The simplest way to add music to Google Slides
Google Slides does not have a built-in audio upload feature the way PowerPoint does. Instead, you insert music by embedding a video file that contains only sound, or by linking to music hosted elsewhere. The most straightforward method is to upload an audio file to Google Drive, convert it to a video format using a free tool, then insert it back into your slide as a video object — which plays the audio while showing a blank screen or a still image.
If you want background music that plays automatically when you advance to a slide, you will need to use an embedded YouTube video or a third-party add-on. If you only need sound to play when you click it during a presentation, inserting a video file works fine and requires no extra tools.
Key Takeaways
- Google Slides plays audio through video objects, not through a dedicated audio insertion tool, so you may need to convert an MP3 file to MP4 format first.
- The free online tool CloudConvert or similar services can convert MP3 to MP4 in under a minute without installing software.
- Once you have an MP4 file, you insert it into a slide using Insert > Video, then upload from Google Drive or paste a YouTube link.
- If you want music to play automatically when a slide appears, embedding a YouTube video is faster than converting files, though it requires the video to be public or unlisted.
- Audio will not play during a slideshow unless you are presenting from a device with internet access and the video source is reachable.
Converting an MP3 file to MP4 so Google Slides can play it
Google Slides accepts video files in MP4 format but does not natively accept MP3 audio files. If you have an MP3 on your computer, you need to convert it to MP4 first. The easiest free method is to use CloudConvert, a web-based converter that requires no account or software installation.
Go to cloudconvert.com, select MP3 as your input format and MP4 as your output format, then upload your audio file. The conversion takes a few seconds. read the resulting MP4 file to your computer. The file will be silent video — just audio with a black screen — but Google Slides will play it without complaint. If you want a still image to display while the audio plays, you can add that after inserting the video into your slide.
Other free converters that work the same way include Zamzar, Online-Convert, and Convertio. All of them produce an MP4 file you can when ready upload to Google Drive and insert into a slide.
Uploading your audio file to Google Drive and inserting it into a slide
Once you have an MP4 file, open Google Drive and upload it to the same folder where your presentation lives. This keeps everything organized and ensures Google Slides can find the file when you present. Right-click in the folder, select Upload Files, and choose your MP4 from your computer.
In Google Slides, click on the slide where you want the audio to play. Go to Insert > Video. A dialog box will appear with three options: Search YouTube, Upload from Computer, or Select from Drive. Click Select from Drive, find your MP4 file, and click Select. The video object will appear on your slide as a small rectangle with a play button. You can resize it, move it, or hide it behind a shape or image so only the audio is heard during the presentation.
To hide the video player itself, right-click the video object, select Format Options, then under the Size & Rotation tab, set the width and height to very small (like 1 inch by 1 inch) and move it to a corner of the slide. During the presentation, the audio will play when you click the object, but the player will be nearly invisible.
Playing music automatically when a slide appears
If you want music to start playing the moment you advance to a slide — without clicking anything — you cannot do this with a local MP4 file in Google Slides. However, you can do it with a YouTube video. Upload your audio to YouTube as an unlisted or private video (so only people with the link can see it), then embed that YouTube link into your slide.
Go to Insert > Video, then paste the YouTube URL. Google Slides will embed the video. Right-click the video object, select Format Options, and look for the Autoplay option. Check the box to enable autoplay. Now when you present and reach that slide, the audio will begin playing automatically.
The downside is that YouTube videos require an internet connection to play, and the video must remain unlisted or public for the duration of your presentation. If you delete the YouTube video or set it to private, the audio will not play during future presentations.
Using Google Slides add-ons for background music
If you frequently add music to presentations, a third-party add-on may save time. Open your presentation, click Extensions > Add-ons > Get Add-ons, and search for "audio" or "music". Several add-ons like Soundly and Audio Embed allow you to insert audio files more directly than the video workaround.
Most of these add-ons work by hosting your audio file on their servers and embedding a player into your slide. Read the privacy policy before uploading audio, especially if the file contains sensitive information. Some add-ons are free; others charge a monthly fee. Test the add-on on a practice presentation before using it on something important, because add-on features sometimes change or break when Google updates Slides.
What to do if your audio does not play during a presentation
Audio in Google Slides requires an active internet connection, even if the video file is stored in your Google Drive. Before you present, make sure you are connected to WiFi or mobile data. If you are presenting offline, the audio will not play.
If you embedded a YouTube video and the audio does not play, check that the video is still public or unlisted and that you have permission to view it. If you converted an MP3 to MP4 and the file is not playing, try re-uploading the file to Google Drive and re-inserting it into the slide. Sometimes Google Slides caches an old version of the file.
If you are presenting on a shared computer or projector, test the audio on that device before your presentation. Some projectors have muted audio by default, or the computer may not have speakers enabled. Bring headphones as a backup so you can hear the audio even if the room's speakers fail.
Comparing your options for adding music
| Method | Setup Time | Autoplay? | Requires Internet During Presentation? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Convert MP3 to MP4, upload to Drive, insert as video | 2–5 minutes | No (click to play) | Yes | Single audio files you want to play on demand |
| Embed YouTube video with autoplay | 5–10 minutes | Yes | Yes | Background music that starts automatically |
| Use an add-on like Soundly | 3–7 minutes | Varies by add-on | Yes | Frequent presentations where you want a faster workflow |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I upload an MP3 directly to Google Slides without converting it?
No. Google Slides only accepts video files (MP4, WebM, and a few others), not audio files. You must convert your MP3 to MP4 first using a free online tool like CloudConvert. The conversion takes less than a minute and produces a file that plays identically in your presentation.
Will the audio play if I present offline or without internet?
No. Google Slides requires an internet connection to play any embedded video or audio, even if the file is stored in your Google Drive. If you need to present without internet, read your presentation as a PowerPoint file instead, which can play local audio files offline.
How do I make the video player invisible so only the audio is heard?
Right-click the video object on your slide, select Format Options, and under Size & Rotation, shrink the width and height to 1 inch each. Move the tiny player to a corner of the slide. During your presentation, the audio will play when you click, but the player will be nearly invisible to your audience.
Can I add music that plays in the background while I talk?
Yes, but only if you use a YouTube video with autoplay enabled. Embed the YouTube link, right-click the video, select Format Options, and check Autoplay. The music will start when you reach that slide. For local MP3 files, you must click to play, so background music is not practical.
What if I want different music on different slides?
Insert a separate video object on each slide. You can convert multiple MP3 files to MP4, upload them all to Google Drive, and insert one on each slide. During your presentation, click each video when you want its audio to play. This works well for presentations with distinct sections, each with its own theme music.