How-To Geek

The beginner's guide to google slides.

Want to learn the basics about Google Slides? This beginner's guide walks you through everything from importing your PowerPoint files to sharing presentations online.

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What is google slides, how to sign up for an account, how to create a blank presentation, how to import a microsoft powerpoint presentation, how to check your spelling in google slides, how to collaborate on presentations, how to see all recent changes to a presentation, how to link to a specific slide, how to insert special characters into a slide, how to use google slides offline.

If you’re just getting started with Google Slides, its extensive features and add-ons can be a little overwhelming. Here are some tips to help you get going with this powerful alternative to Microsoft PowerPoint.

If you’ve heard of Google Slides before, feel free to skip ahead; if you haven't, here’s a crash course on what you need to know. We’ll go over the basics and get you brushed up on what Google Slides is and how you can get started right away.

Slides is a free, web-based presentation program designed to compete with Microsoft Office PowerPoint. It's part of G Suite---Google's complete office suite (though some people refer to it all as Google Docs). The other main services included in the cloud-based suite are Sheets (Excel) and Docs (Word).

Related: What is Google Workspace, Anyway?

Google Slides is available on all devices and platforms; all you need is an internet connection and a web browser (or, in the case of mobile, the Android and iOS apps ). Google does the rest and handles the brunt of the heavy lifting, while it runs the software in the cloud.

Slides supports several file types, including  .ppt, .pptx , .odp, .jpg, .svg, and .pdf. This makes it easy to view or convert Microsoft Office files directly from Google Drive or insert images directly into a slide.

Related: What Is a PPTX File (and How Do I Open One)?

And since Slides is an online presentation program, you can share and collaborate with multiple people on the same file, and track revisions, changes, and suggestions, all in real-time.

Have you heard enough? Let’s get started.

Before you can use Google Slides, you have to sign up for a Google account (an @gmail account). If you already have one, feel free to move on to the next section. If not, we’ll go over the simplest way to create a Google account and get you set up with Slides.

Head over to  accounts.google.com , click "Create Account," and then click "For Myself."

On the next page, you provide some information---first and last name, username, and password---to create your account.

Also, you have to verify your phone number, so Google can make sure you’re not a bot.

After you verify your phone number, the subsequent pages require you to provide a recovery email address and your date of birth and gender. You must also agree to the privacy statement and terms of service. After that, you’re the proud new owner of a Google account.

Now that you have a Google account, it’s time to create your first presentation. Head over to  Google Slides  and place the cursor on the multicolored "+" icon in the bottom-right corner.

The + turns into a black pencil icon; click it.

Pro Tip: Type 

 into the address bar from any browser and hit Enter to automatically create and open a new blank document.

Even if you’re new to Google Slides, you might already have a collection of Microsoft PowerPoint files you’d like to be able to use. If that’s the case, then you have to  upload all your presentations  before you can view them. While it might not support some of the more advanced features and effects of some PowerPoint presentations, it works pretty well.

When you import a PowerPoint presentation, you can use either Google Slides or  Drive  to upload your files. Both methods let you drag and drop a file from your computer directly into the web browser for easy uploads. Your Drive houses all of your uploaded files, but---for the sake of convenience---when you go to the Slides homepage, it only shows you presentation-type files.

From the Slides homepage, click the folder icon in the top right, and then click the "Upload" tab. Now, drag and drop any files you want to upload directly into this window.

Once the file uploads, Slides opens it automatically, and it's ready for you to edit, share, or collaborate.

To open a PowerPoint presentation that you want to edit, click the filename with the "P" next to it from your Google Slides homepage.

Click to either view the PowerPoint file or edit it in Slides.

After you’ve finished editing your file, you can download and export your presentation back into a Microsoft PowerPoint format. Just go to File > Download As, and then click the "Microsoft PowerPoint" option.

If you’d rather download your presentation as a PDF, ODP, JPEG, TXT, etc., you can do that here, as well.

Related: How to Import a PowerPoint Presentation into Google Slides

Now that you have a few presentations, it’s time to make sure your  spelling and grammar are correct . Slides is equipped with a spellchecker. If you misspell something, it underlines the error with a squiggly line and prompts you to make a change.

This should be on by default, but you can make sure in Tools > Spelling > Underline Errors.

To see spelling corrections and suggestions, right-click the word with the line underneath. Alternatively, press Ctrl+Alt+X (Windows) or Command+Alt+X (Mac) to open the Spell Check and Grammar tool.

Along with a spellchecker, Google Slides comes loaded with a built-in dictionary and thesaurus. To use them, highlight a word, right-click it, and then click "Define [word]."

While this should get you started, we have  a deeper dive into Google’s spelling and grammar checker  if you want more info.

Related: How to Check Your Spelling in Google Docs

One of the best features of Google Slides is its ability to  generate a shareable link.  Anyone you share the link with can view, suggest edits to, or directly edit the presentation. This eliminates the hassle of sending a file back and forth between collaborators. Each person has her own text entry cursor to use on her computer.

