How to Delete a Text Box in Microsoft Word Documents

Plus how to recover an accidental deletion

Managing text boxesin Microsoft Word can be a bit tricky at times. This extends to deleting text boxes, as well. You may end up just deleting the content rather than the actual box.

Here’s how to completely delete the text box in Word, and in case of any accidental deletions, quickly recover it.

How to Delete a Text Box

To delete a text box in Word, you’ll first need to select it. This part can be a bit tricky, as you’ll need to click the outer edge to select the text box itself. If you click inside the text box, you’ll select the text instead. Deleting the text within the text box doesn’t remove the text box.

First, click the edge of the text box to select it.

Next, press theDeletekey. Or, if your key isn’t working for some reason, right-click and then chooseCutfrom the context menu.

Your text box is now removed from the Word document.

How to Delete Multiple Text Boxes at Once

If your Word document has several text boxes and you’re wanting to get rid of them, you don’t have to do them one at a time. You can get rid of them all at once.

First, you’ll need to select the text boxes you want to delete. You select them in the same way (by clicking the outer edge of the text box), but this time you’ll hold theCtrlkey (Commandon Mac) while selecting them.

Now just press theDeletekey orright-click>Cut. The text boxes will then disappear from the document.

How to Recover Accidentally Deleted Text Boxes

If you removed a certain text box by accident, you can quickly recover it. To do so, click theUndoicon in the top-left corner of the window.

Or, you can use theCtrl+Z(Command+Zon Mac) keyboard shortcut. This undoes the previous action which, in this case, was deleting the text box.

Text Box Tango

Precision is key when dealing with text boxes. When you’re trying to remove one from your document, you need to be sure you’re not just removing the text.

It’s also reassuring to know that even if you slip up, Word’s forgiving nature offers an easy path for recovery.

Marshall is a technical writer based in Tokyo, Japan. His bylines are found on VGKAMI, How-To Geek, PCWorld, Zapier, and many other online magazines.Read Marshall’s Full Bio

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How to Delete a Text Box in Microsoft Word Documents#

How to Delete a Text Box#

How to Delete Multiple Text Boxes at Once#

How to Recover Accidentally Deleted Text Boxes#

Text Box Tango#