Making text boxes in word

A text box is an object you can add to your document that lets you put and type text anywhere in your file. Text boxes can be useful for drawing attention to specific text and can also be helpful when you need to move text around in your document.

Add a text box

1. Place cursor where you want the text box to appear.

2. Go to Insert and in Illustrations select Drawing.

3. Select Text Box and use your cursor to create the text box.

4. Insert text in box and apply any styling needed.

5. Select Save andClose.

If you aren’t using a mouse

1. Press Alt + Period (.) and then press N.

2. Then press D to select drawings.

3. Press Alt + Period (.) and then press N.

4. Type the text that you want.

5. Press the Esc key 3 times.

6. Press Enter to save textbox. 

   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

1. Double click the textbox.

2. In Drawing (Preview), select the textbox to place your cursor and edit text.

3. When finished select Save and Close to view updated text box.

Copy a text box

1. Select the border of the text box that you want to copy.

2. 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.

3. 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

1. Go to Insert > Text Box, and then select Draw Text Box.

2. Click or tap in the document, and drag to draw the text box the size that you want.

3. To add text to a text box, select inside the text box, and then type or paste text. 

   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, select 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. Select one of the text boxes and on the Format tab, under Drawing Tools, and then select Create Link.

Copy a text box

1. Select the border of the text box that you want to copy.

2. Go to Home > Copy .

   Make sure that the pointer is not inside the text box, but rather on the border of the text box. If the pointer is not on the border, pressing Copy will copy the text inside the text box and not the text box.

3. Go to Home and select Paste.

   

Delete a text box

• Select the border of the text box and then press DELETE.

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

Add a text box

1. 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).

   

2. Select in the document, and then drag to draw the text box the size that you want.

3. 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

1. 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.

2. Press Control + Click, and then select Copy. Or, press + C.

3. 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.

Add a text box

1. Go to Insert > Text Box.

   

2. Click in your file where you’d like to insert the text box, hold your mouse button down, then drag to draw the text box the size that you want.

3. After you’ve drawn the text box click inside it to add text.

Copy a text box

1. 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.

2. Press Control + Click, and then select Copy. Or, press + C.

3. 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.

Achieve more control and flexibility with your documents

Updated on September 11, 2022

What to Know

• Select Insert > Text Box > choose a text box template. Select and drag box to the position you want.
• To resize text, select and drag circles around the edge. To rotate text, select and drag the circular arrow.
• Place the cursor inside the text box and type the information you want to appear.

This article explains how to use text boxes in Microsoft Word. Instructions apply to Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2019, Word 2016, and Word 2013.

How to Insert a Text Box in Word

Start by opening the document you want to add a text box to. Then follow the steps below.

1. On the ribbon, select Insert.

2. In the Text group, select Text Box, then choose a text box template.

3. The new text box appears in the middle of the text, and the Shape Format tab is automatically selected.

4. Select and drag the box to the position you want. To resize the text box, select and drag the circles around the edge. To rotate the text box, select and drag the circular arrow at the top of the box.

5. Place the cursor inside the text box and type the information you want to appear there.

Why Use Text Boxes?

When you type text in Microsoft Word, you have options for making it look a particular way on the page (such as changing the page margins), but those options are limited. Text boxes expand your formatting repertoire by offering additional control and flexibility for how your text appears. You can place a text box anywhere within a document and format it with different colors and fonts. This feature is especially helpful for creating a blockquote or a sidebar.

Customize a Text Box

After you create a text box, you can customize it in a number of ways.

1. To bring up options, place the cursor inside the text box and right-click. Choose an option and follow the screen prompts to add a border, change the style, or adjust the way the text box interacts with the other text on the page.

   Alternatively, use the controls on the Shape Format tab.

2. To go directly to the Layout Options menu, select the text box, then select the Layout Options icon (it looks like a horseshoe and is located to the right of the text box).

