How To Remove a Text Box in Google Slides Effectively

How to Get Rid of a Text Box in Google Slides

So, you’ve got a text box on your slide that you didn’t mean to add — classic. Removing it is actually pretty painless, though it can feel a bit frustrating if you’re not sure where to start. Just a few clicks (or a couple of key presses) and you’re back on track with a cleaner slide.

Quick tip: Want to speed things up? If the text box is selected, hit Delete (on Windows or Chromebook) or Backspace (if you’re on a Mac).

What to Know Before You Dive In

Keep in mind, when you delete a text box, it’s gone for good unless you immediately hit that undo command. That’s Ctrl + Z for Windows/Chromebooks, and Cmd + Z for Macs.

Heads up: This sort of thing applies in the Google Slides web app, no downloads required!

The usual keyboard shortcuts apply here too, like the right-click menu for deleting something—though that tends to feel a bit dated.

Open Up Your Presentation

Kick things off by going to slides.google.com and signing in. Find your presentation and get it opened in whichever browser you use.

You can flip through your slides using the left sidebar or just hit the arrow keys if that feels easier.

Selecting the Text Box

Now, click on the text box you want to remove. A blue border should pop up around it, showing it’s selected.

Pro tip: Click on the border to avoid accidentally selecting other stuff near it. It seems simple but it can save a lot of hassle.

Deleting It

With the text box highlighted, just smash that Delete key, and poof! It’s gone. You can also right-click and select Delete if that’s your jam. It’s totally up to your style.

If you mess up, no worries, remember the undo trick I mentioned earlier. It’s like a safety net.

More Tips for Handling Text Boxes in Google Slides

Before going all in on deletion, maybe think about if you actually want to throw out valuable info in there. If so, you might wanna cut it first instead of deleting — that way, you can always paste it back if needed.

For cutting, it’s simple: Ctrl + X (Windows/Chromebook) or Cmd + X (Mac). Easy peasy.

And just to reiterate, deleting a box means all the text inside gets wiped too. If it’s worth saving, highlight and copy it first: Ctrl + C (Windows/Chromebook) or Cmd + C (Mac) before you hit delete.

Common Queries About Text Box Deletion

Can I get a deleted text box back?

Yep! If you just deleted it, hit that Ctrl + Z (Windows/Chromebook) or Cmd + Z (Mac) like it’s a magic button and it will come back.

Also, you can find this option under the Edit menu, in case you forgot the shortcut.

Will it get rid of everything inside the text box?

Can multiple text boxes be deleted at once?

Shift and click on the text boxes you want to delete, then hit Delete or Backspace.

Bonus tip: Press Ctrl + A (Windows/Chromebook) or Cmd + A (Mac) if you want to select everything on a slide at once. Just don’t delete by accident!

Is there a limit to this deletion action?

How does deleting a text box change my slide layout?

Arrange menu.

Wrapping It Up

Getting rid of text boxes in Google Slides is key for a polished look. If you keep these tips in mind—like using Delete or the undo command—you’ll be slicing through those slides like a pro. Just remember that once you delete, it’s gone unless you act fast to undo it!

Check your slides after deleting to make sure everything still balances out visually, and feel free to play around with the alignment tools.

  • Open your presentation in Google Slides.
  • Select the text box you want to delete.
  • Press Delete (Windows/Chromebook) or Backspace (Mac) to get rid of it.

Just a little bit of info that could save someone a lot of hassle. Here’s to a cleaner slide deck!