Add, copy, or remove a text box in Word (2024)

Add a text box

Go to Insert > Text Box, and then select one of the pre-formatted text boxes from the list, select More Text Boxes from Office.com, or select Draw Text Box.
If you select Draw Text Box, click in the document, and then drag to draw the text box the size that you want.
To add text, select inside the box and type or your paste text.

If you aren't using a mouse

Press and release Alt, N, and then press X.
Press the arrow keys to select the text box that you want, and then press Enter.
Type the text that you want.
When you are finished typing and want to switch back to editing text in your document, press Esc.
Notes:
- To format the text in the text box, select the text, and then use the formatting options in the Font group on the Home tab.
  
  To format the text box itself, use the commands on the Format contextual tab, which appears under Drawing Tools when you select a text box.
- To position the text box, click it, and then when the pointer becomes a , drag the text box to a new location.
- You can also change or remove a border from a text box or shape.
- If you have multiple text boxes, you can link them together so that text will flow from one box to another. Click one of the text boxes and on the Format tab, under Drawing Tools, in the Text group, click Create Link.
  See Also
  Define and use names in formulas Excel tips: how to use text boxes | INTHEBLACK How (And Why) You Should Use Text Boxes In Word Label Templates

Copy a text box

Select the border of the text box that you want to copy.
Press Ctrl+C.

Note:Make sure the pointer is on the border of the text box, not inside it. If the pointer is inside, pressing Ctrl+C will copy the text, not the text box.
Select a location and press Ctrl+V to paste the text box.

Delete a text box

Select the border of the text box that you want to delete, and then press Delete.

Note:Make sure the pointer is on the border of the text box and not inside it. If the pointer is inside the box, pressing Delete will delete the text inside the text box, not the box.

Add a text box

Place cursor where you want the text box to appear.
Go to Insert and in Illustrations select Drawing.
Select Text Box and use your cursor to create the text box.
Insert text in box and apply any styling needed.
Select SaveandClose.

If you aren't using a mouse

Press Alt + Period (.)and then press N.
Then press D to select drawings.
Press Alt + Period (.) and then press N.
Type the text that you want.
Press the Esc key three times.
Press Enter to save text box.
Notes:
- To format the text in the text box, select the text, and then use the formatting options in the Font group on the Home tab.
- To format the text box itself, use the commands on the Shape Format contextual tab that appears when you select a text box.
- To position the text box, select it, and then when the pointer becomes a four-headed arrow, drag the text box to a new location.
- You can also change or remove a border from a text box or shape.
- If you have multiple text boxes, you can link them together so that text will flow from one box to another. Select one of the text boxes and on the Shape Format tab, select Create Link.

Editing in a text box

Double click the text box.
In Drawing (Preview), select the text box to place your cursor and edit text.
When finished select Save and Close to view updated text box.

Copy a text box

Select the border of the text box that you want to copy.
Press Ctrl+C.

Note:Make sure the pointer is on the border of the text box, not inside it. If the pointer is inside, pressing Ctrl+Cwill copy the text, not the text box.
Select a location and press Ctrl+V to paste the text box.

Delete a text box

Select the border of the text box that you want to delete, and then press Delete.

Note:Make sure the pointer is on the border of the text box and not inside it. If the pointer is inside the box, pressing Delete will delete the text inside the text box, not the box.

Add a text box

Go to Insert > Text Box and then select either Draw Text Box (where the text aligns horizontally on the page) or Vertical Text Box (where the text aligns vertically on the page).
Select in the document, and then drag to draw the text box the size that you want.
To add text to a text box, click or tap inside the text box, and then type or paste text.
- To format the text in the text box, select it, and then Control + Click the text and select Font.
- To add different effects to the text box, select the text box, and use the options on the Shape Format tab (such as changing the text direction or aligning the text at the top, middle or bottom of the text box).
- To position the text box, select and hold it, and then when the pointer becomes a , drag the text box to a new location.

Note:If you have drawn multiple text boxes, you can link them together so that text will flow from one box to another. You can only link an empty text box to the one that you've selected. To do this, select the text box that you want to link to another text box, and then go to Shape Format > Create Link.

Copy a text box

Select the text box you want to copy.

Make sure that the pointer is on the border of the text box and not inside the text box. If the pointer is not on the border, the text inside the text box is copied.
Press Control + Click, and then select Copy. Or, press ⌘ + C.
Select the location in your document where you want to paste the text box, press Control + Click, and then select Paste. Or, press ⌘ + V.

Remove a text box

Select the border of the text box that you want to delete, and then press DELETE.

Make sure that the pointer is on the border of the text box and not inside the text box. If the pointer is not on the border, pressing DELETE will delete the text inside the text box.