3. Change the text, make more adjustments, or move the box to another location at any time. To delete a text box, select its border, then press Delete on the keyboard.

Thanks for letting us know!

Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day

Subscribe

Add a text box

1. Go to Insert > Text Box, and then select Draw Text Box.
2. Click or tap in the document, and drag to draw the text box the size that you want.
3. To add text to a text box, select inside the text box, and then type or paste text. Notes:

How do I create a fixed text box in Word?

Follow these general steps.

1. Place the text box in your document.
2. Adjust the width of your text box to reflect what you need.
3. Right-click the text box and choose Format Text Box from the resulting Context menu.
4. Make sure the Text Box tab is displayed.
5. Make sure the Resize AutoShape to Fit Text check box is selected.

How do you insert a box in Word 2020?

Place you cursor at the start of the first line. Go to the Developer tab, and then click Check Box. If you want a space after the check box, press Tab or Spacebar. Use a Tab character if you want to format the list item with hanging indentation, like Word applies to bulleted lists.

Where is text box tools in Word?

Go to Insert > Text Box, and then select Draw Text Box. Click or tap in the document, and drag to draw the text box the size that you want. To add text to a text box, select inside the text box, and then type or paste text.

How do I make a text box a certain size in Word?

Click the Insert tab of the ribbon, click the Text Box button, and choose Draw Text Box. Draw a text box of any size. The Text Box Tools tab should appear on the ribbon, with the Size group at the right end. Type in the measurements, and the box will take that size.

How do I make a small box in Word?

Click the “Text Box” button on the Ribbon and choose the first option, “Simple Text Box.” Position the cursor on the Word page and drag to form the size of the box.

How do you insert a little box in Word?

Just position your cursor in the document where you want a check box, switch to the “Developer” tab, and then click the “Check Box Content Control” button. You should see a check box appear wherever you placed your cursor.

Why can’t I add a text box in Word?

If any part of the document is protected, insertion of pictures and text boxes (which in Word are actually graphic objects) is disabled. It seems you’re limiting the restriction to headers and footers.

Why is there no text box option in Word?

Provided you are still viewing the document in Print Layout view, you should be able to see any text boxes. If you still can’t see it, it could be possible that the text box is formatted for no line and no fill and that the text it contains is formatted as hidden (and you have the display of hidden text turned off).

What is text box tool?

The Text Box tool is useful for placing text notes and comments on the PDF. Text is contained within a text box you define, including its size, background color, and other properties.Go to Markup > Text > Text Box. Click on the Markups toolbar .

How do I apply a shape style to a text box in Word?

To change the shape style:

1. Select the text box you want to change.
2. On the Format tab, click the More drop-down arrow in the Shape Styles group.
3. A drop-down menu of styles will appear. Select the style you want to use.
4. The text box will appear in the selected style.

How do I insert a 2×2 box in Word?

Click the Insert tab and then click Pictures. Select the photo that you want to turn into a 2×2 picture. Click the Insert button to insert the picture into your Word document. You can also copy the picture (Ctrl + C) and paste it into your Word document (Ctrl + V).

How do you make a clickable checkbox in Word?

On the right side, check the “Show Developer tab in the Ribbon” and click OK. The Developer tab will now appear on the Ribbon. Under the Developer tab, click Legacy Tools button in Controls group and select the “Check Box Form Field” control. It will insert a clickable checkbox at your cursor’s location.

How do I insert a checkbox without the Developer tab in Word?

Open the drop-down menu and click on Define New Bullet. Click on the Symbol tab. From the list of fonts, select Wingdings (or Wingdings 2 in newer versions of Word) and find the appropriate, empty checkbox. Click OK to confirm and then once more.

How do I create a fillable field in Word?

Creating Fillable Forms Using Microsoft Word

1. Enable Developer Tab. Open Microsoft Word, then go to the File Tab > Options > Customize Ribbon > check the Developer Tab in the right column > Click OK.
2. Insert a Control.
3. Edit Filler Text.
4. Design Mode button again to exit the mode.
5. Customize Content Controls.