To do this, click the orange "Share" button in the file you want to share. Next, choose how and with whom you want to send a link to the file. You can type email addresses or click "Get Shareable Link" in the top corner to hand out the invitation yourself.

From the drop-down menu, you can select one of these options for what other users can do:

  • Off:  Sharing is disabled. If you’ve previously shared a link with others, it will no longer work and revokes any permissions they once had.
  • Anyone with the link can edit:  Gives the shared users full read/write access. They still can’t delete it from your Drive, though---this is just for the contents of the file.
  • Anyone with the link can comment:  Allows shared users to leave comments which is handy for team projects.
  • Anyone with the link can view : Shared users can view the file, but can’t edit it in any way. This is the default action when you share a file, and it's the best option if you’re trying to share a file for download.

You can do a lot more with these shareable links, as they also work with other Drive files and on mobile. For a deeper look at how links work and how to generate them,  check out our post .

Related: How to Create Shareable Download Links for Files on Google Drive

When you share documents with others, it’s difficult to keep track of all the small changes that happen if you’re not present. For that, there’s  revision history . Google keeps track of all the changes that occur in a document and groups them into periods to reduce clutter. You can even revert a file to any of the previous versions listed in the history with a click of your mouse.

You can view a list of all recent changes by clicking File > Version History > See Version History. Alternatively, you can press Ctrl+Alt+Shift+H (Command+Option+Shift+H on Mac).

Related: How to See Recent Changes to Your Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides File

You can also share a link to a specific slide in your presentation with a friend or coworker, without having to mention which one you're referencing. When someone clicks the link and the presentation loads, it jumps directly to the slide you're referencing. You do have to enable file sharing before you can link to a specific slide in your presentation, though.

Because each slide has a unique URL, all you have to do to link to one is click it in the left pane, and then copy the URL from the address bar.

Google Slides also has a character insertion tool. This allows you to insert special characters into your presentation without having to remember any Alt-codes. There are tons of symbols, characters, languages, and so much more. So, whether you want an arrow, different language scripts, or if you just want a few silly emojis to spruce up your presentation, Google Slides makes it easy to include them.

To open the character insertion tool, click "Insert," and then click "Special Characters."

From here, you can manually search for specific characters with the drop-down menus.

Use the search bar to find a specific character or emoji.

You can also use your drawing skills to search.

Related: How to Insert Symbols into Google Docs and Slides

What happens if you need to access Google Slides but don’t have an internet connection? Although Slides is a web-based product, that  doesn’t mean you can’t use it offline . Any changes you make to the file offline will update the next time you connect to the internet. First, download the extension for Chrome.

To enable a presentation for offline use, go to the Google Slides’ homepage and, in the top-left corner, click the Hamburger menu > Settings. Once here, toggle "Offline" to the On position, and then click "OK."

To save storage space on your local machine, Google only downloads and makes the most recently accessed files available offline. To manually enable a file, click the three dots icon, and then toggle "Available Offline" to On.

Related: How to Use Google Docs Offline

Google Slides is a powerful, feature-rich alternative to Microsoft Office's PowerPoint. It's also completely free to use with an internet connection and a Google Account, making it a legitimate competitor for Microsoft.

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Create, present, and collaborate on online presentations in real-time and from any device.

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Make beautiful presentations, together

Stay in sync in your slides, with easy sharing and real-time editing. Use comments and assign action items to build your ideas together.

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Present slideshows with confidence

With easy-to-use presenter view, speaker notes, and live captions, Slides makes presenting your ideas a breeze. You can even present to Google Meet video calls directly from Slides.

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Seamlessly connect to your other Google apps

Slides is thoughtfully connected to other Google apps you love, saving you time. Embed charts from Google Sheets or reply to comments directly from Gmail. You can even search the web and Google Drive for relevant content and images directly from Slides.

Slides connect to Google apps

Extend collaboration and intelligence to PowerPoint files

Easily edit Microsoft PowerPoint presentations online without converting them, and layer on Slides’ enhanced collaborative and assistive features like comments, action items, and Smart Compose.

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Work on fresh content

With Slides, everyone’s working on the latest version of a presentation. And with edits automatically saved in version history, it’s easy to track or undo changes.

Design slides faster, with built-in intelligence

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Assistive features like Smart Compose and autocorrect help you build slides faster with fewer errors.

Stay productive, even offline

Stay productive, even offline

You can access, create, and edit Slides even without an internet connection, helping you stay productive from anywhere.

Security, compliance, and privacy

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Secure by default

We use industry-leading security measures to keep your data safe, including advanced malware protections. Slides is also cloud-native, eliminating the need for local files and minimizing risk to your devices.

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All files uploaded to Google Drive or created in Slides are encrypted in transit and at rest.

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Our products, including Slides, regularly undergo independent verification of their security, privacy, and compliance controls .

Private by design

Slides adheres to the same robust privacy commitments and data protections as the rest of Google Cloud’s enterprise services .

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You control your data.

We never use your slides content for ad purposes., we never sell your personal information to third parties., find the plan that’s right for you, google slides is a part of google workspace.

