Open Google Slides and start a blank presentation
Go to slides.google.com in any web browser. If you are signed into a Google account, you will see your existing presentations and a button labeled "Create" with a plus sign. Click that button and select "Blank presentation" from the menu.
Google Slides opens in a new tab with a single blank slide. The slide has two text boxes by default — one for a title and one for content below it. You can start typing when ready into either box, or you can change the slide layout first if you need something different.
The file saves automatically to your Google Drive. At the top left, you will see "Untitled presentation" — click that text to give your file a real name. The name appears in your Drive and in browser tabs, so choose something you will recognize later.
Key Takeaways
- Google Slides saves every change automatically to your Google Drive, so you do not need to remember to save manually.
- You can add slides by clicking the plus button in the left panel, and you can change what is on each slide by choosing a layout from the layout menu.
- Text, images, and shapes all live in the toolbar on the left side — click the icon you need and then click on the slide where you want it.
- You can share a presentation with others by clicking "Share" in the top right, and they can view it, comment on it, or edit it depending on the permission you give them.
- Google Slides works in any web browser and on phones and tablets through the Google Slides app, so you can edit from anywhere.
Add and arrange slides
The left panel shows all your slides as thumbnails. To add a new slide, click the plus button at the top of that panel, or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+M (Windows) or Command+M (Mac). A new slide appears below the one you were viewing.
Each new slide starts with the title-and-content layout. To change what a slide looks like, click the "Layout" button in the toolbar at the top. A panel opens on the right showing different layouts — title only, title with two columns, blank, and others. Click the layout you want and the slide rearranges itself.
To delete a slide, right-click its thumbnail in the left panel and select "Delete slide" from the menu. To reorder slides, click and drag a thumbnail up or down in the left panel. The slide moves to the new position and all the others shift to make room.
Add text, images, and shapes
To add text anywhere on a slide, click the text box icon in the toolbar (it looks like a capital T) and then click on the slide where you want the text to go. A box appears and you can type. Click outside the box when you are done.
To add an image, click the image icon in the toolbar. You can upload a file from your computer, search Google Images, or paste a URL. Once the image is on the slide, you can drag it to move it, and drag the corners to resize it. Right-click the image to crop it, rotate it, or replace it.
To add a shape — a rectangle, circle, arrow, or callout — click the shape icon in the toolbar (it looks like a circle). A menu opens showing different shape categories. Click the shape you want, then click and drag on the slide to draw it. You can change its color, outline, and fill by right-clicking it and selecting "Format options."
Format text and change colors
Click any text box to select it, then highlight the words you want to change. The toolbar shows options for bold, italic, underline, font size, and font family. You can also change the text color by clicking the text color icon (the A with a colored line underneath).
To change the background color of a text box or shape, right-click it and select "Format options." A panel opens on the right. Under "Fill color," click the color square to choose a new color. You can pick from Google's preset colors or click "Custom" to enter a specific color code.
To change the background color of the entire slide, click an empty area of the slide (not on any object), then right-click and select "Change background." A small menu appears with color options. Click the color you want and it applies to that slide only. If you want all slides to have the same background, select "explore to all slides" before closing the menu.
Insert and edit tables
Click the table icon in the toolbar to insert a table. A menu appears asking how many rows and columns you want. Enter the numbers and click "Create." A table appears on your slide with empty cells.
Click any cell and type to add content. To add a row or column, right-click the table and select "Insert row above," "Insert row below," "Insert column left," or "Insert column right." To delete a row or column, right-click it and select "Delete row" or "Delete column."
To change the table's appearance, right-click it and select "Format options." You can change the border color, cell background color, and text formatting. The options appear in a panel on the right side of the screen.
Share your presentation with others
Click the "Share" button in the top right corner. A dialog box opens asking who you want to share with. Type the email address of the person you want to invite, or paste a link to send them instead.
Below the email field, you will see three permission options: "Viewer" (they can only look at it), "Commenter" (they can add comments but not change anything), and "Editor" (they can make changes). Select the permission level you want and click "Share."
If you choose to share a link instead of sending to specific people, click "Copy link" and paste it anywhere — email, chat, a document, a website. Anyone with the link can open the presentation if you have set the permission to allow it. You can change permissions later by clicking "Share" again and adjusting who has access.
Use speaker notes and present your slides
To add notes that only you see during a presentation, click "View" in the top menu and select "Show speaker notes." A text box appears below each slide where you can type reminders, talking points, or timing cues. These notes do not appear when you present or when others view the slides.
To start a presentation, click the "Present" button in the top right (it looks like a play button). Your slides fill the screen in full-screen mode. Use the arrow keys or click to move between slides. Press "S" to see speaker notes and a timer on your screen while the audience sees only the slides. Press "Escape" to exit the presentation and return to the editing view.
If you are presenting to people in the same room, you can also share a link to the presentation so they can follow along on their own devices. Click "Share" and send them the link with "Viewer" permission so they cannot accidentally change anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Google Slides offline?
Yes. Go to myaccount.google.com, click "Security" in the left menu, scroll down to "Your devices," and turn on "Offline." Then open any presentation in Google Slides, click the menu button (three dots in the top right), and select "Make available offline." The presentation downloads to your device and you can edit it without internet. Changes sync back to the cloud when you reconnect.
How do I add animations to slides?
Click the object you want to animate (text, image, or shape), then click "Insert" in the top menu and select "Animation." A panel opens on the right showing animation options like "Fade," "Slide," and "Bounce." Click the animation you want and it plays when you advance to that slide during a presentation. You can add multiple animations to the same object and control the order they play.
Can I embed a video in my presentation?
Yes. Click "Insert" in the top menu and select "Video." You can search YouTube, paste a video URL, or upload a file from your computer. The video appears on the slide and plays when you click it during a presentation. Not all video formats are supported — YouTube links and common formats like MP4 work best.
What happens if someone edits my presentation while I am editing it?
Google Slides shows you when someone else is viewing or editing the same presentation. Their cursor appears on the slide with their name, and you see their changes in real time. If you both edit the same text box at the same time, Google Slides merges the changes, though you may need to fix the wording afterward.
Can I read my presentation as a PowerPoint file?
Yes. Click "File" in the top menu, select "read," and choose "Microsoft PowerPoint (.pptx)." The file downloads to your computer. You can then open it in PowerPoint, Google Slides, or any other presentation software. Some formatting may change slightly when you convert between formats.