How to Make a Presentation in Google Slides for Beginners

Google Slides is a free, browser-based presentation tool that is part of Google Workspace. Unlike traditional presentation software, it runs entirely in your web browser, saves automatically to the cloud and allows multiple people to work on the same deck at the same time. If you are new to Google Slides, this guide will take you from opening the application for the first time to delivering a finished presentation. Each section covers a specific skill so you can work through the guide in order or jump to the topic you need.

How to Create a New Presentation in Google Slides

There are three ways to start a new presentation:

1. From Google Drive: Go to drive.google.com, click the New button, select Google Slides and choose "Blank presentation" or a template.
2. From the Google Slides homepage: Visit slides.google.com and click the plus sign to create a new blank presentation or choose a template from the template gallery.
3. From within Google Workspace: If you use Gmail or Google Docs, you can create a new Slides presentation through the app launcher in the top-right corner.

When you create a new presentation, Google Slides automatically names it "Untitled presentation". Click the title at the top of the screen to rename it. The file saves to your Google Drive automatically every few seconds, so there is no need to press Ctrl+S.

How to Use Themes and Templates

Google Slides provides a library of built-in themes. A theme controls the colour scheme, font pairing and slide background. To apply a theme, click the Theme button in the toolbar and choose from the sidebar that appears. You can also import custom themes from other presentations.

Templates are pre-built presentations designed for specific use cases such as project proposals, lesson plans, business reports and photo albums. The template gallery is available from the Google Slides home screen. If you do not see the template gallery, look for the settings gear icon and enable "Display recent templates and galleries".

You can also create your own template by designing a presentation with your brand colours, logo placement and standard slide layouts, then saving it as a template by making a copy each time you start a new project.

How to Add, Duplicate and Rearrange Slides

New presentations start with one title slide. To add slides:

• Click the plus sign in the toolbar to add a new slide with the default layout.
• Right-click in the slide thumbnail panel on the left and choose "New slide".
• Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+M (Cmd+M on Mac).

To duplicate a slide, right-click the slide thumbnail and select "Duplicate slide" or select it and press Ctrl+D (Cmd+D on Mac). Duplicating is useful when you want to reuse a layout with different content.

To rearrange slides, drag the thumbnail to a new position in the left panel. You can also select multiple slides by holding Ctrl (Cmd on Mac) and clicking, then drag them all at once.

How to Add and Format Text

Every slide in Google Slides contains placeholders with default text boxes. To add text, click inside a placeholder and start typing. You can also insert your own text boxes by clicking the Text Box icon in the toolbar and clicking on the slide.

The formatting options are similar to Google Docs:

• Font and size: Use the dropdown menus in the toolbar. Google Fonts are available directly in the font list.
• Bold, italic and underline: Use the toolbar buttons or keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl+B, Ctrl+I, Ctrl+U).
• Colour: Select the text and click the text colour button in the toolbar.
• Line spacing and alignment: Found in the Format menu under "Align and indent" and "Line spacing".

For consistent formatting across your presentation, modify the slide master instead of formatting each slide individually. Click Slide, "Edit master" to change fonts, colours and placeholders for every slide at once.

How to Add Images, Shapes and Videos

Images

Click Insert, Image and choose from: Upload from computer, Search the web, Drive, Photos, By URL or Camera. Once inserted, click and drag the corners to resize. Hold Shift to maintain the aspect ratio. Use the Format options panel to adjust transparency, brightness and contrast.

Shapes and Diagrams

Click Insert, Shape and choose from rectangles, rounded rectangles, ovals, arrows, callouts and equation shapes. Shapes can be filled with colour, outlined and combined to create simple diagrams. Use the Line tool for connectors and arrows between shapes.

Videos

Google Slides supports embedded YouTube videos. Click Insert, Video and search YouTube directly from the dialog box or paste a YouTube URL. The video plays during your presentation in presenter mode, not in the editor view. You can set the video to start and end at specific timestamps.

How to Add Transitions and Animations

Transitions control how one slide changes to the next. To apply a transition, select a slide, click Insert, Transition or use the Transition button in the toolbar. Choose from Fade, Slide from right, Cube, Flowing, Glide and more. Set the duration in seconds. Apply the same transition to all slides by clicking "Apply to all slides".

Animations control how individual elements on a slide appear. Select an element, click Insert, Animation and choose an entrance, exit or emphasis animation. Set the trigger (on click, after previous or with previous) and adjust the speed. Use animations sparingly. Too many animations distract the audience and slow the pace of your presentation.

How to Collaborate in Real Time

Real-time collaboration is the main reason many teams choose Google Slides over desktop alternatives. To share a presentation, click the Share button in the top-right corner. Enter email addresses or generate a shareable link. Set permissions to Viewer, Commenter or Editor.

When multiple people edit the same presentation, you see their cursor positions and changes in real time. Each collaborator appears as a different colour. The chat panel (View, Show chat) allows in-editor messaging. To see the revision history, click File, Version history, "See version history". You can name specific versions and restore any previous version.

