How to Align Objects in Google Slides Using Keyboard Shortcuts
- David Pang
- 11 minutes ago
- 4 min read
When you're placing shapes or images in Google Slides, you want them aligned cleanly. However, Google Slides doesn't provide dedicated built-in keyboard shortcuts for object alignment. What you can do is use menu navigation sequences or use extensions to set custom shortcuts.
In this guide, I'll walk you through manual alignment via keyboard navigation, then show how to create true shortcuts with an extension like SheetWhiz. We also cover how SheetWhiz allows you to gain true shortcut control, so you work faster and with precision.
Can You Align Objects in Google Slides with Keyboard Shortcuts?
No, Google Slides does not include built-in keyboard shortcuts to align objects. You must use menu commands accessed via the Arrange menu, or resort to browser-based custom shortcut methods.
How to Align Objects in Slides Using the Arrange Menu?
To align objects manually in Google Slides, you need to select the items and proceed via the Arrange option in the menu ribbon. Once the dropdown menu appears, choose the Align option and click on the desired alignment option.
The available alignment options are:
Alignment Type | Menu Path | What It Does |
Align Left | Arrange > Align > Left | Moves objects to the leftmost edge of the selection or slide. |
Align Center | Arrange > Align > Center | Centers objects horizontally within the slide. |
Align Right | Arrange > Align > Right | Moves objects to the rightmost edge. |
Align Top | Arrange > Align > Top | Aligns objects to the top edge of the slide or group. |
Align Middle | Arrange > Align > Middle | Vertically centers objects within the slide or group. |
Align Bottom | Arrange > Align > Bottom | Aligns objects to the bottom edge of the slide or group. |
What Are Some Other Alignment Options in Slides?
Apart from the above options, you can also make use of the following options to align objects in Google Slides more precisely:
Distribute Objects:
Horizontally: Select multiple objects, then use Arrange > Distribute > Horizontally to spread them evenly across the slide width. This ensures equal spacing between items side-by-side without manually dragging each object.
Vertically: With several objects selected, choose Arrange > Distribute > Vertically to space them evenly top-to-bottom. It keeps consistent vertical gaps and enhances visual balance on tall layouts.
Snap Objects:
Snap to Guides: Enable View > Snap to > Guides to show red alignment lines when dragging objects near edges or other items. These guides help you align without menu commands and maintain consistent margins.
Snap to Grid: Activate View > Snap to > Grid so objects align to invisible grid lines when moved. This option is useful when you want a structured layout without manually aligning edge-by-edge.
Group/Ungroup Objects: After selecting objects, choose Arrange > Group to treat them as a single entity, then align or distribute the group. When needed, use Ungroup to separate the items for individual adjustments.
SheetWhiz: Align Objects in Slides using Shortcuts
When you have to align multiple objects in Slides, navigating through the Arrange menu repeatedly becomes hectic. Instead, using the SheetWhiz extension for Slides simplifies this by providing shortcut keys to align objects in Google Slides.
SheetWhiz is a Chrome extension that brings PowerPoint-style functionality to Google Slides, including object alignment via keyboard shortcuts. It adds commands for Align Left, Center, Right, Top, Middle, Bottom, among its suite of shortcut features. Here are the shortcuts for each of these alignment options:
Align Objects Left: ALT + A + L
Align Objects Center: ALT + A + C
Align Objects Right: ALT + A + R
Align Objects Top: ALT + A + T
Align Objects Middle: ALT + A + M
Align Objects Bottom: ALT + A + B
Apart from that, here are a few of its useful functions for Slides that you can use in your daily tasks:
Feature | What It Does |
Bring to Front | Moves the selected shape, image, or text box to the topmost layer on the slide. |
Send to Back | Pushes the selected object behind all others, useful for layering backgrounds or shapes. |
Align Objects Center | Centers multiple selected objects horizontally across the slide for precise positioning. |
Align Objects Middle | Aligns selected objects vertically in the middle of the slide for a balanced layout. |
Distribute Horizontally | Space several objects evenly across the slide from left to right. |
Distribute Vertically | Spaces several objects evenly from top to bottom, keeping visual consistency. |
Group | Combines multiple elements into one movable unit, simplifying adjustments and alignment. |
Increase Font Size | Enlarges text without manually opening the font size menu. |
Guide: How to Use SheetWhiz to Align Objects in Google Slides?
SheetWhiz allows accessing all Alignment options in Google Slides via simple keyboard shortcuts. Here is the step-by-step guide to utilize this useful extension in Slides:
Step 1: Head to the Chrome Web Store and install the SheetWhiz extension.
Step 2: Once installed, open the desired Slides and hit the SheetWhiz icon in the top menu. Afterward, use your credentials to sign up and utilize the tool's features.
Step 3: Now, you will be able to utilize the keyboard shortcuts to align objects in SheetWhiz (as shown in the following video).
Shortcuts Customization in SheetWhiz for Convenience
SheetWhiz aims to bring PowerPoint-level convenience to Google Slides by allowing users to use keyboard shortcuts to enhance their workflow. The best part about our extension is that you can customize the shortcuts according to your needs. The following video tutorial explains how you can customize shortcuts in SheetWhiz:
Conclusion
While there are no keyboard shortcuts to align objects in Google Slides, users can find the alignment options in the Arrange menu. If you don't want to go on a longer route, the SheetWhiz extension is a recommended option, as it allows using keyboard shortcuts to streamline workflows in Slides.
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