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Collaborate from anywhere, on any device

Access, create, and edit your presentations wherever you are — from any mobile device, tablet, or computer — even when offline.

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Choose from a variety of presentations, reports, and other professionally-designed templates to kick things off quickly..

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Google Slides  - Getting Started with Your Presentation

Google slides  -, getting started with your presentation, 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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How to Create a Presentation Using Google Slides

Last Updated: November 30, 2023

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 17 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 237,905 times. Learn more...

This tutorial will show you how to make a PowerPoint-like presentation using Google Slides. Presentations can be used for school, business, and so much more.

Step 1 Go to Google's home page and click on the grid in the upper right hand corner.

  • You can also just type in https://slides.google.com , log in if you haven't already, and will be taken to the Slides page.
  • If you don't have a Google account, learn to create one now!

Step 2 From your Drive, click the blue New button on the left side of the page.

  • For more options, hover over the arrow on the right edge of the Google Slides option, where a smaller drop-down menu will appear. From here you can select to create a presentation from a template or a blank slide.

Step 3 If you are on the slides page, select an option from the top of the page to create a new slide.

  • Be sure to add a title and subtitle by clicking where you are prompted to add text.

Step 5 Add new slides.

  • You can also change a pre-existing slide's layout by clicking the layout option on the upper editing bar.

Step 6 Insert images.

  • As you add animations to each element by clicking the blue "+ Select an object to animate", they will begin to pile up. Click on each one to edit it.
  • Change the transition from slide to slide by clicking the default "Slide: No transition" at the top of the sidebar. You can choose whether to apply to all slides or just one.
  • Preview your animations by clicking Play at the bottom of the sidebar.
  • Remove an animation by clicking the small x on its rectangle, and drag each animation up or down to change the order.

Step 9 When you are done editing, press the share button to edit permissions for your presentation.

Community Q&A

Community Answer

wikiHow Video: How to Create a Presentation Using Google Slides

  • If you have a pop-up blocker, make sure to disable it so Slides can work properly. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Hover over each tool to see its keyboard shortcut and function. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Remember, these are the basic functions- Google Slides contains many more tools that you can work with as you explore the creator. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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About This Article

To create a new Google Slides presentation, open a web browser and go to Slides.Google.com. If you want to start from a template, you can choose one from the template gallery. Otherwise, click "Blank" to create a new blank presentation. Your blank presentation starts with a single simple slide with space to enter a title and subtitle. You can personalize this slide, as well as other slides you add, by editing the placeholder text, as well as choosing a slide theme from the panel to the right. To insert another slide, click the "Insert" menu and select "New Slide," or press "Control M" for a quick keyboard shortcut. You'll also find other things you can add to your slide on the Insert menu, including the option to add an image, a text box for typing, videos, shapes, charts, and other features. After adding a new slide, click the "Layout" menu to choose a slide layout—you can give each slide its own layout or reuse the same layout as much as necessary. Edit the placeholder text, and then insert objects from the Insert menu. To move an object, click the arrow in the toolbar, hover the mouse cursor around the object's border line until it turns to a 4-point arrow, and then click and drag it. Each slide you add will have a thumbnail in the left panel—click a slide's thumbnail to open that slide for editing. To see your presentation as a viewer would, click your first slide in the left panel, and then click "Present" at the top corner. Click the Escape key to go back to editing. Google Slides also has some built-in effects you can access from the "Transition" menu—here you can animate a slide's transition into the next slide, as well as animate individual objects. To apply an effect, background, theme, layout, or any other setting to more than one slide at once, select the slides in the left panel by holding down the Control key as you click each thumbnail. Your presentation will automatically save to your Google Drive as you work—type a name for the presentation in the top-left corner so you can easily find the file when you need it. Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to use Google Slides

If you want to create a presentation for your company or a slideshow for your classroom, Google Slides is a solid option. The application is similar to Microsoft PowerPoint but is completely free and web-based for easy access.

Get started in Google Slides

Use views in google slides, add and format slides in a presentation, include speaker notes, insert and format text on a slide, insert and format images on a slide, insert other objects on a slide, view and present a slideshow.

Here, we’ll walk you through the basics of using Google Slides as a beginner. From adding slides to inserting text and images to presenting your slideshow, here’s how to use Google Slides.

What You Need

Web browser

Google account

To create a presentation, visit Google Slides and sign in with your Google account. You can then use a template for a quick start or create a blank slideshow.

Step 1: On the main Google Slides page, you’ll see a few templates across the top. To see them all, select Template gallery . If you see a template you want to use, select it.

Otherwise, pick the Blank option to create a slideshow from scratch.

Step 2: When the slideshow opens, head to the top-left corner and give it a name.

The default for a template is the template name, and for a blank slideshow, it’s “Untitled Presentation.” Simply replace that text with your own and press Enter or Return to save it.

  • How to change margins in Google Docs
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  • How to do hanging indent on Google Docs

Step 3: As you create your presentation, Google Slides saves it automatically. At the top of the slideshow screen, you’ll see that it is saved to your Google Drive and when you made the last edit.

