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How to Use the Presenter View in Google Slides

How to Use the Presenter View in Google Slides | Quick Tips & Tutorial for your presentations

Google Slides, like PowerPoint, has different presentation modes that can come in handy when you’re presenting and you want your slideshow to look smooth. Whether you’re looking for slides only, speaker notes or the Q&A feature, in this new Google Slides tutorial, you’ll learn about these and their respective settings. Ready? Then let’s explore the presenter view! 

Types of presentation modes in Google Slides

Presenter view, start from beginning, present on another screen.

There are three presentation modes in Google Slides. 

If you click the “Slideshow” button or press Ctrl/Cmd + F5, your presentation will start directly without any speaker notes. This is the most widely used and the simplest option.

Next to the “Slideshow” button, there’s a drop-down arrow. Click on it to see the different presentation modes:

In this mode, you’ll be able to see the speaker notes, check the timer and adjust other settings, such as questions from the audience. For more information about the speaker notes, please refer to this  Google Slides tutorial .

To view the different tools, after clicking “Presenter View”, move your mouse to the lower left-hand corner of the screen. You’ll see the slide number, previous and next slide arrows and three dots. Click on the dots and here are your options:

Open speaker notes

This enables the speaker notes and makes them visible. If you click this button, you might exit fullscreen mode. To go back to fullscreen, press Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + F or click the “Fullscreen” button. For more information, please refer to this  Google Slides tutorial .

Turn on the laser pointer

You’ll see a red dot on the screen, which you can move around to point out any element from your presentation.

Full screen

Click this button (or press Ctrl+Shift+F) to enter or exit fullscreen mode.

Click this button to finish the presentation or just press Esc.

If you click on “Auto-play,” more options will appear: Click “Play” and the slides will advance automatically (by default, every two seconds, but there are other options available. You can also choose to play the slideshow on a loop).

Captions preferences

If you have a mic set up, you can enable captions. Click the drop-down arrow to adjust the size of the text and its position on the screen.

If you click on “more”, you can enable the Audience Q&A panel by clicking on the first option that appears. For more information, please refer to this  Google Slides tutorial .

More: Downloads, printing, info and options

Under the “More” tab, you can also choose different download formats for your slideshow or print it out. This tab also contains a handy list of keyboard shortcuts (if you prefer handling keys to using your mouse) and the possibility to report problems. 

Your presentation will begin from the first slide (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + F5).

Your presentation will be shown on a different screen via a media display device, such as Chromecast. This option will be available only if there’s another screen available. 

google slides presentation mode options

Now you’ve mastered the presenter view in Google Slides, which, with a bit of practice, will be a game-changer! Not only will it make you look like a presentation pro, but it will also streamline the process of nailing those crucial talking points. So go out there and strut your stuff – with presenter view on your side, you are unstoppable!  And if you’ve found this tutorial helpful, check out more of them on   our blog !

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How to Share Google Slides in Presentation Mode: A Step-by-Step Guide

Sharing Google Slides in presentation mode is a handy skill to master, especially if you have a presentation coming up. You might be thinking, how do I do that? Don’t worry, it’s easier than you think. In a nutshell, you’ll be opening your Google Slides, clicking on the "Present" button, and then sharing the link with your audience. That’s it, you’re ready to present!

Step by Step Tutorial on How to Share Google Slides in Presentation Mode

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let’s first understand what we’re aiming to achieve here. By following these steps, you’ll be able to present your Google Slides to an audience, no matter where they are, as long as they have the link to your presentation.

Step 1: Open your Google Slides

Open the Google Slides presentation you want to share.

This is the easiest part. Just navigate to Google Drive, find your presentation, and open it up.

Step 2: Click on "Present"

Click on the "Present" button located at the top-right corner of the screen.

Once you’re in your presentation, look to the top-right corner. You’ll see a button that says "Present." Click it, and your presentation will go into full-screen mode.

Step 3: Copy the Presentation Link

  • Copy the presentation link from the address bar.

While in presentation mode, simply copy the URL from the address bar. This is the link you’ll share with your audience.

Step 4: Share the Link

  • Share the link with your audience.

You can send this link via email, messaging apps, or however you prefer to communicate with your audience. As soon as they click the link, they’ll see your presentation in full-screen mode.

After completing these steps, your audience will be able to view your Google Slides presentation in real-time. As you advance through the slides on your end, they’ll see the changes on theirs. It’s like magic, but better because it’s technology.

Tips for Sharing Google Slides in Presentation Mode

  • Make sure you have a stable internet connection before presenting.
  • Test the link before the actual presentation to ensure it works.
  • Notify your audience that they should not click or type anything once they open the link to avoid interruptions.
  • If you’re presenting to a large group, consider using a platform that allows for audience interaction, like Google Meet.
  • Always have a backup plan in case of technical difficulties.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do i make sure my audience can only view and not edit the presentation.

Make sure you’ve set the sharing settings to "View" before sending the link.

When you’re sharing the link, Google Slides will ask you what permissions to give people. Make sure you select "View" so that your audience can’t make any changes to your presentation.

Can I use this method to present to an audience in a different location?

Yes, this method is perfect for presenting to people who are not in the same place as you.

As long as your audience has access to the link and an internet connection, they can view your presentation from anywhere.

What should I do if someone accidentally exits the presentation mode?

They just need to click the link again to re-enter the presentation mode.

Mistakes happen, and if someone exits the presentation mode, they can always click the link again to get back on track.

Can I track who viewed my presentation?

Google Slides does not provide viewer tracking for presentations in presentation mode.

Unfortunately, Google Slides doesn’t have a feature to track who views your presentation. However, you can use third-party tools or platforms that offer this feature if it’s important for your presentation.

Is there a limit to how many people can view my presentation at once?

There is no set limit, but having too many people might affect performance.

Google doesn’t specify a limit, but keep in mind that network and server limitations might affect the performance if too many people are viewing the presentation simultaneously.

  • Open your Google Slides presentation.
  • Click on the "Present" button.

There you have it, a simple guide on how to share Google Slides in presentation mode. Whether you’re a student, a teacher, or a professional, mastering this skill can take your presentations to a whole new level. It’s not just about sharing information; it’s about creating an engaging and interactive experience for your audience. And with these easy steps, you’ll be able to do just that.

Remember, the key to a successful presentation is not just in the content, but also in the delivery. By sharing your Google Slides in presentation mode, you’re ensuring that your audience gets the full experience, no matter where they are. So the next time you have an important presentation, don’t just send out a PDF or a static slideshow—bring your presentation to life by sharing it in presentation mode.

Now that you’ve learned how to share google slides in presentation mode, why not give it a try? Grab your slides, share that link, and watch as your audience becomes more engaged than ever before. Happy presenting!

Kermit Matthews Live2Tech

Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.

He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.

Read his full bio here .

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Home Blog Google Slides Tutorials How to Use the Presenter View in Google Slides

How to Use the Presenter View in Google Slides

Cover for How to Use the Presenter View in Google Slides

The presenter can access speaker notes and view other settings to adjust and manage presentation time by turning on the Presenter View . Google Slides Presenter View enables not only viewing speaker notes as you present but also pauses and resets the presentation, opens the session for Q&A with a live link to ask questions, and provides a timer to help keep track of time.

How to Enable Google Slides Presenter View

To enable Presenter View on Google Slides, click the arrow icon on the Slideshow button to expand the menu and select Presenter View .

Locating Presenter View in Google Slides

How to View Speaker Notes in Google Slides Presenter View

Once in Presenter View , you can see your speaker notes on a separate window, along with a timer and buttons to pause and reset the presentation. This means that when editing your Google Slides templates , you can add speaker notes to assist you during your presentation that only you can see in Presenter View. Using this option, you can present Google Slides on another screen, while accessing the features above in a personalized view only you can see.

Speaker Notes in Google Slides Presenter View shown in another window

How to Start a Live Q&A Session in Google Slides Presenter View

By using Audience Tools in Presenter View , you can generate a Live link that the audience can use to ask questions during the presentation session.

Audience Tools options in Google Slides

To generate the Live Q&A link, click On in Audience Tools . Using the link, your audience can post questions you can view and answer during the presentation session.

Accepting questions in Google Slides Presenter View

The below example shows how a question is posted on the Q&A panel when someone posts it via the Live Q&A link.

Questions shown in Presenter View in Google Slides

Final Words

Like PowerPoint, the presenter view in Google Slides is how to present Google Slides without showing notes. Many other useful options are at your disposal to track time, receive questions for Q&A, and pause or reset your presentation anytime.

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google slides presentation mode options

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Use the presenter view in Google Slides

While some people might need help developing and customizing a Google Slides presentation, others are quite fluent in the skills required to present a well-organized, cohesive display. However, there are also quite a few ways to present your slides.

In this tutorial, you’ll get an introduction to the different types of presentation modes and then get an in-depth understanding of the Presenter View that you can use.

Presentation modes

There are three different options when presenting your Google Slides presentation. To see these options and select the one you wish to use, go up to your screen’s upper right corner, a tab labeled “Present.” You can also press Ctrl (Cmd) and F5 to open the most accessible, simplest presentation option.

If you want to choose another option, click on the dropdown arrow beside the “Present” tab to avoid doing the same old thing as everyone else. There are three options for presenting under this dropdown arrow. The opportunities presented to you will depend on the devices you have set up and available for use.

These three options are

  • Presenter view – When you choose this option, a window will appear, which will allow you to utilize different settings. You’ll also be able to see your speaker notes.
  • Present from the beginning. With this option, your presentation will begin on the first slide.
  • Present on another screen. To present a different screen, you need to access a media display device, such as Chromecast.

Options and settings under presenter view

Once you’ve opened the presentation mode under “Presentation View,” you’ll have access to a toolbar as well as a window that allows you to make changes to settings and alternate options.

google slides presentation mode options

Here’s a list of options and settings available for altering under Presenter View:

  • “Previous slide” will allow you to move back to a slide already passed in the presentation.
  • “Next slide” will allow you to move on to the next slide in the presentation line-up. 
  • “Play” will begin playing your slideshow, flipping through them automatically. to change the interval times between the changing slides, go under settings.
  • “List of slides” will allow you to choose a particular slide. 
  • “Q&A” If your Audience Q&A is enabled, you can open the panel with this option. 

google slides presentation mode options

  • “Notes” Clicking this will make any speaker notes visible.
  • “Pointer” Choosing this option will create a red pointer you can control to direct attention during your presentation.
  • “Captions” You can only use this option if you have a mic, and by choosing the dropdown arrow, you can adjust the caption settings.
  • “Tips” will make a window appear that offers useful keyboard shortcuts.
  • “Settings” Under this option, you’ll be able to do things like open your notes, adjust the times, and download your presentation.
  • “Fullscreen” You can exit and enter a full screen with this option.
  • “Exit” Use this to exit your presentation or press the Esc on your keyboard.

Understanding how to open and utilize all these options under Presenter View will enable you to make the most out of your presentation’s experience.

