What a Google Slides link is and why you need one
A Google Slides link is the web address that lets other people view or edit your presentation without needing to own a copy themselves. When you create a presentation in Google Slides, it lives in your Google Drive account. To let someone else see it, you generate a shareable link — a URL that starts with docs.google.com — and send that link to them instead of the file itself.
The link is useful because it keeps your presentation in one place. When you make changes, everyone with the link sees the updated version when ready. You don't have to email new versions back and forth, and you don't have to worry about someone editing an old copy by accident.
You control what people can do with the link: you can let them view only, comment, or edit. This matters because viewing-only prevents accidental changes, while editing access lets collaborators work on the slides with you in real time.
Key Takeaways
- Open your presentation in Google Slides, click the blue Share button in the top right, and copy the link that appears in the dialog box.
- Before sharing, set the permission level: Viewer means people can only look, Commenter means they can leave notes, Editor means they can change the slides.
- A shareable link works for anyone with the link — they don't need a Google account unless you restrict it to specific people.
- You can change permissions or stop sharing at any time by opening the Share dialog again and adjusting the settings.
How to create and copy a shareable link
Open your presentation in Google Slides by going to slides.google.com and clicking on the presentation you want to share. Once it's open, look for the blue Share button in the top right corner of the screen, next to your profile picture. Click it.
A dialog box will appear. At the top, you'll see a link that starts with docs.google.com. This is your shareable link. Click the Copy link button next to it, or select all the text and copy it manually. The link is now in your clipboard and ready to paste into an email, message, or document.
If you don't see a link at the top of the dialog, look for a button that says Change to anyone with the link or similar text. Click that first, then the link will appear and you can copy it.
Setting permission levels before you share
Before you send the link to someone, decide what you want them to be able to do. In the Share dialog, look for a dropdown menu that currently says Viewer, Commenter, or Editor. Click it to see your options.
Viewer means the person can only look at the slides — they cannot make changes or leave comments. Use this when you want to show someone a finished presentation and don't want accidental edits. Commenter lets them add notes and suggestions without changing the actual slides. Editor gives them full access to edit, add, delete, or rearrange slides just like you can.
Choose the permission level that matches what you need, then copy and share the link. You can change the permission level later if you need to — just open the Share dialog again and adjust the dropdown.
Sharing the link with specific people instead of anyone
By default, a shareable link works for anyone who has it — they don't need a Google account. If you want only certain people to access the presentation, you can restrict it. In the Share dialog, look for text that says Anyone with the link and click it.
A menu will appear with options like Restricted, Anyone with the link, or Public on the web. Select Restricted. Now the link will only work for people you specifically add to the sharing list.
When you choose Restricted, you'll see a field where you can type email addresses. Add the people you want to share with, set their permission level (Viewer, Commenter, or Editor), and click Share. They'll get an email notification, and the link will only work for them.
What happens when someone opens your link
When you send the link to someone, they click it and the presentation opens in their web browser. They don't need to read anything or create a copy — they're viewing your original presentation directly from Google Drive.
If you gave them Editor access, they can make changes right away, and you'll see those changes appear on your screen in real time. If you gave them Viewer or Commenter access, they'll see a button to leave comments but won't be able to edit the slides themselves.
The person viewing the link doesn't need a Google account unless you restricted the link to specific people. If you restricted it, they'll be asked to sign in with a Google account before they can view it.
Stopping the share or changing who can access it
If you want to stop sharing the presentation, open it in Google Slides and click the Share button again. In the dialog, find the text that says Anyone with the link or the names of people you shared with. Click on it.
Select Restricted from the menu that appears. This disables the shareable link — anyone who tries to use the old link will get an error message saying they don't have access. The presentation is now only visible to people you specifically invite through the Share dialog.
You can also remove individual people by clicking the X next to their name in the sharing list, or change someone's permission level by clicking their current permission and selecting a different one.
Troubleshooting common link problems
If someone says they can't open your link, the most common reason is that you restricted it to specific people but didn't add their email address. Ask them for their email, open the Share dialog, and add them manually. They should be able to access it within a few seconds.
If the link shows an error that says "You need access," the presentation may have been moved or deleted. Open Google Slides on your own account and make sure the presentation still exists. If it does, generate a new link and send that instead.
If someone is trying to edit but can't make changes, check the permission level in the Share dialog. It may be set to Viewer or Commenter instead of Editor. Change it to Editor and they'll be able to edit when ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the link itself, or do I have to use the one Google gives me?
You cannot change the link itself — Google generates it automatically and it stays the same. However, you can disable it and create a new one by changing the sharing settings to Restricted and then back to Anyone with the link. The new link will be different.
What's the difference between a link and an email invite?
A shareable link works for anyone who has it, even if you don't know their email address. An email invite goes directly to someone's inbox and they can accept or decline. Use a link when you want to share widely; use email invites when you want to control exactly who gets access.
If I delete the presentation, what happens to the link?
The link stops working when ready. Anyone who tries to open it will see an error message. If you move the presentation to trash and then restore it, the link will work again.
Can someone read the presentation using the link?
Yes, if they have Editor or Commenter access, they can read it as a PowerPoint file, PDF, or other format using the File menu. If they only have Viewer access, they cannot read it.
Do I need a Google account to create a shareable link?
Yes, you need a Google account to create the presentation and generate the link. The people you share the link with don't need an account unless you restrict the link to specific email addresses.