Nudge Objects to Control Placement PowerPoint Slides GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Software & Apps > MS Office 48 48 people found this article helpful

Control Placement in PowerPoint Slides by Nudging Objects

Use arrow keys on the number keypad to nudge graphic objects

By Wendy Russell Wendy Russell Writer Brock University Former Lifewire writer Wendy Russell is an experienced teacher specializing in live communications, graphics design, and PowerPoint software. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on April 7, 2020 Tweet Share Email Bruce Mars / Pexels Tweet Share Email MS Office Powerpoint Word Excel Outlook After you place a graphic object on a PowerPoint slide, adjust its location to place it on the slide just right. To move the object slightly, nudge the object using common keystrokes to move it just a little bit in any direction. Instructions in this article apply to PowerPoint 2019, PowerPoint 2016, PowerPoint 2013, PowerPoint 2010, PowerPoint for Microsoft 365, and PowerPoint Online.

Nudge an Object in PowerPoint

When you nudge an object in PowerPoint, the object moves in small increments. The direction the object moves depends on which arrow key you press. Select the object then use the arrow keys on your keyboard to move the object left, right, up, or down until it's positioned exactly where you want it. If the default PowerPoint setting for nudging is too large for a specific need, manually adjust the increments of movement. Press and hold Ctrl while pressing the arrow keys to move in 1.25-point increments.

Reduce Default Nudge Setting

When you first install PowerPoint, the Snap Object to Grid feature is turned on. This setting determines the distance for the nudge as well. The default nudge setting is six points when Snap Objects to Grid is turned on. If you turn off Snap Objects to Grid, the nudge default setting is 1.25 points. To turn Snap Objects to Grid off: Go to View. Select Grid Settings in the lower-right corner of the Show group. Remove the check mark beside Snap objects to grid to turn off the feature and reduce the default nudge setting to 1.25 points. Select OK.

Objects and Arrows

In addition to using Ctrl to modify an arrow press to decrease the nudge size, press the Alt key with the left and right arrows to rotate the object left or right. Press Shift plus either the down or left arrow to make the object smaller, or Shift plus the right or up arrow to make it bigger. Similarly, using Ctrl+Shift makes the size of the increase or decrease smaller to permit more granular keyboard edits. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Use the Animation Painter in PowerPoint How to Move a Window That Is Off-Screen How to Use the Animation Painter in PowerPoint 2010 Keyboard Shortcuts: Speed up PowerPoint Presentations How to Copy a PowerPoint Design Template to Another Presentation How to Insert a Copyright Symbol or Emoji on a PowerPoint Slide How to Select Multiple Slides in PowerPoint How to Group Objects in Google Slides How to Add Animation to PowerPoint How to Make Hotspots on the Image Map in PowerPoint Slide Layouts in PowerPoint How to Increase PowerPoint Slide Number Size How to Group Objects in PowerPoint Using Design Themes in PowerPoint How to Text Wrap in PowerPoint Landscape and Portrait Slides in the Same Powerpoint Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies