PowerPoint Shortcuts Cheat Sheet: Windows vs Mac

The general rule for converting PowerPoint shortcuts between platforms is simple: swap Ctrl for Cmd. That covers most of PowerPoint’s editing shortcuts — but a handful break the pattern in specific ways. This page is about those exceptions, not another full copy of the shortcut list (see the complete side-by-side table on the full PowerPoint shortcuts page). Looking for presentation-mode shortcuts instead — F5, blank screen, laser pointer? Those live on a separate page: PowerPoint shortcuts to present like a pro, which already lists Windows and Mac for the slideshow controls specifically.

The rule: Ctrl becomes Cmd

Exception 1: A couple of shortcuts keep Ctrl on Mac

Exception 2: Object shortcuts pick up an extra Option key

Grouping and pasting-special don’t do a plain Ctrl-to-Cmd swap — they add Option (Alt) into the mix, usually to dodge a conflict with a macOS or Finder shortcut.

Paste Special is the odd one out twice over: Windows uses Ctrl+Alt+V, but the Mac version keeps Ctrl and adds Cmd rather than replacing one with the other — worth double-checking the first few times rather than assuming the usual swap applies.

Everything at once

Want to practice both layouts side by side instead of memorizing exceptions? The trainer below shows Windows and Mac for every question, so you build the right one for whichever machine you’re on:

For the full categorized reference, see the complete PowerPoint keyboard shortcuts list.