How to Group Objects in PowerPoint 

Today we’re discussing a good time-saving trick in PowerPoint, grouping. Once you know how to group objects in PowerPoint, you’ll forget about editing multiple elements one by one. It’s simple. When you group some (or sometimes all) objects on your slides together, you connect them and can apply edits and effects to them in bulk.  

Why group objects? 

We group objects in PowerPoint because we want to move around or format a selection of objects on a slide.  Basically, grouping allows you to create a new object out of the selected elements and treat it as a whole – you can resize it, re-locate it, flip it, etc. Being able to work with multiple graphics simultaneously by simply pressing a couple of buttons helps you with the layout of your slides and makes your work more time efficient. 

What can be grouped? 

In PowerPoint you can group pictures and videos, text boxes, charts, symbols and icons but cannot group PowerPoint tables, headers and footers. 

How to group objects in PowerPoint? 

1. Press and hold Ctrl (Command key for Mac users) to select the objects you want to group. 

Grouping objects in PowerPoint

2. Go to the Shape format tool in the ribbon and click Group from the Arrange section. Alternatively, hold Shift, right click to see the drop-down and click on Group

3. Now format the group any way you like.

Reposition grouped objects

The shortcut command is Ctrl + G or Command G for Mac. 

How to ungroup objects? 

To individually change some previously grouped parts you need to ungroup them. Select the group and click Shape format > Ungroup or Ctrl + Shift + G. 

So this is how to group objects in PowerPoint in a couple of very easy steps. Start using it and explore the layers and depths you can create on your slides.  

For more easy-to-do tricks, why don’t you check out our completely free PowerPoint Tips & Tricks e-booklet. And if that’s not enough, feel free to join our online PowerPoint course that will help you create better presentations in less time!