Hide and Unhide Slides in Google Slides

Hiding slides in Google Slides lets you keep draft slides, alternative versions, or backup content in your presentation without showing them during a live presentation. You can hide slides before presenting, then unhide them when you need them again. This guide covers the exact steps for both actions, plus common mistakes, troubleshooting, and FAQs.

What You’ll Need

• A Google account (free) with access to Google Slides.
• A presentation file in Google Slides (or one you can upload).
• Web browser on a computer (steps for mobile app are noted separately).

Step-by-Step

How to Hide a Slide (Desktop Web Browser)

1. Open your presentation in Google Slides (slides.google.com).
2. In the left-hand sidebar, you’ll see thumbnail previews of all your slides. Click once on the slide you want to hide. It will be highlighted with a border.
3. Right-click on the highlighted slide thumbnail. A context menu will appear.
4. From the menu, select Skip slide. The slide will remain in your list but will be grayed out and marked with a “skipped” icon (a slash through a small slide icon).
5. To hide multiple slides at once, hold down the Ctrl key (Windows) or Cmd key (Mac) while clicking each slide thumbnail, then right-click and choose Skip slide.

How to Unhide a Slide (Desktop Web Browser)

1. Go back to the thumbnail sidebar.
2. Locate the grayed-out slide you want to unhide. It will have the skip icon.
3. Right-click on that slide thumbnail.
4. Select Unskip slide from the context menu. The slide will return to its normal color and will be included in the presentation again.

How to Hide/Unhide Slides in the Google Slides Mobile App (Android/iOS)

1. Open the Google Slides app and open your presentation.
2. Tap the slide you want to hide to select it (it will be highlighted).
3. Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) in the upper-right corner.
4. Choose Skip slide to hide it, or Unskip slide to unhide it. The slide will be grayed out when skipped.

Common Mistakes

• Deleting instead of hiding: Pressing the Delete key removes the slide permanently. Use the right-click menu or the “Skip slide” option.
• Hiding the wrong slide: When you have many slides, it’s easy to click the wrong thumbnail. Double-check that the highlighted slide is the one you intend to hide.
• Forgetting to unhide before printing/exporting: Skipped slides are hidden during presentation, but they also won’t appear in printed handouts or PDF exports if you choose “Skip hidden slides.” Always check your export settings.
• Using the mobile app and not seeing the option: The three-dot menu might be hidden if you’re in editing mode. Ensure you’re not in “View” mode.

Tips

• Use hidden slides for backup content: Keep extra data, alternative charts, or speaker notes that you might need if someone asks a question.
• Hide slides for different audiences: Prepare one presentation and hide slides that are too technical for one group, then unhide them for another group.
• Keyboard shortcut: On desktop, you can also press Ctrl+Shift+S (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+S (Mac) after selecting a slide to toggle skip/unskip.
• Check the skip icon: The skip icon (a diagonal line across a small slide) is your visual cue. If you don’t see it, the slide is not hidden.
• Use the “Present” preview: Before your actual presentation, use the “Present” button to see which slides are skipped. You’ll notice skipped slides are not shown in the presentation.

Troubleshooting

Right-click menu doesn’t show “Skip slide”

Make sure you are right-clicking on the slide thumbnail, not on the main slide canvas. If you’re in the canvas, right-clicking gives you options like “Copy” and “Paste,” not “Skip slide.” Also ensure you are in “Editing” mode, not “Viewing” mode. If you’re in viewing mode, switch to editing by clicking the pencil icon at the top right.

Slides are hidden but still appear in presentation

This usually happens if you accidentally selected “Skip slide” but then clicked “Present” from a specific slide. When you present from a slide, Google Slides might start from that slide and ignore the skip status. Always start the presentation from the first slide (or use the “Present from beginning” option) to see the skip effect.

Can’t unhide a slide because it’s grayed out

Grayed out means it’s skipped. Right-click on that grayed thumbnail and select “Unskip slide.” If the option is not there, you might be in “View” mode. Switch to editing mode first.

Hidden slides still appear when exporting to PDF

When exporting to PDF, Google Slides includes all slides by default. To exclude hidden slides, go to File > Download > PDF Document, then in the dialog that appears, check the box that says “Skip hidden slides.” (This option is available in the PDF export dialog.) If you don’t see it, update your browser or try a different browser.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does hiding a slide delete it?

No. Hiding (skipping) a slide only removes it from the presentation flow. The slide and its content remain in your file and can be unhidden at any time.

Can I hide slides in the mobile app?

Yes. Open the app, tap the slide, tap the three-dot menu, and choose “Skip slide” or “Unskip slide.” The process is similar to the desktop version.

Will hidden slides show up in print?

By default, hidden slides are not printed when you choose “Print” and select “Skip hidden slides” in the print settings. If you want to include them, uncheck that option.

Can I hide a slide temporarily and then unhide it later?

Absolutely. That’s the main purpose. You can skip and unskip slides as often as you like, and the changes are saved automatically.

How do I know which slides are hidden?

Hidden slides appear grayed out in the thumbnail sidebar and have a small slash-through-slide icon. Also, when you present, they are skipped.

Can I hide slides in a shared presentation?

Yes, if you have editing access. If you only have view or comment access, you cannot hide or unhide slides.

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