How do you insert a checkbox in Word for Mac?

Place the cursor where you want to add a checkbox in your document. Click the Developer tab at the top and select the Check Box Content Control icon from the Controls section. Word will add an interactive checkbox to your document. You can click on this box and it will be ticked.

How do you insert a checkbox in docs?

Insert checkboxes

1. On your computer, open a spreadsheet in Google Sheets.
2. Select the cells you want to have checkboxes.
3. In the menu at the top, click Insert. Checkbox.
4. To remove checkboxes, select the checkboxes you want to remove and press Delete.

How do I insert a text field in Word?

How to insert a Text field in Word

1. Launch Microsoft Word.
2. Click anywhere on the document.
3. Click the Insert tab.
4. Click the Quick Parts button.
5. Click Field from the drop-down menu.
6. Choose a field name from the field name list.
7. then, choose an option from the list on the right.
8. Click OK.

Can you add a text box in Word Online?

On the Insert tab, in the Text group, click Text Box. Click in the presentation, and then drag to draw the text box the size that you want. To add text to a text box, click inside the text box, and then type or paste the text.

How do I insert text into an object in Word?

To do so, click the “Insert” tab on the ribbon menu. Then, click the downward-facing arrow next to “Object” and select “Text from File.” Browse to the file you want and double-click it. Its text will appear in the Word document.

How do I insert a textbox in Word without borders?

Remove the border

1. Select the text box or shape. If you want to change multiple text boxes or shapes, click the first text box or shape, and then press and hold Ctrl while you click the other text boxes or shapes.
2. On the Format tab, click Shape Outline, and then click No Outline.

Adding text boxes can make your document stand out.

• Using the pre-defined text box in MS Word 
• Using the Draw Text Box tool in MS Word

---

Method 1: Using The Pre-defined Text Box In Ms Word

Step 1. Open up your MS Word document. 

Step 2. Go to the Insert tab on the ribbon. 

On the ribbon, click the Insert tab found next to the Home tab at the upper-left corner of your window. Then, move to the left side of the ribbon and select Text Box.

A drop-down menu will appear displaying several built-in text boxes that come in pre-defined formats. 

If that isn’t enough for you, there’s also the option of clicking More Text Boxes from Office.com for more styles.

Start selecting a style that suits the theme of your document. The formatted text box will then appear at the right side of your file.

Once you’ve clicked on a text box style, a text box with a default message should appear.

Simply double-click or select the text box to edit the text, and input your own text into the box.

---

Method 2: Using the Draw Text Box tool in MS Word 

This method allows you to create a text box from scratch and, later on, modify it to fit your own creative design. 

Step 1. Open up your MS Word document. 

Step 2. Go to the Insert tab on the ribbon. 

On the ribbon, click on the Insert tab. You’ll find this next to the Home tab at the upper-left corner of your window. Then, move to the left side of the ribbon and select Text Box.

This will open a drop-down menu on the right side of your screen.

Now, select the Draw Text Box tool found at the bottom of the menu. 

Once selected, you will notice that your mouse cursor will change into a black crosshair. This signals us that we are ready to create a text box. 

The yellow circle beside the crosshair was purposefully added to help you spot the mouse.

Step 3. Draw your text box. 

Once that’s done, we can now draw the text box by left-clicking and holding down the mouse while dragging your cursor to a particular direction.

You can now place your desired text in the box. Furthermore, you can resize the text box by clicking and dragging the circles around the box. 

Notice that we have stretched the text box a bit to make sure the sentences inside have ample space to move around.

There you have it! You just created a simple text box from scratch. 

---

Resizing, Moving, and Deleting a Text Box in MS Word

In this section, we will walk you through the steps of resizing, moving, and deleting your text box in MS Word. 

