How to Merge Shapes in Google Slides?

To merge shapes in Google Slides, you'll primarily use the grouping function. This allows you to treat multiple shapes as a single object.

Here's how to do it:

Select the Shapes: Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard. While holding Shift, click on each shape you want to merge. This will select multiple shapes simultaneously.
Group the Shapes: Once all the desired shapes are selected, right-click on any of the selected shapes. A context menu will appear.
Choose "Group": In the context menu, select the option labeled "Group."
Merged!: The selected shapes will now be treated as a single group. You can move, resize, rotate, and format the entire group as one object.

Important Considerations:

Ungrouping: If you need to edit the individual shapes after grouping, right-click on the grouped object and choose "Ungroup." This will separate the shapes again.
True Merging (Union, Intersect, Subtract, Exclude): Google Slides does not have a dedicated "merge shapes" feature that permanently combines shapes in the way that programs like Adobe Illustrator or Microsoft PowerPoint do (e.g., union, intersect, subtract, combine). Grouping is the closest functionality available. If you need to perform more advanced shape manipulation, you might consider creating the graphic in a dedicated graphics editor and then importing it as an image into Google Slides.
Alternative: If you need shapes to be combined in a particular way visually (overlapping with specific colors/borders) but do not intend to edit their individual forms later, consider saving the final graphic you create from a more robust shape editing software and insert it into your slides.

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