How to Fix Overlapping Text in Google Slides?

Yoodley is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Google Slides are widely trusted by users all across the globe for making presentations and business proposals. If you have recently started using Google Slides but are worried about seeing the overlapping text on the slides, this guide has you covered. 

To fix the overlapping text in Google Slides, switch to incognito mode or another browser. You can also disable any extensions you might be using with your browser and turn off the Grammarly extension if added to the browser you are using. Clearing the browser cache, rebooting the device, and restarting the slides file are other possible fixes. 

We have compiled an extensive guide for you highlighting all the reasons that could lead to overlapping text issues in Google Slides. We will also explore some fixes you can try to resolve this issue.

 

Reasons for Overlapping Text in Google Slides 

The overlapping text issue in Google Slides isn’t prevalent, and few people have experienced it. But if you are among the few people who are facing the problem where the text in Google Slides is aligning on one side and all the words you type overlap each other, it’s crucial for you to first understand the reason behind this before moving towards the solutions. 

Some of the main reasons why the text in Google Slides overlaps are listed below. 

• Insufficient Line Height 

One of the main reasons why the text in your Google Slides overlaps is that the line height needs to be increased. Simply put, the font size you selected for your text is large for the standard line height your slides are set at. 

When the line height isn’t enough to fit the text, the words tend to align themselves to a corner to use whatever space is available, leading to the text overlapping. 

• Browser Cache 

Another reason for the text overlapping in Google Slides is the browser cache. Like different apps and software programs, the browser must be cleared of cache data and files pretty frequently to keep it functioning smoothly. 

However, if you forget to get rid of the cache for the browser you are using Google Slides in, this can affect the working of many programs, including Google Slides. This could also lead to the malfunctioning of the app or program you are using, thus causing the text to overlap. 

• Browser Extensions 

If you use a lot of browser extensions, that could also be why the text in your Google Slides overlaps. The extensions you use with your browser usually affect its functioning by introducing changes it is meant for. 

Some programs support these changes and alterations, while others find them an intrusion of the foreign program which can eventually affect the working of these programs. 

• Grammarly Extension 

If you have been associated with writing for some time, you must’ve heard of the Grammarly app. It is also available as an extension to different browsers. As evident from the name, Grammarly is concerned with correcting the syntax, spelling, tone, and grammatical errors in a text. 

However, as it’s directly concerned with the text, it’s likely to interfere with the text in your Google Slides. This can cause the text to overlap in the app.

• Ad Blockers 

If you use Adblockers on your browser to get rid of recurrent ads and messages popping up on the screen recurrently, you are likely to encounter the issue of text overlapping in Google Slides. 

It’s because, though ad blockers help you remove ads from your browser, it comes with some bugs too that can directly influence the functioning of Google Slides. Also, ad blockers are often used to generate fake reviews, which apps like Google Slides don’t support. 

• Software Glitch or Bug 

The text in your Google Slides can also overlap due to a software glitch or some bug that might have entered your device. This can happen for multiple reasons; for instance, you might have installed an app or program on your device containing malware. 

 

Fixing Overlapping Text in Google Slides 

If you are wondering how to fix overlapping text in Google Slides, our 5 simple solutions will help you perform this task without much hassle. 

Method #1: Changing the Font Size 

This is one of the most common reasons that could cause text overlapping in Google Slides. To fix the problem, you simply need to change the font size on the app. 

To do this, here are the steps you need to follow: 

1. Go to the Editing menu on the top. 
2. You will see the current Font size next to the Font Design. 
3. Click the “-” icon to reduce the font size. 
4. Once you select the desired font size, type something on the slides and check for the issue. 

Note: Changing the font design, increasing the line or paragraph spacing, and changing the text alignment are some other things you can try to fix the text overlapping in Google Slides. 

Method #2: Rebooting the Device 

Another thing you can do to fix the text overlapping in Google Slides is to perform a device reboot. As mentioned earlier, a software glitch or a bug in your device can lead to overlapping text in Google Slides. 

