How to Make a Google Slide Vertical: A Complete Guide

If you’re wondering how to make a Google Slide vertical, you’re in the right place. Google Slides defaults to a horizontal (landscape) layout, but many presentations benefit from a vertical orientation for mobile viewing, social media posts, or specific design needs. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the simple process of changing your slide orientation, discuss why you might want vertical slides, and share pro tips for designing effective vertical presentations.

Table of Contents

• Why Use Vertical Slides in Google Slides?
• How to Change Slide Orientation to Vertical
• Vertical Slide Design Tips
• Troubleshooting Common Issues
• Final Thoughts

Why Use Vertical Slides in Google Slides?

While horizontal slides are standard for most presentations, vertical slides offer several advantages in specific situations:

• Mobile optimization: Vertical format matches smartphone screens perfectly
• Social media content: Ideal for platforms like Instagram Stories or Pinterest
• Digital signage: Fits better in vertical monitor setups
• Creative presentations: Offers a fresh perspective for certain content types

When to Choose Vertical Over Horizontal

Consider using vertical Google Slides when your primary audience will view your presentation on mobile devices, when creating content specifically for social media, or when designing materials like posters or banners that traditionally use portrait orientation.

How to Change Slide Orientation to Vertical

Changing your Google Slides orientation from horizontal to vertical is simple, but the option isn’t immediately obvious. Follow these steps:

1. Open your Google Slides presentation
2. Click “File” in the top menu bar
3. Select “Page setup” from the dropdown menu
4. In the dialog box that appears, click the dropdown under “Orientation”
5. Choose “Portrait” (vertical) instead of “Landscape” (horizontal)
6. Click “Apply” to confirm your changes

Important Notes About Orientation Changes

• Changing orientation affects all slides in your presentation
• Existing content may need repositioning after orientation change
• Google Slides doesn’t support mixed orientations in one presentation

Vertical Slide Design Tips

Designing effective vertical Google Slides requires some adjustments from traditional horizontal layouts. Here are key tips:

1. Optimize for Mobile Viewing

Since vertical slides often target mobile users:

• Use larger fonts (minimum 24pt for body text)
• Leave ample margins on sides
• Place key content in the top two-thirds of the slide

2. Use Vertical-Friendly Layouts

Effective vertical layouts include:

• Single-column designs
• Full-bleed images
• Stacked content blocks

3. Visual Hierarchy Adjustments

In vertical format:

• Place most important content at the top
• Use scrolling-friendly designs
• Consider “tap-through” navigation for mobile viewers

Troubleshooting Common Issues

When learning how to make a Google Slide vertical, you might encounter these challenges:

Content Doesn’t Fit After Orientation Change

Solution:

1. Resize images and text boxes
2. Consider splitting content across multiple slides
3. Use the “Zoom” tool to ensure readability

Formatting Looks Strange

Try these fixes:

• Reset slide layouts via the “Layout” button
• Use guides (View > Show > Guides) to align elements
• Consider recreating complex layouts from scratch

Final Thoughts

Now that you know how to make a Google Slide vertical, you can create presentations that stand out and better serve specific viewing contexts. Whether for mobile audiences, social media, or creative projects, vertical slides offer valuable versatility in your presentation toolkit.

Ready to try vertical slides? Open Google Slides and experiment with portrait orientation for your next project. Remember to preview your presentation on different devices to ensure optimal viewing experience for your audience.

For more Google Slides tips, check out our guides on advanced animations, collaboration features, and presentation design principles.