Google Slides lets you add fonts beyond the default set by opening the font menu and selecting "More fonts"

When you open a text box in Google Slides, the font menu shows about a dozen standard options — Arial, Times New Roman, Calibri, and a few others. If you want something different, you can browse thousands of additional fonts without leaving Google Slides. The process takes about 30 seconds: click the font dropdown, select "More fonts" at the bottom, search for what you want, click the plus sign to add it, and it appears in your font list immediately.

Google Slides pulls these extra fonts from Google Fonts, a free library maintained by Google. Once you add a font to your presentation, it stays available in that file. If you use the same font in another presentation later, you'll need to add it again — fonts don't sync across all your Google Slides files automatically.

Key Takeaways

  • Open any text box, click the font dropdown menu, and select "More fonts" to browse thousands of additional typefaces.
  • Click the plus sign next to a font name to add it; it will appear in your regular font menu within seconds.
  • Fonts you add are stored only in that specific presentation file, so you'll need to re-add them if you want to use them in other presentations.
  • You can search by font name or browse by category — serif, sans-serif, display, handwriting, and monospace are the main groups.
  • Fonts that look decorative on screen may be hard to read in small sizes or when printed, so test them at the actual size you plan to use.

Opening the font menu and finding "More fonts"

Start by clicking inside a text box in your slide — either an existing text box or a new one you've just created. At the top of the screen, you'll see the toolbar. Look for the font dropdown, which shows the name of the current font (usually "Arial" or "Roboto" by default). Click it once.

A menu drops down showing the fonts already in your presentation. At the very bottom of this list, you'll see "More fonts" in smaller text. Click that option. A new window opens showing the Google Fonts library with a search bar at the top and categories on the left side.

Searching for and adding a specific font

If you know the name of the font you want, type it into the search box at the top of the Google Fonts window. For example, if you're looking for "Playfair Display" (a popular serif font for headlines), type that name and the results narrow instantly. If you're not sure what you want, browse the categories on the left: Sans Serif, Serif, Display, Handwriting, and Monospace are the main groups.

Once you find a font you like, you'll see a preview of how it looks. To the right of the font name is a plus sign button. Click it. The button changes to a checkmark, and the font is now added to your presentation. Close the Google Fonts window by clicking the X in the top right corner, and the font appears in your regular font dropdown menu.

Using your new font in the presentation

After you add a font, it stays at the top of your font menu under a section labeled "My fonts" or appears in alphabetical order with your other fonts, depending on your Google Slides version. Select the text you want to change, click the font dropdown, and choose your new font from the list. The text updates immediately.

You can add as many fonts as you want to a single presentation. There's no limit, though adding too many different fonts can make a presentation look cluttered. A common design practice is to pick one font for headings and one for body text, then stick with those two throughout.

Testing fonts at different sizes before you commit

A font that looks beautiful in the Google Fonts preview at large size might become hard to read when you use it for body text at 12 points, or it might look awkward when printed. Before you use a new font throughout your presentation, apply it to a small section and view it at the actual size you plan to use. If you're using it for slide titles, test it as a title. If it's for speaker notes or small text, test it small.

Decorative and handwriting fonts are especially prone to readability problems at small sizes. Sans-serif fonts (like Roboto or Open Sans) tend to work well for body text on screen. Serif fonts (like Lora or Merriweather) can work for body text too, but some people find them harder to read on screens. Display fonts are designed for headlines and look best at 28 points or larger.

Removing a font you no longer want

If you add a font and later decide you don't want it in your presentation, you can remove it. Click the font dropdown, find the font you want to remove, and look for a small X or trash icon next to it. Click that icon, and the font is removed from your presentation. Any text already using that font will revert to a default font (usually Arial or Roboto).

Note that removing a font from your presentation doesn't delete it from Google Fonts itself — it only removes it from that specific file. If you want to use it again in another presentation, you'll add it the same way you did the first time.

Why fonts don't carry over between presentations

Each Google Slides presentation is its own file, and custom fonts are stored within that file. If you create a presentation using Playfair Display and then open a different presentation, Playfair Display won't be in the font menu of the new file. This is different from how fonts work in desktop software like Microsoft PowerPoint, where fonts installed on your computer appear in every document.

If you find yourself using the same fonts across multiple presentations, the fastest approach is to add them to a template. Create a blank presentation, add all your favorite fonts to it, save it as a template in Google Slides, and then use that template for new presentations. The fonts will already be there when you start.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I upload my own fonts to Google Slides?

No. Google Slides only lets you choose from the Google Fonts library. If you have a custom font file on your computer, you cannot upload it directly to Google Slides. Your options are to use a similar font from Google Fonts or to create your text in a design tool like Canva or Adobe Express and insert it as an image.

Will my fonts look the same when someone else opens my presentation?

Yes. Because the fonts come from Google Fonts (which is cloud-based), anyone who opens your presentation will see the same fonts you used, regardless of what fonts are installed on their computer. This is one advantage of using Google Fonts instead of fonts from your personal computer.

What happens if I delete a font but I've already used it in my slides?

The text will change to a default font, usually Arial or Roboto. The text itself doesn't disappear — only the formatting changes. You can undo this by pressing Ctrl+Z (or Cmd+Z on Mac) immediately after deleting the font, or you can reapply the font by adding it back to your presentation and selecting the text again.

Can I use Google Fonts fonts outside of Google Slides?

Yes. Google Fonts are free and open-source, so you can download them and use them in other programs like Word, Canva, or design software. Visit fonts.google.com, find the font you want, click the download button, and install it on your computer. But in Google Slides specifically, you don't need to download — just use the "More fonts" menu.

Why does my font look different when I print or download my presentation?

If you download your presentation as a PDF or PowerPoint file, fonts may render slightly differently depending on the software you're using to view it. To keep your presentation looking consistent, stick with common fonts like Arial, Roboto, or Open Sans, and avoid very thin or very decorative fonts that may not display well in all formats.