Step 4: You can return to the main Google Slides screen anytime by selecting the Google Slides logo on the top left, beside the name.

As you create your presentation, you can use different views depending on how you want to work.

Step 1: The main view, as shown below, puts your slide front and center without distractions.

Step 2: To open thumbnails of your slides on the left, select View > Show filmstrip . You can then use the Filmstrip to move to different slides in your presentation and take action on a slide with a right-click.

To close the Filmstrip, return to View > Show filmstrip to deselect the option.

Step 3: To see a full screen of slide thumbnails, go to View > Grid view to select the option. This gives you a larger picture of how your slides are set up and actions you can take using a right-click.

To close this view, go to View > Grid view to deselect the option.

To build a presentation, you’ll add slides. Each slide can contain text, images, videos, shapes, and other elements. To make structuring your slides a bit easier, you can use a pre-made layout. But you also have the option to use a blank slide to place items where you like.

Step 1: To add a slide, do one of the following:

  • Go to the Insert tab and choose New slide near the bottom.
  • Go to the Slide tab and choose New slide at the top.
  • In the Filmstrip or Grid view, right-click a slide and pick New slide .

Step 2: By default, the new slide is placed after your selected slide and uses the same layout. You can change the layout for the new slide if you prefer.

Step 3: To change the layout, select the slide and do one of the following:

  • Go to the Slide tab, move to Apply layout , and choose a layout in the pop-out menu.
  • In the Filmstrip or Grid view, right-click a slide, move to Apply layout , and choose a layout in the pop-out menu.

When you present a slideshow that you plan to talk through, you can add notes to your slides that only you can see. This is similar to using physical index cards during a speech.

Step 1: To display the notes section on a slide, either drag up using the Three dots at the very bottom of the slide or select View > Show speaker notes .

Step 2: This expands the section below the slide. Place your cursor inside the Notes section and enter your text.

Step 3: To change the font style, size, color, or formatting, select the text in your note and use the Font buttons in the toolbar.

Step 4: To close the speaker notes area, either drag down until the notes section is out of sight or go to View > Show speaker notes to deselect the option.

You can add text to your slides using the pre-made text boxes that are included with the layout you select. Alternatively, you can add text boxes and move them where you want.

Step 1: To add text to an included text box, simply click inside the box and type. The text is automatically formatted per the text box type. For instance, if you enter text in a title box, it’s formatted in a larger font.

Step 2: To insert a text box of your own, either select Insert > Text box in the menu or choose the Text box button in the toolbar.

Step 3: Click a spot on your slide to add the text box, and then enter your text inside.

Step 4: You can move a text box by dragging it and resize one by dragging in or out from a corner or edge.

Step 5: To change the font style, size, color, or format for the text inside the box, select the text and then use the font options in the toolbar.

Slideshows are visual presentations, so along with text, you’ll likely want to include pictures or photos.

Step 1: Go to Insert and move to Image or select the arrow next to the Image button in the toolbar.

Step 2: Choose the location for your image. You can pick a picture from your computer, a web search, Google Drive, Google Photos, a URL, or your device camera.

Step 3: Once you locate and insert the image, drag to move it where you like. You can also drag a corner or edge to resize it.

Step 4: For additional formatting options such as rotation, position, shadow, reflection, and other adjustments, open the Format options sidebar.

You can do this by selecting the image and choosing Format options in the toolbar or by right-clicking the image and choosing Format options .

Along with text and images, you can include other types of visuals in your presentation. You can add videos, audio files, tables, charts, diagrams, word art, and lines.

Step 1: To see all of your options and add an element, go to the Insert tab and choose what you would like to add.

Step 2: Some items like shapes, charts, and lines display a pop-out menu for you to pick the type or style. Other elements like video and audio display a pop-up window for you to pick the location or enter a URL.

Step 3: Once you insert an object on your slide, drag to move it to the spot you want. You can also right-click the item to view additional actions like formatting, alignment, or arrangement with other slide elements.

You can view your presentation at any point in the creation process and can present it the same way to your audience.

Plus, you can take advantage of the Presenter view, which gives you controls and displays your notes. Or, simply watch the slideshow as your audience will.

Step 1: On the top right, select the arrow next to Slideshow and pick Presenter view or Start from beginning .

Step 2: In Presenter view, you’ll see your slideshow on one side of your display or second monitor, with a smaller control window floating on top.

Use the control window to move through the slides, pause the slideshow, and see your speaker notes.

Step 3: In regular slideshow view, you’ll see the presentation in full-screen mode, as mentioned.

Use the Floating toolbar on the bottom left to advance through the slides or pause the slideshow.

Step 4: In either of the above views, select the Three dots on the right side of the floating toolbar to do things like enter or exit full-screen mode, view your speaker notes, automatically play the presentation, or exit the show.

There you have it! These are the basics for how to use Google Slides if you’re new to the application. For more, look at how to use Google Sheets .

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Sandy Writtenhouse

Whether for personal preference or as a requirement for the APA or MLA writing style, we’ll show you how to double-space in Google Docs.

