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Build presentations, arrange slides, add media, and present clearly.
Search this topicOpen slides.google.com and create a blank presentation or choose a template. Name the file so you can recognize it in Drive, then add your title and first slide. Start with the message you want the audience to remember before adding decoration. Google Slides also supports editing PowerPoint files, but review imported formatting before presenting.
Save the audio as an MP3 or WAV file in Google Drive. In Slides on a computer, choose Insert > Audio, select the file and insert it. Check its sharing permissions when sharing the presentation, because collaborators may also need access to the audio. Test playback using the account and device you will present with.
Choose Insert > Video, then find a YouTube video, paste its URL or select a video from Google Drive. Insert it and position it on the slide. Check that the intended audience can access a Drive video. An embedded video is still dependent on its source and playback access, so test it before your presentation.
Select the video, open Format options and expand Video playback. Choose the automatic playback option instead of manual or click-based playback. Test in Slideshow mode, not just the editor. Playback settings do not fix a video that is unavailable or inaccessible, so check the source and permissions if nothing plays.
Open File > Page setup and select Custom. Enter a width smaller than the height, such as 8.5 by 11 inches for a portrait page, then confirm. Inspect the existing slides afterward because changing the canvas does not guarantee every object still fits. Set the size early when designing a poster or printable handout.
Open Tools > Preferences and enable measurement-unit preferences, then choose centimeters. You can also change ruler units from the ruler's menu. This changes how dimensions are expressed while editing, rather than redesigning the slide. To alter the actual canvas size or proportions, use File > Page setup instead.
Select the text box and open Insert > Animation or View > Motion. Add an object animation, use an on-click start and enable By paragraph. Preview it with Play, then test in Slideshow mode. Keep each intended reveal in its own paragraph so several unrelated points do not appear together.
Select the slide you want to transition to, then choose Slide > Transition. Pick a transition in the motion panel and adjust its speed. Preview before presenting. A transition changes how one slide enters; an object animation changes text or images within a slide, so choose the control that matches your intended effect.
With previous starts an animation at the same time as the preceding animation. After previous waits for that animation to finish; On click waits for your input. Choose the start behavior in the motion panel and use Play to check the sequence. Timing choices matter when a diagram should build in a clear order.
Open the arrow beside Slideshow and choose Presenter view, then open Speaker notes. With multiple monitors, use the presentation display options to put the slideshow on the audience's screen. Check what is being shared before starting a video call presentation so your notes window is not the window everyone sees.
Start the slideshow, open its Options menu and choose Auto-advance options. Select the time between slides and test the pacing. These options need to be set again for each presentation session. Published or embedded presentations have their own timing settings, so do not assume changing the live slideshow changes an existing published link.
In Slideshow mode, open Options and enable the pen tool. Draw on the slide, change the pen color if needed, and use the eraser to clear annotations. These marks disappear after the slideshow ends. If you need a permanent diagram or highlight in the saved file, edit the slide itself afterward.
Use a supported current browser, connect a working microphone and start the presentation. In the slideshow options, open caption preferences and turn captions on. Speak clearly and check microphone permission if no words appear. Captions reflect speech recognition and may contain errors; they are not automatically saved as a transcript.
Check microphone permission in both the browser and operating system, then confirm the selected microphone is connected and not occupied by another app. Reduce background noise or adjust input volume. An organization can disable the feature. When sharing through a video meeting, Slides captions describe the presenter's microphone audio rather than everyone's meeting speech.
Select the objects and use Arrange > Align to line up their edges. For three or more objects, use Arrange > Distribute to make the spacing even. Check the first and last positions before distributing. These controls are more reliable than repeatedly nudging shapes by eye when building a row of matching cards.
Select the picture and use Arrange > Order to move it behind the text or other objects. Then check that the text has enough contrast to remain readable. Layer order changes which object appears on top; it does not automatically change transparency, crop the picture or make it a slide background.
Select the related objects and choose Arrange > Group. You can then move or resize the group as one unit, which helps keep a diagram's parts together. Check the arrangement first, because grouping preserves the current layout rather than aligning it. Ungroup when you need to work on the components separately.
Right-click the slide thumbnail and choose Skip Slide. It remains in the file but is skipped during the slideshow; choose the same option again to restore it. People who can access the presentation may still see skipped slides. Use this for optional material, not for hiding confidential information from recipients.
Choose Insert > Slide numbers and apply numbering. Use Skip title slides if you want the title layout excluded. To number only part of a deck, select those slides first and use Apply to selected. Check the slideshow afterward so numbers do not cover existing content or disappear against the background.
Right-click the slide's thumbnail on the left and choose Duplicate slide. Drag the new thumbnail to its intended position in the deck. This is useful for keeping a consistent layout while changing the content. Edit the duplicate's title and details immediately so you do not accidentally present two nearly identical slides.
Open Presenter view from the Slideshow menu, choose Audience tools and start a new Q&A session. Share the link shown in the presentation so viewers can submit questions. You choose which questions to display. Work or school accounts may offer controls over who can submit; check those before inviting a wider audience.
Open the presentation and choose Tools > Q&A history. Recent sessions appear on the right so you can review what the audience asked. This is separate from slide comments, which belong to document collaboration. Use the appropriate session when following up, particularly if the same deck has been presented several times.
Choose Slide > Change theme and select a theme from the sidebar. A theme combines colors, fonts, backgrounds and layouts, so review several slide types afterward. If you want a style from another presentation, use Import theme in the theme panel. Replace leftover template text rather than assuming a theme change updates your content.
Select the slide, choose Slide > Change background, and choose an image from the background controls. Use Done for that slide or Add to theme when it should apply through the theme. Check readability over both light and dark areas of the photo. A background image behaves differently from a movable image object.
Source checks for these answers: September 21, 2026. Product instructions and local requirements can vary.