When creating presentations, PowerPoint allows you to choose between portrait or landscape orientation. Once selected, it will be applied to all slides. What if you wanted to mix?
We'll discuss whether it's possible to make one of the slide portraits in PowerPoint and more.
Can I create a single slide portrait in PowerPoint?
Unfortunately, PowerPoint doesn't allow you to change the orientation of some slides. You would have to change the orientation of your entire presentation.
You can always insert a portrait-oriented image or crop your photos to fit the screen. Additionally, PowerPoint allows you to adapt the size of your slides to your monitor.
Although PowerPoint does not allow mixed orientations, there is a workaround that involves two presentation decks.
How to Make a Single Slide Portrait on Windows
Windows users can follow the steps below to insert a portrait slide:
- Create two presentation files. The first file is the master deck in landscape mode and the second file should contain this portrait slide.
- In the official presentation (first file), navigate to where you want to insert the portrait slide and select the text, image, or object you want to link to.
- Go to the “Insert” tab.
- In the “Links” section, tap on “Action”.
- Choose when you want the portrait slide to appear. You can select "Mouse Click" or "Mouse Over". If you choose the latter, the portrait slide will open when you hover over the linked location.
- Press "Hyperlink to".
- From the drop-down menu, select "Other PowerPoint Presentation".
- Find the presentation you want to link to the original and press "OK".
- Press “Ok” again.
When you enter the slideshow and navigate to the linked text, image, or object, hover or click on it, depending on the option you choose. The portrait slide will appear on your screen. When you want to exit the portrait slide, press "Esc" and you will return to the landscape presentation.
If you want to use multiple portrait slides, we recommend creating a separate PowerPoint file for each one and linking them to the main file.
Tip: When creating the two presentation files, do so in the same folder for easier navigation.
How to Make a Single Slide Portrait on a Mac
As with Windows, there is a workaround. Follow the steps below:
- Create two PowerPoint files: one for your official presentation and the other for the single portrait slide to be inserted. Keep both in the same folder.
- Open the presentation deck and navigate to where you want to insert the portrait slide. Select the text, object, or image to connect to the portrait slide.
- Go to the “Insert” tab and press “Action”. If you have an older Mac, go to the “Slideshow” tab and press “Action”.
- Choose when you want the portrait slide to appear. You can select "Mouse Click" or "Mouse Over". For the latter, the portrait slide will open when you hover over the linked location.
- Press "Hyperlink to".
- Choose "Other PowerPoint Presentation" from the drop-down menu.
- Find the presentation you want to link and press "Ok" twice.
Link two or more presentations to change orientation
Unfortunately, PowerPoint doesn't allow you to combine portrait and landscape in one file. But you can create a single portrait slide in a PowerPoint file and link it to your landscape presentation. Although it may seem complicated, it is the best solution available today and it works for both Windows and Mac.
How did you handle this problem? Did you find another solution or are you satisfied with the method described above? Let us know in the comments.
