What formatting can you copy?
Google Slides has keyboard shortcuts for copying the formatting of selected text or a shape. The Paint format tool in the toolbar also applies the formatting of selected text, a range of cells, or an object to another selection. These actions are different from copying content: they apply formatting to the target and do not work like the command for copying text. Google’s list of Slides keyboard shortcuts and format-copying instructions explain these methods.
This guide covers the Google Slides editor on a computer. If you are using another device or interface, do not assume that the same buttons and steps are available; check the shortcut list or toolbar for that interface. If formatting commands are not visible, first confirm that you opened the presentation in editing view, not as a slideshow, and that you selected the correct item.
Copy formatting with a keyboard shortcut
- Select the text or shape in the presentation whose formatting you want to copy. If you want to copy the appearance of only part of the text, select the relevant characters while editing the text. To copy a shape’s formatting, select the shape.
- Press Ctrl + Alt + C on Windows or ChromeOS, or ⌘ + Option + C on Mac. This copies the formatting of the selected text or shape.
- Select the target text or shape to which you want to apply the formatting. Select the part of the text you want to change, or the shape itself.
- Press Ctrl + Alt + V on Windows or ChromeOS, or ⌘ + Option + V on Mac. Check the target’s appearance.
It is important not to mix up the shortcuts: Ctrl + C or ⌘ + C is the regular copy command; use the format-copying and applying shortcuts above to copy formatting. Google’s official shortcut list specifies separate keys for Windows, ChromeOS, and Mac. To open the shortcut list in Slides, use Ctrl + / on Windows or ChromeOS, or ⌘ + / on Mac.
Copy formatting with the toolbar
You can use the toolbar instead of a keyboard shortcut. First, select the text, range of cells, or object whose formatting you want to copy. Click the Paint format icon in the toolbar; when you see that the cursor has switched to format-copying mode, select the target text or object. The formatting is applied to the target. These steps are included in Google’s help for copying and pasting formatting.
If you want to apply the same formatting in multiple places, you can double-click the icon and select the targets one by one, as the instructions specify. When you are done, click the icon again to exit format-copying mode. If you cannot find the icon, do not guess at the menu name or location; try the shortcut method and check which commands are available in the current toolbar.
Example: Make section headings consistent
Hypothetical example: In a project presentation, the “Target audience” heading is dark blue and bold, while the “Timeline” and “Budget” headings appear in different colors and are smaller. You want to make the formatting of all three headings consistent.
First, select the text in the “Target audience” heading whose formatting you want to copy, and copy the formatting. Then select the text in the “Timeline” heading whose formatting you want to change, and apply the formatting. Repeat the same process for the “Budget” heading. Each time, check that you selected the right part of the text; selecting the outline of the text box is not the same as selecting the text characters. Finally, review all three headings together. This is a practical way to make their appearance consistent without resetting the formatting for each heading.
If you do not get the expected result
First, check that the correct text, shape, or object is selected as the source. Then confirm that you selected the text or object on the target where you want the formatting applied. You may have selected the edge of the box instead of the text; if you want to change characters within the text, select the text again.
If you accidentally used the regular copy shortcut, try again with the formatting shortcuts. When using the toolbar, make sure you select the target after clicking the icon and that you are in format-copying mode. Checking the result on a small target can help you tell whether the action worked as expected. If an unwanted change occurs, undo it and make the selection again; do not assume that every selection type will transfer all formatting details in the same way.
Final checklist
- Did you select the correct text or object whose formatting you want to copy?
- Did you select the text or object on the target whose formatting you want to change?
- Did you use a format-copying method instead of regular copying?
- Did you use the correct shortcut for Windows/ChromeOS or Mac?
- With the toolbar method, did you enter format-copying mode before selecting the target?
- Did you check the result and move on to the other headings only after confirming that it looks right?
Frequently asked questions
Is the text content copied along with its formatting?
No. This feature applies the formatting of the selected text or object to the target. The regular copy command used to copy text content is a separate action.
Can I apply the same formatting to multiple headings?
Yes. You can double-click the Paint format icon in the toolbar and apply the formatting to multiple targets one by one; click the icon again when you are finished. When using the keyboard shortcut, you may need to copy the source formatting again for each target. Whichever method you use, make sure you have selected the right item for each target and check the result.
Related how-to guides
You can explore a related step in this process in the guide to adding alt text to images in Google Slides. You can explore a related step in this process in the guide to evaluating the Google Slides Beautify feature.
← Back to blog
