Text boxes in Excel float above the grid, so you can’t delete them by selecting cells and pressing Delete. The trick is selecting the box itself rather than the text inside it. This guide shows how to delete one text box, many at once, and hidden or hard-to-click boxes in Excel 2013 and newer versions.
Quick Answer
Click the text box’s border (the outline turns solid, not dashed), then press Delete. If you’re typing inside the box, press Esc first to select the whole box, then press Delete.
Delete a Single Text Box
- Click the edge of the text box. When the box is selected, its border is a solid line with round handles.
- Press Delete (or Backspace).
If you clicked inside and see a blinking cursor, you’re editing the text. Press Esc once to select the entire box, then press Delete.
Delete Several Text Boxes
- Hold Ctrl (or Shift) and click the border of each box, then press Delete.
- Or go to Home > Find & Select > Select Objects, drag a rectangle around the boxes, and press Delete. Click Select Objects again to turn it off.
Delete All Text Boxes and Shapes on a Sheet
- Press F5 (or Ctrl + G) and click Special. You can also use Home > Find & Select > Go To Special.
- Select Objects and click OK. Every shape, text box, picture, and chart on the sheet is selected.
- Press Delete.
Be careful: this also removes charts, pictures, and buttons. Use the Selection Pane if you only want certain objects gone.
Use the Selection Pane for Hidden or Stacked Boxes
- Go to Home > Find & Select > Selection Pane (or press Alt + F10).
- The pane lists every object on the sheet. Click a TextBox entry to select it, even if it’s hidden behind something or tiny.
- Press Delete. Use the eye icon to show hidden objects first if needed.
Can’t Delete the Text Box?
- Sheet is protected: go to Review > Unprotect Sheet (a password may be required).
- It’s a comment or note: right-click the cell and choose Delete Comment or Delete Note.
- It’s in the header or footer: switch to View > Page Layout and delete it from the header area.
- It’s part of a chart: click the chart, then click the text box inside it and press Delete.
- It’s a form control or ActiveX control: turn on Developer > Design Mode first, then select and delete it.
To keep the box but hide its background, see how to remove fill color from a text box.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I undo deleting a text box?
Yes. Press Ctrl + Z right away.
Does this work in newer Excel versions?
Yes. The steps are the same in Excel 2016, 2019, 2021, and Microsoft 365.
Summary
- Click the text box border (or press Esc while editing) and press Delete.
- Ctrl-click or use Select Objects for several boxes.
- Use Go To Special > Objects to delete all objects.
- Use the Selection Pane for hidden boxes.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.