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Set Up the Quick Access Toolbar to Run Alignment and Color Commands with Alt+Numbers

The Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) is where you place commands you want to call with Alt+numbers. A one-minute setup pays off every time you align objects, change layers, or apply colors while building slides.

Shortcuts you will master in this article

Alt+1-9 (Run QAT commands) / Alt+Q (Search commands)

Recommended QAT setup

The order of commands determines their Alt number, so place your most frequent commands first.

Right-click → Customize Quick Access Toolbar

Open the QAT settings

Right-click an existing QAT icon or use the dropdown at the end of the toolbar. You can also open File → Options → Quick Access Toolbar.

Add six alignment commands

Put the highest-frequency layout commands first

From 'All Commands,' add Align Left, Align Right, Align Top, Align Bottom, Distribute Horizontally, and Distribute Vertically. Put them at the top so they become Alt+1 through Alt+6.

Tip: The distribute commands are especially useful when arranging three or more objects at equal spacing.

Add Bring to Front and Send to Back

Control layers from the keyboard

Diagram slides often have overlapping shapes. Adding the layer commands avoids repeated right-click menu work.

Add fill, outline, and font color

Reduce ribbon switching while styling objects

Shape Fill, Shape Outline, and Font Color are strong QAT candidates because they are used constantly during slide polishing.

Press Alt+number

Confirm the command order

Press Alt and PowerPoint displays numbers over QAT commands. Press the number to run the command, then adjust the order if a frequent command is too far down the list.

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QAT Setup Checklist

Added the six alignment commands to the QAT

Added Bring to Front and Send to Back

Added fill, outline, and font color commands

Confirmed each command can be run with Alt+number

Exported the setup so it can be restored on another PC

Related Shortcuts

Visit each shortcut detail page to see key positions and usage tips.

Key	Action
`Ctrl + G`	Group
`Ctrl + Shift + G`	Ungroup
`Ctrl + Shift + ]`	Bring to Front
`Ctrl + Shift + [`	Send to Back
`Ctrl + D`	Duplicate Object

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is there a limit to how many commands I can add to the QAT?

A. There is no practical limit, but only the first nine commands are fastest because they can be called with Alt+1 through Alt+9. Put the most frequent commands first.

Q. Does the QAT setup apply to every PowerPoint file?

A. By default it applies to the PowerPoint app, not just one file. If you need file-specific settings, use the customization target option in the QAT settings screen.

Q. How do I memorize PowerPoint shortcuts faster?

A. Reading alone won't make them stick. Use KeyboardGym's PowerPoint practice mode to type the keys and build muscle memory through sequential and random practice.