How to change keynote slide to landscape: A step-by-step guide to transforming your Keynote slides

Changing your Keynote slide orientation to landscape is a simple process, but it differs depending on the device you’re using. On Mac, Keynote slides are set to landscape by default, but you can customize the slide size or orientation if needed.

Here’s how to ensure your Keynote slides are in landscape orientation:

1. Open your Keynote presentation on your Mac.
2. In the menu bar, click on Document.
3. In the sidebar, under Slide Size, click the pop-up menu and select Custom Slide Size.
4. For landscape orientation, make sure the width is greater than the height (e.g., 1920 x 1080 pixels).
5. Click OK to apply the changes.

This will ensure your presentation uses the landscape layout, which is standard for most on-screen and projected presentations.

As a designer, I always consider the visual flow and purpose behind slide orientation. Landscape is ideal for content that benefits from a wider visual space, like floor plan presentations or panoramic images. And when I prototype presentations for interior design clients, I use tools that instantly provide the right format; for example, using a 3D Floor Planner helps ensure your visuals make the most of landscape orientation for impressive, client-ready slide decks.

Tips 1:

Consider the type of content you’re presenting: diagrams, images, and floor plans generally look better in landscape. If you ever switch to portrait, simply set a taller height than width in the custom slide size options.

FAQ

Q: Can I switch an existing Keynote presentation from portrait to landscape?

A: Yes. Use the Document sidebar to adjust the width and height in Custom Slide Size, and rearrange content if necessary.

Q: Is landscape orientation best for all Keynote presentations?

A: Landscape is most commonly used for presentations, but portrait can be effective for posters or print materials.

Q: How do I set landscape orientation on Keynote for iPad?

A: Tap the More button (…), select Document Setup, and adjust the slide size so width exceeds height.

Q: Will changing orientation affect my images or layouts?

A: It can. You may need to reposition or resize images and text to fit the new orientation properly.

Q: What is the standard landscape size for Keynote slides?

A: 1920 x 1080 pixels (16:9) is the most popular landscape size for modern displays.