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How to make an interactive presentation in Google Slides

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google slides presentation mode options

When you’re giving a presentation, you want to impress your audience and make sure they see you as credible. Whether you want to win the next big contract or simply inform, a well-designed presentation can make all the difference. One way to make your presentation stand out is by making it interactive. Interactive presentations are a great way to present information while keeping your audience engaged.

Before we dive in, it’s important to define what we mean by ‘interactive presentation’. ‘Interactive’ is sometimes used to describe presentations that include quiz questions or audience participation – that’s not what we’re talking about here. When we say ‘interactive’ we’re talking about a clickable presentation that uses hyperlinks to help users navigate to different sections. A presentation with hyperlinks is ‘interactive’ because it allows the user to choose what information they view, and in what order. As a general rule of thumb, an interactive presentation works well when your audience needs to engage directly with what’s on the screen, putting them in control of how they digest the information. In this blog post, we’ll walk through how to make an interactive presentation in Google slides.

Technical aspects, step-by-step

Now that we’re on the same page, let’s delve into how to actually create an effective interactive presentation in Google Slides. It’s easier than you might think.

Start by opening a new presentation! From the Google Slides homepage , look to the top left and click the Blank button to open a new presentation. This is your blank slate from which to create an outstanding interactive presentation!

google slides presentation mode options

Google Slides automatically inserts a title slide when you open a new presentation, so all you need to do is click on the title text box and type in a title. Make the title something clear and catchy, that your audience can easily understand.

google slides presentation mode options

Now, let’s move on to the all-important menu slide. We’re going to create something that looks like a button, so that your audience knows it’s clickable. Later on, we’ll add in hyperlinks. You can use any shape for your button, but rectangular shapes with rounded corners often look the most ‘button-like’. First, locate the Shape button on the toolbar in slides, and select a shape. Then, double click on the slide and that shape will appear. Click and drag using the nodes along the edges of the shape to change its size.

google slides presentation mode options

You can add labels either by typing directly on to the shape, or by clicking the text box button (also on the toolbar) and positioning a text box on top of the shape. You might also want to add a small arrow shape on top of your button, to help show that the button is clickable.  

google slides presentation mode options

If you’ve got a more artistic temperament, this is an opportunity to be creative! Your button doesn’t have to be made from shapes. The buttons on the menu slide in our example presentation are actually images. Feel free to get those artistic juices flowing, but keep in mind that your buttons need to look clickable. One way of doing this is by adding a drop shadow or border. To add a border, use the border color and border weight buttons, found on the toolbar.

google slides presentation mode options

To insert a drop shadow just right click , then select Format options , and check the box for Drop shadow .

google slides presentation mode options

You could also make your buttons a contrasting color from the background and other text – however, avoid colors that are too bright, as this can be distracting.

This first button you have created is the basis for your menu. When you’re happy with how it looks, replicate it so that the number of buttons corresponds to the number of sections in your presentation. You can do this by copying and pasting. Simply select the entire button – click with your mouse and drag over the button so all elements are highlighted – then copy and paste it by right clicking , selecting Copy and then Paste however many times you need. Edit the text of each button to correspond to the section of the presentation it will link to. Next, ensure that the buttons are aligned in some sort of order. You can select various buttons and then align or distribute them as you like using the alignment tools found under the Arrange tab.

google slides presentation mode options

Note: If you decide to use icons or imagery, it’s a good idea to make sure the meaning is clear. For example, we all know that the house symbol mean ‘go to the home page’. There’s no point using a zebra icon to return to the homepage, because people will get confused. Stick to what people find familiar, good navigation is about ease of use!

Tip: To use icons in your interactive presentation in Google Slides, click the Add – ons tab, select Get add-ons , and then select the Insert icons add-on.

google slides presentation mode options

Then, under the Add – ons tab, a new option will appear which is Insert icons for Slides . Hover over this, and select Open sidebar to select icons .

google slides presentation mode options

Then, once the sidebar appears, ensure that the icon set selected on the drop-down menu is ‘Material Design.’

google slides presentation mode options

Create section header slides for each section in your presentation. Do this by navigating to the top of the page, and clicking New slide on the top left of the tool bar. Repeat this step as many times as necessary. Next, build as many buttons as you need for the subsection using the steps outlined above. You can also simply copy and paste the buttons you’ve already created, and just edit the text.

Add the information you want to include in each section. If this is images, like in our example presentation, then insert images using the Insert tab.

google slides presentation mode options

If this is text, type on the slide using a text box. However, it’s best to use visuals instead of long paragraphs of text. Keep your message clear and succinct.

Repeat steps 4 and 5 for each section. Make sure each section has a header slide, with buttons if necessary. Look through your presentation up to this point – make sure all the sections are ordered correctly, and that there is a header slide at the beginning of each.

Return to your initial menu slide. Make transparent shapes to cover each ‘button’ you have created. We will turn these transparent shapes into hyperlinks that allow users to navigate through your deck. First, click the Shape button on the toolbar, and then create a shape that covers the button that you have created, but not any white space outside them. Then, select the shape and click the Fill color button on the toolbar, select Transparent from the dropdown menu.

google slides presentation mode options

Place these transparent shapes over the top of every button in your deck. Using transparent shapes in this way makes it much easier to edit the hyperlinks if needed, and also makes it less likely that a user will miss a clickable area!

Now we are ready to hyperlink each button! Select the first transparent box on your menu slide, right click, then select Link and choose Slides in this presentation . From here, choose the slide you want your button to navigate to when clicked.

google slides presentation mode options

Tip: If your slide has a title, it will have the same title in the link section, making it easier to find. After you have linked these two slides the link will stay connected to the specific slide, not the slide number – so it doesn’t matter if you move things around.

Repeat this process for all buttons, so that each one links to the correct slide.

Create buttons to return to the main menu. To do this, follow the steps outlined previously and use a transparent box that links back to the main menu slide. If you have different subsections within a section, you can also create a button linking back to the section title slide from each subsection.

Interactive presentations in Google Slides: Beyond the basics

Following these steps will give you a fully interactive presentation in Google Slides. But if you want to go beyond the basics, here are some tips and tricks that will help your interactive deck be even more intuitive and user friendly.

An effective menu slide is key

The centerpiece of a good interactive presentation is an effective menu slide that is clearly navigable, has a deliberate spatial layout, and is visually appealing. For example, the buttons on this menu slide clearly indicate the separate sections in our presentation . The arrangement of your buttons helps the user understand your presentation’s structure, so make sure they are arranged logically.

google slides presentation mode options

Your presentation needs to be visually  engaging

We at BrightCarbon are particularly passionate about this point – far too often slides look dull and drab – and we think it’s important to be the change you want to see in the presentation world! It would be impossible to cover all the ways you can make your deck visually appealing in a short blog post – the important point is to consider the overall aesthetics of each slide and the presentation as a whole. If you’re looking for some design inspiration, check out this article about making slides look great using images.

google slides presentation mode options

Make navigation as simple as possible

Your menu slide is the jumping-off point to the different sections of your presentation – but constantly exiting present mode to return to your menu slide can break the flow. In a normal presentation there isn’t an effective way of returning to the main slide without clicking back through all the content you’ve already shown. As you want to be able to go through your presentation in a non-linear fashion you need an easy way to return to your jumping-off point. Place a button at the end of each section that links to the original menu slide, so you don’t have to exit the presentation once you start.

Provide your audience with signposts 

You want your audience to understand where they are within the presentation, providing them with signposts is an easy way to achieve this. A signpost can be a header slide at the beginning of the section or small indicator icons throughout a given section. It can also be a slide or button at the end of each that clearly includes options to either return to the main menu or go straight into the next section. Make it easy for your audience to follow the flow of your deck.

google slides presentation mode options

Be strategic when positioning buttons

Consider the location of buttons on the slide. If a button is at the end of a section and returns the user to the main menu, it’s probably best to put it at the bottom right, as in the West we tend to read from left to right, top to bottom. Think about where best to position buttons so the placement is consistently, and so they don’t get in the way of your main content. Take a look at the above screenshot – we’ve positioned our section buttons so they are clearly visible, but don’t dominate the slide.

Make sure you keep the best practices in mind, as they will help you make a clear roadmap that runs throughout your slides. You’re well on your way to creating a great interactive presentation in Google Slides, just one last thing to do – get started!

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google slides presentation mode options

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google slides presentation mode options

Is there a way to send an interactive slideshow with hyperlinks to students that allows them to click outside to YouTube and click to other slides, but does NOT allow them to edit the presentation? Thanks!!

Hi Adam, There’s an easy fix for this problem. All you need to do is share the presentation as “view only” with your students. To do this, click the share button as you normally would, then click the pencil icon that is to the right of the “People” bar, and select “can view” from the drop down menu. This will still let your students use the links within the presentation as well as any external links, but won’t let them make any edits to the presentation itself. Hope this helps!

Mabey make them a commenter on the slideshow?

Yeah true that problem could be fixed and they should be able to!

When I share my presentations in present mode the presentation bar that shows up interferes with any buttons I have added. Is there a way to remove that so that only the arrow keys or buttons can be used, or is there a way to change it’s size? I makes the buttons almost useless.

Hi Kera, unfortunately there’s no way to move the presentation bar once in present mode, it’s very frustrating! The best solution is to move the buttons so that they aren’t on the bottom left of the slide. Hope this helps!

Actually there is a way to share without the presentation box there. After you click share to copy the link “choose anyone can view” paste into the task bar and change “edit” to “present” and add @rm=minimal to the end then copy and paste that link to where you are sharing.

Hi kera, this is really helpfull tutorial. I’ve a question….is possible to create a final quiz? I need a presentation with final valutation quiz….is it possible?

Hi Antonio, yes you can use the same method in this post to make a quiz. All you would need to do is create a menu slide with buttons named “Question 1” “Question 2” etc. (or “Round 1” “Round 2” if you wanted to divide questions by round), and link those buttons to slides later in the presentation that included your quiz questions. Then, include a button on your question slides that link back to the main menu slide. Of course, you would still need to keep score outside of slides, as there’s no way for slides to track correct answers to your questions. Hope this helps! 🙂

I have made a 20 slide presentation. I have also made an interactive quiz that has 4 questions with a correct and incorrect slide for each question. That makes 12 slides in the quiz. I want to know if I can put the quiz interactive into a specific slide on the 20 slide presentation?

Hi Kelly, if you want to add your quiz slides into another presentation, you should be able to copy the slides over and the hyperlinks should still link to he correct slides, maintaining all interactivity. Then just continue with your presentation once you reach the final quiz slide, instead of returning to the menu slide. If this isn’t what you’re asking, please clarify what exactly you need help with and I’m happy to help. Thanks!

Hi Ian, Thank you for this tutorial. it is great! I made an interactive quiz, published it and sent the link to someone to test. The tester said all of the buttons and links worked correctly and that he could not advance to the next slide unless he clicked on the “next” or “back” buttons. All good. BUT he COULD mouse scroll through the entire quiz and see all of the questions, correct and inocorrect prompt slides. Is there a way to publish or share without being able to scroll through with the mouse? Thank you again!