Here’s how you can do that. 

Resizing a text box in MS Word

You can easily resize your MS Word text boxes by simply dragging any of the four corners of your text box.

Make sure that your cursor changes into a crosshair before dragging. Otherwise, you will be moving your box instead of resizing it. 

You should be able to drag your text box horizontally and vertically at the same time.  

Another way is to drag the midpoints of each side if you want to resize one side at a time. Drag the top or bottom midpoints to resize vertically and left or right midpoints to resize horizontally. 

For a more accurate sizing, MS Word has a Drawing tool where you can specify the height and width of your text box in exact units. 

After selecting a text box, go to the Format tab on the ribbon. Note that this will only be visible when you have selected at least one text box. 

On the right-most part of the ribbon, you will see the height and width field under the Size group. You can then enter your exact measurements in the given fields. 

Tip: Double-clicking any side of your text box, automatically activates the Format tab. 

Moving a text box in MS Word 

Moving a text box in MS Word can easily be done by selecting the text box then dragging it by any of the sides. Make sure you avoid selecting the circles as these will resize your text box instead of moving it  

Make sure to NOT hover your mouse inside the box, as this will only let you edit the text. 

As another option, you can use your keyboard’s arrow keys to move your text box.

This method enables you to move your text box gradually by millimeters. This way, you can easily align them with other elements in your document.  

If you’re looking for a more accurate way to position your text box, you can use MS Word’s Layout options found in the Format tab. We used the Top and Bottom text wrapping for this example. Go ahead and choose one that suits your layout.  

Tip: Click on the More Layout Options for a finer way to position your text box.  

Deleting a text box in MS Word

After selecting a text box, you should be able to delete it by pressing the Delete or Backspace keys on your keyboard.  

---

Customizing a Text Box in MS Word

Microsoft Word offers several ways to customize text boxes with colors, shapes, styles, and a number of other effects. Even built-in text boxes can be modified to your preference. All these options are found in the Format tab on the ribbon. Remember that the Format tab can only be activated once a text box is selected. 

Tip: Double-clicking any side of your text box automatically activates the Format tab. 

Here’s a quick rundown of some of the groups under the Format tab. 

Shape Styles Group

The options in this group can be used to customize the shape, background color, border outline, and shape effects of your text box. Of course, Microsoft Word has a number of pre-defined themes readily available for use.  

WordArt Styles Group

As for any Word document, you can change your text as WordArt. If you’re not familiar with WordArt, don’t worry we’ve got you covered. 

WordArt is simply how Microsoft Word refers to style options that make your text come alive with special effects. Basically, they’re pre-decorated text that’s ready for use. You can simply choose a style to see how it works. 

These options are also accessible when you right-click on any side of your text box.  You should see the three formatting tools: Style, Fill, and Outline. 

As you may have noticed, there’re more than a dozen customization tweaks that we can do to make our text boxes stand out. Try out a few more and tell us down in the comments which styles you liked best!

---

Conclusion

We hope you found this article helpful!

If you want to get creative with your text or simply have more flexibility, consider adding a customizing a text box in Word.

If you want more flexibility with certain text in your Word document, why not use a text box? Since a text box is considered an object, you can move it wherever you like in your document. This is handy for placing text in areas you normally wouldn’t.

You can use a text box to call attention to something in your document, rotate snippets of text, or create a unique appearance. Microsoft Word also provides formatting options for text boxes that give them their own nifty style or useful function.

Here, we’ll show you how to add or draw a text box and then format it to your liking in Microsoft Word.

With Word on Windows, you can either insert a preformatted text box or draw one of your own. Either way, you can customize it afterward, so choose the best option for you.

Go to the spot in your document where you want the text box and select the Insert tab. Click the Text Box drop-down arrow and pick a Built-In style or Draw a Text Box.

If you’re using Word on Mac, go to the Insert tab, click the Text drop-down arrow, and then the Text Box arrow. You can then choose to draw a simple text box or one where the text inside is vertical.

