Troubleshooting text formatting and typography issues in Canva often stems from language settings, browser conflicts, font compatibility, or residual formatting errors. The most common problems include unsupported characters appearing as boxes, fonts switching unexpectedly, text alignment inconsistencies, and upload errors with custom fonts. Solutions typically involve adjusting language settings, switching browsers, clearing cache, or using Canva’s built-in formatting tools like the "clear formatting" option.

Key findings from the search results:

• Language and font compatibility are primary causes of display issues, requiring users to select fonts from the "Fonts in your language" section ^[1]
• Browser-related problems (extensions, cache, or browser type) frequently disrupt font rendering, with Chrome recommended as the most stable option ^[2][9]
• Text box alignment can be fixed by manually adjusting the text box boundaries to ensure proper spacing ^[6]
• Custom font uploads fail due to unsupported formats (OTF/TTF/WOFF required) or licensing restrictions ^[5]

Comprehensive Troubleshooting for Canva Text and Typography Issues

Fixing Font Display and Compatibility Problems

Font display issues in Canva often manifest as unsupported characters (appearing as boxes or question marks) or unexpected font changes during editing. These problems are typically tied to language settings, font availability, or browser conflicts. The first step is to verify whether the font supports the language of your text. Canva’s interface includes a dedicated "Fonts in your language" section, which filters fonts compatible with your selected language ^[1]. For example, if you’re working with Arabic or Cyrillic script, switching to a font like Noto Sans Arabic or Arial Unicode MS may resolve display errors.

Browser-related issues are another common culprit. Web extensions—particularly those like Speechify—can interfere with Canva’s font rendering engine, causing fonts to switch unexpectedly or fail to apply ^[2]. To diagnose this:

• Try accessing Canva in incognito mode or a different browser (Google Chrome is recommended for optimal performance) ^[9].
• Disable all extensions temporarily to identify conflicts. If the issue resolves, re-enable extensions one by one to pinpoint the problematic one.
• Clear your browser’s cache and cookies, as corrupted data can disrupt font loading ^[9].

For persistent font display problems, consider these additional steps:

• Check your internet connection: Unstable connections may prevent fonts from loading correctly ^[9].
• Restart your device: A simple reboot can resolve temporary glitches in font rendering.
• Use Canva’s default fonts: If a custom or uploaded font consistently fails, revert to a pre-loaded Canva font (e.g., Montserrat or Playfair Display) as a temporary workaround.

Resolving Text Formatting and Alignment Issues

Inconsistent text formatting—such as misaligned text boxes, uneven spacing, or unexpected size changes—often results from residual formatting, improper text box adjustments, or template limitations. One frequent complaint on Reddit involves text boxes appearing misaligned, particularly when working with bullet points or justified text ^[6]. A practical fix is to drag the text box leftward until the right boundary aligns with the desired margin. This manual adjustment compensates for Canva’s occasional auto-spacing errors.

For broader formatting issues, the "clear formatting" tool is invaluable. This feature strips away hidden formatting rules (e.g., line height, kerning, or HTML tags) that may carry over when pasting text from external sources like Microsoft Word or Google Docs ^[10]. To use it:

1. Select the problematic text.
2. Click the "Clear formatting" button (typically represented by a Tx icon with a slash) in the toolbar.
3. Reapply your desired font, size, and style manually.

Advanced formatting problems, such as kerning inconsistencies or ligature failures, can often be addressed using Canva’s text effects panel ^[3]. Here’s how to troubleshoot:

• Kerning issues: Adjust the spacing between specific characters using the kerning slider in the text toolbar. This is particularly useful for headlines or logos where precise spacing matters.
• Ligature problems: If special character pairs (e.g., fi or fl) appear broken, switch to a font that supports ligatures (e.g., Adobe Garamond Pro or Hoefler Text).
• Line spacing anomalies: Use the line height adjustment tool to standardize spacing between lines, especially in multi-paragraph text boxes.

For animated text placement issues—common in video projects—ensure that:

• Text layers are properly ordered in the timeline (right-click to rearrange).
• Animations are applied to individual text boxes, not grouped elements, to avoid misalignment during playback ^[7].
• You preview animations in Canva’s presentation mode to catch discrepancies before exporting.