Google Slides: Things to Do & How to Use Them

Google Slides is a free, web-based presentation tool that lets you create, edit, and share slideshows online. You can add text, images, videos, charts, and animations, then present live or share a link for others to view or edit. This article explains the main things you can do with Google Slides, from building a basic deck to collaborating in real time, plus answers to common questions.

What Is Google Slides and Why Use It?

Google Slides is part of Google Workspace (formerly G Suite), the same family that includes Google Docs and Google Sheets. It runs entirely in your browser, so there is no software to install, and your work is saved automatically to Google Drive. Because it is cloud-based, you can access your presentations from any device with an internet connection—laptop, tablet, or phone.

The main reasons people choose Google Slides over desktop software like Microsoft PowerPoint are:

• Free to use for personal and most business purposes (a Google account is all you need).
• Real-time collaboration—multiple people can edit the same file at once, with changes visible instantly.
• Automatic saving—no more losing work when your computer crashes.
• Easy sharing—you can send a link instead of a large file attachment.
• Works on any device—including Chromebooks, which are common in schools.

Creating and Formatting Slides

To start, go to slides.google.com and click the blank presentation template or choose from a gallery of themes. Each presentation is made up of slides, and you can add new ones with the + button in the top-left corner. The default layout includes a title and a subtitle, but you can change the layout from the Layout dropdown in the toolbar.

Formatting options are similar to what you’d find in PowerPoint:

• Change fonts, sizes, and colors using the toolbar.
• Add bullet points or numbered lists.
• Insert images, shapes, lines, and text boxes.
• Adjust slide background color or add a background image via Slide → Change background.
• Use View → Theme builder to edit the master slide, which changes the look of every slide at once.

One handy feature is the Explore button (the star icon in the bottom-right). It suggests layouts, images, and even content ideas based on what you type, which can speed up design.

Adding Media and Animations

You can make your presentation more engaging by adding media:

• Images: Upload from your computer, or use Insert → Image → Search the web to find images from Google’s stock photo library (filtered to be free to use).
• Videos: Insert a YouTube video by URL or search directly from the Insert menu. Videos play during presentation mode.
• Audio: As of recent updates, you can insert audio files (MP3 or WAV) from your Drive, though it’s less commonly used.
• Charts and tables: Insert a chart from Google Sheets, or create a simple table with Insert → Table.

Animations and transitions are under Insert → Animation (or the “Animate� button in the toolbar). You can animate individual objects (like text or images) with entrance, emphasis, or exit effects, and control the timing. Transitions apply to whole slides—for example, a fade or slide effect when moving from one slide to the next. Keep animations subtle; too many can distract your audience.

Collaborating and Sharing

The biggest advantage of Google Slides is collaboration. Click the Share button in the top-right corner, then enter email addresses or get a shareable link. You can set permissions:

• Viewer—can see the presentation but not edit.
• Commenter—can view and leave comments.
• Editor—can make changes to the slides.

When multiple people are editing, you’ll see their cursors and a colored outline around the slide they’re working on. The Version history (under File → Version history) lets you see every change and restore an earlier version if something goes wrong. This is a lifesaver when someone accidentally deletes a slide.

For presenting, you can also use the Present button to show the slides full-screen, and there’s a Presenter view that shows your notes, a timer, and the next slide while the audience sees only the current slide.

Presenting and Recording

When you’re ready to present, click the Present button (the play icon) in the top-right. You can:

• Use the arrow keys to move forward/backward.
• Press F to enter full-screen mode, Esc to exit.
• Use Presenter view (the icon with three dots) to see your speaker notes and a timer.
• Jump to a specific slide by pressing Ctrl+Shift+F5 (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+F5 (Mac) to open the slide picker.

If you need to record your presentation (for a class or remote meeting), you can use the Record feature under Insert → Record (or via the “Record� button in the toolbar). This captures your voice, webcam, and slides, and produces a video you can share. Note that recording requires a microphone and camera permission, and the video is saved to your Drive.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Even with a simple tool, issues come up. Here are the most frequent ones:

• Can’t edit a shared file: Check that you’re signed in to the correct Google account and that the owner gave you editing permission. If you only have a link, try opening it in an incognito window.
• Images or fonts look different on another device: Google Slides uses web fonts, but if you use a custom font that isn’t available, it may substitute. Stick to standard fonts like Arial or Calibri for consistency.
• Video won’t play in presentation mode: Make sure you have an internet connection and that the video is set to “Publicâ€� or “Unlistedâ€� on YouTube. If it’s a local video, you may need to insert it from Drive.
• File is too large to share: Compress images or reduce their resolution. You can also delete unused slides or export to PDF for a smaller file.
• Collaborators can’t see changes in real time: This usually happens when someone is offline or has a poor connection. Ask them to refresh the page.

Alternatives to Google Slides

Google Slides is not the only presentation tool. Depending on your needs, you might consider:

• Microsoft PowerPoint—the most feature-rich desktop app, with advanced transitions, animations, and offline editing. It’s paid as part of Microsoft 365, but you can use the free web version.
• Canva—great for visually rich designs with thousands of templates, but the free version has limits on some elements.
• Prezi—uses a zoomable canvas instead of linear slides, which is good for non-linear presentations but can cause motion sickness for some viewers.
• Keynote—Apple’s free presentation software for Mac and iOS, with smooth animations and a clean interface.

Each has its strengths, but Google Slides remains the best choice for free, real-time collaboration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Google Slides offline?

Yes, you can enable offline editing in Google Drive settings. Go to Drive → Settings → General and check “Offline.� Then, when you’re online, open the presentation once to sync it. After that, you can edit it without internet, and changes will sync when you reconnect.

How do I convert a PowerPoint to Google Slides?

Upload the .pptx file to Google Drive, then right-click it and choose Open with → Google Slides. It will convert to Google Slides format automatically. You can also do this from the Slides homepage by clicking the folder icon to upload.

Can I export my Google Slides as a PDF?

Yes. Go to File → Download → PDF Document (.pdf). This is a quick way to share a static version that looks the same on any device.

How do I make a presentation without a Google account?

You can view a presentation without an account if the owner sets the link to “Anyone with the link can view.� But to edit or create, you’ll need a free Google account.

Is Google Slides really free?

Yes, for personal use. You get 15 GB of free storage on Google Drive, which includes your Slides files. For businesses, there’s a paid Google Workspace plan that adds more storage and admin controls, but the basic tool is free.

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