Add or remove placeholder text

Last updated on Sep 11, 2025

Learn how to add or remove placeholder text in Illustrator.

Add placeholder text

Select the Type tool from the Tools panel.

Select anywhere on the artboard and drag it to create a text box.

Note

Illustrator fills all new type objects with placeholder text. 

Select Type > Fill With PlaceHolder Text to further customize the placeholder text as per the requirement.

Remove placeholder text

Use the Selection tool to select the text box containing placeholder text.

Select the Type tool and highlight the placeholder text that you’d like to remove.

Press Delete or Backspace to remove the placeholder text.

Remove default placeholder text

Select Edit > Preferences > Type.

In the Preferences dialog box, uncheck the Fill New Type Objects With Placeholder Text checkbox.

Select OK.