The nice part about this format in Google Docs is that you can apply it to the entire document or only selected blocks of text. Plus, you can double-space in Google Docs on the web and in the mobile app.

Google Drive is a common cloud storage choice for work and education projects, especially if you are collaborating with other people or are part of a broader workflow process. However, sometimes you need to download a file to your device for more direct work or to more easily move it somewhere else.

Google Slides is a great way to add style and flare to your everyday workplace presentations. It’s also a great tool for the classroom, that’s easy to adapt for students of all ages. Packed with graphics, animation tools, and other immersive features, Google Sheets even lets you upload your own audio and video to your slideshows.

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Google Slides 101: Tips and Tricks Every Teacher Needs To Know

Everything you need to become an expert in no time!

Animate Image of Google Slides

Google Slides is a favorite teaching tool for many educators, both in person and online. With a huge selection of free features and options, this powerhouse allows teachers to create dynamic, interactive presentations that really engage their students. Whether you’re new to Google Slides or are looking to up your game, these resources will help you make the most of it.

Start with the basics

If this is all new to you, watch this video to see how to create simple Google Slides. It walks you through the process one step at a time. Plus, grab a free Google Slides Cheat Sheet from Shake It Up Learning .

Share slides with your students

Google slides activity sheet

You aren’t limited to using slideshows to accompany in-class presentations. Share them with students to use when studying, assign them as homework or for asynchronous learning, or create interactive slides (more on that below). Assigning Google Slides to your students is easy in Google Classroom. Teaching With Jennifer Findlay shows you how it’s done.

Use themes and templates

Google Slides Slides Carnival

Jeoparty! Theme from SlidesCarnival

Google Slides themes are a pre-set group of colors, fonts, backgrounds, and layouts.  You may sometimes see themes called “templates”—these two terms are interchangeable and work in the same way. Themes/templates allow you to enter your own information but save you a lot of time by taking care of the overall look and layout for you.

Here goes your title screenshot

Doodles Theme from SlidesMania

You’ll find a variety of themes built into the program itself (watch the Google Basics video above to see how to use them). You’ll also find thousands more available for free or purchase online. Using them is generally as simple as clicking a link and then choosing “Use Template” to customize.

Add sounds to Google Slides

Google Slides Fluxing Well

Adding sounds like music or narration can make your slide presentation a lot more interesting. Play bird songs in a lesson on ornithology, listen to a concerto as you discuss Mozart, or even create your own read-aloud. Narrated slides are terrific for asynchronous learning situations too. Learn how to add audio from Fluxing Well.

Don’t forget video

The nice thing about embedding a video directly in your Google Slides presentation is that you (or your students) don’t have to worry about clicking over to another window or website. Instead, you can simply set the video to play automatically (or once the Play button is clicked). You can use YouTube videos, videos from other sites, or those you’ve created yourself. (Pro tip: You can set a video to start and stop at any time you like !)

Make your Google Slides interactive

If you think a slideshow is something for students to sit and watch passively, Google Slides is here to prove you wrong. Have kids click on correct answers, type in text, and a whole lot more. This in-depth video demonstrates the entire process. Get more info from Super Sass and Science Class.

Choice boards are a popular way to make slides interactive. This video has the quick how-to.

Drag-and-drop slides are another terrific way to draw learners into a slide presentation. It’s amazing how much of a difference this makes in student engagement!

Link to internal slides and external sites

Adding links really ups the interactivity of your slides and turns them into self-directed activities in a snap. You can link kids to other pages in the slides for self-checking assessments or to external sources like websites or Google Classroom docs. This is one (easy) skill every teacher should master.

Check out Google Slides add-ons

Google Slides itself has lots of features, but you can also get lots of (often free) add-ons to make certain tasks easier. Add-ons are available to make diagrams, find better images, and display math equations … just to name a few. Ditch That Textbook has a list of 20 add-ons all teachers should try here.

Templates for every part of a lesson screenshot

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One add-on teachers swear by is Pear Deck . It makes it easy to drop in formative assessments and evaluate student progress. The basic program is free for all users; learn how it works here .

Get in on the Bitmoji classroom trend

Those Bitmoji classrooms that are all the rage are right at home on Google Slides. Learn more about these virtual classrooms here, including how to make your own.

If you’re really ambitious, you can “animate” your Bitmoji to create a cool effect that kids will enjoy. It takes a bit of time, but as this video shows, it’s really not that hard to do.

Teach students to use Google Slides

Learning to insert a textbox screenshot

Once students know how to use the program, there are all sorts of awesome assignments they can take on. Even elementary kids can learn how it works. Two Boys and a Dad has an awesome free project to get them started. Once they’ve got the basic skills, here are a few ideas to try.

Challenge your students to create an e-book using slides. Have them illustrate their creative writing, or try it for a different twist on a standard report. Get the quick tutorial from Shake Up Learning.