To draw your text box on either platform, drag the crosshairs to create the size you want. You can resize the text box any time after you draw it too.

When your text box appears, click inside to add your own words.

Format and Customize a Text Box in Word

Once you insert or draw your text box, select it and go to the Shape Format tab to view all of your formatting options. You’ll find the following features in Word on Windows, which may differ slightly in Word on Mac.

Shape Styles

Choose a theme or preset style for your text box. These options include filling colors and various effects.

Or you can use the Shape Fill, Outline, and Effects options to create your own distinctive style. From gradients and patterns to dashed lines and scribbles, you have many terrific options for customizing the appearance of your text box.

Note: Some options in the Shape Styles section may not be available if you select a preset text box.

WordArt Styles

Along with making the text box itself look snazzy, you can do the same with the text inside of it. Check out the Quick Styles in the WordArt Styles for premade options.

Or use the Text Fill, Outline, and Effects to make the text really pop. You can do things like add a shadow and glow or warp the text, so it’s curvy and cool.

Text, Accessibility, Arrange, and Size

The remaining sections of the ribbon allow you to change the direction of the text inside the box, use text wrapping with other elements in your document, rotate the text box, and adjust its exact size. You can also use the Alt Text Accessibility option to describe the text box.

Edit Your Text Box

After you customize your text box, you can still edit it anytime. Just note that when you select the text box to make changes, it may appear without some of the elements or effects you’ve applied. This is to make text editing simpler.

Once you complete your edits and deselect the text box, it will return to normal with your customizations.

Add Text Anywhere, Any Way in Word

Text boxes in Microsoft Word let you place text anywhere in your document without worries of margins or other normal text limitations. And because you can completely format the text box almost any way you want, it can be both a fun and useful addition to your document.

If you use Google Docs and Microsoft Word, take a look at how to work with text boxes in Docs too!

Even though Microsoft Word gives you plenty of ways to format, align, and manipulate text, there may be a time when it’s not enough. By using text boxes in Word, you have the flexibility to place text where you want, put it inside a shape, or customize it to make it pop.

You can insert a premade text box that includes formatting and a style or start from scratch by drawing your own.

Insert a Built-In Text Box

Using a premade text box, you can get a jump start on the formatting or apply a bit of flare without any extra work. Currently, this feature is only available in Word on Windows, not Mac.

1. Head to the “Insert” tab and open the “Text Box” drop-down box. You’ll see options below “Built-in” at the top. If you hover your cursor over one, you can see a brief description.

1. Choose the premade text box you want to use, and you’ll see it pop onto the page.

1. Click inside the box, which selects the sample text, then type your own.

You can customize the built-in text box, just like one you draw yourself, which is described below.

Draw a Text Box

If you want a complete blank canvas for your text box, you can draw one the size you need and insert your text. Additionally, this is the only option for inserting a text box in Word on Mac at this time.

1. Go to the “Insert” tab and open the “Text Box” drop-down box. On Windows, select “Draw Text Box.”

1. On Mac, select either “Draw Text Box” or “Draw Vertical Text Box.” The latter places the text sideways in the box as shown below.

1. When your cursor changes to a crosshair symbol, drag to draw the text box the size you want. You can still resize the text box later if needed.

1. Once you have your box, just type your text inside of it.

Note: you can also add text boxes in Google Docs.

How to Resize, Rotate, or Move a Text Box

You aren’t stuck with the size, angle, or location of your new text box. You can easily resize, rotate, or move a text box in Word a few different ways.

Resize a Text Box

1. To quickly resize a text box, drag a corner or edge.

1. You can also go to the “Shape Format” tab to change the size. Use the Size section of the ribbon to enter the dimensions in the “Height” and “Width” boxes.