Hi Lisa, I’m so glad to hear that you found it helpful! Unfortunately, there’s no way that we are aware of to keep people from scrolling through the deck once it’s been shared. I think the best solution is to just ask the person you share the interactive presentation with to be sure and review in present mode. Thanks!

I used interactive slides to create a classroom scene. There are several slides that are accessed by clicking on hyperlinks in the first slide, and every slide has a link back to slide one.

When I try to publish it to the web, the only options include automatically playing through all the slides, which I don’t want to do. I want them only to go to the slides that they click on.

Hi Julie, unfortunately there’s no way we know of to get around this – when publishing to the web, Slides only allows you to automatically play through all the slides, as you say. If you only need to share with a few people, we would recommend simply sharing directly with them as “view only.”

this is awesome !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i had no idea on how to get full marks on a project i am doing…. but now my chances have increases by 50% !!! how i love this article….!!!!!! amazing

Hi Bhavya, I’m so glad to hear you found this article helpful!! Good luck on your project!

I found this very useful when producing an interactive display for our art club. However I want to call this display from another programme which deals with several clubs. This I have managed OK but how does the viewer leave the slides presentation and return to the calling programme? I need a QUIT button. I also want to ensure that it all works on tablets and desktops.

Hi Royston, I’m not sure I fully understand your question – you should be able to exit present mode simply by clicking the Escape key. An interactive presentation should work on both tablets and desktops, according to Google Slides. Please clarify and let me know if I can help any more, thanks!

I have the same question as Royston. I know users can press the esc key to exit, however that does not go along with the flow of the presentation. Also, when you press esc, it brings you to the slide show creation view. I want the show to just close on their browser with the click of a “button” on the last slide of the slide show.

On the flip side, when I send users the link to the slide show, and they click on the link, it also brings them to the creation view, so they have to click “present” to see it as intended. Is there a way for me to send a link that will open right to the first slide at full screen, already in “present” view?

I have now found a simple solution to my problem. The slide show contains several menu pages. On each of these I have a Quit button and I link this with the web address of the programme that calls the slide show. This does not send the user to the place on the calling programme which initiated the slide show but in my case this was OK.

I have since modified this so that the Quit buttons lead to the first slide in the slideshow which makes it clear that the button it presents there quits back to the presenting programme but otherwise leaves the user the option of running through the slideshow again.

Is there a way of adding an already interactive PDF to slides and it retain its functionality?

Unfortunately, once you import an interactive PDF into Slides it loses it’s functionality (as it sounds like you’ve already discovered). There’s no easy workaround here, I’m afraid.

Hi! This is really amazing. Thanks for share. I’d like to know if there is anyway to disable navigation through mouseclick, arrow keys or any other way instead of clicking the button links? Because I’m not secure that the viewers will follow the path we create if they can jump slide by slide. Thanks a lot for your attention. =)

Hi Ces, thanks for your question. Unfortunately there’s no easy way that we know of to disable navigating through the presentation but keep the mouse’s other clicking functionality. There’s a way to disable clicking the mouse but still keep keyboard functionality, but this of course doesn’t solve your problem. Sorry about that!

I made a game for students like Jeopardy with columns for each topic area and buttons that show point values fr each question. Students can select the topic and # of points, and a hyperlink will take them to the specific question. I put in back buttons on each question page so they go back to main page. Is there any way to indicate on the main page when a “button” has been opened? Can a hyperlink and animation be embedded so once that button has been clicked it has a different appearance on the main page?

Oh, I really wish that this question had been answered. I’ve been struggling with this for a long time. As far as I can tell, there is no way to do this. It’s a shame that something so easy in PowerPoint is seemingly impossible in Slides.

If I’m wrong, PLEASE correct me. I’d love to have this solved.

I have a question….so we created an interactive slide show for the students with a slide correct-great job slide and a sorry, try again slide. We were able to link each answer to the correct slide or the try again slide, but once it goes there, how do we go back to the previous slide we were at?

Also, if we are presenting our screen to during a google meet are the children able to interact with it if allow anyone with the link to be editors?

Hi Heather,

You might try adding a ‘back’ button on the bottom right of both the ‘correct’ and ‘try again’ slides, and then link these to the previous slide you were at.

As for your second question, yes that’s right – though it might be better to share the presentation with your students as ‘view only’ as if they are editors they can change the content, but if they are viewers they can’t and still have access to the interactive functionality.

Hope this helps!

I tryed it and wow when i looked it was like wow so i shred it to my teacher ms eunick in bellmere junior public school shes like oh wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Would you be concerned about exchanging links?

Switching out links shouldn’t cause any problem – all you need to do is follow the same process for adding a new link, but instead just remove the original and add a new one. Hope this helps!

This is super helpful and I really appreciate all of the time and effort that went into it. From the knowledge shared here, I am hoping you might be able to help me with this question. I want to know if there is a way to stay in Present mode and move things around on the slide. I present google slide shows on my Dell board and it would be so much better if students could come up and manipulate icons etc. while still being in present mode, instead of having to exit out and be in edit mode. Is this even possible, or should I give up trying to figure it out? Thank you so much!

Hi Jo, unfortunately there’s not a way to make any changes from present mode. Slides doesn’t have that type of functionality available. Sorry about that!

Hey! Is there a shorter way to do this?

Hi there, unfortunately there’s no quicker way that we know of!

Is there a way to prevent users from clicking on a slide in present mode and have it advance? This way the user can only advance when clicking on a button with internal links?

Hi Frank, as far as we know there’s no way to do this. Sorry about that!

You guys are the BEST!!!!!! Usually, other websites just don’t help you but you guys helped me a lot.

So glad to hear you found it helpful!

Hey, is there a way to put it to when you click on the image it takes you to the next slide?

Hi there, yes all you would need to do in that case is link the image on the slide to the next slide you want to advance to. Hope this helps!

Is there a way to publish these slides onto sites so the audience can click around on all the links but NOT move automatically forward or backward through the deck? I want people to have to click the “go back” button, and when I click it goes through every slide. (It’s an escape room for my students).

Hi Ali, unfortunately Google Slides doesn’t have the functionality to lock slides. Sorry about that!

Hi! I just created interactive slides for my students that includes slides that go back and forth between “good job!” and “try again!” so that students can go through and self-correct. It works fine when in presentation or slideshow mode and they use a mouse to click the answers. However, I have touch screen laptops and if my students touch the screen instead of the mouse (fine motor issues), the file copies itself and goes out of the slideshow mode. What am I doing wrong or can I not use links between slides without a mouse?

Thanks in advance!

As far as I can tell, that sounds like it might be a hardware issue – is there a way for you to disable the touchscreen feature on the devices themselves? As far as I know there’s nothing that can be done from within Slides.

Sorry about that!

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The video animation looks AWESOME! Thank you sooooo much. I am very happy and proud with the result; this video is really convincing. Really really well done. Elodie Maurer SES

google slides presentation mode options

How to Use Present and Edit Modes in Google Slides

How to Use Present and Edit Modes in Google Slides

Whether you’re new to Google Slides , or already have some tricks up your sleeves like adding fancy fonts and adding backgrounds , it’s important to understand presenter view and edit mode. Just like any digital tool, knowing the best way to use each of these will make your teacher life easier.

Present or Edit: That Is the Question

Edit mode in google slides.

A Make It Add It Word building activity in edit mode on Google slides. There are scrabble like letter tiles that students use to make the words before and could.

So, what’s the difference between these two options in Google Slides? The answer is pretty simple. “Edit” mode allows you to create and make changes to the slides. This mode isn’t just for you as a teacher though. If you want students to complete any activity, move pieces, or type on a Google Slides presentation, they need to be in Edit mode. (With one exception, but I’ll get to that in a moment.)

Edit mode is the default mode when you create a new slideshow. It’s also the default when you are sharing a presentation with students. Typically, if you want your students to DO anything with the presentation, they will be working in Edit Mode.

Presentation Mode in Google Slides

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Presentation mode is exactly what it sounds like. It’s where information is presented full screen. You can play videos and listen to audio through presentation mode, but students can’t complete any activities in present mode. (With one exception, but we’ll talk about that next.)

Presentation mode is great if you want to share information with your students. And, if you are sending them a presentation, you can share it with them so they can’t edit it. Here’s how.

  • Copy the share link (in the top, right hand corner of your Google Slideshow.
  • Paste it into the address bar.
  • Close to the end of the URL, you’ll see the word “edit”. Remove the word edit and replace it with “present”.
  • Copy the new URL, and share it with your students.

When students open the URL, it will automatically open in present mode. Be sure not to change any other part of the URL, or it won’t work. Also, I always recommend testing your URL before sending it out to students.

Presentation Mode Exception

FUllscreen Interactive Google Slides Extension with an example of a making numbers activity in Google Slides using the extension.

I’ve said that you can’t edit activities in presentation mode, but there is one exception. In the Chrome Web Store, there’s a chrome extension (meaning, students will need to be using the Chrome Web Browser), called Fullscreen Interactive Google Slides (TM) . This extension allows students to edit Google Slides activities in present mode! The benefits of this extension is that it removes all of the things from the sides, which makes it less distracting for your students. However, if they’re doing just fine working in edit mode, it’s probably not necessary.

Feel free to join my FREE Facebook Club for k-2 teachers here!

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Google Slides  - Getting Started with Your Presentation

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Google Slides: Getting Started with Your Presentation

Lesson 8: getting started with your presentation.

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Getting started with your presentation

Google Slides allows you to create dynamic slide presentations. These presentations can include animation, narration, images, videos, and much more. In this lesson, you'll learn about the Google Slides interface and the basics of setting up your document, including the menu and shortcut toolbars , zoom settings , and choosing a theme .

Watch the video below to learn more about using Google Slides.

The Google Slides interface

When you create a new presentation in Google Slides, the interface for Slides will appear. This interface displays the toolbar , along with the main view of your presentation. It allows you to create and modify slides , choose a theme , and share the presentation with others.

Click the buttons in the interactive below to learn about the interface for Google Slides.

viewing the google slides interface interactive

Presentation Title

Google Drive displays the title of your presentation here and in the View pane of your Google Drive homepage. By default, new presentations are named Untitled presentation . Click the title to change the name.

Google Slides Home Screen

This icon indicates that you are in the Google Slides interface. Click the icon to navigate back to your Google Slides home screen.

Menu Toolbar

Various menus for working with your presentation can be found on the menu toolbar . Click a menu to see available commands and options .

Collaboration Options

Click Share to share your spreadsheet, as well as to allow others to edit it and collaborate on it. Click Comments to add comments or change notification settings.

Shortcut Toolbar

This toolbar provides convenient shortcut buttons for formatting your presentation.

Slide Navigation Pane

The Slide Navigation pane allows you to view and organize the slides in your presentation.

