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By default, when you type on the Google Docs canvas, the text direction goes from left to right. The text starts from the left page margin and flows until it reaches the right margin. This default setting can be attributed to the fact that in most countries, the text is read from left to right. However, this might be different in other countries.
In Google Docs, you can change the direction of text on the canvas and in a table. Doing so requires updating the text direction controls in Google Docs.
Here’s how to update the Google Docs settings to change the direction of text in Google Docs.
Step 1: Open Google Docs in your preferred browser and sign in with your details.
Step 2: On the Google Docs homepage, click the Menu icon at the top-left corner.
Step 3: Click the Settings option.
Step 4: Under the Language Settings section, tick the box for Always show right-to-left controls.
Step 5: Click Ok at the bottom-right of the page to save your changes.
After you’ve updated settings to show the right-to-left controls, here’s how to change the direction of text in a paragraph:
Step 1: Sign in to Google Docs.
Step 2: Open your new or existing document.
Step 3: On the Google Docs file, highlight the text you want to change the direction of.
Step 4: On the Google Docs toolbar, look for the Paragraph icon showing text direction arrows. Click on the icon showing Set text direction to right-to-left.
You can also change the direction of the text in table columns. Here’s how to do so:
Step 1: Sign in to Google Docs and open a new or existing document.
Step 2: On the Google Docs file, highlight the table you want to change the text direction for.
Step 3: On the Ribbon, click the Format tab.
Step 4: Click the Table menu and select Table properties. This will launch a Table properties side panel.
Step 5: Select the Table drop-down from the Table properties side panel.
Step 6: In the Column order section, select Right-to-left.
To write, view, or edit text in the right-to-left direction, the controls must be activated from the Google Docs settings. However, this can only be done from your PC using the steps explained above. After activating the setting on your PC, change the direction of text on the canvas and in a table.
Before you proceed, ensure that your phone runs the latest version of the Google Docs app.
Step 1: Open the Google Docs app from your phone’s home screen.
Step 2: Open the document you want to change the text direction and tap the Edit icon.
Step 3: Tap the Format icon at the top > tap the Paragraph menu.
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Step 6: Look out for the Paragraph icon showing text direction arrows. Click on the icon showing Set text direction to right-to-left.
Step 1: Open the Google Docs app > access your document.
Step 2: Tap the Edit icon at the bottom > tap a table.
Step 3: Tap the Format icon > select the Table menu.
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Step 4: Look for the Table icon showing text direction arrows. Click on the icon showing right-to-left.
Tip: Besides changing the direction of text, you can also rotate images within the document.
