Edit & view text from right to left

Right-to-left controls turn on automatically when you open a document, spreadsheet, or presentation with right-to-left text, or when you add text in a right-to-left language. You can also turn on right-to-left controls manually.

Turn on right-to-left language controls

To set up Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides for right-to-left languages:

  1. On your computer, go to a Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides home screen.
  2. In the top left corner, click Menu Menu and then Settings.
  3. Click the box next to "Always show right-to-left controls."
  4. Click OK. The setting now applies to Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides.

Use right-to-left language controls

After you turn on right-to-left controls, you can change the layout of documents with text in a right-to-left language. 

Google Docs

Change paragraph direction

  1. On your computer, go to Google Docs.
  2. Open a document containing text with text in a right-to-left language.
  3. To change paragraph direction, on the toolbar, click Paragraph direction paragraph direction.

Change table direction (column order)

  1. On your computer, go to Google Docs.
  2. Open a document.
  3. Click Format and then Table and then Table properties.
  4. In the "Column order" section, choose Right-to-left or Left-to-right.
Google Sheets

Change the direction of the columns for a particular sheet

  1. On your computer, go to Google Sheets.
  2. Open a spreadsheet with text in a right-to-left language.
  3. On the toolbar, click Direction right to left table direction.

Note: This change will only apply to the current sheet, not all sheets in the spreadsheet.

Change the direction of text inside of a cell

  1. On your computer, go to Google Sheets​.
  2. Open a spreadsheet with text in a right-to-left language.
  3. Click the text you want to change.
  4. On the toolbar, click Cell direction paragraph direction.

Note: If you type text into a cell using a right-to-left language, Google Sheets will automatically change the text direction to right-to-left. It will switch back if you start to type in a left-to-right language.

Google Slides

Change paragraph direction

  1. On your computer, go to Google Slides .
  2. Open a presentation with text in a right-to-left language.
  3. Click the text you want to change.
  4. On the format toolbar, click Paragraph direction paragraph direction.

Need more help?

Try these next steps:

Post to the help community Get answers from community members
true
Visit the Learning Center

Using Google products, like Google Docs, at work or school? Try powerful tips, tutorials, and templates. Learn to work on Office files without installing Office, create dynamic project plans and team calendars, auto-organize your inbox, and more.

Search
Clear search
Close search
Google apps
Main menu
13442272408623420040
true
Search Help Center
true
true
true
true
true
35
false
false