To make Google Slides vertical, open your presentation and click File > Page setup. Open the size menu, choose Custom, and enter a width smaller than the height, such as 7.5 x 10 inches for a portrait layout or 8.5 x 11 inches for US Letter. Click Apply. Every slide in the presentation switches to the new vertical size.
Google Slides doesn’t let you mix horizontal and vertical slides in one file. Below are common portrait sizes, how to fix content that looks stretched, and what to do on a phone.
How to change Google Slides to portrait
- Open your presentation at slides.google.com on a computer.
- Click File > Page setup.
- Click the size menu (it usually says Widescreen 16:9) and choose Custom.
- Choose a unit, like Inches, and type the width and height. The first number is the width, so it must be smaller for a vertical slide.
- Click Apply.
Common vertical sizes for Google Slides
| Use | Size |
|---|---|
| Standard 4:3 portrait | 7.5 x 10 in |
| 16:9 portrait (phone screens, digital signs) | 5.625 x 10 in |
| US Letter flyer or handout | 8.5 x 11 in |
| A4 document | 21 x 29.7 cm |
| Poster | 18 x 24 in, or 24 x 36 in |
| Instagram or social story | 1080 x 1920 pixels |
Fix content after switching to vertical
Google Slides rescales your existing content, which can leave text boxes and images looking squished or off-center. To tidy up:
- Set the size first. Switch to vertical before you add content whenever possible.
- Resize text boxes and images by dragging their corner handles. Hold Shift while dragging an image to keep its proportions.
- Update layouts once. Go to Slide > Edit theme to adjust the layout placeholders, so new slides look right.
- Use alignment guides. Select an item and use Arrange > Center on page > Horizontally.
Can you have both vertical and horizontal slides?
No. Page setup applies to the whole presentation. If you need both, make two separate presentations, or link to a vertical presentation from a slide in your main one.
How to print or share a vertical presentation
- Print: Go to File > Print. Set the layout to portrait in your printer settings, and match the paper size to your slide size.
- Save as PDF: Go to File > Download > PDF Document (.pdf). The PDF keeps the vertical layout.
- Present: Vertical slides show with black bars on the sides of a widescreen display.
Can you change slide orientation on a phone?
The Google Slides app for iPhone, iPad, and Android doesn’t include Page setup. Change the size on a computer. The vertical layout then shows in the app too.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an orientation button in Google Slides?
No. Unlike Google Docs, Slides doesn’t have a portrait or landscape toggle. Use a custom page size instead.
How do I switch back to horizontal?
Go to File > Page setup and choose Widescreen 16:9, or enter a width larger than the height.
Why is Page setup grayed out?
You may only have view or comment access. Ask the owner for edit access, or make a copy with File > Make a copy.
Does this work for Google Slides templates?
Yes, but templates designed for widescreen may need their layouts adjusted after you change the size.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.