Insert and arrange text, shapes, diagrams, and lines

To enhance your presentation, you can add text, shapes, lines, and other objects in Google Slides.

Add text or objects to a slide

Insert a text box or object

  1. On your computer, open a presentation in Google Slides.
  2. Go to the slide where you want to add a text box or object.
  3. At the top, click Insert.
  4. Choose what you want to add, then click Text box, Image, Shape, or Line.
  5. The object will get added to the slide and you can arrange or format it however you want.

Tip: To edit a presentation on a touchscreen device, like a Pixel Book, double-tap the text box to start typing.

Insert a diagram

Important: You can insert a diagram in any language that uses the Latin alphabet.

  • On your computer, open a presentation in Google Slides.
  • Go to the slide where you want to add the diagram.
  • At the top, click Insertand then Diagram.
  • At the right, choose your style, number of levels, and template.
  • The diagram will get added to the slide. You can change it how you want.

Arrange and align objects on a slide

Arrange objects

  • On your computer, open a presentation in Google Slides.
  • Go to the slide where you want to arrange an object.
  • At the top, click Arrange.
  • Choose from the following options:
    • Order: Put the object behind or in front of text, other objects, or images.
    • Align: When you select multiple objects, you can align the edges of the objects.
    • Distribute: When you select three or more objects, you can evenly distribute the space between them.
    • Center on page: Center objects vertically or horizontally on a slide.
    • Rotate: Change the orientation of an object.
    • Group: Lock multiple objects together to make them easier to move around and format.

Align objects on a slide automatically

To easily align objects on a slide, click and drag any object where you want. There are two ways to align:

Show or hide rulers

You can show rulers on the canvas to help you place text or objects.

  1. On your computer, open a presentation in Google Slides.
  2. Click View and thenShow ruler.

Add or remove guide lines

You can add guide lines to the canvas to help you place text and objects.

  1. On your computer, open a presentation in Google Slides.
  2. Click View and then Guides. Choose an option.
  3. Drag the line where you want.

To remove a single line, right-click the line and click Delete guide.

To remove all guide lines, click View and then Guides and then Clear guides.

Move, rotate, or change the size of an object

  1. On your computer, open a presentation in Google Slides.
  2. Go to the slide with the object or text box you want to change.
  3. Click the object or text box.
  4. In the menu at the top, click Format and then Format options.
  5. At the right, click Size & Position.
  6. Make changes to the object or text box.

Tip: To keep the height and width proportions when you resize an object, click Lock aspect ratio.

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