How to Create a Custom Connector With Arrow Curve in PowerPoint

You want to draw a curved arrow that connects two shapes in your PowerPoint slide but the built-in connector lines only offer straight or elbow paths. The Curve Connector tool in the Shapes menu lets you draw smooth, custom curved lines, but it does not automatically include an arrowhead or attach to shapes like standard connectors do. This article explains how to create a custom connector with an arrow curve by combining the Curve shape, arrow formatting, and manual alignment techniques. You will learn to build a reusable curved connector that stays with your slide content.

What the Curve Connector Does and What You Need Before Starting

PowerPoint provides three standard connector types: Straight, Elbow, and Curved. The Curved Connector in Insert > Shapes > Lines creates a smooth arc between two shapes and automatically attaches to shape connection points. However, this built-in Curved Connector does not support arrowheads. When you apply an arrowhead from Shape Outline > Arrows, the arrowhead appears only at the end of the line but the connector loses its attachment behavior — moving the connected shapes no longer updates the line path.

To create a custom connector that has both a curved path and a visible arrowhead, you must use the Curve line tool instead of the Curved Connector. The Curve line tool lets you define your own arc by clicking anchor points. It also fully supports arrowhead formatting. The trade-off is that the Curve line does not snap to shape connection points automatically. You must manually align the endpoints to the shapes you want to connect.

Before you begin, ensure you have at least two shapes on your slide that you want to connect. These can be any PowerPoint shape such as rectangles, circles, or flowchart elements. The steps below assume you already have the shapes placed and positioned.

Steps to Draw a Custom Curved Arrow Connector

1. Open the Curve line tool
   Go to the Insert tab on the ribbon. In the Illustrations group, click Shapes. Under the Lines section, select the Curve tool — it looks like a wavy line with two endpoints. The mouse pointer changes to a crosshair.
2. Click the first anchor point on the edge of the start shape
   Move the crosshair to the edge of the shape where you want the connector to begin. Click once to set the starting point. Do not drag — just click.
3. Click a second point to define the curve direction
   Move the mouse away from the start point in the direction you want the curve to bend. Click once. A curved segment appears between the first and second points. The curve continues from the second point.
4. Click additional points to shape the curve path
   For a simple arc, two anchor points plus the end point are enough. Add more clicks to create S-curves or complex paths. Each click adds a new anchor that the curve passes through.
5. Double-click on the edge of the target shape to end the line
   Move the mouse to the edge of the shape you want to connect to. Double-click to finish drawing. The line ends at that point. The curve now appears as a solid line without an arrowhead.
6. Add an arrowhead to the curve line
   Click the curve line to select it. Go to the Shape Format tab on the ribbon. In the Shape Styles group, click Shape Outline. A drop-down menu opens. Hover over Arrows. From the submenu, select Arrow Style 7 or any style that points in the direction you want. The arrowhead appears at the end of the curve where you double-clicked.
7. Adjust the curve path if needed
   Right-click the curve line and select Edit Points. Black anchor points appear on the line. Drag any anchor point to change the curve shape. Drag the white square handles on each anchor to adjust the curve tension. When satisfied, click anywhere outside the shape to exit point editing.
8. Group the curve with the shapes for easier management
   Hold Ctrl and click each shape and the curve line. Right-click any selected object and choose Group > Group. Now moving the group moves all connected elements together. Note that the curve will not automatically follow shape position changes after grouping — you must ungroup to edit individual elements.

If the Arrowhead Appears on the Wrong End or the Line Looks Wrong

Arrowhead appears at the start of the curve instead of the end

PowerPoint adds the arrowhead to the last point you created during drawing. If you clicked the start point on the source shape and double-clicked on the target shape, the arrowhead should appear on the target end. If the arrowhead is on the wrong end, select the line, go to Shape Format > Shape Outline > Arrows, and choose an arrow style that points left instead of right. Alternatively, right-click the line, select Format Shape, go to the Line section, and under Arrow settings, change the End Arrow type to the desired style and set the Begin Arrow type to None.

The curve line does not stay attached when you move the shapes

The Curve line tool does not create a dynamic connector. Unlike the built-in Curved Connector, the Curve line endpoints are fixed in position. If you move either shape, the curve endpoint stays in place and no longer touches the shape. To maintain alignment, group the curve with both shapes as described in step 8. When you need to reposition a shape, ungroup, move the shape, then realign the curve endpoint manually and regroup.

The curve looks jagged instead of smooth

This happens when you place too many anchor points close together or when anchor handles are not adjusted. Right-click the curve and select Edit Points. Right-click any anchor point and choose Smooth Point. This converts the corner to a smooth curve. Drag the handles that appear to refine the arc. Remove unnecessary anchor points by right-clicking them and selecting Delete Point.

Curve Connector vs Built-in Curved Connector: Key Differences

Item	Curve Connector (Custom)	Built-in Curved Connector
Arrowhead support	Yes — full arrow formatting available	No — arrowhead option is grayed out
Automatic shape attachment	No — must manually align endpoints	Yes — snaps to shape connection points
Curve path control	Full control via anchor points and handles	Limited to a single arc direction
Reusable as a custom shape	Yes — can save to shape gallery	No — connector type only

You can now draw a custom curved arrow connector between any two shapes on your slide. The method gives you full control over the curve shape and arrow direction. For a faster alternative that still uses a dynamic connector, consider using the built-in Curved Connector and adding a separate arrowhead shape on top — though this requires manual alignment when the shapes move. To save your custom curve as a reusable shape, right-click the finished curve and select Save as Picture, or use Add to Gallery if you have a third-party shape manager installed.