Change default slide layout in Powerpoint

I've found a solution that works for me on PowerPoint 2013:

  1. Go to Slide Master View. You should see a master layout and several dependent layouts (indented).
  2. Find the slide layout that you want to use as default layout for new slides.
  3. Move it so that it is the third item overall counting the master layout (i.e. the second indented layout underneath the master layout)
  4. Close Slide Master View.
  5. Try to add a new slide. It should be in the layout you need.

Please let me know if this works for you.