Moving text boxes in Canva seems simple, but there are actually several different methods you can use. Whether you need basic positioning or advanced layering control, knowing these six techniques will make your design workflow much smoother.
In this guide, you’ll learn every way to move text boxes in Canva, from simple click-and-drag to using keyboard shortcuts and alignment tools. You can also check out how to add a text box in Canva if you’re just starting out.
Method 1: Mouse Click and Drag
Step 1: Select Your Text Box
First, hover over your text box until you see the blue outline appear around it. This shows that Canva is ready to select the element.
Step 2: Click to Select
Click on the text box. You’ll see white corner handles appear around the box, which means it’s now selected and ready to move.
Step 3: Drag to Move
Hold down your mouse button and drag the text box to wherever you want it. Don’t let go of the mouse button until you’re happy with the new position. You’ll see blue guidelines appear to help you align with other elements.
Method 2: Keyboard Arrow Keys
Step 1: Select the Text Box
Click on your text box to select it, then release your mouse.
Step 2: Use Arrow Keys
Press the up, down, left, or right arrow keys on your keyboard to move the text box in small increments. This method gives you precise control over positioning.
The blue selection box will disappear while you’re using arrow keys, but don’t worry – your text box is still selected and moving.
Method 3: Multi-Arrow Selection Tool
Step 1: Look for the Multi-Arrow Icon
When you have complex designs with many overlapping elements, Canva shows a special multi-directional arrow icon near your selected text box.
Step 2: Click and Drag
Click on this multi-arrow icon and drag to move your text box. This tool appears most often in busy designs where precise selection is needed.
Note: This multi-arrow tool only appears in designs with multiple overlapping elements. In simple designs, you won’t see this option.
Method 4: Position and Arrange Options
Step 1: Access Position Settings
Select your text box and click the “Position” button in the top toolbar. Alternatively, you can right-click on the text box to access the same options.
Step 2: Use Arrange Controls
In the Position menu, you’ll see arrange options like:
- Send Backward: Moves your text box behind one layer
- Send to Back: Moves your text box behind all other elements
- Bring Forward: Moves your text box in front of one layer
- Bring to Front: Moves your text box in front of all other elements
These options are perfect when your text is hiding behind other design elements or when you need it to appear on top of background images. Learn more about cutting out images in Canva to improve your layering visuals.
Method 5: Alignment Tools
Step 1: Select Your Text Box
Click on the text box you want to align.
Step 2: Access Alignment Options
Go to Position in the top toolbar. You’ll see alignment options for positioning your text box relative to the page.
Step 3: Choose Your Alignment
You can align your text box to:
- Top: Moves to the top of the page
- Bottom: Moves to the bottom of the page
- Left: Aligns to the left edge of the page
- Right: Aligns to the right edge of the page
- Center: Centers horizontally on the page
- Middle: Centers vertically on the page
Important: Alignment works based on the text box boundaries, not the actual text. If you want precise text alignment, you may need to adjust the padding around your text first.
Step 4: Align Multiple Text Boxes
Select two or more text boxes by holding Shift and clicking each one. The Position menu will change to “Align Elements” instead of “Align to Page.” You can then align multiple text boxes relative to each other.
Method 6: Using the Layers Panel
Step 1: Access the Layers Panel
Right-click on your text box and select “Show Layers” from the menu. This opens the layers panel on the left side of your screen.
Step 2: Drag to Reorder
In the layers panel, you can see all elements in your design stacked from top to bottom. Drag your text box layer up or down to change its position relative to other elements.
This method is especially useful when you have many overlapping elements and need precise control over which items appear in front or behind others. You may also want to replace images in Canva while working with layers.
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30-Day Free Access
Try out all Canva Pro features
- 1-Click Background Remover
- Create Designs in Bulk
- 1-Click Design Resize
- 100M+ Stock Content
- 600K+ Templates
- Transparent background PNG files
Bonus Tip: Selecting Hidden Text Boxes
Sometimes your text box might be hiding behind other elements, making it hard to select. Here’s how to access hidden text boxes:
- Click on the area where your hidden text box is located
- Hold down the Ctrl key (or Cmd on Mac)
- Keep clicking while holding Ctrl to cycle through all overlapping elements
- Keep clicking until you select the text box you want
This technique works for any design element in Canva, not just text boxes.
Conclusion
You now have six different ways to move text boxes in Canva. Use simple click-and-drag for basic positioning, arrow keys for precision, alignment tools for perfect placement, and layers for complex designs. The bonus Ctrl+click technique will help you access any hidden elements. If you’re designing with specific fonts, learn how to upload fonts to Canva for branding consistency.
Practice these methods with your own designs to see which techniques work best for different situations. Soon, moving text boxes in Canva will become second nature.
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