How to Make Google Slides Vertical

How to Make Google Slides Vertical: Every Working Method Explained

If you want to make your Google Slides look vertical, it’s easier than you think. Google has one built-in way to change the slide size, but there are also a few simple tricks that I’ll explain in this complete walkthrough step by step. So, let me first start our discussion with the reasons behind this.

Why I Go Vertical in Google Slides?

Making Google Slides vertical helps me in various purposes, i.e.

Most people view content on their phones, and portrait 9:16 slides fit the screen better.

Vertical mode makes my guides and tutorials easier to read without zooming or scrolling sideways.

It works great for social media posts, such as LinkedIn carousels, Instagram slides, and Pinterest graphics.

When I'm creating checklists, SOPs, or step-by-step guides, vertical slides feel more like a real document page.

Text looks cleaner because it flows naturally from top to bottom, like reading a normal page.

Vertical slides are easier to turn into PDFs, blog images, or internal documentation.

Next, I’ll explain all the practical methods to do so.

Also read: How to Group Shapes in Google Slides

How to Make Google Slides Vertical - Top 6 Methods

Here are all the methods I’ve found and used to make a vertical or “portrait-like” slide in Google Slides:

Method #1. Change Slide Size via Page Setup

This is the most straightforward and widely used method, as with this, you don’t need to download any external add-on or tool. This is a built-in option provided by Google Slides. For the same:

Step 1. Open the presentation in Google Slides.

Step 2. Go to File > Page setup.

Step 3. Click the dropdown and choose Custom.

Step 4. Enter the desired dimensions, and make the height greater than the width.

Example sizes:

For US Letter 8.5 in × 11
For A4 21 cm × 29.7 cm
For mobile/story format 1080 px × 1920 px

Click Apply.

As you see, this is the easiest solution. Still, if you need a more precise experience, then move to further solutions.

Method #2. Use Google Drawings

If I'm designing something very visual, like a poster or infographic, I sometimes prefer to use Google Drawings and then import it into Slides. To do so:

Open Google Drawings.

Go to File > Page setup, choose Custom, and set vertical dimensions.

Design the layout, graphics, text, shapes, all in that Vertical Canvas.

When done, download the drawing as an image, i.e., PNG or JPEG.

Go back to Google Slides.

Click Insert > Image.
Upload the drawing.

Resize the slide to match your drawing’s dimensions (if needed) using Page setup in Slides.

Method #3. Use PowerPoint

I’ve also used PowerPoint when I want a true portrait deck and need a very accurate layout. Afterwards, I’ll import that PPTX into Google Slides. Here’s how:

Create a new PowerPoint presentation.

Change slide orientation to Portrait in PowerPoint via Page Setup.

Design your slides exactly how you want them, i.e., text, visuals design, etc.

Export slides as PNG / JPEG / PDF.

Insert them into Google Slides:

Insert > Image or Insert > PDF via web embed/screenshot” to recreate the vertical look.

Alternatively, you can import the PowerPoint file into Google Slides.

Related article: How to Convert PPT to Google Slides

Method #4. Use Tall Background Image

If I don’t want to change slide size but just want a vertical feel, I sometimes do this trick:

Create or download a tall image, like 1080 × 1920 px.

In Google Slides, go to Background > Choose image, and set that as the slide background.

Now my slide looks vertical.

Method #5. Use an Automated Solution

If you want your presentation to perfectly match your brand style or slide dimensions, the manual solutions we discussed above will not help you. Don’t worry! In the past, I experienced this situation and found MagicSlides, an AI PPT Maker, to be useful.

It will create a fully customised PowerPoint deck just by typing a simple prompt. Instead of manually adjusting slide size, the tool automatically does that based on your instructions.

For example, you can prompt:

Create a 16:10 wide presentation about archiving SharePoint list items.

Rest, it will do, without needing any manual intervention.

Once the slides are generated, you can download the PPTX file or directly access Google Slides or any other presentation-supported platform. You can try this for free now and bypass all the limitations of manual solutions.

Method #6. Rotate Everything 90°

This is more of a hack than a proper solution, but I’ve done it when I was in a hurry:

Build your slide normally in Google Slides in landscape.

Select all items via Ctrl/Cmd + A, then rotate them 90° using the rotate handle.

After rotating, adjust their positions so everything looks well-aligned.

Then export as PDF, PNG, or an image.

This way, when someone views or prints the slide, it feels vertical.

Important Limitations & Warnings

Here are some crucial points to keep in mind when making a presentation in Google Slides vertically:

Google Slides can’t mix vertical and horizontal slides in the same presentation right now.

On the Google Slides mobile app, you may not see the Page Setup option every time.

After you change the slide size, some text or images may move around or look stretched, so you might need to fix them by hand.

If you plan to print the slides, check Print Preview to make sure nothing is cut off.

If the slides are for phones or screens, use sizes that match the screen so the slides don’t look blurry.

Read also: How to Add Continuous Music to Google Slides

Additional Tips

For social media / mobile slides, prefer a Page setup with 1080 × 1920 px

For print/flyers, go for 8.5 × 11 in US Letter or A4 in custom size.

For very graphic-heavy work, like an infographic, use Google Drawings > export > import.

Author’s Verdict

Yes, there is more than one way to make Google Slides vertical. While the custom Page setup method is the most straightforward, using other solutions, which we discussed above, gives you more flexibility.

I’m using all of the above in my work, and each has its own place. If you're designing something critical and don’t have enough time to start the PPT from scratch, opt for the automated solution (Method 5).

How to Make Google Slides Vertical - Quick Guide