Digital interactive notebooks make it easy for you to monitor student progress, online or in-person. Plus, no more worries about kids “forgetting” to bring their notebook! Two Boys and a Dad shows you how they work. Make your own, or find ready-to-use templates on the web like this one from Student Savvy .

Looking for more ways to use Google Slides? Learn How Teachers Can Plan and Use Virtual “Stations” Online.

Plus, 30+ Virtual Learning Platforms and Tools for Teachers and Kids .

Google Slides 101: Tips and Tricks Every Teacher Needs To Know

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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. 

presentation how to use google

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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Google Docs is a powerful tool for creating, editing, and collaborating on documents online. But what happens when you don‘t have a stable internet connection? Whether you‘re traveling, working in a wifi-limited area, or experience a power outage, you‘ll want to make sure you can still access your important files. That‘s where Google Docs offline mode comes in.

In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll show you how to set up and use Google Docs offline. We‘ll cover everything from enabling offline access to best practices for syncing and version control. Plus, we‘ll dive into real-world use cases and benefits that highlight how offline mode can boost your productivity. Let‘s get started!

Why Use Google Docs Offline?

Before we get into the technical steps, let‘s discuss some of the key benefits of using Google Docs offline:

Access files anywhere : One of the biggest advantages of offline mode is the ability to access your Google Docs files anywhere, anytime – no internet required. This is especially useful for frequent travelers, commuters, or anyone who works in an area with limited wifi access.

Maintain productivity : According to a 2022 survey by Buffer, 84% of remote workers cited a reliable internet connection as their top challenge. Offline mode ensures you can keep working on your documents without disruption, even if your internet cuts out unexpectedly. No more losing progress or momentum due to connectivity issues!

Protect your privacy : Working on sensitive documents? Offline mode allows you to view and edit your files without connecting to a public wifi network, which can expose your data to potential hackers. By keeping your work stored locally on your device, you can maintain better control over who has access to your information.

Conserve battery life : Constantly searching for and connecting to wifi networks can drain your device‘s battery quickly. With offline mode, you can work on your documents without relying on an internet connection, thereby conserving battery life and extending your work time.

Collaborate seamlessly : Just because you‘re offline doesn‘t mean you have to work in isolation. Google Docs offline mode still allows you to collaborate with others on the same document. Any changes made while offline will be synced automatically once an internet connection is restored, ensuring everyone stays up-to-date.

Now that we‘ve covered the why, let‘s dive into the how of setting up Google Docs for offline access.

How to Enable Google Docs Offline Access

Enabling offline mode in Google Docs is a straightforward process, but it does require a few specific steps and requirements. Here‘s how to get started:

Requirements:

  • Google Chrome browser on desktop
  • Google account (free)
  • Adequate device storage

Step 1: Open Google Drive

Begin by opening Google Drive in the Chrome browser. Make sure you‘re signed into the Google account associated with your documents.

Step 2: Locate Your File

Find the Google Docs file you want to make available offline. You can also select multiple files by holding down the Ctrl key (Windows) or Command key (Mac) while clicking on each file.

Step 3: Enable Offline Access

Right-click on the selected file(s) and click "Make available offline" from the dropdown menu. A checkmark icon will appear next to the file name indicating it is now accessible offline.

Enable Google Docs Offline Access

Step 4: Adjust Offline Settings (Optional)

To enable offline access for all your Google Docs files by default:

  • Click the gear icon in the top-right corner of the Google Docs homepage
  • Select "Settings"
  • Check the box next to "Offline"
  • Click "Done" to save your changes

Offline Settings in Google Docs

Step 5: Access Files Offline

Your selected files will now be accessible offline in Google Docs! Simply open the file while disconnected from the internet to view or edit it. Any changes made will be automatically synced the next time you connect to wifi.

That‘s all it takes to enable offline access in Google Docs. But there are a few best practices to keep in mind…

Tips for Using Google Docs Offline Effectively

While offline mode is a useful tool, there are some limitations and potential issues to be aware of. Here are some expert tips for using Google Docs offline effectively:

1. Sync Files Proactively

Before going offline, open your Google Docs files to ensure they‘re fully synced and up-to-date. This is especially important if you‘re collaborating with others who may have made changes to the document since your last sync.

2. Check Your Offline Status

Not sure if you‘re online or offline? Look for the grey circle icon in the top-right corner of your Google Doc. If it has a lightning bolt icon, that means you‘re offline. Clicking on the icon will provide more details about your connection status and last sync time.

3. Manage Your Storage

Keep in mind that offline files are stored locally on your device, so they can take up significant storage space. If you‘re low on storage, be selective about which files you make available offline. You can remove offline access for individual files by right-clicking and selecting "Remove offline access."

4. Use Offline Mode on Mobile

Google Docs offline mode isn‘t just for desktop! You can also access your files offline using the Google Docs mobile apps for Android and iOS. Simply open the app settings and toggle on "Make recent files available offline."

5. Know Your Limitations

While offline mode allows you to view and edit your documents, some features like sharing, commenting, and add-ons won‘t be available without an internet connection. You also won‘t be able to insert images or access the research tool while offline. Plan your work accordingly!

