How to Change Google Slides from Portrait to Landscape: 1 Minute to Switch Your Google Slides Layout

Changing the orientation of your Google Slides presentation from portrait to landscape is an essential step if you want your slides to fit widescreen displays or follow standard presentation conventions. By default, Google Slides opens in landscape mode, but if you’re working on a custom template or need to switch orientations, here's a clear guide on how to do it:

1. Open your Google Slides presentation.
2. Click on File in the top menu.
3. Select Page setup from the drop-down menu.
4. In the pop-up window, click the dropdown that likely shows "Widescreen 16:9" or another preset ratio.
5. Select Custom.
6. Set your desired dimensions. For landscape, set the width larger than the height (for example, 10 x 5.625 inches for 16:9 landscape). For portrait, reverse it (for example, 5 x 10 inches). To change from portrait to landscape, invert these dimensions accordingly.
7. Click Apply.

Your slides will now appear in the landscape orientation. All existing content will automatically resize, but you may need to manually adjust elements to fit the new aspect ratio properly.

Tips 1:

As a designer, orientation and layout play a huge role in how content is perceived. If you’re often experimenting with slide orientations, consider leveraging visual planning tools commonly used in room planner software. These tools help you visualize dimensions, structure, and composition—skills directly transferable to creating impactful presentations in Google Slides.

FAQ

Q: Can I change the orientation of individual slides in Google Slides?

A: No, Google Slides applies orientation settings to the entire presentation, not individual slides.

Q: What’s the default orientation in Google Slides?

A: By default, Google Slides opens in landscape mode (wider than tall).

Q: Will changing the orientation affect my slide content?

A: Yes, changing the aspect ratio may require you to adjust text boxes, images, and other elements for optimal appearance.

Q: Can I switch back and forth between portrait and landscape?

A: Yes, you can change the orientation at any time through the page setup menu, but slide content may need realignment after each change.

Q: Are custom dimensions supported in Google Slides?

A: Absolutely! You can set any custom dimensions to fit unique display or printing requirements.