Delete a single slide by right-clicking and selecting delete

The fastest way to remove one slide is to right-click on it in the slide panel on the left side of your screen, then click Delete slide from the menu that appears. The slide vanishes when ready. If you change your mind within a few seconds, press Ctrl+Z (or Cmd+Z on Mac) to undo.

On a touchpad or trackpad, you can also two-finger tap the slide thumbnail to bring up the same menu. On a phone or tablet, press and hold the slide thumbnail until the menu appears.

Select multiple slides at once to delete them together

If you need to remove several slides that are next to each other, click the first one, then hold Shift and click the last one. All the slides in between will highlight. Right-click any of the selected slides and choose Delete slide. All of them will be removed at once.

To delete slides that are not next to each other, click the first slide, then hold Ctrl (or Cmd on Mac) and click each additional slide you want to remove. Once they are all highlighted, right-click and select Delete slide.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click a slide thumbnail in the left panel and select Delete slide to remove a single slide.
  • Hold Shift and click to select a range of consecutive slides, then delete them all at once.
  • Hold Ctrl (or Cmd on Mac) and click individual slides to select non-consecutive ones before deleting.
  • Press Ctrl+Z or Cmd+Z when ready after deletion to undo if you removed a slide by mistake.
  • Deleted slides cannot be recovered after you close the document, so make sure you want to remove them before confirming.

Use the Edit menu if the right-click menu does not appear

If right-clicking does not work on your device or browser, you can delete slides through the menu bar instead. Click Edit at the top of the screen, then scroll down and click Delete slide. The currently selected slide will be removed.

This method works the same way whether you have one slide selected or multiple slides selected. Make sure the slide or slides you want to remove are highlighted before you open the Edit menu.

Understand what happens to your document when you delete slides

When you delete a slide, Google Slides removes it from your presentation permanently. The slide numbers of all slides after the deleted one shift down by one. For example, if you delete slide 5, what was slide 6 becomes slide 5.

If other people have the document open at the same time you delete a slide, they will see it disappear from their view within a few seconds. Google Slides syncs changes across all open copies of the document in real time. If you are worried about accidentally deleting something important, you can check the version history before you delete — click File, then Version history, then See version history to view all past changes.

Recover a deleted slide using version history

If you deleted a slide and want it back, open the version history by clicking File at the top, then Version history, then See version history. A panel will open on the right side showing every change made to the document, with timestamps.

Scroll through the list until you find a version from before you deleted the slide. Click on that version to view it. Then click the Restore this version button (it looks like a curved arrow) to bring the entire presentation back to that point in time. This will restore the deleted slide, but it will also undo any other changes you made after that version was saved.

Avoid accidental deletion by using the trash or a backup copy

Google Slides does not have a trash or recycle bin like your computer does — deleted slides are gone from the document itself. However, version history keeps a record of every change for 100 days, so you have a window to recover a slide if you need it.

If you are about to delete many slides and want a safety net, make a copy of the presentation first. Click File, then Make a copy, and give it a name like "Backup - [original name]". Keep this copy untouched. If you delete something you need, you can open the backup and copy the slide back into your working document.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete a slide without it showing up in the version history?

No. Every change in Google Slides, including deletions, is recorded in the version history. If you delete a slide, anyone with access to the document can see that deletion by looking at the version history. If you need to hide content rather than delete it, consider moving the slide to the end of the presentation or creating a separate document instead.

What happens if I delete a slide that has comments on it?

The comments are deleted along with the slide. If you want to keep the comments but remove the slide, copy the text of the comments somewhere else before you delete. The version history will still show that the comments existed, but you will not be able to read them once the slide is gone.

Can I delete all the slides in a presentation?

Google Slides requires at least one slide in a presentation at all times. If you try to delete the last remaining slide, the delete option will be grayed out and you will not be able to remove it. You can blank out the slide or move it to the end, but you cannot delete every slide.

Does deleting a slide affect the sharing settings of the document?

No. Deleting a slide does not change who has access to the document or what permissions they have. Anyone who could view or edit the presentation before the deletion can still view or edit it afterward. The sharing settings remain exactly the same.