Here, you can view and edit the selected slide.

Click here to add notes to your current slide. Often called speaker notes , they can help you deliver or prepare for your presentation.

Click this button to play your presentation.

Choosing a theme

When you first create a new presentation, Google Slides will prompt you to choose a theme . Themes give you a quick and easy way to change the overall design of your presentation. Each theme has a unique combination of colors , fonts , and slide layouts . Select a theme from the panel on the right side of the window, and it will be applied to your entire presentation.

choosing a theme

You can choose from a variety of new themes at any time, giving your entire presentation a consistent, professional look. If you want to change your theme, you can open the Themes panel again by clicking the Theme command on the shortcut toolbar .

showing the theme command on the toolbar

Working with the Google Slides environment

Here, we'll show you how to navigate the Google Slides environment. You'll learn how to use the menu and shortcut toolbars , zoom in and out, and play your presentation .

The menu and shortcut toolbars

The Google Slides interface uses a traditional menu system with a s hortcut toolbar . The menus contain commands grouped by function. The shortcut toolbar has buttons for some frequently used commands.

showing the menus and the shortcut toolbar

Showing and hiding the menus

You can choose to minimize the menu bar to free up more space to display your slides. Click the Hide the menus command to hide the menu bar, leaving only the shortcut toolbar at the top of the window. Click it again to show the menu bar again.

showing how to hide the menus

Zooming in and out

You can zoom in and out of your presentation with the Zoom shortcut. Click Zoom on the shortcut toolbar, then move the mouse cursor over your slide. The cursor will change to a magnifying class with a plus sign inside of it. Now you can left-click to zoom in or right-click to zoom out. Press Escape on your keyboard to return your cursor to normal.

zooming using the cursor

Within the View drop-down menu, hover over Zoom and there you will see options to set the zoom more precisely.

showing the zoom drop-down menu within view

Playing the presentation

When you are ready to show your presentation—or if you want to see what it will look like during a presentation—click the Present button to the right of the menus. You can also click the drop-down arrow for additional presentation options.

viewing presentation options

  • Open Google Slides and create a blank presentation.
  • Change the presentation title from Untitled Presentation to Practice Presentation .
  • Choose a theme for your presentation.
  • Use the View menu to set the zoom to 50%.

showing the final result

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Google Slides cheat sheet: How to get started

How to use google slides to create, collaborate on, and lead business presentations..

Google Slides / A team views a presentation on screen.

Need to build a slide presentation for a meeting, training, or other event? Google Slides is an easy-to-use web app that comes with the essential tools and more. It stores your presentations in the cloud with Google Drive. Anyone with a Google account can use Slides and Drive for free, and they’re also included with a Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) subscription for business and enterprise customers. There are Google Sheets mobile apps for Android and iOS, too.

This guide will help you become familiar with the Google Slides web interface and show you how to start a new presentation, upload a Microsoft PowerPoint file to edit in Google Slides, collaborate with others on your presentation, and finally, present it to others.

Create or open a presentation

Log in to your Google or Workspace account. Then:

From Google Slides : At the top of the home page, you’ll see a “Start a new presentation” header, with a row of thumbnails underneath. To start a new, blank presentation, click the Blank thumbnail. To start a new presentation in a template, select one of the thumbnails to the right or click Template gallery toward the upper-right corner, then click any thumbnail on the page that appears.

google slides 01 slides home

The Google Slides home page. (Click image to enlarge it.)

Below the “Start a new presentation” area you’ll see a list of presentations that are stored in your Google Drive or shared with you. To open a presentation, click it in this list.

The list of your presentations appears in reverse chronological order starting with the presentation you most recently opened. Clicking the “AZ” icon at the upper right of this list changes the sort order to Last modified by me , Last modified , or in alphabetical order by presentation title. You can also browse to a specific folder by clicking the folder icon next to the “AZ” icon.

From Google Drive : Presentations stored in your Google Drive are listed in the main window of the Drive home page. To see a listing of presentations that others are sharing with you, click Shared with me in the left column. From either list, double-click a presentation to open it in Google Slides.

To start a new, blank presentation, click the New button at the upper-left of the screen and then click Google Slides .

If you want to use a template to start a new presentation, click the New button, then move the cursor over the right arrow next to Google Slides and select From a template . The template gallery for Google Slides will open; click a thumbnail to start a new presentation in that template.

google slides 02 drive new presentation

Creating a new presentation from Google Drive.

From Google Slides or Drive: You also can use the search box at the top to find presentations in your Google Drive or shared with you. Enter words or numbers that may be in the presentation you’re looking for.

Upload a PowerPoint presentation to Slides

You can edit a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation in Google Slides, but first you must upload it to Google Drive.

From Google Slides: Click the folder icon ( Open file picker ) that’s above and toward the right corner of your presentations list. On the panel that opens, click the Upload tab. Drag-and-drop your PowerPoint file (.ppt or .pptx) onto this panel, or browse your PC’s drive to select it.

From Google Drive: Click the New button, then File upload , and select the PowerPoint file from your PC’s drive and click Open .

Traditionally, when you uploaded PowerPoint files to Google Drive, they were automatically converted to Slides format. That’s still the case when you upload PowerPoint files via the Google Slides home page .

However, Google now supports the ability to edit Microsoft Office files in their native format. By default, any .pptx files that you upload via Google Drive will remain formatted as PowerPoint documents. You can edit and collaborate on a PowerPoint file right in Slides, with all changes made by you or your collaborators saved directly to the PowerPoint file.

On the Google Slides and Drive home pages, native PowerPoint files will be denoted with an orange “P” icon, and when you open a native PowerPoint file in Sheets, you’ll see a “.PPTX” flag to the right of the document title.

google slides 03 powerpoint file

Native PowerPoint files show the PowerPoint icon (top) instead of the Google Slides icon (bottom).

If you’d rather have Google convert PowerPoint files to Slides format automatically when you upload them via Google Drive, click the gear icon in the upper-right corner of the Drive home screen and select Settings from the drop-down menu. In the Settings box next to “Convert uploads,” check the checkbox marked Convert uploaded files to Google Docs editor format .

Work in a presentation

When you open a new or existing presentation, its first slide appears in the main window of Google Slides. Here’s a breakdown of the toolbars, menus, panes, and sidebars that appear around your presentation.

The left pane shows thumbnails of all the slides in your presentation. Click a thumbnail, and the slide it represents will appear in the main window, where you can edit it.

google slides 04 slides interface

The Google Slides editing interface. (Click image to enlarge it.)

Your presentation’s title appears along the top of the screen. To change it, click anywhere inside the title and start typing.

The menu bar below your presentation’s title has a complete set of tools for working with presentations. These are the main submenus to know:

  • File has commands for taking action on the whole presentation, including Print, Rename, and Share.
  • Edit lists the standard editing commands such as copy, cut, paste, delete, duplicate, and find and replace.
  • View lists several ways that you can view your slides as you design and edit them. This includes arranging them into a grid, previewing them as a slideshow, or zooming in on them. You can also watch the transition effect that takes place between slides when they’re played in a slideshow.
  • Insert lets you add several objects to your slides, including charts, diagrams, pictures, tables, and text. You can also add links to YouTube videos or sound or video files that are stored in your Google Drive.
  • Format lets you change the look of your slides. Certain functions on this submenu become clickable depending on whether you’ve selected an image or text on a slide, or selected the slide itself.
  • Slide is where you can add, delete, or duplicate a slide that you’ve selected. You can also add a preset layout to a slide, change its background or theme color, or add and edit a transition effect that takes place between slides when your presentation is played as a slideshow.
  • Arrange lists tools that let you group or reorder objects on a slide in relation to another. For example, you can place an image behind another image or group an image and a block of text together to make them easier to move at once.
  • Tools leads to several miscellaneous functions. These include letting you record a voice clip to go with a slide, running a spell checker, and showing you a list of objects in your presentation that are linked to other files.

The toolbar directly above your presentation puts commonly used commands in easy reach. From this toolbar, you can click buttons to add to a slide or change its background, comments, layout, objects (images, lines, shapes, text), text style, theme colors for the whole presentation, transition effects during a slideshow, and more. The buttons on the toolbar change depending on whether you’ve selected image or text on a slide or the slide itself.

Notice that there’s no Save button in the toolbar — or anywhere in Google Slides. That’s because Slides automatically saves any changes you make to your presentation.

Speaker notes: Along the bottom of each slide you’ll see an area marked Click to add speaker notes . Here you can type in brief notes to remind yourself what to do or say when the slide is being shown. Only you will see these notes when you show your presentation to an audience.

Themes sidebar: When you start a new blank presentation, the Themes sidebar opens on the right side of the screen. (You can also open this sidebar at any time by clicking Theme on the toolbar above your presentation.) Themes apply the same fonts, colors, and other design elements to all the slides in a presentation, giving it a consistent look and feel. Click a thumbnail in this sidebar to change your presentation to that theme.

Create and manage slides

Here are the basic things to know about working with slides in a presentation.

Add a new, blank slide to your presentation: Click the + button at the left end of the toolbar above your presentation. Alternatively, if you click the down arrow next to the +, you can choose a layout to use as the basis for a new slide.

google slides 05 new slide choose layout

Click the down arrow next to the + button in the toolbar to choose a layout for a new slide.

Apply or change a slide’s background: Select the slide’s thumbnail in the left sidebar and click Background on the toolbar above your presentation. On the panel that opens, you can change the slide’s background color or use an image file from your Google Drive, Google Photos account, or PC as the background.

Apply or change a slide’s layout: Select the slide’s thumbnail in the left pane, then click Layout on the toolbar above your presentation. On the panel that opens, select the layout you want to apply to this slide.

Apply or change a slide’s transition: Select the slide’s thumbnail in the left sidebar and click Transition on the toolbar above your presentation. In the Motion sidebar that opens along the right side of the screen, you can apply or change the animated transition effect that is played before this slide.

google slides 06 motion pane

Choosing a transition style in the Motion pane.

Move a slide to a different spot in the slideshow sequence: Click and hold its thumbnail in the left sidebar, drag it up or down to another place in the sequence, and release it.

Delete a slide: Right-click its thumbnail in the left sidebar and select Delete from the pop-up menu. Alternatively, select its thumbnail and select Edit > Delete from the menu bar or just press the Delete key.

Share and collaborate on a presentation

Presentations are often a group effort, with several team members contributing to and polishing a presentation. In Slides, it’s easy for multiple collaborators to work on a presentation together.

First, you need to share the presentation. When you’re viewing your presentation in Google Slides, click the Share button at the upper-right. Or, from your Google Drive homepage, click to highlight the presentation that you want to share. Then, in the toolbar toward the upper right, click the Share icon (a head-and-shoulders silhouette with a +).

Either way, the “Share” panel will open.

google slides 07 share private invite

Setting permissions for a file being shared privately.

Share a presentation privately

In the entry box, enter the email addresses (or names of your Google Contacts) of the people with whom you want to share. By default, the people you invite to your presentation can edit it and reshare it with others.

