How to change slide size in PowerPoint

Need your slides to be sized specifically for a special monitor, screen, or print? We’ll show you different ways to change the slide size in PowerPoint.

Do you want to create a poster using PowerPoint? Are you planning to present your slideshow on a small square screen? Do you need to convert your presentation into 35mm slides?

We’ll show you how to change the slide size in PowerPoint using three different methods to accommodate any size you need. And with that, we’ll also explain how to effectively design your slides using Plus AI for PowerPoint.

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About slide sizes in PowerPoint

Before you change the size of your slides in PowerPoint, here are a few points to keep in mind.

  • Slide size applies to all slides in a presentation. You cannot change the size of individual slides.
  • Orientation applies to all slides in a presentation. You cannot use different orientations in a single slideshow.
  • Currently, there is no setting for the default slide size for new presentations. If you want a default size, you must create and save a custom PowerPoint theme.

Method 1: Change from widescreen to standard

One of the quickest ways to change the slide size in PowerPoint is to switch from the default widescreen to the standard size.

Widescreen is a 16:9 ratio which is suitable for modern TV screens and widescreen monitors. Standard is a 4:3 ratio which is more of a square shape. If the screen you’re using to present your slideshow uses a 4:3 ratio, you can make the slide size switch easily in PowerPoint.

Go to the Design tab, open the Slide Size menu in the Customize section, and choose Standard.

If you already have content on your slides, you’ll see a message asking how you’d like to scale that content for the smaller slide size. Choose Maximize or Ensure Fit on Windows or Scale or Don’t Scale on Mac.

You’ll see your slides update to accommodate the new size; however, you may need to adjust, move, or even resize slide elements depending on your previous selection.

Method 2: Select a preset slide size

Maybe neither widescreen nor standard are the right size for your presentation. You can select a preset slide size in PowerPoint to accommodate things like a banner, letter or legal paper size, or 35mm slides.

  1. Go to the Design tab, open the Slide Size menu, and choose Custom Slide Size on Windows or Page Setup on Mac.
  1. In the Slide sized for drop-down menu, select the size you want to use.
  1. Optionally, you can change the orientation for the slides along with that for notes, handouts, and outlines.
  1. If prompted, choose how to scale the slide content as described above and click OK when you finish.

Method 3: Use a custom slide size

If none of the above options provide you with the size you need for your slides, you can enter custom dimensions.

  1. Go to the Design tab, open the Slide Size menu, and choose Custom Slide Size or Page Setup.
  2. In the Slide sized for drop-down menu, select Custom.
  1. Enter the dimensions in the Width and Height boxes or use the arrows to move up or down in small increments and optionally, adjust the orientation.
  1. If prompted, choose how to scale the content and click OK to see the custom slide size.

Let Plus AI design your PowerPoint slides

Creating and structuring a slideshow may be easy for some but can be challenging for others. Even if you are skilled at building presentations, there may be an instance where you simply don’t have the time. Enter Plus AI for PowerPoint!

With artificial intelligence, Plus AI can create presentation content as well as provide you with a well-structured and effectively-designed slideshow. You can start with an attractive template and watch as Plus AI delivers an entire slide deck. You’ll see different layouts to accommodate text, lists, images, charts, and more.

Whether you want help building your presentation or just need a slideshow in a hurry, check out Plus AI for PowerPoint and Google Slides. Save time and aggravation with this handy AI presentation maker!

Conclusion

While you can use PowerPoint to make presentations, you can also use it for a variety of other types of visual projects. You can create posters, printed material, website banners, and much more where you must change the size of your slides. So, bookmark this article for your next PowerPoint project that goes beyond the norm!

And for help creating that visual in PowerPoint, visit the Plus AI website for a complete feature set, view of the template gallery, and to start your free trial.

FAQs

How do I change the default view settings in PowerPoint?

When you open PowerPoint, you’ll see that Normal is the default view. However, you can change this to open the application in Notes, Slide Sorter, Outline, or another view. Go to File > Options and select Advanced in the pop-up window.

Scroll to the Display section, make your selection in the Open all documents using this view drop-down box, and click OK.

How do I change the master slide in PowerPoint?

If you want to adjust the fonts, colors, effects, or orientation, you can customize the slide master in PowerPoint. Go to View and select Slide Master. Make your changes, select Close Master View when you finish, and optionally save it as a template to reuse later.

How to format PowerPoint slides?

You can use a variety of slide layouts in PowerPoint as well as when editing your presentation with Plus AI. To change the existing layout, use the Slide Layout menu on the Home tab. For a new slide, choose the layout in the New Slide menu.

With Plus AI, select the add-on on the Home tab, choose Edit with AI, and pick Remix a Slide. Then, choose the layout in the sidebar.

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