Use keyboard shortcuts to navigate modern comments in PowerPoint
Applies ToPowerPoint for Microsoft 365 PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 for Mac

Many users find that using an external keyboard with keyboard shortcuts for PowerPoint increases their productivity. Keyboard shortcuts are a necessary substitute for using a mouse in the case of people who have mobility or vision impairments and are more convenient than using a touchscreen.

Notes: 

  • The shortcuts in this topic make reference to the US keyboard layout. It's possible that the keys on a US keyboard don't exactly match the keys in other layouts.

  • A plus sign (+) in a shortcut means that you need to press multiple keys at the same time.

  • A comma sign (,) in a shortcut means that you need to press multiple keys in order.

This article provides the keyboard shortcuts needed to use the current PowerPoint comments feature.

Notes: 

  • To quickly find a shortcut in this article, you can use Search. Press the Ctrl+F keys and then type your search words.

  • If an action that you use often does not have a shortcut key, you can add it to the Quick Access Toolbar to create one. For instructions, refer to Use a keyboard to customize the Quick Access Toolbar.

In this topic

Frequently used shortcuts

The following table lists the most frequently used shortcuts for the PowerPoint comments pane:

To do this 

Press

Display the access keys (ribbon commands) on the ribbon. 

Then, open the comments pane.

Alt, Z, C

Go to the comments pane

F6

Add a new comment

Ctrl+Alt+M

Post a comment or a reply

Ctrl+Enter

Move forward through the current comment

Tab key

Move backward through the current comment

Shift+Tab

Move to the next comment thread

Down arrow key

Go to the previous comment thread

Up arrow key

Expand a comment thread when the focus is on it

Right arrow key

Collapse a comment thread

Left arrow key

Navigate through the posted replies in a comment thread

Down arrow/ Up arrow key

Move the focus to the reply box

Tab key

Navigate the options in More thread actions or More comment actions

Down arrow/ Up arrow key

Edit a comment

Tab key until Edit comment and then press Enter.

Select the reply text

Shift+Arrow keys

Copy the reply text

Ctrl+C

To move the focus to the anchored object when a comment is selected.

Alt+F12

To move the focus to the anchored comment when an object is selected.

Alt+F12

Note: The keyboard shortcuts given above only function when the Comments pane has the focus, except for adding a new comment.

Navigating PowerPoint comments with only the keyboard

Make use of the modern comments feature in PowerPoint using only the keyboard.

  1. Press the F6 key to move the focus to the comments pane.

    Note: If the comments pane is hidden, press the Alt key,which will display the access keys in the ribbon pane, and then press the Z, C keys.

  2. Use the Tab key to navigate through the elements in the comments pane. The elements are in the order:

    1. New comment button

    2. Current comment

    3. Resolve the task checkbox with the name of the assignee (if the comment is assigned as a task)

    4. Contact picture

    5. Edit comment button

    6. More threads actions button

    7. Like button

    8. If the comment thread is collapsed, the ‘N’ more replies button.

    9. If the comment thread is expanded:

      1. Contact picture for the current reply

      2. More comment actions button for the current reply

      3. Like button

      4. Content of the current reply

    10. Mention or reply box

    11. See more comments or return to the first comment if there are comments on other slides.

  3. Use the Up and Down arrow keys to navigate the options in the More thread actions or More comment actions dropdown.

Navigating a comment thread

There can be a number of comment threads on a PowerPoint slide.

  • Use the Up and Down arrow keys to travel between different comment threads.

  • Press the Left arrow key to collapse the comment thread and show only the most recent replies.

  • Press the Right arrow key to expand all the replies in a comment thread.

  • Use the Up and Down arrow keys to navigate the replies and the parent comment.

  • Use the Shift+Arrow keys to select the reply text and Ctrl+C to copy it.

Adding and posting a new comment

To add a new comment thread in a slide:

  • Select the text, object, or slide and add a comment by pressing Ctrl+Alt+M.

  • A new comment box will open with your name on the comments pane.

  • Type the comment and press the Ctrl+Enter keys to post it.

  • You can mention your co-workers when entering the comment in a presentation in the cloud. An ‘Assign to’ checkbox will appear, below the reply text box when you mention someone in the comment. For more information on mentioning feature, refer to ‘Improved @mentions in comments’ in Modern comments in PowerPoint.

  • Another way to post a comment is by using the Tab key to navigate and then pressing Enter on the Post or Cancel button.

Comments anchoring

The modern comments experience of PowerPoint now includes a new feature called comment anchoring. The comments can be anchored to a range of text, an object, or a slide. Select the text, object, or slide and when you add a new comment it will be anchored to the selection. Whenever you select a comment, the anchored object will be highlighted in purple.

You can move the focus from the comment to the anchor or from the anchor to the comment by pressing Alt+F12.

See also

PowerPoint help & learning

Screen reader support for PowerPoint

Make your PowerPoint presentations accessible to people with disabilities

Use keyboard shortcuts to deliver PowerPoint presentations

Basic tasks to create a presentation in PowerPoint with a Screen reader

Use a Screen reader to explore and navigate PowerPoint

Technical support for customers with disabilities

Microsoft wants to provide the best possible experience for all our customers. If you have a disability or questions related to accessibility, please contact the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk for technical assistance. The Disability Answer Desk support team is trained in using many popular assistive technologies and can offer assistance in English, Spanish, French, and American Sign Language. Please go to the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk site to find out the contact details for your region.

If you are a government, commercial, or enterprise user, please contact the enterprise Disability Answer Desk.

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