How to add a header or footer in Google Slides

Headers and footers are useful tools for including information such as date, company name, or creator. This allows you to add additional details without distracting from the slideshow content. Here's how to add a header or footer in Google Slides.

Unlike Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides doesn't offer a built-in header and footer feature. But this does not mean that this cannot be done. We'll show you three ways to include a header or footer in your slides.

Method One: Insert a Text Box

One way to add a header or footer in Google Slides is to insert a text box. You can then move the text box to the top or bottom of the slide and format it as you like.

Open the Google presentation and choose the slide where you want the header or footer. Move the text box to the slide using the TextBox button in the toolbar or Insert> Text Box from the list.

Swipe to draw the size of the text box you want or simply click to place the box and enter the text.

Move the text box by dragging it to the top of the slide as a header or below as a footer.

Many headers and footers use a smaller font size or lighter color than the rest of the slide text.

To format all the text within the box, check the box.

To format only specific text in the box, select Only this text.

Then use the tools in the toolbar for font style, size, and color, or other tools as you like.

You can copy the text box and paste it into other slides. But if you want the same header or footer in each slide, you can edit the master slide instead.

Method 2: Edit the slide master

To change the slide master, you'll actually edit the current theme using Google Slides Theme Builder.

Select Slide> Edit Theme from the list.

When the theme builder opens, select the slide at the top just below the theme and above the layouts.

You can then use a text box as shown above. Insert the text box using the toolbar button or Insert> text box, enter the text, move it up or down to the header or footer, and format it to your preference.

When you're done, click the X at the top right of the Theme Builder to close it. You'll return to the editing view of your presentation and see the header or footer you added on each slide.

If you want to edit the header or footer later, simply go back to the master slide and make the changes.

Method Three: Use the Slide Number Square

One of the last tools we will discuss is for footers only and is the text box used for slide numbers. If you decide to add slide numbers to your presentation, this gives you a simple text box in the bottom right corner of each slide. You can take advantage of this box to add footer text.

To add the footer to individual slides, choose a slide and check this text box.

To add the same footer on all slides, edit this box in the slide master.

You can start by dragging the left side of the text box to expand it to additional text. Add your own text and adjust the spacing if you want the text to be more left or centered with respect to the slide number.

Depending on the theme you're using, you may notice preformatted text for the slide number. This may be a smaller font size or a lighter font color. However, you can still format it as you wish. Simply select the text you add, without the slide number, and make the changes using the toolbar buttons.