July 15, 2025 | SlideUpLift

Google Slides Shortcuts Cheat Sheet To Boost Workflow

Google Slides is already a go-to tool for everything. From classroom projects to business decks and online workshops. It is a one-stop platform to create and share your ideas, thoughts, and insights with others. But let’s face it! Navigating through Google Slides with just the mouse can get frustrating at times. It all gets very messy when you always need to go searching in the Insert menu for actions like Strikethrough, Aligning objects, Subscript, Superscript, etc., in the menus. Only if there were shortcuts to get these all done just with the touch of our fingertips on the keyboard, right? Well, your prayers have been answered! We have found you the ultimate list of basics to advanced shortcuts for Google Slides that will save you time, labour work, and give a pro-level finish, with the magic of some key combos.  

For example, you need a shortcut to select all text in Google Slides, which is ‘Ctrl + A’. But here is the trick, it might be different for other platforms; for Mac, it is ‘⌘ (command) + A’.  The shortcuts may differ from platform to platform; therefore, we have taken it upon ourselves to spill all the beans on this matter. In this blog, we will share shortcuts with you that are 100% legit. We have accumulated:
– Shortcuts for PC Windows users.
– Shortcuts for Mac users.
– And a bonus cheat sheet for the Google Editor Suite apps like Docs and Sheets. 

Let’s begin with Windows first.

PC Google Slides Shortcuts- For Windows Users

Using Google Slides on a Windows PC? Good news! There is a shortcut for almost everything. Windows is built for easy keyboard use, so it works great with Google Slides shortcuts. With easy combos of some keys on your keyboard, you can do all those tasks that take hundreds of clicks in just one quick hit. The ‘Ctrl’ key is the main modifier that works best in Chrome or other browsers. Some shortcuts like Google Slides superscript shortcut, Google Slides slideshow shortcut, Google Slides highlight shortcut, and Google Slides copy format shortcut, etc. These shortcuts are your perfect time-saving buddy to work smarter, and not harder. 

CategoryActionShortcut (Windows)
Text & Formatting      SuperscriptCtrl + .
SubscriptCtrl + ,
StrikethroughAlt + Shift + 5
EmojiWindows Key + .
Bullet PointCtrl + Shift + 8
HighlightNo default (use toolbar)
Copy Format (Paint Format)Ctrl + Alt + C (copy)Ctrl + Alt + V (paste)
Slide & Presentation   Duplicate SlideCtrl + D
Slideshow (from start)Ctrl + Shift + F5
Present/Presentation ModeCtrl + F5
Laser PointerDuring the presentation, press L
Object & Layout Control    Send to BackCtrl + Down Arrow
Bring to FrontCtrl + Up Arrow
Align ObjectsUse Arrange > Align menu (no default)
Center on PageUse Arrange > Center (manual)
GroupCtrl/Shift + Cursor
View & Navigation Full ScreenFunction + F11 (browser full screen)
Keyboard Shortcut ListCtrl + /

Mac Google Slides Shortcuts- For macOS Users

Mac users enjoy a smooth and hassle-free experience when working on Google Slides. Mac shortcuts are super intuitive. All you need to do is swap the ‘Ctrl’ key with the [] command key. They fit seamlessly into the workflow of their users. Making it easy to prepare decks for an important meeting, organizing ideas, or presenting to a team. Some shortcuts, like Google Slides emoji shortcut, Google Slides pointer shortcut, and Google Slides present shortcut, are also listed. The macOS focuses on amazing multitasking and gesture support. When mixed with these shortcuts, they bring productivity to the next level. 

CategoryActionShortcut (Mac)
Text & Formatting      Superscript⌘ + .
Subscript⌘ + ,
Strikethrough⌘ + Shift + X
EmojiControl + ⌘ + Space
Bullet Point⌘ + Shift + 8
HighlightNo default (use toolbar)
Copy Format (Paint Format)⌘ + Option + C (copy)⌘ + Option + V (paste)
Slide & PresentationDuplicate Slide⌘ + D
Slideshow (from start)⌘ + Shift + Enter/Return
Present/Presentation Mode⌘ + Enter/Return
Laser PointerDuring the presentation, press L
Object & Layout ControlSend to Back⌘ + Shift + Down Arrow
Bring to Front⌘ + Shift + Up Arrow
Align ObjectsUse the Arrange > Align menu
Center on PageUse Arrange > Center (manual)
Group⌘ + Cursor
View & NavigationFull ScreenControl + ⌘ + F (Mac full screen)
Keyboard Shortcut List⌘ + /

While this blog is all about speeding up your Google Slides workflow, you would also be happy to hear that many of the powerful shortcuts exist in Docs and Sheets, too. They are also a part of the Google Editor Suite, which also shares a set of keyboard commands that can seriously boost your productivity. 