To change access permissions for invitees: Click Editor to the right of the entry box and choose another option from the drop-down menu. Commenter means they can view your spreadsheet and add comments but can’t change it. Viewer means they can view your presentation but can’t edit it or add comments.

To prevent your presentation from being reshared, downloaded, or printed: Click the gear icon at the upper-right of this panel. On the smaller panel that opens, uncheck the boxes by Editors can change permissions and share and Viewers and commenters can see the option to download, print, and copy .

When you’re done setting permissions (and, optionally, typing in a message to your invitees), click Send , and everyone you’ve added will receive an email with a link they can click to access the document.

google slides 08 shared file icon

The shared presentation icon.

A presentation you’ve shared (or that others have shared with you) will have an icon of two silhouetted heads next to it in the presentations list on your Google Sheets and Google Drive home pages.

To limit or change a person’s access to your presentation: With the presentation open in Google Slides, click the Share button at the upper-right. Or, from Google Drive, highlight the presentation and click the Share icon.

The Share panel reopens showing a list of all the people you’ve invited, along with their permission status. Click the down arrow to the right of a person’s name, change their permission level or remove their access entirely, and click Save .

google slides 09 share private permissions

You can change permissions for people you’ve shared a presentation with on an individual basis.

If you have a Google Workspace subscription, another option is to select Give temporary access and, next to Access expires , select a date within one year of the current date. If you set an expiration date for a person that you’ve assigned as Editor, their access will be downgraded to Commenter on the expiration date.

Share a presentation publicly

Most business users will want to share presentations privately with select colleagues or clients, but you do have the option to share a presentation publicly. At the bottom of the Share panel is a “General access” area where you can copy a link to the document. By default, this link is restricted to those you invite to the document. To change it to a public link, click Restricted and select Anyone with the link from the menu that appears.

Click Copy link and the link to your presentation will be copied to your PC’s clipboard. You can share this link by pasting it into a chat message, document, email, forum post, or most other means of online written communication. Anyone who clicks this link will be able to view your presentation online. (Be aware that anyone can copy and reshare this link.)

To allow anyone in the public to comment on or edit your presentation: At the bottom right of the Share panel, click Viewer and select Commenter or Editor from the drop-down menu. Then click the Done button. Now the web link to your presentation will let anyone who clicks it add a comment or edit it.

google slides 10 share public permissions

Sharing a spreadsheet publicly.

To turn off public sharing for your presentation: Bring up the Share panel again. Near the bottom, click Anyone with the link and select Restricted from the menu, then click the Done button.

Note: You can apply both public and private sharing methods to your presentation. For example, you could allow the public to only view your presentation, but allow specific people that you’ve invited to comment on or edit it.

Collaborate on a presentation

The people you’ve shared a spreadsheet with can view or work on it at the same time as you or at other times. Remember that people who have Editor privileges to your presentation can change all aspects of it. Having multiple people making changes to a presentation can get confusing. In most cases, setting everyone to Commenter is the best way to collaborate in Slides: People can attach comments to a slide or to objects in a slide, but their comments won’t alter your presentation’s information or design.

To add a comment to a slide: Right-click its thumbnail in the left sidebar and select Comment from the menu that opens. Alternatively, you can select its thumbnail and select Insert > Comment from the menu bar or click the Add comment button (a speech balloon with a + sign).

A blank comment card with your name on it opens to the right of the slide in the main window. On this card’s entry line, type a brief comment, and when you’re finished, click the Comment button.

google slides 11 comment

Typing in a new comment.

To add a comment to an object on a slide: Right-click the object (a block of text, chart, image, picture, etc.) and select Comment from the menu that opens. Alternatively, you can select the object and select Insert > Comment from the menu bar.

To draw someone’s attention to a comment: As you’re composing the comment, type the @ symbol and begin typing their name, then select the person from the list of suggested Google contacts that appears. They’ll receive an email notifying them of the comment and linking to it.

To read, reply to, or remove a comment: A slide that contains a comment is denoted in the left sidebar with a speech balloon by its thumbnail. Click the slide’s thumbnail to make the slide appear in the main window, and you’ll see all its comment cards on the right.

To reply to a comment, click its card. The card will expand to reveal an entry line where you can add a comment in response.

google slides 12 comment reply

Replying to a comment.

Clicking the checkmark at the upper right marks the comment card as “resolved” and removes the card from the presentation. Clicking the card’s three-dot icon opens a menu that lets you edit or delete your comment.

To see a list of all comments: Click the Open comment history icon (the speech balloon) to the left of the Slideshow button. A sidebar will open along the right side of the screen; it lists all the comment cards in your presentation. When you click a comment on this list, the view of your presentation in the main window will jump to the cell where the comment is located and open its comment card.

google slides 13 comments pane

The Comments pane lets you quickly review all comments and jump to specific ones.

For more details about collaborating on your presentation, including what it’s like to collaborate in real time, see “ How to collaborate on a document ” in our Google Drive guide. You can also collaborate on a presentation in Google Chat; that’s covered later in this story.

Recover older versions of a presentation

It’s easy to go too far when making tweaks to a presentation. Fortunately, it’s also easy to roll back to an earlier version of the presentation. Click File > Version history > See version history . This opens a panel on the right that shows a list of older versions of your presentation.

google slides 14 version history

Using Version history to view an earlier version of a presentation. (Click image to enlarge it.)

To view an earlier version of your presentation: Click the date for it in the list. That version of the presentation will then appear in the main window.

To restore an earlier version so it replaces your current presentation: With the version you want to restore showing in the main window, click the yellow Restore this version button at the top of the screen. The restored version will then appear at the top of the version history list.

To give an older version a unique name: Click on its date. You’ll be prompted to type in words to replace the date. (The date and time will then appear in smaller size underneath the new name.)

Give a presentation

When it’s time to play your presentation to an audience, Google Slides has two modes: Slideshow and Presenter view. Slideshow mode essentially shows what your audience will see. Presenter view mode provides additional tools for your eyes only that run alongside Slideshow mode.

Slideshow mode: Click the Slideshow button at the upper-right corner of the screen. Google Slides will expand to full-screen view and show the slide that’s currently in the main window. (If you want to start the slideshow from the first slide in your presentation, click the down arrow to the right of the Slideshow button and select Start from beginning .)

google slides 15 slideshow mode

The control bar in Slideshow mode lets you click through the slides, turn on auto-play, use a laser pointer effect, and more. (Click image to enlarge it.)

When you move the on-screen pointer to the lower-left corner of your presentation, a control bar appears. You use this to click forward and back through the slides. Clicking the three-dot icon on the control bar opens a menu with other controls, such as starting auto-play and adjusting how quickly it moves from slide to slide.

On this menu, Turn on the laser pointer turns the mouse pointer into a simulated red laser dot. Captions preferences — available only if you’re using a Chrome browser or Chromebook — lets you turn on real-time, automatic transcribing of your words as you say them (English only) and shows them to your audience as on-screen captions. Open speaker notes takes your presentation out of full screen and opens a separate “Presenter view” window, as described below.

Presenter view mode: Click the down arrow to the right of the Slideshow button and select Presenter view . This shows the presentation in your browser window and launches a separate window that assists you while you’re giving your presentation.

google slides 16 presenter view 1

Presenter view lets you (but not your audience) see your speaker notes while presenting. (Click image to enlarge it.)

From the Presenter view window, you can jump to any slide in your presentation, read the speaker notes you wrote for a slide, and control the Q&A feature. There’s also a timer that you can set to remind yourself how much time you’re spending showing a slide — or the entire presentation — to your audience.

Click the AUDIENCE TOOLS tab to use the Q&A feature, which lets you take questions from your audience. To open questions for a slideshow, click the Start new button. A web link appears at the top of your presentation. An audience member watching your presentation on their computer, phone, or tablet can click/tap that link, which will take them to a page where they can type a question for you. You’ll see the question  in your Presenter view window, and you can choose whether to show their question to the rest of your audience during the presentation. To close questions for a presentation, turn the switch from ON to OFF .

google slides 17 audience qa

Audience members can submit questions from their devices, and the presenter can decide whether to display them as part of the slideshow. (Click image to enlarge it.)

Present in Google Meet

Need to give a presentation during a Google Meet video meeting? As long as you’re using a Chromium-based browser (Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Opera, etc.), it’s easy: Toward the upper right of the Google Slides page, click the Google Meet icon. From the panel that opens, select a meeting that’s scheduled on your Google calendar today, start a new meeting, or type/paste in the web link or code that you have for another meeting.

google slides 18 join google meet

Click the Meet icon to get started presenting to a video meeting.

If you start a new meeting, a sidebar for the meeting will open on the right. At the bottom of the sidebar, click the Present now icon (a box with an up arrow). On the panel that appears, select your presentation and click the Share button, and you’ll be presenting to the meeting.

google slides 19 share google meet

Choose which tab or window you want to share and click the Share button. (Click image to enlarge it.)

If you join a scheduled meeting, you have two choices: “Join the call” and “Just present this tab.” If you click Join the call , a sidebar for the meeting will open on the right. Follow the same steps as above to present to the meeting. If you click Just present this tab , you’ll go directly to the panel where you select your presentation and click Share , but you won’t have a sidebar where you can follow the main meeting.

To stop sharing your presentation to the meeting, click the Stop sharing button at the top left of your browser window.

For more details about using Google Meet, see our Google Meet cheat sheet .

Download and export a presentation

Google Slides lets you download presentations for use offline. On the top menu, select File > Download and choose a file format. You can save your presentation to your PC as a PowerPoint (.pptx) file or in other formats such as PDF, or as JPG or PNG for an individual slide.

5 tips for working with Google Slides

Now that you’re comfortable working in Google Slides, try these intermediate tips.

Use the Google Slides mobile app

With the exception of the “Version history” tool, the Google Slides app for Android , iPhone , and iPad has many of the same features described in this guide.

When you have a slideshow open, the toolbar at the top of the screen lets you take a variety of actions:

  • To present your slides on your phone or tablet, on a Chromecast device, or in a Google Meet meeting, tap the triangle icon.
  • To share your presentation with other people, the headshot silhouette. (See “How to share from the Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides mobile apps” in our Google Drive cheat sheet .)
  • To view all the comments in the presentation, tap the Comments icon (a chat balloon) if you see it in the toolbar, or tap the three-dot icon and select View comments from the menu that appears.
  • The three-dot menu also lets you see the presentation’s Q&A history, export it, make it available offline, and more.

google slides 20 android app

The Google Slides Android app.

To edit or comment on a slide: Tap the slide, and a menu will appear that lets you add or view comments for that slide or edit it. Tap an element on a slide, such as text or an image, and tools to edit that element will appear.

Any changes you make to your presentation in the mobile app are automatically saved and will appear the next time you open it in the Google Slides web app.