1. If you want to size your box according to the text within it, right-click the text box and pick “Format Shape.” When the sidebar opens, go to the “Layout & Properties” tab and check the box for “Resize shape to fit text.”

Rotate a Text Box

1. To freely rotate the box, drag the circular arrow at the top to the right or left.

1. To rotate it right or left 90 degrees, go to the “Shape Format” tab. Pick an option from the “Rotate” drop-down menu in the “Arrange” section of the ribbon.

1. For an exact angle, right-click and choose “More Layout Options.” Open the Size tab, enter the angle in the “Rotation” box, and click “OK.”

Move a Text Box

To move a text box, drag it to your desired location.

Because a text box works like an object, any other text in your document won’t move out of the way for a text box. However, you can use the Wrap Text and Position features to adjust this if needed.

1. Go to the “Shape Format” tab, then use the “Wrap Text” drop-down box in the “Arrange” section of the ribbon to choose a wrapping option. For instance, you can place the box in line with the text.

1. You can also use the “Position” drop-down box to the left of “Wrap Text” to place the box in a specific spot within the text. For example, you can place it on the top left with text wrapping around it.

Tip: learn how you can create and customize tables in Word.

How to Customize the Text Box Appearance

Along with resizing, rotating, or moving a text box, you may want to change its appearance. You can customize the shape of the text box, apply a background color, or give it a border.

1. Select the text box and head to the “Shape Format” tab, then use the following sections of the ribbon to customize the box and text:

• Insert Shapes: open the “Edit Shape” drop-down menu, move to “Change Shape,” and select a new shape in the pop-out menu.

• Shape Styles: pick a preformatted design in the Shapes Styles box or choose a fill, apply a border, or add a shadow.

• WordArt Styles and Text: use these two sections to adjust the appearance of the text. Apply a design, fill, outline, or effect. You can also change the direction or align the text. For the font style and size, use the options in the “Font” section of the “Home” tab.

1. For additional options, right-click the text box and select “Format Shape,” then you can adjust both the box and text settings in the sidebar. Some options match those in the ribbon while others are different. For instance, you can adjust the transparency of the box or text.

Try this: create an organized document with a table of contents and add page numbers in Word.

How to Connect Text Boxes in Word

One super-handy feature of text boxes in Word is that you can link them together. This allows you to start typing in one box and have the text carry over to the next box. It’s ideal for a list of tips, brief instructions, or short stories you want to include with your content.

To link text boxes, the box you want to connect to the previous one must be empty. If you already have your boxes filled with text, you can either remove the text from the subsequent boxes or add new boxes and remove the existing ones.

1. Insert a text box as described earlier, then add a second text box, but be sure to leave it empty.

1. Select the first text box, go to the “Shape Format” tab, and pick “Create Link” in the Text section of the ribbon.

1. When your cursor changes to a paint can icon, click inside the second text box. This creates a link between the two. If you want a third or fourth text box linked, follow the same process by linking the second box to the third, third to the fourth, and so on.

1. As you add text to the first box, the text that won’t fit then fills the second text box. If you have more text boxes, they will continue to fall into them.

1. If you resize the text boxes, the amount of text in each one adjusts to accommodate it. When you resize one text box, you’ll see the linked box automatically resize as well.

1. Should you decide later you don’t want the boxes linked, you can break the link. Select the first text box, go to the “Shape Format” tab, and click “Break Link.” Follow the same process to remove any additional text box connections.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a hyperlink to a text box in Word?

You can add a link to a text box or specific text within it, just like any other object or text in a Word document.

To link the box, select it. To link specific text within the box, select it instead. Right-click, pick “Link” or “Hyperlink,” then choose an existing file or web page, place in the document, new document, or email address. On the right, select the item or add the URL and click “OK.”

How do I stop text from wrapping inside of a text box?

By default, the text inside of a text box wraps to the next line when it reaches the edge of the shape. But you can change this if you would like.