By following these tips, you can make the most of Google Docs offline mode and avoid potential issues. But what does offline mode look like in practice? Let‘s explore some real-world use cases.

Real-World Examples of Using Google Docs Offline

To help illustrate the practical benefits of offline mode, here are a few scenarios where having offline access to your files can be a lifesaver:

1. Drafting Documents on a Flight

Marissa, a freelance writer, frequently travels for client meetings and conferences. Before boarding her flight, she enables offline access for her current project in Google Docs. During the flight, Marissa is able to continue drafting and editing the document without issue. When she lands and connects to wifi at her hotel, all her changes are synced automatically.

2. Editing Presentations on the Train

Jorge, a sales manager, commutes to the office by train every day. The wifi on his route is notoriously unreliable, so he makes sure to enable offline access for his upcoming presentation deck in Google Slides. On the train, he‘s able to review and make last-minute tweaks to the slides without worrying about spotty internet. His presentation goes off without a hitch!

3. Collaborating During a Power Outage

The marketing team at Acme Inc. is working on a tight deadline for a new product launch when a sudden storm knocks out power at the office. Luckily, they had enabled offline mode for their shared Google Docs beforehand. The team is able to continue working on the launch materials from their individual laptops, even without electricity or wifi. When power is restored hours later, everyone‘s changes are synced seamlessly.

These examples demonstrate how offline mode can help you stay productive and collaborative in a variety of situations. Whether you‘re traveling, commuting, or dealing with unexpected outages, having offline access to your files ensures you can keep working no matter what.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions about using Google Docs offline? Here are answers to some of the most common queries:

Q: Can I use offline mode with browsers other than Chrome? A: No, offline access for Google Docs is only available in the Chrome browser. If you typically use another browser like Firefox or Safari, you‘ll need to switch to Chrome to enable and use offline mode.

Q: What happens if multiple people edit the same document offline? A: Google Docs will attempt to automatically merge any changes made to a document, whether online or offline. However, if there are conflicting changes (e.g. two people edit the same sentence differently), you may need to manually resolve the differences. It‘s best to communicate with your collaborators to avoid unintentional overwrites.

Q: Will offline mode work on any device? A: Offline mode should work on most modern devices including laptops, tablets, and smartphones, as long as you‘re using the Chrome browser or the Google Docs mobile apps. However, you‘ll want to make sure your device has adequate storage space to save your offline files.

Q: How can I tell if a file is available offline? A: Files that have been made available offline will display a checkmark icon next to the filename in Google Drive. You can also right-click on a file and see if "Available offline" is checked in the dropdown menu.

Q: What if I accidentally delete an offline file? A: If you delete a file that was saved for offline access, it will be removed from your local device storage. However, the original file will still exist in Google Drive and can be re-saved for offline access if needed. Keep in mind that any changes made to the offline version will be lost if deleted.

For more troubleshooting and support, visit the official Google Docs Help Center or reach out to Google‘s customer support team.

Using Offline Mode in Other Google Apps

Google Docs isn‘t the only app with offline capabilities – other Google productivity apps like Sheets and Slides offer offline modes too. Here‘s a quick breakdown of how to enable offline access in each:

Google Sheets

  • Open the Google Sheets homepage and click the menu icon in the top-left corner
  • Select "Settings" and toggle "Offline" to on
  • Right-click individual files and toggle on "Available offline"

Google Slides

  • Open the Google Slides homepage and click the menu icon in the top-left corner

With offline mode enabled across your core Google apps, you can create, edit, and present your files seamlessly – with or without an internet connection.

In today‘s fast-paced, mobile-first work environment, we can‘t always rely on a stable internet connection. But that doesn‘t have to mean compromising on productivity or collaboration. By leveraging Google Docs offline mode, you can access and work on your files anywhere, anytime – no wifi required.

As we‘ve covered in this guide, enabling offline access in Google Docs is a simple process with significant benefits. From traveling professionals to remote teams, offline mode empowers users to maintain momentum and get work done in any scenario. Plus, with automatic syncing and version control, you can collaborate seamlessly across devices and connections.

So what are you waiting for? Take a few minutes to set up offline mode in Google Docs (and Sheets and Slides) today. The next time you find yourself without internet, you‘ll be ready to keep working without missing a beat.

Key Takeaways

  • Google Docs offline mode allows you to view, edit, and create files without an internet connection
  • Offline access can boost productivity, protect privacy, conserve battery, and enable collaboration anywhere
  • Enabling offline mode only takes a few steps, but requires the Chrome browser and adequate storage space
  • Offline capabilities extend to other Google productivity apps like Sheets and Slides
  • Proactive syncing, storage management, and awareness of limitations are keys to using offline mode effectively

With these tips and insights, you‘re ready to master Google Docs offline mode and transform the way you work on the go. For more Google Docs tutorials and productivity hacks, check out the Google Workspace Learning Center.

