Applies ToExcel for Microsoft 365 PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 Excel 2024 PowerPoint 2024 Excel 2021 PowerPoint 2021 Excel 2019 PowerPoint 2019 Excel 2016 PowerPoint 2016

Select objects, shapes, pictures or text boxes, to change or move them. Sizing handles indicate that a shape or object has been selected.

Select objects, shapes, pictures or text boxes, to change or move them. Sizing handles indicate that a shape or object has been selected.

Using the Selection Pane

If clicking to select isn't sufficient, or if you have many objects to keep track of, try the Selection pane, as described below.

  1. Select one of the objects you want to manage.

  2. Select the ... Format tab that appears on the ribbon when you select the object, and then choose Selection Pane (or Arrange > Selection Pane).

    Shows the Shape Format tab in PowerPoint 2016 for Mac

  3. The Selection Pane opens with all your objects listed, and you can do any of the following:

    • Drag an item up or down in the list to change the order.    In the example below from PowerPoint, moving the curved connector to the top of the list also brought it forward in front of the two oval shapes (and everything else on the slide).

      Shows the connector behind two circles Shows the connector at the bottom of the list in the selection pane

      The connector is at the bottom of the list, and is behind the two oval shapes.

      Shows two circles with a curved connector Shows the Selection Pane in PowerPoint 2016 for Mac

      After the connector is moved to the top of the list, it appears in front of the two oval shapes.

    • Choose to show or hide objects from the Selection Pane.    To hide an object, click the eye icon in the Selection Pane indicating that the object is Showing The Show icon in the Selection Pane. The icon will change to a simple icon indicating that the object is Hidden Shows the icon indicating that an object is hidden from view. To show the object once again, simply click the Hidden icon Shows the icon indicating that an object is hidden, and the object will reappear.

      Shows the hide functionality in Office 2016 for Mac's Selection Pane

      The connector in the example above is hidden, and does not appear on the slide.

    • Group or ungroup objects listed in the Selection Pane.    If you select multiple objects by using Command + Click, you can then group them or ungroup them by selecting Group Objects on the ribbon in the Format tab.

      Shows the Group icon on the ribbon in PowerPoint 2016 for Mac

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