Right-click the text box and pick “Format Shape.” When the sidebar opens, select the “Layout & Properties” tab and uncheck the box for “Wrap text in shape.”

Can I temporarily hide text boxes in Word?

As you work on the other content in your document, you may want to hide a text box or two to focus on other things.

Select a text box, go to the “Shape Format” tab, and click “Selection Pane” in the “Arrange” section. When the sidebar opens, click the eye icon to the right of a text box to hide it. For all text boxes, click “Hide All” at the top. To unhide the text boxes, select the eye with a line through it to the right or pick “Show All” at the top.

Image credit: Pixabay. All screenshots by Sandy Writtenhouse.

Reading
a lengthy text document can make anyone bored in minutes. However, there are
few simple ways to make your documents more attractive and appealing to the
reader. One such option is to add colorful text boxes in-between paragraphs.
This is a useful way to show important action points on full text based
documents. In this article, let us explore how to create text box in Word
document.

Related: How to quickly add dividers in Word?

We
will discuss the following options based on Word 2016 or later version.

• Create text box from existing text
• Creating empty text box
• Changing text box size and position
• Changing text direction
• Deleting borders

Creating
Text Box from Existing Text

You can convert any of the existing text paragraph and list to a text box in Word. Let’s see how to do that.

• First open your document and select the paragraph you want to convert to a text box.
• Switch to the “Insert” tab from the ribbon menu.
• Open the “Text Box” menu.
• Word offers a selection of predefined text boxes, for example for creating sidebars with quotes.
• However, for converting the existing text, select the entry “Draw Text Box” in the lower pane.

This will instantly add a bordered text box around
the selected text. Word treats text boxes as a drawing and you can design the
box as per your need using the “Drawing Tools” menu. You can move the text
boxes anywhere in the document, depending on the layout. This can be useful for
the design of flyers and brochure.

Creating
Empty Text Box

Of course, you do not necessarily need existing text to
create a new text box. Alternatively, you can also create empty text boxes and
enter the text into them later.

• Place the cursor where you want to insert a text box.
• Reopen the “Insert” menu and select “Text Box” option.
• Click the “Draw Text Box” menu item. You will see the cursor now changed to cross hair shape.
• Draw out the text box while holding down the left mouse button.
• Then enter the text into the text box.
• You can look at the various options in the context menu of your text box for designing your text box.

Changing
Text Box Size and Position

When
you have created a text box out, you have various options for editing. You can
design it, change the size and place it anywhere in your document.

• You can change the size of the box using the handles on the edges of it. Word will automatically adjust the text content inside the box.
• It is also possible to freely move the box using the mouse. You can hover over the mouse to change the cursor into a star shape, allowing you to drag the box.
• Formatting is also possible as usual, for example, right-click on the selected text to use the Mini toolbar and format the text in bold or change the alignment.
• You can click on the “Layout Options” button on the side of the text box to wrap text box with the content on your document.

Changing
Text Direction

Within
a text box, you can also influence the text direction. Besides the default
horizontal alignment the text can also run vertically.

• What about if you want to rotate the text inside text box? This is also
  very easy. Open the “Text Direction”.
• Double click on the text box to open “Drawing Tools” menu. Click on the
  “Text Direction” menu and select the entry, “Rotate all text 270°”.
• The text is now set vertically in the text box and you can adjust the
  format and position of the box.

• You can move the text box between paragraphs or columns by dragging the
  box while keeping the left mouse button pressed.

Related: How to embed Excel table in Word document?

Deleting
Borders and Content

By
default, text boxes are displayed with borders, but you do not have to keep
them. You can easily remove the borders.

• Click on the text box to open the “Drawing Tools” and select “Shape Outline”
  button under “Format” menu.
• Now, select the entry “No Outline” to remove the borders from the box.

• You can also apply different colors, weight and styles to the border if
  you want.
• In order to delete a text box content, simply click inside the box and
  edit or delete the content. Alternatively, select the text box by clicking on
  the border and press delete to completely delete the box.
• In this respect, text boxes behave in the same way as other drawing
  objects.