Comments and suggestions are useful for feedback. Select text or an object, right-click and choose Comment. Comments can be assigned to specific collaborators using the + sign and their email address. You can reply, resolve or reopen comments as the presentation evolves.

How to Present Your Google Slides Deck

When you are ready to present, click the Slideshow button in the top-right corner or press Ctrl+F5 (Cmd+Enter on Mac). This enters full-screen presentation mode.

Presenter View

Click the three-dot menu in the slideshow toolbar and select "Open presenter view". Presenter view shows the current slide, a preview of the next slide, speaker notes, a timer and a slide navigator. Your audience sees only the slides. Use the speaker notes section to keep your talking points visible while presenting.

Presentation Controls

• Use the arrow keys or click the left and right arrows to advance slides.
• Press the number of any slide and Enter to jump to it.
• Press B to black out the screen and W to white out the screen.
• Use the pen tool (bottom of presenter view) to draw on slides during the presentation.
• Closed captions are available in English for live presentations (CC button in the toolbar).

How to Download, Export and Share Your Presentation

Google Slides offers several export options. Go to File, Download to save as:

You can also publish your presentation to the web by going to File, Share, "Publish to web". This generates a link that shows your slides in a browser frame with optional auto-advance settings. Use this for embedding presentations on a website or sharing with a large audience that does not need edit access.

Google Slides Keyboard Shortcuts Every Beginner Should Know

Common Beginner Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Too Much Text Per Slide

Google Slides is a visual medium. A slide with ten lines of small text is not readable from the back of the room. Aim for no more than six lines per slide and six words per line. The rest goes in the speaker notes.

Ignoring the Slide Master

Changing the font on every slide individually is inefficient and inconsistent. Use the slide master (Slide, Edit master) to set the default font, colour and background for the entire presentation.

Overusing Animations and Transitions

Flashy transitions between every slide make the presentation feel unprofessional. Use a single subtle transition such as Fade or Slide from right consistently. Reserve animations for emphasising one or two elements per slide, not every bullet point.

Not Checking the Share Permissions

Before presenting, verify that all collaborators have the correct access level. A viewer who cannot see the slides during the meeting creates confusion. Use "Anyone with the link can view" for audience-facing presentations.

Forgetting to Test Embedded Media

YouTube videos embedded in a presentation may not play if the internet connection is slow or if the video is private. Test all media before the presentation and have a backup link ready.

How to Get the Most Out of Google Slides

Google Slides is more capable than most beginners realise. A few features that separate intermediate users from beginners:

• Linked objects: Charts and tables created in Google Sheets can be linked to Google Slides. When the source data in Sheets updates, the chart in Slides updates automatically.
• Add-ons: The Extensions menu provides access to add-ons such as SlideCut for document-to-slide conversion, plus chart builders, icon libraries and accessibility checkers.
• Offline mode: Enable offline access in Google Drive settings to edit and present slides without an internet connection. Changes sync when you reconnect.
• Q&A feature: During a presentation, the audience can submit questions through a link. The presenter sees the questions in presenter view and can choose when to answer them.
• Version naming: Before making major edits, name the current version in File, Version history. This gives you a safe point to return to if the edits do not work out.

Frequently asked questions

Is Google Slides free?

Yes. A Google account (personal or Google Workspace) gives you free access to Google Slides with 15 GB of cloud storage across Drive, Gmail and Photos. Google Workspace paid plans increase storage and add administrative controls.

Can I use Google Slides offline?

Yes. Install the Google Docs Offline extension in Chrome and enable offline access in Google Drive settings. You can then create, edit and present slides without an internet connection.

How many people can edit a Google Slides presentation at once?

Up to 100 people can view or edit a single presentation simultaneously. In practice, performance remains smooth with up to 20 active editors.

Can I convert PowerPoint files to Google Slides?

Yes. Upload the .pptx file to Google Drive, right-click and select "Open with Google Slides". Google Slides converts the file to its native format. Most formatting survives, though complex animations and some fonts may not transfer perfectly.

Does Google Slides have a mobile app?

Yes. The Google Slides mobile app is available for iOS and Android. It allows viewing, editing and presenting from a phone or tablet. The mobile presenter view displays speaker notes and lets you control the slides on a separate screen.

What file formats does Google Slides support for import?

Google Slides can import .pptx (PowerPoint), .ppt (older PowerPoint) and .odp (OpenDocument Presentation) files. It also allows pasting content from other formats through the clipboard.

Conclusion

Google Slides is a versatile tool that handles everything from quick internal updates to polished client-facing presentations. The key to using it well is understanding the core workflow: create a presentation, choose a theme, build your slides with text and visuals, collaborate with your team and present with confidence. The more you use the slide master, keyboard shortcuts and add-ons, the faster your workflow becomes. Start with the basics covered in this guide and you will be ready to create your first presentation in Google Slides within minutes.

Further reading

• Document Conversion Guides Hub
• Presentation Structure and Strategy Hub
• Turn Docs into Presentations in 60 Seconds
• Gemini Prompts for Better Google Slides
• How to Convert a Word Document into Google Slides