Add a free text box when you want to add text outside the placeholder text areas on a slide. Text boxes have no bullets (but you can add them) and are perfect for adding captions to images, labels on organization charts or other visual aids, or simply to add any text that you want to separate from the your headings or main body bullet points on your slides.

Place a free text box on any slide. Placing it on a slide master is a quick way to add it to every slide based on that master; for example, if you want to place copyright information at the bottom of every slide.

To add a free text box:

  1. Click Text Box in the toolbar and then just begin typing.

    A text box appears on the slide and expands to accommodate your text, inserting line breaks whenever it reaches the end of the slide.

    If you click outside the text box before you begin typing, double-click within the text box to replace the insertion point within it, and then begin typing.

  2. When you've finished typing, click outside the text box (or press Command-Return to stop editing and select the text box).

  3. Drag the selection handles to resize the text box.

    You can only adjust the width of the text box; its length automatically extends or shortens to accommodate the text within it. After you’ve adjusted the width of the text box the width remains fixed and only the length changes with the addition or deletion of text, unless you readjust the width using the selection handles.

  4. Drag the text box to position it where you want it on the slide canvas.

  5. To lock the text box to the slide canvas so it doesn't accidentally get moved as you work, select the text box and choose Arrange > Lock.

To learn about changing the look of the text inside the box, see More Formatting Text Size and Appearance.

To learn about changing the spacing between the text and the inside of the text box, see Adjusting Spacing Within Text Box Borders.

To learn about formatting the borders and background color of the text box, see About Filling Objects with Colors or Images and Changing the Style of Borders.

If you want to place text within a non-rectangular shape, or if you want to have more control over the color, edges, and style of the text’s container, put text inside a shape. See Putting Text Inside a Shape.

If you want to add a title or body text placeholder to your slide, see Customizing an Individual Slide’s Layout.

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