hyperlinks is an easy way to clean up your slides!

To create your invisible hyperlinks, you first need to enter the text you want to link. Then draw a rectangular shape over that covers the text. Right-click the rectangle with your mouse and select ‘Insert Hyperlink’ on the toolbar (you can also just hit Ctrl+K on your keyboard). You will then see a dialog box appear where you’ll have to add a hyperlink in the text box and click OK. Next, right-click the rectangle, select the Format option, and choose ‘No Fill’ in the fill color option and ‘No Line’ in the line color box. Test out the hyperlink in presenter mode to make sure it works.

This trick can help you make a good PowerPoint presentation by keeping your slides clean and professional-looking.

4. Compress Images to Reduce File Size

If you have a large PowerPoint file size, you can run into trouble if you are trying to email it to your colleagues. When the file is too large, it usually bounces back to you when you hit the send button. So, what should you do? Compress your PowerPoint file, of course!

Usually, it’s the images in a PowerPoint presentation that make the file size extra large. So the first thing you need to do is to compress your images in PowerPoint. Doing that is really simple:

1. Click on any image in your slide deck. This will bring up the Format tab (and options within it).
2. Click on the button “Compress Pictures”.
3. Decide whether you want to compress all images or just a single image. Select the resolution size according to your requirement and click OK.

You can significantly reduce the size of your PowerPoint file by compressing images. This trick not only makes it easier to share your presentation but also helps it load faster on different devices. Regularly using this method will ensure that your presentations remain efficient and easy to handle.

5. Create “Perfectly Aligned” Copies of an Object

You may already know that you can quickly copy and paste an object on PowerPoint by using Control+D. But what if you want the duplicated object to be perfectly aligned with the original? PowerPoint magicians like yourself have a clever workaround:

Select the object you want to copy and drag it using your mouse while holding down Ctrl+Shift. This will create a perfectly aligned copy of the object wherever you want it on your slide. You can also repeat the action by pressing F4 or Ctrl+Y to add another perfectly aligned copy.

This is one of those PowerPoint tricks that can help you make a good PowerPoint presentation by ensuring all your elements are neatly aligned, making your slides look more professional and polished.

6. Format Painter Shortcut

If you have been following the Panda blog for a while, you have probably heard us talk about the importance of creating a consistent slide deck. There are only two easy ways to copy and paste the format in PowerPoint. The first is a Format Painter tool, which is used to apply the same formatting on a single object.

The Format Painter Tool will apply the format of one object to another one time. The second method involves using shortcut keys CTRL+SHIFT+C to copy the format of the content. Once copied, you can apply that style to other desirable text or object by pressing the keys CTRL+SHIFT+V. The Format Painter Keyboard Shortcut will apply the format as many times as you want (just keep hitting Ctrl+V).

So what’s the difference between using the Format Painter tool and the above shortcut key method? If you use the shortcut key method, the copied formatting can be carried over as many times as you want without losing it, whereas, with Format Painter, you have to click on the tool each time you want to copy the formatting.

Using these PowerPoint shortcuts ensures consistency throughout your presentation, which is key to maintaining a professional look.

7. Copying the Animation Object

Now that you have created an animation, what can you do to use similar animation in any other slide? Well, that’s quite simple; you can do that by using the Animation Painter tool. It works just like the Format Painter tool (that we discussed in tip #6) except it is copying over animation settings instead of formatting settings.

Select the object you want a copy and then click the Animation Painter tool. Next, click the object where you want to paste that animation. In case you want to create multiple objects, then double-click the brush and repeat the action. You can also copy animations using shortcut keys ALT+SHIFT+C and paste it by pressing clicking on the object you want to apply the animation. The Animation Painter Keyboard Shortcut will apply the animation as many times as you want (just keep clicking with your mouse).

These PowerPoint animation tricks are invaluable for creating dynamic and engaging presentations, helping you stand out and capture your audience’s attention.

Conclusion

A true PowerPoint magician always has a few good tricks up his/her sleeve. The more PowerPoint tricks and hacks you know, the easier it will be to create and present slides. These tips, from navigation shortcuts to compressing images in PowerPoint, can significantly enhance your presentation skills, making you look professional and prepared.

FAQs

Q1: How can I navigate slides smoothly during a presentation?‍

A1: Use the arrow keys to move forward and backward, type the slide number followed by Enter to jump to a specific slide, or use the left mouse button to advance slides. These PowerPoint shortcuts ensure seamless navigation.

Q2: How do I make hyperlinks less distracting in a PowerPoint presentation?

A2: Instead of dragging your mouse to select a hyperlink, use the Tab key to navigate through hyperlinks and press Enter to open them. This PowerPoint trick helps maintain your presentation’s flow.

Q3: What’s the best way to reduce the size of a PowerPoint file?

A3: Compress images in PowerPoint by selecting the image, clicking "Compress Pictures" in the Format tab, and choosing the appropriate resolution. This reduces file size without sacrificing quality.

Q4: How can I create perfectly aligned copies of objects in PowerPoint?

A4: Hold down Ctrl+Shift while dragging the object to create a perfectly aligned copy. You can repeat the action with F4 or Ctrl+Y. This PowerPoint trick helps you make a good PowerPoint presentation by ensuring neat alignment.

Q5: How can I copy animation settings to another object in PowerPoint?

A5: Use the Animation Painter tool or the shortcut keys ALT+SHIFT+C to copy the animation and ALT+SHIFT+V to paste it. These PowerPoint animation tricks save time and ensure consistency in your slides.

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