How To Rotate Objects In PowerPoint (4 Ways) - Avantix Learning

Rotate Shapes, Images and Other Objects in PowerPoint

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated February 22, 2025

Applies to: Microsoft® PowerPoint® 2016, 2019, 2021 and 365 (Windows)

You can rotate objects in PowerPoint by dragging the rotation handle, entering an exact rotation amount or by using keyboard shortcuts. To rotate an object means to turn it around its center. Shapes, images and other objects can be rotated in Normal View or Slide Master View. In this article, we'll talk about rotating two-dimensional objects, not 3D models.

Contents

• Rotate an object using the rotation handle
• Use the Ribbon to rotate an object by 90 degrees
• Type rotation values to rotate an object
• Use keyboard shortcuts to rotate an object

Note: Buttons and Ribbon tabs may display in a different way (with or without text) depending on your version of PowerPoint, the size of your screen and your Control Panel settings. For PowerPoint 365 users, Ribbon tabs may appear with different names. For example, the Picture Tools Format tab may appear as Picture Format and the Drawing Tools Format tab may appear as Drawing Format or Shape Format.

Recommended article: 10 Ways to Compress PowerPoint Presentations to Reduce File Size

Do you want to learn more about PowerPoint? Check out our virtual classroom or live classroom PowerPoint courses >

Rotate an object using the rotation handle

You can drag the rotation handle that appears when you select an object to rotate it.

To rotate an object using the rotation handle (circular arrow):

1. Select the object by clicking it. If you are selecting a text box or placeholder, click its edge.
2. Press the left mouse button and drag the rotation handle that appears in the middle above the object to the right or left. This is called free rotation. If you hold down Shift, PowerPoint will constrain the rotation to 15 degree increments.
3. Release the mouse button.

Note the rotation handle that appears above a selected object:

If you rotate multiple shapes, they do not rotate as a group. Each shape rotates around its own center.

Use the Ribbon to rotate an object by 90 degrees

To rotate an object by 90 degrees using the Ribbon:

1. Select the object by clicking it. If you are selecting a text box or placeholder, click its edge.
2. Click the Format tab in the Ribbon. This tab may appear as Picture Tools Format, Picture Format, Drawing Tools Format, Drawing Format, Shape Format or Graphic Format depending on the object you have selected and your version of PowerPoint.
3. In the Arrange group, click Rotate. A drop-down menu appears.
4. Click Rotate Right 90° or Rotate Left 90°.

Below is the Rotate drop-down menu:

Type rotation values to rotate an object

You can also type exact rotation values to rotate an object. This is helpful if you want to rotate by specific increments such as 10, 45 or 90 degrees.

To rotate an an object by typing rotation values:

1. Select the object by clicking it. If you are selecting a text box or placeholder, click its edge.
2. Click the Format tab in the Ribbon. This tab may appear as Picture Tools Format, Picture Format, Drawing Tools Format, Drawing Format, Shape Format or Graphic Format depending on the object you have selected and your version of PowerPoint.
3. In the Arrange group, click Rotate. A drop-down menu appears.
4. Click More Rotation Options. The Format task pane appears.
5. In the Rotation box in the task pane, enter the amount that you want to rotate the object (such as 45, 90, -45 or -90) and then press Enter. You can also click the arrows in the Rotation box to rotate the object.

The Format Shape task pane appears as follows tor a shape with 45 entered in the Rotation box:

Use keyboard shortcuts to rotate an object

If you prefer, you can use keyboard shortcuts to rotate an object.

To rotate an object using keyboard shortcuts:

1. Select the object by clicking it. If you are selecting a text box or placeholder, click its edge.
2. Press Alt + right arrow or Alt + left arrow to rotate in 15 degree increments.

If you want to rotate a table or a SmartArt object, you'll need to copy the table or SmartArt object, paste it as a picture and then rotate the picture.

Subscribe to get more articles like this one

Did you find this article helpful? If you would like to receive new articles, JOIN our email list.

More Resources

How to Change the Background of Your PowerPoint Slides

How to Group and Ungroup in PowerPoint (with Shortcuts)

How to Use the Built-in Laser Pointer in PowerPoint (with Shortcuts)

How to Remove the Background of a Picture in PowerPoint (2 Ways)

How to Add Animation in PowerPoint (Animate Text, Images and Other Objects)

Related courses

Microsoft PowerPoint: Intermediate / Advanced

Microsoft PowerPoint: Design for Non-Designers

Microsoft PowerPoint: Animations Bootcamp

Microsoft Excel: Intermediate / Advanced

VIEW MORE COURSES >