Textboxes are one of the crucial elements in PowerPoint. This is because they offer many customization options when creating presentations. However, sometimes, you have to delete one or more of these textboxes when revising your presentation to make it more presentable.
So then, what are the different ways to delete text boxes in PowerPoint? There are 4 straightforward ways to delete a PowerPoint text box. You can use the delete key on your PC’s keyboard, the cut option, or Ctrl + X keyboard shortcut. And to remove multiple text boxes at once, you incorporate the shift key.
But what happens when the textbox won’t delete, and what causes this problem? In this guide, we will discuss this and how each deleting method works in easy steps.
How To Delete A Textbox In PowerPoint?
Depending on the PowerPoint version you have and your preferences, there are several ways to delete text boxes. These include:
Method 1: Using the Delete Key
The easiest method of deleting the textbox is using the delete key on your computer’s keyboard. Here are the steps of how it works.
- Step 1: Start your PowerPoint application and go to “Home.” Then, navigate to your presentation. This particular presentation has two textboxes.
- Step 2: Select the textbox you want to delete by clicking anywhere on its border. When you do this, resizing handles will show around the textbox like this.
- Step 3: Press down the “Del” key on your keyboard to delete the textbox. However, this will only delete the text within the box on some PCs.
- Step 4: To delete even the textbox, click again on its border and press the “Del” key. You see, the first textbox is no longer there.
Method 2: Right-click and Cut Option
Another way to do away with the textbox in PowerPoint is using the cut option. Follow these steps.
- Step 1: Open your PowerPoint program. Navigate to “Home” and then to your presentation.
- Step 2: Next, right-click on the textbox’s border. A dropdown menu will appear. Select “cut” from the menu.
- Step 3: However, after clicking on “cut,” only the text will be deleted. So, right-click again on the textbox and select “cut” from the dropdown menu.
You can also watch this short video of how to delete a selected textbox in PowerPoint whether using a Windows or Mac computer:
Method 3: Keyboard Shortcut (Ctrl + X) Method
Another helpful PowerPoint tip for deleting text boxes is using a keyboard shortcut. Here is how to execute this method.
- Step 1: Start your PowerPoint application. In this presentation, there is one textbox.
- Step 2: Click on the border of the textbox. The box will have a solid border line around it instead of dotted with resizing handles.
- Step 3: Press the keys “Ctrl + X” on your computer’s keyboard to cut the textbox and the text within it. This will cut down the textbox.
Method 4: Deleting Multiple Textboxes Option
If your PowerPoint presentation has many text boxes you would like to delete at once, here is how to go about it.
- Step 1: Open your PowerPoint application and navigate to your presentation with multiple text boxes.
- Step 2: On your keyboard, hold down the “Shift” key and click on each textbox you want to remove from the presentation. All the boxes will be selected and should appear like this with no dotted borders around them.
- Step 3: Next, press the “Del” key on your keyboard. Alternatively, right-click on one of the text box borders. A dropdown menu will appear. Click “Cut” to delete all the text boxes. You can also use “CTRL”+X to delete all these selected text boxes at a time.
Why Textbox in PowerPoint Won’t Delete?
Sometimes, cutting out a textbox in PowerPoint can become impossible when using the standard methods we’ve discussed above. This could happen for the following reasons.
Textbox is Grouped with Other Elements
If the textbox is part of a group of other objects, such as shapes and pictures, deleting it can be tough. In this case, only the elements will be deleted and not the textbox.
Locked Textbox
Sometimes, the text box may be locked, preventing you from deleting it. This happens because the presentation is in read-only mode to prevent accidental deletions.
Software Issues
PowerPoint may encounter temporary bugs or glitches at times, preventing you from deleting the textbox.
Additional Layers of Text or Pictures
If there are additional layers of text and pictures on your slide, this may prevent you from selecting the textbox. And if you cannot select the textbox, then you cannot delete it.
Wrong Cursor Placement
When deleting the textbox, you must place the cursor on the border or edges of the box. If the cursor is inside the box, only the text will be deleted and not the textbox.
What To Do If a Textbox in PowerPoint Cannot Be Deleted?
If you cannot delete the textbox, below are some troubleshooting tips that could help you fix the problem.
- Ungroup the elements the textbox is grouped with before deleting. To do this, right-click on the grouped object, select “Group,” and then “Ungroup.”
- If the textbox is locked, right-click on its border, select “Locking,” and then “Unlock” in the popup menu. This will unlock the box, allowing you to delete it.
- Ensure you are using the latest or updated PowerPoint version.
- Try restarting your computer or the PowerPoint application. Then, repeat the deleting process.
- Copy the content from the problematic textbox and create a new presentation. Then, create new text boxes and paste your content there.
- Confirm that the textbox is not part of a background image. If it is, remove the image first and delete the box.
- If you still cannot delete the textbox, contact Microsoft technical support for assistance.
Final Words
If you often use PowerPoint, one of the practical skills you can learn is how to delete text boxes. This skill comes in handy when editing your PowerPoint presentation to make it more concise and appealing. The good news is there are several ways to delete the textbox.
Unfortunately, sometimes, you may experience challenges removing a textbox from your PowerPoint presentation. This can happen for many reasons. So, knowing how to troubleshoot the problem is crucial so you are not forced to create another presentation, which can be time-consuming.