How to Change the Orientation of Google Slides: A Step-by-Step Guide

When creating presentations in Google Slides, you may sometimes need to switch from the standard landscape layout to portrait mode. While Google Slides defaults to landscape orientation, changing it to portrait is simple. Whether you’re designing a poster, flyer, or report, altering the slide layout can be done in a few steps.

This guide will walk you through how to change the orientation of your Google Slides in a few easy-to-follow steps.

Steps to Change Orientation in Google Slides

1. Open Google Slides
   1. To begin, launch Google Slides by heading to slides.google.com. Either open an existing presentation or create a new one by selecting the "Blank" option.
2. Access the "File" Menu
   1. Once your presentation is open, look toward the top-left corner of the screen and click on the "File" tab in the menu bar.
3. Select "Page Setup"
   1. From the dropdown menu, scroll down and click on "Page Setup." This will open a pop-up window that lets you adjust the dimensions and layout of your slides.
4. Choose "Custom" from the Drop-down Menu
   1. In the "Page Setup" window, you'll see a drop-down menu with options like "Standard" and "Widescreen." To change the orientation, click on this drop-down menu and select "Custom" from the list of options.
5. Switch to Portrait Orientation
   • After selecting "Custom," you can manually set the slide dimensions. For portrait orientation, swap the values. For instance, if the slide is currently set to 10 x 5.63 inches, switch it to 5.63 x 10 inches. Enter these numbers in the width and height boxes.
6. Apply the Changes
   • After entering the new dimensions, click "Apply." Your Google Slides will now be in portrait mode. Every slide in the presentation will follow this new orientation.

Tips for Using Google Slides in Portrait Orientation

1. Content Adjustment: After changing the orientation, you may need to adjust text boxes, images, and other elements to fit the new layout.
2. Design Flexibility: Portrait orientation is ideal for projects like posters, certificates, or worksheets, where a vertical layout is more suitable.
3. Collaboration: If you're working with a team, ensure everyone is aware of the layout change to avoid confusion.

FAQ

1. Can I switch only one slide to portrait orientation?
Unfortunately, Google Slides does not offer the ability to change the orientation of individual slides. When you adjust the orientation, it applies to the entire presentation.

2. Can I change the slide size to custom dimensions?
Yes! In addition to switching to portrait mode, you can set your slides to any custom size, which is especially useful for printing purposes.

3. Will changing the orientation affect my content?
Switching between landscape and portrait may require adjusting the layout of your content, such as resizing images or repositioning text boxes to fit the new dimensions.

4. How do I switch back to landscape orientation?
To return to landscape mode, repeat the steps above and change the custom dimensions back to a wider width and shorter height (e.g., 10 x 5.63 inches).