Get suggested slide layouts and content

Click the Explore icon at the lower-right corner of the screen. The Explore sidebar will open along the right side. In most cases, you’ll be presented with thumbnails of suggested layouts that Google Slides has automatically customized for the slide that’s open in the main window. Click the one you want, and it will be applied to the slide.

google slides 21 explore tool

Use the Explore tool to get suggested layouts (left) and search for images (right).

At the top of the Explore sidebar is a search box. You can type in a word or phrase to find related content on the web or in your Google Drive. Search results appear on separate Web, Images, and Drive tabs in the sidebar. Click a web or Drive result to open it in a new browser tab. On the Images tab, click the + icon on the upper-right corner of an image to insert it onto your slide.

Create custom slide layouts to use as templates

You can design your own slide layouts to use as templates in any future presentation. First, open a new, blank presentation as described above. Then:

  • On the menu bar over the blank presentation, select View > Theme builder .
  • The main window switches to a layout editor. Toward the left you’ll see a column with the heading THEME on top and LAYOUTS just below that. Click the thumbnail of any layout in the LAYOUTS list. It will appear in the main window.
  • You can remove objects that are already in any layout. For example, click on a block of text. A frame appears around the text. Without selecting the text itself, move the pointer to ward an edge of the frame, right-click, and select Delete from the menu that opens.

google slides 22 custom slide layout

Creating a custom slide layout. (Click image to enlarge it.)

  • Using the formatting toolbar above the slide, you can add new objects to the slide, including images, image placeholders, shapes, lines, and blocks for text. (Tip: enter placeholder words inside the text blocks.) When you click on any object, a frame appears around it. Drag and drop the frame to relocate it on the slide, or drag its edges to change its shape or size. You can also add or change the border and background colors for any object on the slide and/or change the background color for the whole slide.
  • When you’re finished designing your layout, click the Rename button above the slide and give the layout a unique name.
  • If you want to create another custom layout, click on the thumbnail of another layout under the column LAYOUTS and repeat the above steps starting from #3.
  • When you are finished custom-designing all your layouts, click the X toward the upper-right of the slide layout in the main window.
  • Along the top of the screen, click anywhere inside Untitled presentation and start typing. Tip: Use a name that indicates this is a template (e.g., “Annual Budget Presentation – Template”).

In the future, you can make new presentations starting from this template, and your custom slide layouts will be available.

  • Open the template presentation you created in the steps above. On the menu bar, click File > Make a copy > Entire presentation . On the panel that opens, type in a name for the new presentation you want to create and click the Make a copy button. Google Slides will open this new presentation in a new browser tab.
  • On the toolbar above the first slide of your new presentation, click Layout . From the panel of thumbnails that opens, select one of the layouts that you created. It will then be applied to the slide in the main window.

Collaborate on a presentation in Google Chat

An alternative way to collaborate on a presentation is to share it in Google Chat. Other people in your chat can add comments and help make changes to your presentation.

Start in Google Chat . To the left of the box where you type in your chat messages, click the + icon and select Drive file from the menu that opens. A panel will open over the screen listing the files in your Google Drive. Find and click your presentation to highlight it, then click INSERT on the lower-right corner.

You’ll be taken back to the chat message box. Click the blue right-pointing arrow to the right of the box, and a panel will open over the screen designating permissions for the shared presentation. By default, permissions are set to Comment. To change this, click Comment and select View or Edit . You can also allow the people in the chat to share a web link to your presentation with others outside of the chat by selecting Turn link sharing on .

google slides 23 share google chat

You can share a presentation to individual or group chats in Google Chats. (Click image to enlarge it.)

After you’ve set the permissions, click SEND , and your message will appear in the chat stream with a large thumbnail of your presentation. To open a presentation in the chat, click the thumbnail. The presentation will open inside a large window that’s laid out alongside the right of the chat stream.

This is actually Google Slides running inside the chat window with your presentation loaded in it. Thus, most of the Slides commenting and editing tools are available for you and others in the chat to use on your presentation (if you granted them permission to comment or edit). The user interface is the same, except there’s no menu bar.

google slides 24 collab google chat

Collaborating on a presentation from within a Google Chat. (Click image to enlarge it.)

Use keyboard shortcuts

Save time in Slides by using keyboard shortcuts for common tasks. Below are some of the most useful to know. For more, select Help > Keyboard shortcuts from the top menu when you have a spreadsheet open or press Ctrl + / (Windows, Chrome OS) or ⌘ + / (macOS).

Handy Google Slides keyboard shortcuts

This story was originally published in September 2019 and updated in August 2022.

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Howard Wen ( www.howardwen.com ) is a longtime contributor to Computerworld . He specializes in explainer guides, how-tos, and reviews of office applications and productivity tools.

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How-To Geek

How to add videos and customize playback in google slides.

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Quick Links

Embed a video in google slides, customize the playback for a video.

Embedding a video in your slideshow can be beneficial for showing instructions, a screen recording , or even something emotional. In Google Slides, you can customize the playback options to display the video exactly as you want.

Maybe you only want to play a certain clip rather than the full video. Or perhaps you want to start playing the video automatically. You can easily format the playback of your videos in Google Slides to fit your needs.

If you've never added a video in your Google Slides presentation , it takes only a few clicks. Go to the slide where you want the video and click Insert > Video from the menu.

Select Insert, Video

You can then search for a YouTube video , enter a video's URL, or upload one from Google Drive. Choose the video you want to use and click "Select."

Locate the video

Once you have the video on your slide, you can drag to move it if you like or drag a corner or edge to resize it.

Related: How to Embed a YouTube Video in PowerPoint

Select the video on your slide and then click "Format Options" from the toolbar or right-click the video and pick "Format Options" from the shortcut menu.

Click Format Options

This opens the sidebar on the right. Expand the Video Playback section.

Expand Video Playback

The first option you can adjust is how to play the video. The default option is Play (On Click) which means the video plays when you click to advance the slide.

You can choose a different option if you prefer. If you pick Play (Automatically), the video plays without taking any action at all. If you pick Play (Manually), you'll need to click the play button on the video itself.

Choose how to play the video

With any of the above playback options, you can still control the video as it plays during your slideshow using the Play and Pause buttons.

Next, you can set a start and end time for the video . This allows you to play a portion rather than the entire video. If you happened to jot down the start and end times for the video, you can simply enter those into the corresponding boxes.

Enter start and end times

Alternatively, you can grab these times from the video preview in the sidebar. To do this, press the Play button on the video to set the start time. When you reach the spot where you want to start the video press Pause. Then, go below the Start At box and click "Use Current Time" to populate the box.

Use the current start time

Optionally, you can set an end time for a video the same way. Resume playing the video and when you reach the place where you want to stop it, press Pause. Then, click "Use Current Time" below the End At box to add it.

Use the current end time

If you change your mind about either the start or end time, you can reset one, the other, or both. Click the Reset to Start or Reset to End button which is the circular arrow inside the time box.

Reset the start and end times

One final option you have for customizing the playback of your video is to play it without sound. This might be helpful if the video doesn't offer narration and has background music or something similar instead. Check the box for Mute Audio to play the video without sound.

Mute the audio

Videos can be useful additions to your Google Slides presentation. And with the ability to customize the playback options, you can make the video play perfectly in your slideshow .

Related: How to Add a Video to a Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation

  • Google Slides

AppsThatDeliver

AppsThatDeliver

How-Tos, B2B Software Ratings & Reviews

How to Share Google Slides in Presentation Mode

How to Share Google Slides in Presentation Mode

Would you like to learn how to share Google Slides in presentation mode?

When you copy the file link and share it with others, the file typically opens in edit mode.

However, what if you want to share it in presentation mode?

Fortunately, it is possible to do so in Google Slides!

In this article, you will learn how to share Google Slides in presentation mode, step-by-step.

Also read: (opens in new tab) How to Track Changes in Google Slides How to Time Google Slides for 20 Seconds Google Slides Semi Transparent Shape Google Slides Animate Bullets How to Lock an Image in Google Slides

How to Share Google Slides in Presentation Mode?

Step 1: click on the “share” button.

How to Share Google Slides in Presentation Mode

To get started, open the Google Slides file.

Once opened, you’ll find the “Share” button located at the top right corner of the screen.

Click on the “Share” button, and then proceed to the next step.

Step 2: Under “General access” select “Anyone with the link”

How to Share Google Slides in Presentation Mode

A pop-up window with sharing options will appear.

By default, the “Restricted” option will be selected under the “General access” settings.

Click on this option, and then choose “Anyone with the link” from the drop-down menu.

Ensure that the role is set to “Viewer”.

Once done, proceed to the next step.

Step 3: Click “Copy link”

How to Share Google Slides in Presentation Mode

On the pop-up, you will see the “Copy link” button in the bottom left corner.

Click on this button to copy the presentation link to your clipboard.

However, do not share this link yet.

We need to make some changes to the link so that the slides open in presentation mode instead of edit mode.

Step 4: Paste the link in a text editor

How to Share Google Slides in Presentation Mode

After clicking the “Copy link” button, the link will be copied to your clipboard.

Paste the link into your favorite text editor so that you can edit it.

Alternatively, you can paste the link into the URL bar of your browser, but do not press the enter key on your keyboard; simply paste the link and proceed to the next step.

Step 5: Replace “edit?usp=sharing” with “present?usp=sharing”

How to Share Google Slides in Presentation Mode

The pasted link should look something like this:

Now, focus on the last part of the link.

You’ll notice the text edit?usp=sharing . Replace that text with present?usp=sharing

After making the change, your final link should look something like this:

Step 6: Share the link

Before sharing the link, make sure to open it in your browser.

Check if the slides load properly, especially in presentation mode.

If the slides open correctly, you are all set to share the link.

Yes, you can share a Google Slide in presentation mode. To do so, click the “Share” button, select “Anyone with the link” and “Viewer” role, copy the link, replace “edit” with “present” in the URL, and share.

To share a Google Slide presentation in presentation mode, click the “Share” button, select “Anyone with the link” and “Viewer” role, copy the link, replace “edit” with “present” in the URL and share.

Sharing your Google Slides in presentation mode is a simple process that can make all the difference in how your audience experiences your presentation.

By following these steps, you can share your Google Slides in presentation mode:

  • Click on the “Share” button
  • Under “General access,” select “Anyone with the link”
  • Click “Copy link”
  • Paste the link into a text editor
  • Replace “edit?usp=sharing” with “present?usp=sharing”
  • Share the link

Remember, always check if the slides load properly before sharing the link.

Author: Shubham Calmblay

Shubham Calmblay, founder of appsthatdeliver.com, has a decade of experience with various Google products. He has authored 1,000+ guides for ATD, published on prestigious tech blogs. His work has garnered recognition from Protocol.com, Leadsbridge.com, MadMobile.com, and numerous other leading publications and corporations.

All Posts by Shubham Calmblay

  • Apps & Updates

Google Slides

Google workspace, google slides adds multi-monitor support for presentations .

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The presentation experience in Google Slides is getting a nice quality-of-life update with multi-monitor support. 