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  • Mastering Presentation Tools: A Comparative Guide
  • Mastering Presentation Tools

Google Slides vs. Canva

Aayush Jain

Aayush Jain

Google Slides and Canva are popular tools in the digital presentation space, each with distinctive features catering to different user needs. Google Slides focuses on collaboration and ease of use, making it ideal for users who require real-time teamwork capabilities across various devices. Canva, on the other hand, emphasizes design and aesthetics, offering a vast array of templates and design elements that allow users to create visually stunning presentations with ease. This comparison aims to help users decide which tool best suits their specific needs for creating impactful presentations.

Comparison Table

Choosing between Google Slides and Canva largely depends on your specific needs—whether it's collaboration and ease of access with Google Slides or design aesthetics and creativity with Canva. For those who require professional and custom-tailored presentations that combine the best of both platforms, INK PPT offers expert design services. Our team can help you create presentations that not only look impressive but also effectively communicate your message. Contact INK PPT today to elevate your presentation game.

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The Purdue On-Campus Writing Lab and Purdue Online Writing Lab assist clients in their development as writers—no matter what their skill level—with on-campus consultations, online participation, and community engagement. The Purdue Writing Lab serves the Purdue, West Lafayette, campus and coordinates with local literacy initiatives. The Purdue OWL offers global support through online reference materials and services.

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  • When using Google Workspace, you can  hold large remote events .
  • Workspace organizations with admin capabilities can switch this feature on or off for the entire organization.
  • On your computer, when you click Present before you join a meeting, you join in Companion mode. When you use this option, your mic and speaker are unavailable.

Learn more about Google Meet settings for admins .

Join a Meet video meeting . At the bottom, click Present now . Select Your entire screen, A window , or A tab . If you present a Chrome tab, it shares that tab's audio by default. To present a different tab, select the tab you want to present, click Share this tab instead . If you present a Slides presentation through a tab, you can control it in Meet . Click Share. Optional: To unpin your presentation and view it as a tile, click Unpin . See how to un-pin a presentation in Google Meet using Google Workspace for business You can now see more participants while you present.
  • If your camera is turned on, your video is active while you're presenting.
  • For better presentations and to prevent mirroring, share a new window or a specific tab instead of the meeting window.
  • To share your audio, you must select Share a Chrome tab or Share this tab.

Stop presenting

  • In the Meet window, click Stop Presenting .

and then

Present if someone else is already presenting

  • At the bottom, click Present now .
  • Select Your entire screen , A window, or Chrome Tab.
  • Select Present instead .

Control Slides presentations in Google Meet

  • Business Starter
  • Business Standard
  • Business Plus
  • Enterprise Starter
  • Enterprise Essentials
  • Enterprise Standard
  • Enterprise Plus
  • Education Standard
  • Education Plus
  • Teaching & Learning Upgrade
  • Workspace Individual

If you’re using Google Meet on an eligible work or school account, you can control Google Slides presentations from within a Google Meet video meeting. You can also make other people in the video meeting co-presenters.

Important : To control a Google Slides presentation from a Google Meet video meeting, you must use a computer with a Chrome browser.

  • In a Chrome tab or window, open the Slides file you want to present.
  • In a different Chrome window, open Google Meet and join a video meeting.

and then

  • You can either present from the Google Meet tab, or present directly from the Slides tab .
  • Select the tab with the Slides presentation, then click Share .
  • Important: You can only control a presentation in Google Meet when you're in slideshow mode.
  • Click to the next or previous slide with the arrow buttons.
  • Jump to a specific slide by clicking the slide number, and choosing from the list of slides.

Add a co-presenter

Present to Google Meet from Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides

Share files you present.

As you present, you can share access to the file when someone needs it. You can only share Docs, Sheets, or Slides files.

Important: To see share suggestions, you must use the Chrome or Edge browser and not be in Incognito mode.

  • A sharing suggestion only appears if you select “Present a tab” as the sharing mode.
  • You can grant access to the file and attach the file to the meeting’s Calendar event.
  • You shared the file.
  • The link is shared in the meeting’s chat.

Share during the presentation

presentation how to use google

  • If all participants have access to the file, the link is shared in the Meet chat and attached to the Calendar event.
  • If a participant doesn’t have access to the file, you’re notified with a pop-up. Click Share in Meet chat .
  • The file is shared in the Meet chat and attached to the Calendar event.

Tip: To not attach a file to an event, in the pop-up, uncheck “Attach the file to the Calendar event.”

Share in Meet chat

presentation how to use google

  • If all participants have access to the file, the link appears in the Meet chat.

Send

  • The file is shared in the Meet chat.

Need more help?

Try these next steps:.

presentation how to use google

Google Meet is your one app for video calling and meetings across all devices. Use video calling features like fun filters and effects or schedule time to connect when everyone can join.

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  24. Google Slides vs. Slidebean

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  26. Google Slides vs. Canva

    Google Slides and Canva are popular tools in the digital presentation space, each with distinctive features catering to different user needs. Google Slides focuses on collaboration and ease of use, making it ideal for users who require real-time teamwork capabilities across various devices. Canva, on the other hand, emphasizes design and ...

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  30. Present during a video meeting

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