To fix this issue, you must reboot the device following these steps. 

1. Click the “Start” icon from the laptop’s taskbar. 
2. Select the “Power” button from the pop-up window. 
3. From the options that pop up on the screen, choose “Restart.” 
4. Wait for your device to restart completely and turn back on. 
5. Once the device switches on, go to Google Slides and check for the issue. 

Method #3: Restarting the Google Slides 

Restarting the program is one possible fix for the text overlapping problem in Google Slides. Fortunately, this is a simple process and wouldn’t take much of your time. 

Here is what you need to do for this: 

1. Click the “Cross” icon next to the Google Slides tab on the tab ribbon at the top. 
2. Close all the tabs and refresh your PC by pressing the F5 or “Fn key with F5,” depending on your device. 
3. Now, open Chrome or any other browser you prefer. 
4. Navigate to “Google Slides” and go to the file you were previously working on. 
5. Type something on the slides to see if the problem is fixed. 

Method #4: Switching to Incognito Mode

If you have been experiencing the overlapping text issue in Google Slides too often lately, switching to Incognito Mode can fix it for you. 

Here is how you can switch to Incognito Mode on your PC: 

1. Click the “three-vertical dots” on the top-right corner of your Chrome browser. 
2. Select the “New Incognito Window” option from the screen’s drop-down menu. 
3. A new Incognito Window will open up on choosing this option. 

1. Once you are in Incognito Mode, navigate to a webpage. 
2. This can be done by simply typing something in the search bar. 
3. Once you see the search results page, use your account credentials to sign into your Google account. 
4. Now, open Google Slides in Incognito Mode. 

You won’t see the text overlapping in the Google Slides now. 

Method #5: Switching to Another Browser 

Sometimes, the browser is the main agent behind the overlapping text in the Google Slides problem. Fortunately, this can easily be fixed by switching to some other browser. If you have been using a PC and the web for a while now, changing the browser won’t be a task for you. 

Though you can find some really secure and reliable browsers out there, we highly recommend you switch to either Firefox or Microsoft Edge. But you are free to decide on the one you like the best.

Method #6: Clearing the Browser Cache 

If you are not a big fan of changing the browser as you find it hard to adjust to the interface of other browsers, clearing the cache of your current browser is something you can try. 

Here is how this can be done: 

1. If you are a Chrome user, navigate to the browser on your PC. 
2. Click the “three-vertical dots” on the top-right corner of the screen. 
3. From the drop-down menu, select “More tools.” 

1. Choose the “Clear browsing data” option from the extended window pop-up. 

1. Select a time range at the top. 
2. If you wish to delete everything from your browser, choose “All time.” 
3. Check the boxes next to the “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files” options.  
4. Hit the “Clear data” option and navigate to Google Slides to see if the problem is resolved. 

Method #7: Removing the Browser Extensions 

As we have discussed above, browser extensions can also cause overlapping text problem in Google Slides. Though you can simply disable all the extensions to eliminate the problem, this is not a permanent solution. 

If you don’t want the extensions on your browser to ever interfere with the functioning of Google Slides or any other app, you can remove these extensions from the Chrome browser. 

For this, follow the steps listed below. 

1. Open the “Chrome” browser on your PC. 
2. Select the “Puzzle-piece” icon at the top. 
3. A drop-down menu containing all your browser extensions will appear on the screen. 

1. Click the “three-dot” icon next to each extension one by one and choose the “Remove from Chrome” option. 

1. Once you have removed all the extensions from your browser, check for the issue. 

Note: While removing the browser extension, do not forget any Adblockers you are using and the Grammarly app, as they are majorly responsible for this error. 

Method #8: Resetting Browser Settings 

Another possible fix to solve the overlapping text issue in Google Slides is resetting the settings of the browser you are currently using to default. 

Following are the steps you are required to follow for this. 

