How to Add, Customize and Delete a Text Box in Microsoft Word

Like in Microsoft PowerPoint, you can add a text box to a Microsoft Word document. A text box allows you to place and type text anywhere within the document. By default, the text box in Microsoft apps such as Word has a rectangular shape with black borders. The text also written within the text box has a black font color.

However, the appearance of the text box is not unchangeable. There are features in Microsoft Word that ensure users can customize the text box to their preference. You can customize the various aspects of the text box and we’ll show how to do that.

How to Add a Text Box in Microsoft Word

In Word, you can insert a built-in text box, select more text boxes from Microsoft Office or draw your own text box. Here’s how to add a text box:

Step 1: Click the Start button on the Taskbar and type word to search for the app.

Step 2: From the results, click on the Microsoft Word app or document to open it.

Step 3: On the Microsoft Word ribbon, click on the Insert tab.

Step 4: Within the Text Group, click Text Box.

Step 5: From the drop-down, select any of the below options for your preferred text box:

• Built-in
• More Text Boxes From Office.com
• Draw Text Box

After selecting your preferred text box, it will be inserted into your Word document.

How to Customize a Text Box in Microsoft Word

You may have noticed that the built-in text box options in Microsoft Word are rectangular. The same also applies when you choose to draw your text box. The border colors for the text box are also black. Here’s how you can customize the features of your text box:

How to Change the Shape of a Text Box

Here’s how to change your text box shape from the standard rectangle.

Step 1: Select your inserted text box to view the Shape Format tab on the Word Ribbon.

Step 2: Click the Shape Format tab.

Step 3: Within the Insert Shapes group, select the Edit Shape icon.

Step 4: Select Change Shape.

Step 5: Choose your preferred new shape from the Shape Gallery.

How to Change the Colors of a Text Box

Your text box typically has two colors which include the fill color and the outline color. The fill color is the color that fills within your text box while the outline color is the border color of the text box. Here’s how you can change the fill and outline color of your text box.

Step 1: Select your inserted text box to view the Shape Format tab on the Word ribbon.

Step 2: Click the Shape Format tab.

Step 3: Within the Shape Styles group, select the Shape Fill icon.

Step 4: Choose your preferred Fill color from the options below:

• Theme Colors
• Standard Colors
• More Fill Colors

Step 5: After selecting the Shape Fill color, click the Shape Outline icon.

Step 6: Choose your preferred Outline color from the options below:

• Theme Colors
• Standard Colors
• More Outline Colors

How to Change the Font Color in a Text Box

Text written within the text box would typically have a black font color. Here’s how you can choose a different font color:

Step 1: Select the text within the text box.

Step 2: On the Word ribbon, select the Font Color icon within the Font group.

Step 3: Choose your preferred Font color from the options below:

• Theme Colors
• Standard Colors
• More Colors

How to Delete a Text Box

If you no longer want the text box in your Word document, here’s how you can delete it.

Step 1: Select your inserted text box ensuring the pointer is on the border of the text box and not within.

Step 2: Press the Delete or backspace key of your keyboard to delete the text box.

Inserting an Arrow in Microsoft Word

Apart from text boxes, you can insert other shapes into your document. An example is the arrow shape which you can insert in various ways into your Word document. The methods include using a keyboard shortcut from the Word Ribbon or via a short code.