As such, you can now view “Google Slides presentation controls on your computer while presenting to an audience using a connected external monitor or projector.” While the presentation is being displayed on a projector or bigger display, you’ll see speaker notes, the timer, and other Presentation View components on your laptop screen.

On the web, the Slideshow dropdown menu has a new Presentation display options button. You can check: Presenter view, Present from beginning, and/or Full screen. Then there’s “Display slideshow on” to pick between your built-in display and any external ones that are connected, with “Start slideshow” to continue.

This updated experience helps you present with greater confidence and gives you more control when managing multiple presentation displays. 

Multi-monitor support is rolling out now to Google Slides and will be available over the coming weeks for “all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts.”

Google Slides multi-monitor

More on Google Slides:

  • Google Docs voice typing coming to Safari, Edge
  • Docs adds formatting sidebar on Android tablets 
  • Google redesigning Docs, Sheets, and Slides comments UI
  • Duet AI can now remove image backgrounds in Google Slides, Drawings 

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  • Communication

How to Make Interactive (Drag and Drop) Google Slides Presentations

Andrew Childress

It's common to send a Google Slides presentation to a list of recipients. After all, it might not be possible to gather everyone in a room to review the slides. When you send your slides, engage your audience by learning how to make interactive Google Slides. 

Intro how to make an interactive Google Slide

In 2021, it pays to know how to make an interactive Google slide deck. These help you connect with your audience and engage with them on a personal level.

Avoid creating flat and "read-only" slides. Learn how to make Google Slides interactive. That helps your user feel engaged and play an active role in moving the slide along.

We'll teach you how to make interactive Google Slides with templates. Learn how to make Google Slides interactive easily when you lean on designs from others and pair it with the techniques you're going to see.

How to Make Interactive Google Slides Presentations Quickly

As you think of how to make Google Slides interactive, it helps to first see the power of premium templates. These save you precious time and effort by automating the creative process. Instead of building slide designs from scratch, you’re simply dropping in your own content.

As you consider how to create drag and drop in Google Slides , why not adopt that same approach in your design process? It pays off by giving you professional styling with minimal effort.

Envato Elements templates how to make an interactive Google Slide

Elements is an unmatched value because of its powerful offer: unlimited downloads. For a flat rate, you can download as many templates and other creative assets as you want. This gives you unlimited opportunities to make a great impression.

Now, let’s learn how to make interactive Google Slides using a premium template from Envato Elements. In the first step of our tutorial, we'll download a top template that makes it easy to follow the steps to create interactive slides.

Plus, Elements includes resources like fonts and stock photos. These creative designs are the perfect companions to your designs. When you imagine how to create drag and drop in Google Slides, you should think of Envato Elements first.

In this tutorial, we’ll be using a premium template from Envato Elements. But Elements isn’t the only place to turn when you wonder how to make interactive Google Slides.

GraphicRiver how to make Google Slides interactive

Envato also offers the GraphicRiver marketplace. On GraphicRiver, you can buy amazing interactive Google slide deck templates individually. This is a great way to benefit from professional designs while keeping costs lower.

No matter which marketplace you choose, a template is the quickest way to see how to make an interactive Google Slide. Start with a design, add the tweaks we show below, and you're on your way!

How to Make Interactive Google Slides

Follow the steps below to make interactive slides.

1. Why Make Interactive Google Slides?

Before you learn how to make Google Slides interactive presentations, you should know why. The answer is simple: engagement. No audience wants to be talked at . They want to be talked with . In other words, interaction is the key to success when you present.

Interactive Google Slides also help with retention. Let’s face it: if you read a fact or statement, you’re likely to forget it. But if you interact and share in the conversation, you’re much more likely to carry the information with you.

Again, the best approach is to choose a premium Envato Elements template and then edit it to fit your needs. In this tutorial, we’ll use the amazing Wohnhaus - Clean Business Presentation from Envato Elements.

Wohnhaus how to make interactive Google Slides

Wohnhaus includes over 30 unique slides with an array of themes. It’s a top choice for interactive Google Slides presentations, thanks to modern style. Every design element is fully customizable.

2. How to Create Drag and Drop in Google Slides

One of the most basic, yet best interactive Google Slides features is drag-and-drop. These are interactive activities where audiences can move content around your slide! To build a drag-and-drop interactive activity, let’s navigate to slide 4 in the deck.

Drag and drop how to make interactive Google Slides

As you can see, this has a series of icons with labels immediately below them. This is a good candidate for a drag-and-drop game because you can use it as a matching activity. In other words, users can drag the labels to match them with images!

First, you’ll want to add custom text. The text boxes you’re seeing are placeholders. Click into any of them and select the text inside. Then, type in your own words. You can repeat these steps throughout the slide deck, adding your own text.

Custom text how to make Google Slides interactive

Here, it might be a good option to give the title a description. You could name it Drag to Match , for example. Then, click once on any of the four descriptor text boxes to select it. Hovering your cursor over an edge, click and hold to drag it to the top of the slide. Repeat the same steps for the other three text boxes.

How to create drag and drop in Google Slides

Audiences can repeat that step, moving the text down to match the images. It’s an easy and fun interactive Google Slides activity.

3. How to Add Interactive Buttons in Google Slides

Interactive buttons help your audiences work with your slide content. They can take many forms, commonly hyperlinks to send users to other websites. Let’s look at how to make an interactive Google slide button.

Buttons often take the form of a shape. These are easy to insert in Google Slides and once you do, you can convert them into links. Begin by finding a shape on a slide. In this example, let’s use the computer icon on slide 7. To start, right-click on the shape and click Ungroup.

Then, click in the circular area to select the shape. Find the Insert menu on the Google Slides menu bar. Click on it, and you’ll see an array of options appear. The one you want is near the bottom: Link . Click once, and Google Slides opens the Hyperlink menu.

How to make interactive Google Slides button

Here, you can paste in a URL and click Apply . Or you can link within your slide deck by clicking the options below.

Buttons how to make an interactive Google Slide

When you’re finished, your shape will link to a website or slide. Clicking on it sends users to the linked destination. This is an excellent interactive feature that you can add to Google Slides easily.

4. How to Add Amazing Interactive Animations

Interactive animations offer two key advantages.

  • They help you drive engagement by having audiences click through presentations at their own pace.
  • They also help you control the pace of the narrative by displaying interactive content at your own chosen speed.

Consider a slide like 9 in the deck. Each yellow bar contains a different concept that you’ll want to address in more detail in your narrative. By default, all display simultaneously. But as a practical matter, you’ll likely want to introduce these one by one.

Animations how to make interactive Google Slides

Begin by clicking on the first text box in the uppermost yellow bar. Then, go back to the Insert dropdown and choose Animation . You’ll see an Animation sidebar open on the right side of your Google Slides screen.

In the Object Animations section, choose an effect to add to your slide. Common options include Appear, Fade In, and more.

Choose your favorite style, and then you can specify how to trigger the animation. On Click is a great choice, which is why it’s the default option. This lets you (or another user) start the animation by clicking their mouse or a handheld remote when presenting.

Animation how to make Google Slides interactive

To preview your animation effect, click Play at the bottom of the sidebar.

From here, repeat the animation steps for the remaining objects on your slide. This is a great way to make presentations more interactive. Audiences can move through your slides at their own speed. Try it as you think of how to make an interactive Google slide design.

As you can see, premium templates from Envato Elements are the best way to build interactive Google Slides presentations in 2021.

How to Make Google Slides Interactive (With Envato Elements Templates)

Are you a professional designer who knows how to make an interactive Google Slide deck? Chances are, you’re not. And even if you are, why spend the time inventing interactive templates from scratch?

Your best bet is to turn to a pre-built premium template. These are built by creative experts with you in mind. Here are five top Google Slides templates  for interactive presentations:

1. Meier - Clean Business Presentation Template

Meier how to make interactive Google Slides

As you think about how to make interactive Google Slides presentations, think of Meier. It’s a sleek modern design with ample interactive features built in.

Begin by choosing from 30 custom slides designed for you. Then, explore the editable graphics that enable quick customizations. In a few clicks, you can build your own interactive features thanks to this template design.

2. Diagram Collection Google Slides Infographic Template

Diagram collection how to make Google Slides interactive

Wonder how to make an interactive Google slide graphic for your audience? A template like Diagram Collection is a great option. It’s an interactive layout packed with custom infographics. Customize each of these by adding in your own data. Then, your audience can explore over 30 slides, each in beautiful widescreen format.

3. Bizniz - Vertical Business Presentation

Bizniz how to make an interactive Google Slide

Bizniz is a top choice for anyone wondering how to make Google Slides interactive. It offers a streamlined design process, along with a modern look.

Slides are built around master layouts, which help you make bulk edits fast. Free fonts and resizable graphics feature throughout. This is an excellent option with many interactive features built into the slides.

4. Ushop Imoet Creative Google Slide

Ushop how to create drag and drop in Google Slides

Consider this. You need to know how to make an interactive Google slide deck. You also need absolute creative flexibility. This is your template: with over 150 custom slides, you’re sure to find the perfect design. It features drag-and-drop image placeholders, portfolios, and much more. These interactive features are easy to customize and work well for any topic.

5. Education Presentation

Education how to make interactive Google Slides

Wonder how to make interactive Google Slides decks with maximum impact? Try using them in an educational setting. By interacting with students and learners, you can drive engagement. The Education Presentation is your perfect companion. This one has dozens of interactive slides that you can adjust to fit your subject of choice.

More Top Templates for Google Slides

If you've never used a template, this tutorial showed you just how much work they can save. Best of all, templates don't sacrifice customizations. You saw that you can customize them when you know how to create drag and drop in Google Slides options.

Once you've learned how to make interactive Google Slides designs, you can master the art of working with templates. Check out even more articles below with tremendous templates:

google slides presentation mode options

Common Google Slides Questions Answered (FAQ)

As you work through learning how to make interactive Google Slides designs, you might have run into a few questions. Google Slides is a powerful app with many features, so it's okay if you still have unanswered questions at this stage of the tutorial.

We've put together a FAQ with some of the common questions that beginners face. With the help of answers to these common questions, you'll learn how to make Google Slides interactive. Here are five frequently asked questions plus resources to help you answer them:

1. Does Google Slides Support Importing PowerPoint Templates?

There's nothing worse than recreating work from scratch. That's all too common when you start with a template from another format, like PowerPoint, and need to make it work in Google Slides.

Here's the good news: Google Slides supports importing PowerPoint templates. Convert your template, then use the techniques you saw while learning how to make an interactive Google Slide:

google slides presentation mode options

2. Does Google Slides Support Exporting PowerPoint Files?

You just learned how to  import  PPTX files into Google Slides with the tip above. But what about when you need to save a finished PPTX file based on a Google Slides design?

Don't worry - Google has thought of practically everything. After you've finished interactive drag-and-drop options in Google Slides, export a PowerPoint file. Learn how in this tutorial:

google slides presentation mode options

3. How Do You Add Multimedia to Google Slides Presentations?

As you're learning how to make interactive Google Slides, you might want to spice up your slides. Often, that means adding multimedia like music and sound.