1. Open the “Chrome” browser on your PC. 
2. Click the “three-vertical dots” on the upper-right corner of the screen. 
3. From the drop-down menu, select “Settings.” 

1. Choose “Reset and clean up” in the left pane. 
2. Select the “Restore settings to their original defaults” option in the right pane. Doing so will reset the settings of the Chrome browser to their default state. 

1. Click the “Reset Settings” option on the screen for confirmation. 

You have successfully reset your browser’s settings to default and can now use Google Slides freely without text overlapping. 

Method #9: Updating the Browser 

Updating the web browser is another way to solve the overlapping text in Google Slides. This is pretty simple and doesn’t require you to wait long hours. 

Here is how you can update your web browser: 

1. Launch the Chrome browser on your device. 
2. Select the “three-vertical dots” from the top-right corner of the screen. 
3. From the drop-down menu, choose the “Settings” option. 
4. Under the “Advanced” section on the left pane, choose the “About Chrome” tab. 
5. If you see an update available for your browser, it will automatically begin downloading. 
6. Once the update is successfully installed, hit the “Relaunch” button. 

 

FAQs 

How to overlay text in Google Slides?

To overlay text in Google Slides, here are the steps you need to follow: 

1. Go to a browser on your PC and navigate to Google Slides. 
2. Open a presentation and head to the slide where you want to insert the text box or the object. 
3. Select “Insert” at the top. 
4. Choose what you want to add and select Text Box, Shape, Line, or Image. 
5. The selected object or text box will be added to the required slide, and you can format it according to your preference. 

How To Wrap Text Around an Image In Google Slides?

If you want to wrap text around an image in Google Slides, first choose the text box and cut a portion of the text. You can use the cursor or press the “Ctrl +X” keys to cut the text. 

Now, hit the “Insert” option at the top and select “Text box” to add a new box for the part of the text you have just cut. Use the cursor to draw the shape of the new box. Press “Ctrl +V” on the keyboard to paste the text into the new text box. 

How do you make text appear one by one on Google Slides?

To make text appear one by one on Google Slides, start by adding the text to your slides. Ensure to add text in different boxes based on how you want them to appear. Once you have added text in different boxes, you can move towards adding the transition effect to these text boxes. 

Select the first text box and click the “three dots” on the upper menu. Choose “Animate” from the options in the drop-down menu. A window named “Motion” will appear on the right side of the screen. You will find the first few words of the selected box under the “Object Animations” section. 

You will see two drop-down menus below. Click the first one and select the effect for the first text box, e.g., Fade in. Hit the second drop-down menu to choose when you want the effect to appear, e.g., On click. Click the “Add animation” button below and add animations for the remaining text boxes. 

Once you are done adding animations for all the text boxes, you can rearrange them by dragging and dropping them. In the end, click “Play” to see how the animations appear. 

How to change the text layout in Google Slides?

For changing the text layout in Google Slides, here is what you are supposed to do: 

1. Go to a presentation in Google Slides. 
2. Select “Tools” at the top and choose “Preferences.” 
3. Check the “Use custom autofit preferences” option. 
4. Choose either a task placeholder or a text box. 

How do you mask in Google Slides?

You can mask an image in Google Slides if you want to fit it into a shape. Follow these steps for the same. 

1. Navigate to a presentation in Google Slides on your PC. 
2. Select the image you wish to mask. 
3. Choose the “Down arrow” adjacent to the “Crop” option at the top. 
4. Hit the shape you wish to choose. 
5. The selected shape will mask the image you chose earlier. 

Conclusion – How to Fix Overlapping Text in Google Slides?

In this guide, we have explored all the possible reasons for the overlapping text problem in Google Slides. Once you get well-versed with the causes of the issue, you can go through the extensive list of possible fixes we have explained to you. 

Hopefully, one of these fixes will work for you, and you will be able to make as many presentations as you want in Google Slides without worrying about the overlapping text issue. You can also look at the FAQs section above to find answers to some common questions most Google Slides users have.