Using Text Box Templates

The best and easy way to use text box in Word is to
select one of the predefined text box template. You can select from one of the good-looking
templates from the “Text Box” menu dropdown.

For example, you can use text box in a sidebar
format or choose one of the colorful formats. You can adjust the layout
positions to align the content beside the box.

You can also customize the text box and create a
custom template as a Quick Parts.

• First, select the box you want to use as templates.
• Go to “Insert > Text Box” and choose “Save Selection to Text Box Gallery” option.
• Fill up the details to create a new building block.
• You can view the saved template under “Text Box” menu dropdown from next time onwards.

Other Formatting Options

The “Formatting Tools” menu offers various
additional options for customizing your text box content. You can double click
on any text box to view the menus applicable for drawing object. Below are some
of the activities you can do with the formatting tools:

• Apply shape styles like fill, effects and borders.
• Create WordArt inside text box.
• Change text direction.
• Position and wrap the content around the text box.

/en/word2016/shapes/content/

Introduction

Text boxes can be useful for drawing attention to specific text. They can also be helpful when you need to move text around in your document. Word allows you to format text boxes and the text within them with a variety of styles and effects.

Optional: Download our practice document.

Watch the video below to learn more about text boxes in Word.

To insert a text box:

1. Select the Insert tab, then click the Text Box command in the Text group.

   

2. A drop-down menu will appear. Select Draw Text Box.

   

3. Click and drag anywhere on the document to create the text box.

   

4. The insertion point will appear inside the text box. You can now type to create text inside the text box.

   

5. If you want, you can select the text and then change the font, color, and size by using the commands on the Format and Home tabs. To learn more about using these formatting commands, see our Formatting Text lesson.

   

6. Click anywhere outside the text box to return to your document.

You can also select one of the built-in text boxes that have predefined colors, fonts, positions, and sizes. If you choose this option, the text box will appear automatically, so you will not need to draw it.

To move a text box:

1. Click the text box you want to move.
2. Hover the mouse over one of the edges of the text box. The mouse will change into a cross with arrows.
3. Click and drag the text box to the desired location.

   

To resize a text box:

1. Click the text box you want to resize.
2. Click and drag any of the sizing handles on the corners or sides of the text box until it is the desired size.

   

Modifying text boxes

Word offers several options for changing the way text boxes appear in your document. You can change the shape, style, and color of text boxes or add various effects.

To change the shape style:

Choosing a shape style allows you to apply preset colors and effects to quickly change the appearance of your text box.

1. Select the text box you want to change.
2. On the Format tab, click the More drop-down arrow in the Shape Styles group.

   

3. A drop-down menu of styles will appear. Select the style you want to use.

   

4. The text box will appear in the selected style.

   

If you want to have more control over text box formatting, you can use any of the shape formatting options such as Shape Fill and Shape Outline. To learn more, see our Shapes lesson.

To change the text box shape:

Changing the shape of a text box can be a useful option for creating an interesting look in your document.

1. Select the text box you want to change. The Format tab will appear.
2. From the Format tab, click the Edit Shape command.

   

3. Hover the mouse over Change Shape, then select the desired shape from the menu that appears.

   

4. The text box will appear formatted as the shape.

   

Challenge!

1. Open our practice document.
2. Insert a Simple Text Box.
3. In the text box, type Get an additional 25% off when you mention this ad!
4. Change the font to Gadugi, 20 pt, Center Align.
5. Change the shape of the text box to Double Wave from the Stars and Banners group.
6. Change the text box style by selecting any style in the Intense Effect row.
7. Drag the text box to the space below Buy 1, Get 1 Free* and Formalwear.
8. When you’re finished, your document should look something like this:

   

/en/word2016/aligning-ordering-and-grouping-objects/content/