The fastest way to change text color

Select the text you want to recolor, then click the text color button in the toolbar — it looks like an "A" with a colored line underneath. A color palette will appear. Click the color you want, and the text changes when ready. If you do not see the text color button, look for a small arrow next to the font formatting tools and click it to expand the toolbar.

You can change the color of a single word, a whole paragraph, or all the text in a text box. The text does not have to be in the same font or size — Google Slides applies the color to whatever you have selected, regardless of other formatting.

If you want a color that is not in the quick palette, click the plus sign at the bottom of the color menu to open the full color picker. You can enter a hex code (like #FF5733) if you have one, or click anywhere in the color square to find the shade you need.

Key Takeaways

  • Select your text first, then click the text color button (the "A" with a colored underline) in the toolbar to open the color palette.
  • The quick palette shows recently used colors and standard options; click the plus sign to access the full color picker for custom shades.
  • You can change the color of individual words, whole paragraphs, or entire text boxes without affecting other formatting like font or size.
  • Text color changes take effect when ready and can be undone with Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Command+Z (Mac) if you change your mind.

Where the text color button lives in the toolbar

The text color button sits in the main toolbar at the top of your slide, usually near the font name and font size dropdowns. It is the letter "A" with a colored line or bar underneath it. On most screens, it appears after the text highlight button (which looks like a marker pen).

If your toolbar is crowded or you are using a smaller screen, some buttons may be hidden. Look for three vertical dots or a small arrow at the right end of the toolbar — clicking it reveals more formatting options, including the text color tool if it is not already visible.

Changing the color of specific words versus whole paragraphs

To change the color of a single word or phrase, triple-click on that word to select it, then click the text color button. Only that word will change color. To change a whole paragraph, click anywhere in the paragraph and then use Ctrl+A (Windows) or Command+A (Mac) to select all text in that text box, then choose your color.

If you want to change the color of multiple separate words that are not next to each other, select the first word, hold Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac), and click on each additional word you want to recolor. Then click the text color button once, and all selected words will change to the same color at the same time.

Using the color palette versus custom colors

Google Slides shows you a quick palette of colors when you click the text color button. These are standard colors plus any colors you have used recently in this presentation. For most presentations, one of these colors will work fine and is faster than hunting for a custom shade.

If you need a specific color — perhaps to match your company logo or a brand guideline — click the plus sign at the bottom of the palette to open the full color picker. You can paste a hex code directly into the field at the bottom, or click in the large color square to find the exact shade you need. Once you pick a custom color, it gets added to your recent colors, so you can use it again without reopening the picker.

Changing text color on a dark background

If your text is on a dark background, light colors (white, light gray, light yellow) will show up better than dark colors. Google Slides does not automatically adjust text color when you change the background, so you may need to recolor your text after you change the slide background.

A quick way to check contrast is to look at your slide in presentation mode (press Shift+F5 on Windows or Shift+Command+F5 on Mac). If the text is hard to read from a distance, go back to edit mode and pick a lighter or darker color depending on your background. You can also use the highlight button (the marker icon) to add a colored background behind your text, which can help light text show up on dark slides.

Undoing a color change and reverting to default

If you change the text color and want to undo it, press Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Command+Z (Mac) when ready. Google Slides keeps a history of your last 100 actions, so you can undo multiple color changes in a row if needed.

If you want to remove the color and go back to the default black text, select the text again and click the text color button. At the top of the color palette, you will see a white or gray square labeled "None" or showing a reset icon — click that to remove the custom color and return to the default.

explore the same color to text across multiple slides

If you want all your headings to be the same color across your whole presentation, the fastest way is to change the color on one slide, then copy that text box (Ctrl+C or Command+C), and paste it on other slides. The color comes with it.

A better long-term approach is to use a theme or template. When you create a new presentation, Google Slides offers built-in themes that include preset colors for headings, body text, and accents. If you pick a theme at the start, all your text colors are already coordinated, and you can change them all at once by editing the theme. To edit a theme, click the "Slide" menu, then "Edit theme," and change the text colors there — the change applies to every slide using that theme.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the color of text in a bulleted list?

Yes. Click inside the text box containing the bullets, then select the specific bullet point or word you want to recolor. Click the text color button and choose your color. You can recolor individual bullets, single words within bullets, or all the text in the list — whatever you select gets the new color.

What if the text color button is not showing in my toolbar?

Click the three vertical dots or arrow at the right end of the toolbar to reveal more formatting options. The text color button should appear there. If you use Google Slides on a phone or tablet, the toolbar may be simplified — tap the "A" icon with a line underneath to access text formatting options.

Does changing text color affect the text in speaker notes?

No. Speaker notes are separate from your slide content. Changing text color on the slide does not change the color of notes you have written. If you want to color-code your notes, you would need to edit them separately in the notes section below each slide.

Can I set a default text color so I do not have to change it every time?

Not for individual slides, but you can use themes. Pick a theme when you start your presentation, and the text colors are already set. To change the default colors for all slides, click "Slide" in the menu, then "Edit theme," and adjust the text colors there. Every slide using that theme will update automatically.