How to Make Google Slides Vertical or Portrait

If you're trying to figure out how to make Google Slides vertical, here's the fast answer: open File, then Page setup, pick Custom, and set the height bigger than the width. That one change turns your whole presentation into a tall, portrait shape. There's no single portrait button, though, and a couple of things trip people up.

Here's exactly how I do it, plus what to watch for.

How to make Google Slides vertical (step by step)

Here's how to make Google Slides vertical from a normal landscape deck:

1. I open the presentation and click File in the top menu.
2. I scroll down and choose Page setup.
3. In the little box, I click the drop-down (it usually says Widescreen 16:9) and pick Custom.
4. I swap the first number with the number in the second field.
5. I click Apply.

That's how to change Google Slides to portrait. Keep in mind that you could change the measurement to centimeters or pixels from the drop-down menu. If you can't find it, Guidy can point to exactly where Page setup sits on your screen and walk you through it in real time.

How to make text vertical in Google Slides

When I work on a product presentation, I want to turn a label that’s on the slide instead of the whole slide. To do this, I click the text box once, then grab the round rotation handle above it and drag until the text stands on its side. Alternatively, I open Arrange, then Rotate, and pick Rotate 90° clockwise.

For my kid’s kindergarten projects I often need stacked letters instead of sideways ones. Unfortunately, there's no built-in setting, so I need to add a line break after each character or drop the word into a tall, narrow text box.

Limitations of Google Slides

First, orientation is deck-wide: you can't make one slide vertical and leave the rest landscape, and vice versa. If you truly need a single portrait page, build it as its own presentation.

Second, the mobile apps don't offer Page setup, so you can't make Google Slides vertical on your phone directly. I open the deck in a desktop browser to reach the setting.

Third, expect a little cleanup. Switching from horizontal to vertical keeps your objects but not your layout, and I need a few minutes to tidy up the slides after that. It wasn’t easy following a tutorial, so I recommend trying Guidy to walk you through anything step by step, right on your screen.

FAQs

Can you make just one slide vertical in Google Slides?
No, you can’t. Orientation is not per slide, so Page setup turns every slide vertical at once. If you need a single portrait slide, make it in its own presentation and drop it ias an image.

How do I make Google Slides vertical on my phone?
You can't from the Android or iOS app, because Page setup isn't available there. Open the presentation in a desktop browser, or switch on "Desktop site" mode in your phone's browser, then change the size under File > Page setup.

What size should I use for a portrait or A4 vertical layout?
For a general portrait slide, use 7.5 x 10 inches. For A4, switch the units to centimeters and enter 21 x 29.7 cm. Both give you a tall page that prints cleanly on standard paper.

Can I turn a Google Slide vertical after I've already added content?
Yes. Resizing works on an existing deck, so you can turn a Google Slide vertical at any point. Your text and images stay in the file, but you'll likely reposition them to fit the taller shape.

How do I change Google Slides back to horizontal (landscape)?
Go to File > Page setup, pick Widescreen 16:9 (or Custom with the width larger than the height), and click Apply. That returns your deck to a standard landscape layout.