We all know the basics to move forward with, but we’ve discovered some advanced tricks for you that will help you work faster on these platforms, without having to click here and there, every now and then. 

Google Docs & Sheets Shortcuts- For Windows and Mac Users

These universal shortcuts will elevate your game and streamline the process. Working across these platforms will make you an expert in them. You will be able to work across three different platforms with the superpower of shortcuts at the tip of your finger. Here is a quick cheat sheet of shared shortcuts that work across Google Docs and Sheets:

Google Docs Shortcuts

ActionWindowsMac
Insert headerCtrl + Alt + O, then H⌘ + Option + O, then H
Insert footnoteCtrl + Alt + F⌘ + Option + F
Move paragraph up/downSelect text then
Alt + Shift + Up/Down
Select text then
⌘ + Shift + Up/Down
Clear formattingCtrl + \⌘ + \
Apply heading styles (H1–H6)Ctrl + Alt + 1–6⌘ + Option + 1–6
Expand/collapse the outline sectionManually Manually 
Word count dialogCtrl + Shift + C⌘ + Shift + C
Insert commentCtrl + Alt + M⌘ + Option + M

Google Sheets Shortcuts

ActionWindowsMac
Insert a new sheetShift + F11Shift + Fn + F11
Fill downCtrl + D⌘ + D
Fill rightCtrl + R⌘ + R
Add or remove row aboveCtrl + Alt + =⌘ + Option +/-
Add or remove a columnCtrl + Alt + Shift + =⌘ + Option + Shift + =
Show formulasCtrl + /⌘ + /
Go to the next sheetCtrl + Shift + Page DownFn + ⌘ + Down Arrow
Go to the previous sheetCtrl + Shift + Page UpFn + ⌘ + Up Arrow
Open exploreWindows + EManually 
Insert current dateCtrl + ;⌘ + ;
Insert current timeCtrl + Shift + ;⌘ + Shift + ;

Conclusion

At the end of the day, it’s the small things. Knowing the correct shortcut will result in the successful completion of deadlines and reduce your stress, whilst bringing you ultimate progress in your career. You can start with a few in the beginning and note them down somewhere for future use. Mastering these Google Editor Suite apps, such as Slides, Sheets, and Docs, will definitely help reduce the eye strain you often experience when staring at the screen in search of the right command or click. These tricks will make your speed 2x faster and smoother. You do not need to memorize them. The more you use them, the faster you will memorize. If you want to elevate your presentation skills, check out our Google Slides tutorials to work smoothly across the platform and ace all meetings.

FAQs

  1. Can I customize shortcuts in Google Slides?

    Currently, it is not possible. It does not give you the option to change or set your own keyboard shortcuts. You can only use the one they have built into the platform. You can use third-party tools or extensions for this, but you can not change anything internally.

  2. How do I view all available shortcuts in Google Slides?

    For unlocking the ultimate cheat sheet, press ‘Ctrl + /’ in Windows and ‘⌘ + /’ in Mac. This sheet gives you all the shortcuts that you can use across this platform.

  3. Are Google Slides shortcuts the same on Windows and Mac?

    Mostly, yes. They are almost the same, but the keys you use might be different. In Windows, they rely more on the Control [Ctrl] option, and in Mac, they use Command [⌘] option.

  4. What is the best keyboard shortcut for rearranging objects on a slide?

    There are shortcuts to do this action. The shortcut to send to back Google Slides for any object in Windows is Ctrl + Down Arrow, and on Mac is ⌘ + Shift + Down Arrow. And to bring to front Google Slides shortcut for Windows is Ctrl + Up Arrow, and for Mac, ⌘ + Shift + Up Arrow. This is how you can rearrange objects on the slide.

  5. How can Google Slides shortcuts improve your workflow?

    You save a lot of time when you do not have to click multiple times on the screen, searching in the ribbons for the Google Slides full screen shortcut. They also reduce distraction and make the process of whatever you are creating a lot faster.

  6. Can you use Google Slides shortcuts on mobile (android) devices?

    Unfortunately, no. They only work on a desktop or laptop with a physical keyboard. On phones or tablets, you have touch gestures and on-screen menus.

  7. What are the differences between Google Slides shortcuts on Mac and Windows?

    The biggest difference is the modifier key [⌘] in Mac, and [Ctrl] in Windows. Besides that, the layout of the function keys or how your browser shows full-screen mode might affect a few things. But for the other Google Slides shortcuts for Mac and Windows, it gets easier once you adapt them.

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