If you’ve ever tried formatting citations or multi-line texts in Google Slides, you would have noticed that there’s no single button for creating a hanging indent. That can make your APA or MLA references, project reports, and long lines of explanation look messy.
A hanging indent helps keep the first line aligned to the left while the remaining lines shift to the right, thereby creating a cleaner and more organized slide.
In this 2026 tutorial, we will walk you through the three easiest ways to do a hanging indent on Google Slides.
What is a Hanging Indent and Why It Matters
A hanging indent is a special formatting style where the first line of a paragraph sticks closely to the margin/border, and the lines that follow are moved to the right. It’s the opposite of a standard paragraph indent, where the first lines move inward while the rest stay close to the margin.
Hanging indentation on Google Slides is important when you’re listing academic citations, writing references, or displaying information that runs across multiple lines. It helps to make interactive Google Slides—keep your texts visually balanced, easier to scan, and more professional-looking, especially for presentations where quick understanding matters.
How to Do Hanging Indent on Google Slides in 3 Ways
While there is no one-click button to add a hanging indent on Google Slides, there are three pathways to go about it. They include: Format Options, Ruler Tool, and Keyboard Shortcut.
1. Use Format Options for a Hanging Indent in Google Slides
This method is the most beginner-friendly because it relies on Google Slides’ built-in formatting controls. If you’re already familiar with how to add bullet points in Google Slides, this approach will feel very natural.
Follow these steps to make a hanging indent on Google Slides using the format options:
Step 1: Select the slide you want to put the hanging indentation in and place your cursor in front of the first word.
Step 2: Click on the Format tab and select Format options from the dropdown menu.
Step 3: A sidebar will open on the right. Expand the Text Fitting section. Click on the Special drop-down box and select Hanging.
Step 4: Navigate to the By box on the right and increase the inches. As you do this, you will see the Google Slides hanging indent update.
Step 5: When you’re satisfied with the indentation, click the X button at the top-right corner to close the Format Options sidebar.
2. Create a Hanging Indent on Google Slides Using the Ruler Tool
This method is best-suited for people who want more control over their indentation. It’s a hands-on way to use a ruler to mark where you want to place the hanging indent.
Here’s how to do a hanging indent on Google Slides using the ruler tool:
Step 1: Firstly, confirm that the ruler is visible. If it’s not, go to the View tab and click Show ruler.
Step 2: Select the slide you want to put the hanging indent on and place the cursor in front of the first word.
Step 3: Navigate to the top ruler and drag the left indent to the right. That’s the blue triangle with a rectangular line. Extend it to the spacing you want.
Step 4: Now, drag only the rectangular line back to the left. You will notice that only the first line of the paragraph shifts to the left.
3. Create a Hanging Indent Using a Keyboard Shortcut Workaround
If you’re seeking how to do a hanging indent on Google Slides without digging into menus, this method is for you. There’s no official keyboard shortcut for hanging indents, but you can rely on this simple workaround. It’s best for fast edits, multi-line bullets when speed matters, and citations when writing on seminar topics for students & teachers.
Follow these steps to make a hanging indent in Google Slides via the keyboard shortcut workaround:
Step 1: Place the cursor in front of the first word of the line you want to indent. In this case, it’s the second line of the paragraph.
Step 2: Press Shift and Enter at the same time (on Windows) or Shift and Return (on Mac). What this does is to create a line break (you won’t see it yet, though).
Step 3: Press Tab. The indent and line break are now visible.
Step 4: Continue this same process for the subsequent lines in the paragraph.
Hanging Indent Examples for Different Uses
Hanging indents look like a small formatting, but make a big difference in citations, reference lists, and bulleted subpoints. When you’re also learning how to add and change fonts in Google Slides, using proper formatting helps your text stay clear and professional.
Below are different use cases with examples, showing proper hanging indent on Google Slides.
APA (Author-Date)
APA style highlights the author’s name and publication year, making sources easy to scan in academic work.
Smith, J. A. (2022). Exploring design tools for students: A practical handbook for classroom and independent learning. Newton Publishing Group, Educational Technology Division.
MLA (Author-Page)
MLA focuses on the author’s name and the page numbers that are cited, making references in academic work easy.
Doe, Jane. The modern student’s guide to presentations and visual communication. College Press, 2019, pp. 45–47. Academic Resources Series.
Project Reference
Project references prioritize clarity over strict academic rules. The hanging indent makes internal documents and reports simpler to review and verify.
Engineering Department, Blissful World High School. Project specifications for solar array B-2 2024.
Bulleted Subpoints
When bullets contain long explanations, the texts often extend to many lines. A hanging indent helps to keep the texts aligned under the main point, ensuring they stay connected.
Clear Hierarchy:
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is above every other person in the company, so he sometimes has the veto power to decide which idea is implemented.
Conclusion
A hanging indent on Google Slides is a formatting style that can improve how your slides appear, making the content easier to understand. There’s no one-click way to do this, but you have three practical options: the Format menu, the Ruler, or the Keyboard Shortcut. Explore these options to confidently choose the one that matches your workflow.
FAQs on Hanging Indentation in Google Slides
Need more insight on how to do a hanging indent on Google Slides? Below are answers to some frequently asked questions.
1. How to do a hanging indent on Google Slides for the works cited?
You can do this by using the Format option in Google Slides. It gives accurate spacing and improves readability.
Follow these steps:
- Place the cursor in front of the first word. Click on the Format tab and select Format options.
- Go to the right sidebar and expand the Text Fitting. Click on the Special box and select Hanging.
- Click on the By box and increase the inches to 0.5.
2. How to make a hanging indent in Google Slides on iPad?
Ordinarily, Google Slides does not support hanging indents on mobile devices, including iPads. But you can do it anyway through the online version.
Follow these steps:
- Open Google Slides on your iPad browser.
- Go to your browser settings and configure it to open as the Desktop Site.
- Enter your text into the slides and place the cursor in front of the first word.
- Click Format > Format options > Text Fitting > Special > Hanging.
- Tap the By box and increase the inches to 0.5.
3. How to add a hanging indent on Google Slides on Mac?
You can simply do this via the Keyboard Shortcut workaround. It’s quick and doesn’t require any tech expertise.
Follow these steps:
- Go to the second line and place the cursor in front of the first word.
- Press Shift and Return at the same time.
- Press Tab. You will now see the indent.
- Continue this same process for the following lines.