Google Slides supports this feature, too. Learn how to add music and sound effects with the help of this tutorial.

google slides presentation mode options

4. Does Google Slides Work Offline?

Here's a common misconception: as a browser-based tool, Google Slides doesn't work if you lose access to the Internet.

Google has truly thought of everything! Don't let learning how to create drag and drop in Google Slides stop when you lose connection. Learn how to use Google Slides offline with this tutorial:

google slides presentation mode options

5. How Can You Collaborate With Google Slides?

It takes teamwork to create the best presentations. Adding other collaborators gives you a second set of eyes to review content and makes changes. So, how do you do that in Google Slides?

It's easy to invite others to edit a Google Slides presentation. Use what you learned about how to make an interactive Google Slide while collaborating. Learn how to use collaboration features to work together seamlessly in Google Slides:

google slides presentation mode options

Keep Learning More About Google Slides

You've already learned how to make an interactive Google Slide. With only a bit of work, your slides become so much more engaging than flat, static designs. But there's no reason to stop learning now.

Check out these three tutorials with more information on Google Slides. You'll learn more key skills that help you master how to make interactive Google Slides that stand out.

google slides presentation mode options

You Just Learned How to Make Google Slides Interactive

It's time to re-think how we create presentations. Instead of the read-only presentations of past, think "interactive" first when creating slides.

With the help of the best templates from Envato Elements, you can master the art of how to make interactive Google Slides . You can also choose a pay-as-you-go download from GraphicRiver to learn how to create drag and drop in Google Slides designs.

Both marketplaces give you a major advantage as you help to transform a boring slide into one that's interactive. Start with a template today and add interactivity. Your audience is sure to thank you.

Andrew Childress

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Switch view mode on Google Slides

You can change the mode of a presentation to:

How to switch view mode

Important: Your access level determines the modes available to you. To know which access level you have, go to Share files from Google Drive .

  • Editor access: The Editing , Commenting , and Viewing modes are available.
  • Commenter access: The Commenting and Viewing modes are available.
  • Viewer access: The Viewing mode menu isn’t available.

and then

  • Select Editing , Commenting , or Viewing .

Tip: You can use Commenting or Viewing modes to prevent unwanted changes to a presentation, even if you have edit access.

Related resources

  • Use comments, action items, & emoji reactions
  • Share files from Google Drive

Need more help?

Try these next steps:.

google slides presentation mode options

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.

IMAGES

  1. How to Use Presentation Mode in Google Slides

    google slides presentation mode options

  2. How to Share Google Slides in Presentation Mode

    google slides presentation mode options

  3. How to Share Google Slides in Presentation Mode

    google slides presentation mode options

  4. Sharing Google Slides in Presentation Mode

    google slides presentation mode options

  5. Google Workspace Updates: New features for Slides Present mode

    google slides presentation mode options

  6. How to Autoplay and Loop Google Slides? [Complete Guide!]

    google slides presentation mode options

VIDEO

  1. Three Google Slides Accessibility Settings You Should Know How to Enable

  2. How to Design Presentations with Google Slides

  3. How to Import Slides from Another Google Slides Presentation

  4. How to AutoPlay and Loop Presentation on Google Slides

  5. Create Google Slides Presentations Using ChatGPT (Full Guide)

  6. Can I convert PPT to Google Slides?

COMMENTS

  1. Present slides

    On your browser, open a presentation in Google Slides. At the top right corner, click Slideshow . At the bottom left, click Options Enable pen tool. To draw or annotate, click and drag on your slide. Optional: To change the pen color, at the bottom, click Pen tool Select a color. To erase annotations on the current slide, at the bottom, click ...

  2. How to Use the Presenter View in Google Slides

    If you click the "Slideshow" button or press Ctrl/Cmd + F5, your presentation will start directly without any speaker notes. This is the most widely used and the simplest option. Next to the "Slideshow" button, there's a drop-down arrow. Click on it to see the different presentation modes: Presenter View.

  3. How to present in Google Slides with Present mode toolbar

    To find this option, follow these steps: Click the three dots on the Present mode toolbar to bring up the options menu. Select Autoplay. Choose how long you'd like your slides to play for. A word of warning: you can't set different times for each slide in your deck with this tool.

  4. How to Use the Presenter View in Google Slides

    Step 2: Activate Presenter View: Navigate to the toolbar and select the "Presenter View" option. This will open a new window, transforming your primary screen into the presentation screen and providing a separate window with the Presenter View tools.

  5. How to Use the Google Slides Presenter Toolbar

    Start the Slideshow. As a refresher, you can start your Google Slides presentation in a couple of different ways. After opening your slideshow, click View > Present from the menu, or use the Present drop-down in the upper-right corner and choose "Present From Beginning." With your slideshow ready to go, move your cursor to the bottom-left ...

  6. How to Share Google Slides in Presentation Mode: A Step-by ...

    Step 2: Click on "Present". Click on the "Present" button located at the top-right corner of the screen. Once you're in your presentation, look to the top-right corner. You'll see a button that says "Present." Click it, and your presentation will go into full-screen mode.

  7. How to use Presenter view in Google Slides

    To resize the Presenter view window in Google Slides, hover your cursor over any of its corners or sides and wait for the double-sided white arrow to appear. Then click and drag to alter the window to your preferred size and shape. To move the window across your screen, click and hold the very top of the window.

  8. How to Use the Presenter View in Google Slides

    The presenter can access speaker notes and view other settings to adjust and manage presentation time by turning on the Presenter View.Google Slides Presenter View enables not only viewing speaker notes as you present but also pauses and resets the presentation, opens the session for Q&A with a live link to ask questions, and provides a timer to help keep track of time.

  9. How to Use the Presenter View in Google Slides in few steps

    Open your presentation in Google Slides by going to slides.google.com and selecting your presentation. Step 2: Start the Presentation: Click the "Present" button in the top-right corner of the screen. This action will start your presentation in the default full-screen mode. Step 3: Enter Presenter View: To enter Presenter View, right-click on ...

  10. Use the presenter view in Google Slides

    Presentation modes. There are three different options when presenting your Google Slides presentation. To see these options and select the one you wish to use, go up to your screen's upper right corner, a tab labeled "Present.". You can also press Ctrl (Cmd) and F5 to open the most accessible, simplest presentation option.

  11. How to make an interactive presentation in Google Slides

    It's easier than you might think. Step 1. Start by opening a new presentation! From the Google Slides homepage, look to the top left and click the Blank button to open a new presentation. This is your blank slate from which to create an outstanding interactive presentation! Step 2.

  12. See and use suggested layouts in a presentation

    Add an image or chart: Click the item you want to add. At the top, click Insert. Add a footnote: Point to your search result. Click Cite as footnote . Add a link: Point to your search result. Click Insert Link . Tip: To see more charts or images from a document, click "See more content" under the presentation or document.

  13. Present Mode Vs Edit Mode In Google Slides: How to Use Them

    Here's how. Copy the share link (in the top, right hand corner of your Google Slideshow. Paste it into the address bar. Close to the end of the URL, you'll see the word "edit". Remove the word edit and replace it with "present". Copy the new URL, and share it with your students. When students open the URL, it will automatically open ...

  14. Google Slides: Getting Started with Your Presentation

    The Google Slides interface. When you create a new presentation in Google Slides, the interface for Slides will appear. This interface displays the toolbar, along with the main view of your presentation. It allows you to create and modify slides, choose a theme, and share the presentation with others.. Click the buttons in the interactive below to learn about the interface for Google Slides.

  15. Google Slides cheat sheet: How to get started

    From Google Slides: Click the folder icon (Open file picker) that's above and toward the right corner of your presentations list. On the panel that opens, click the Upload tab. Drag-and-drop ...

  16. How to Present Your Google Slides Slideshow Presentation

    To set up Google Slides Auto Advance feature, open your presentation. Then, select File > Share > Publish to the web menu option. The Publish to the web dialog box displays. On the Publish to the web dialog box, choose the Link or Embed tab from the top of the dialog box. Here's how the Embed tab looks:

  17. How to AutoPlay and Loop a Google Slides Presentation

    Go to File > Publish to the Web in the menu. Choose either "Link" or "Embed" per your intent. Then use the Auto-Advance Slides drop-down box to choose the timing for the slides. Here again, you can pick from every second up to every minute. To loop the slideshow, check the box for Restart the Slideshow After the Last Slide.

  18. Keyboard shortcuts for Google Slides

    Show a blank black slide: b or. Return to the presentation from a blank black slide: Press any key: Show a blank white slide: w or , Return to the presentation from a blank white slide: Press any key: Video Player. Toggle play/pause: k: Rewind 10 seconds: u: Fast forward 10 seconds: o: Previous frame (while paused) Shift + , Next frame (while ...

  19. How to Add Videos and Customize Playback in Google Slides

    Select the video on your slide and then click "Format Options" from the toolbar or right-click the video and pick "Format Options" from the shortcut menu. This opens the sidebar on the right. Expand the Video Playback section. The first option you can adjust is how to play the video. The default option is Play (On Click) which means the video ...

  20. How to Share Google Slides in Presentation Mode

    Click on this option, and then choose "Anyone with the link" from the drop-down menu. Ensure that the role is set to "Viewer". Once done, proceed to the next step. ... By following these steps, you can share your Google Slides in presentation mode: Click on the "Share" button;

  21. Use a Template or change the theme, background, or layout in Google Slides

    On your computer, open a presentation in Google Slides. Choose a slide. At the top, click Slide Change background. To the right of "Image," click Choose. Choose an image, then click Select. To add the image to one slide, click Done. To add the image to the whole presentation, click Add to theme. Tip: You can also drag and drop an image in ...

  22. Google Slides adds multi-monitor support for presentations

    The presentation experience in Google Slides is getting a nice quality-of-life update with multi-monitor support.. As such, you can now view "Google Slides presentation controls on your computer ...

  23. Make Interactive (Drag and Drop) Google Slides Presentations

    Then, go back to the Insert dropdown and choose Animation. You'll see an Animation sidebar open on the right side of your Google Slides screen. In the Object Animations section, choose an effect to add to your slide. Common options include Appear, Fade In, and more.

  24. Switch view mode on Google Slides

    You can change the mode of a presentation to: Editing; Commenting; Viewing; How to switch view mode. Important: Your access level determines the modes available to you. To know which access level you have, go to Share files from Google Drive.. Editor access: The Editing, Commenting, and Viewing modes are available. Commenter access: The Commenting and Viewing modes are available.

  25. How to Change the Size of Google Slides: A Step-by-Step Guide

    Step 3: Choose a Slide Size Option. Upon clicking "Page Setup," a dialog box will pop up with default size options. ... Before making significant changes to the size of a Google Slides presentation, it's always a good idea to duplicate the presentation. This way, you have a backup of the original design in case something doesn't work out ...