Stop Automatic Text Resizing in PowerPoint Placeholders or Text Boxes
by Avantix Learning Team | Updated March 12, 2021
Applies to: Microsoft® PowerPoint® 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 365 (Windows)
You can turn off or stop automatic text resizing in PowerPoint by changing Autofit options. PowerPoint's Autofit feature is set to automatically resize text in text boxes or placeholders. You can turn off Autofit for all PowerPoint presentations on your computer or for a specific text box or placeholder on a slide.
Recommended article: How to Embed a YouTube Video in PowerPoint
Do you want to learn more about PowerPoint? Check out our virtual classroom or live classroom PowerPoint courses >
Stop text resizing in PowerPoint for all presentations
To stop text resizing for all PowerPoint presentations (current and new presentations):
- Click the File tab in the Ribbon.
- Click Options. A dialog box appears.
- Select Proofing in the categories on the left.
- Click AutoCorrect Options. A dialog box appears.
- Select the AutoFormat As You Type tab.
- Deselect (uncheck) the AutoFit title text to placeholder and AutoFit body text to placeholder options.
- Click OK twice.
Below is the AutoCorrect options dialog box with the Autoformat As You Type tab selected (Autofit title text and body text to placeholder have been turned off):
AutoFit title text to placeholder automatically resizes the title text within the title placeholder if the text doesn't fit.
AutoFit body text to placeholder automatically resizes body text within a body placeholder if the text doesn't fit.
Turn off text resizing for specific placeholders or text boxes
To turn off or stop text resizing for specific placeholders or text boxes (or shapes with text) in 2013 and later versions:
- In Normal View, select the placeholder or text box (or shape with text) by clicking its edge.
- Right-click or press Shift + F10 to display the context menu.
- Select Format Shape. In 2013 and later versions, a task pane appears.
- Click Text Options in the Task Pane.
- Select Text Box below Text Options.
- Select Do Not Autofit. This will only affect the current object.
Below is the Task Pane in 2013 and later versions with Autofit turned off:
You can also set these options in Slide Master View for specific layouts.
To turn off text resizing for specific placeholders or text boxes (or shapes with text) in 2010:
- In Normal View, select the placeholder or text box (or shape with text) by clicking on its edge.
- Right-click or press Shift + F10 to display the context menu.
- Select Format Shape. In 2010, a dialog box appears.
- Select Text Box in the left pane.
- Select Do Not Autofit.
- Click Close.
Below is the Format Shape dialog box in PowerPoint 2010:
You can also set these options in Slide Master View for specific layouts.
This article was first published on May 7, 2017 and has been updated for clarity and content.
Subscribe to get more articles like this one
Did you find this article helpful? If you would like to receive new articles, join our email list
More resources
How to Highlight Text in PowerPoint (5 Ways)
How to Insert, Edit and Remove Hyperlinks in PowerPoint Decks
How to Insert a Check Mark in PowerPoint (4 Ways with Shortcuts)
How to Remove the Background of an Image in PowerPoint (2 Ways)
How to Insert a Video in PowerPoint (from a File on Your PC or Shared Drive)
Related courses
Microsoft PowerPoint: Intermediate / Advanced
Microsoft PowerPoint: Design for Non-Designers
Microsoft PowerPoint: Animations Bootcamp
Our instructor-led courses are delivered in virtual classroom format or at our downtown Toronto location at 18 King Street East, Suite 1400, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (some in-person classroom courses may also be delivered at an alternate downtown Toronto location). Contact us at info@avantixlearning.ca if you'd like to arrange custom instructor-led virtual classroom or onsite training on a date that's convenient for you.
Copyright 2023 Avantix® Learning
You may also like
How to Fade a Picture or Part of a Picture in PowerPoint (Using a Gradient)
You can fade a picture in PowerPoint by drawing a rectangle shape on top of the picture and then filling the rectangle with a gradient from opaque to transparent. This technique is often used to fade an image into the background of a slide. Since the rectangle is placed on top of the image and then text may be placed on top of the rectangle, you may need to reorder the objects.
How to Lock an Image, Shape or Other Object in PowerPoint
You can now lock an image, shape or other object in PowerPoint. Objects can be locked in Normal View or Slide Master View. Only PowerPoint 365 users can lock objects to prevent moving and resizing. This is helpful if you want to select and move other objects on the slide or prevent others from moving or resizing an object. You can lock items using the context menu or the Selection Pane.
PowerPoint vs Google Slides (Full Feature Comparison + Benefits)
When comparing PowerPoint vs Google Slides (and trying to decide which is the better choice for your needs), you will need to consider versions when you compare the two applications. In this article, we'll compare the desktop or downloadable version of PowerPoint vs Google Slides, an online program that works in a browser. The key difference then if you are comparing PowerPoint vs Google Slides is that PowerPoint must be downloaded and runs on your desktop and Google Slides runs online. The desktop version of PowerPoint is a robust, full-featured program with many advanced features. You can buy PowerPoint as a stand-alone version or as part of a Microsoft 365 subscription. If you are a 365 subscriber, new features roll out on a regular basis.
Microsoft, the Microsoft logo, Microsoft Office and related Microsoft applications and logos are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in Canada, US and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of the registered owners.
Avantix Learning |18 King Street East, Suite 1400, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5C 1C4 | Contact us at info@avantixlearning.ca
