An extra text box gives you a separate place for a caption, label, or brief annotation in Google Slides. It does not require replacing the slide’s layout. Use this approach for content that should move independently from the title and body placeholders already supplied by the design.
Insert the box on the canvas
Open the presentation on a computer and select the target slide. Choose Insert > Text box, place the box on the slide, and enter the text. Check that the new box does not overlap an existing placeholder or cover an important part of an image.
Format the content and container
Set a readable font size and suitable text color. When you want to move the whole label, select the box rather than only its words. Editing text and moving its container are separate actions, even though both happen in the same visible area.
Google’s text-fitting guidance says newly created text boxes normally resize to fit text. If the box grows farther than intended, inspect Format > Format options > Text fitting instead of assuming that the slide layout has changed.
Verify its role in the slide
Review the slide in slideshow view and ask whether the extra box adds necessary information. A caption should clearly identify the relevant image or data point without competing with the main message. Check its position after editing nearby objects. If every slide needs the same kind of label in the same location, consider improving the reusable layout rather than manually inserting an unrelated box on each slide.
References
- Insert and arrange text, shapes, diagrams, and lines
- Change how text fits in placeholders & text boxes
Reviewed against the linked official product guidance on November 3, 2026. Features, limits, screen labels, and access can vary by account, platform, region, and organization policy.