Text boxes in PowerPoint are great for adding custom content to your slides, but sometimes they can get in the way or become unnecessary. If you’re wondering how to delete a text box in PowerPoint, this guide will walk you through the simple steps on both Windows and Mac—so you can clean up your slides and keep your presentations professional.
Whether it’s a title box, a placeholder, or a manually inserted text box, you can remove it in seconds.
Why Delete a Text Box in PowerPoint?
Here are some common reasons users remove text boxes:
You want to change the layout of your slide
You accidentally inserted an extra text box
The box is covering other content
You’ve replaced text with images or graphics
You’re cleaning up a template or design
Removing unnecessary elements helps keep your slides neat and improves your audience’s focus.
How to Delete a Text Box in PowerPoint (Windows)
Steps:
- Open your PowerPoint presentation
- Navigate to the slide with the text box you want to remove
- Click on the text box to select it
- Press the Delete or Backspace key on your keyboard
That’s it! The text box is now gone.
Tip: Make sure you’re clicking on the edge of the box—not just inside the text—so the entire box is selected for deletion.
How to Delete a Text Box in PowerPoint (Mac)
The steps are nearly identical for Mac users.
Steps:
- Launch PowerPoint and open your presentation
- Go to the specific slide
- Click the border of the text box to select it
- Press the Delete key on your keyboard
The text box will be removed immediately.
If you only click inside the box and try deleting text, it will remove the text but leave the box itself.
How to Delete Multiple Text Boxes at Once
Want to clean up several slides quickly? You can delete multiple text boxes in just a few clicks.
Steps:
- Hold down the Shift key
- Click each text box you want to delete
- After selecting all, press Delete
This is great for cleaning up copied slides, templates, or duplicated elements.
How to Delete Placeholder Text Boxes from Slide Layouts
If you want to remove a text box from all slides that use the same layout:
- Click on the View tab
- Select Slide Master
- Click on the layout that contains the text box
- Select the text box and press Delete
- Close the Slide Master view
Now the text box will be gone from all slides using that layout.
This is especially helpful for removing unwanted title or content boxes from standard templates.
How to Delete Text Without Removing the Box
- If you just want to remove the text but keep the box for future use:
- Click inside the text box
- Press Ctrl + A (or Command + A on Mac) to select all text
- Press Delete
This clears the text but keeps the box, allowing you to type new content later.
What to Do If a Text Box Won’t Delete
Sometimes a text box might seem stuck or unresponsive. Try these fixes:
- Make sure it’s not part of the slide master:
Go to View > Slide Master and delete it from there. - Check for groupings:
- Right-click the box
- Choose Group > Ungroup
- Now try deleting it again
- Try using the Selection Pane:
- Go to Home > Select > Selection Pane
- Find the text box in the list
- Click it and press Delete
This is useful when boxes overlap or are hard to select on the slide.
How to Use the Selection Pane to Delete a Text Box
- The Selection Pane shows all elements on a slide, including hidden ones.
- Click on the Home tab
- Select Arrange > Selection Pane
- A list will appear on the right
- Click on the name of the text box
- Press Delete
This method is perfect when your text box is hidden behind images or other objects.
FAQs About Deleting Text Boxes in PowerPoint
Why won’t my text box delete?
It might be part of the Slide Master, grouped with another object, or not properly selected. Use the Selection Pane to troubleshoot.
How do I know I selected the whole text box?
Click on the border of the text box—not inside the text. You’ll see a solid outline when the box is selected.
Can I delete all text boxes from a PowerPoint presentation at once?
Not directly. You’ll need to delete them slide by slide or modify the Slide Master if they come from a layout.
Will deleting a text box affect animations?
Yes. If a text box has animations assigned, those will be removed along with the box.
Can I undo a deleted text box?
Yes. Just press Ctrl + Z (Windows) or Command + Z (Mac) right after deletion to restore it.