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Create, present, and collaborate on online presentations in real-time and from any device.

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Jeffery Clark

T h i s   c h a r t   h e l p s   b r i d g i n g   t h e   s t o r y !

E s t i m a t e d   b u d g e t

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With easy-to-use presenter view, speaker notes, and live captions, Slides makes presenting your ideas a breeze. You can even present to Google Meet video calls directly from Slides.

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You can present Google Slides so they show on a full screen.

View a presentation

To present a full-screen presentation in Google Slides:

• Open a presentation in Google Slides .

• From the current slide, the presentation will become full screen. To change slides, use the arrow keys on your keyboard or click the arrows at the bottom of the presentation.
• To exit full-screen, press the Esc key.

Present with notes, auto-advance slides & more

View a presentation with speaker notes.

• Click Presenter view .
• Click Speaker notes .

Advance slides automatically

• You present your presentation.
• Someone clicks on a link to your published presentation.
• Someone views your published presentation that's embedded in a website.

Advance slides automatically while you present

• Open a presentation in Google Slides.

• Choose how quickly to advance your slides.

Advance slides automatically for a published presentation

• If you use Google Slides through work or school, you can only share the link with people within your organization.
• After you publish your presentation, anyone with the link will be able to see your presentation.
• Choose Link or Embed .
• Under "Auto-advance slides," choose how much time you want to add between slides.

Stop publishing

Highlight & annotate as you present.

When you present, you can use a pen tool to draw or make annotations. Annotations stay during your presentation, but disappear after you end your slideshow.

Use the pen tool during a slideshow

• On your browser, open a presentation in Google Slides .

• To draw or annotate, click and drag on your slide.

Other actions while presenting

When you present, you can choose more options from the toolbar at the bottom of the presentation window:

• Select slides to present from a list
• Open "Presenter" view
• Turn on laser pointer
• Print the presentation
• Download the presentation in PDF or PPTX format

PC keyboard shortcuts

Mac keyboard shortcuts, chrome keyboard shortcuts, need more help, try these next steps:.

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Google Slides cheat sheet: How to get started

How to use google slides to create, collaborate on, and lead business presentations..

Need to build a slide presentation for a meeting, training, or other event? Google Slides is an easy-to-use web app that comes with the essential tools and more. It stores your presentations in the cloud with Google Drive. Anyone with a Google account can use Slides and Drive for free, and they’re also included with a Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) subscription for business and enterprise customers. There are Google Sheets mobile apps for Android and iOS, too.

This guide will help you become familiar with the Google Slides web interface and show you how to start a new presentation, upload a Microsoft PowerPoint file to edit in Google Slides, collaborate with others on your presentation, and finally, present it to others.

Create or open a presentation

Log in to your Google or Workspace account. Then:

From Google Slides : At the top of the home page, you’ll see a “Start a new presentation” header, with a row of thumbnails underneath. To start a new, blank presentation, click the Blank thumbnail. To start a new presentation in a template, select one of the thumbnails to the right or click Template gallery toward the upper-right corner, then click any thumbnail on the page that appears.

The Google Slides home page. (Click image to enlarge it.)

Below the “Start a new presentation” area you’ll see a list of presentations that are stored in your Google Drive or shared with you. To open a presentation, click it in this list.

The list of your presentations appears in reverse chronological order starting with the presentation you most recently opened. Clicking the “AZ” icon at the upper right of this list changes the sort order to Last modified by me , Last modified , or in alphabetical order by presentation title. You can also browse to a specific folder by clicking the folder icon next to the “AZ” icon.

From Google Drive : Presentations stored in your Google Drive are listed in the main window of the Drive home page. To see a listing of presentations that others are sharing with you, click Shared with me in the left column. From either list, double-click a presentation to open it in Google Slides.

To start a new, blank presentation, click the New button at the upper-left of the screen and then click Google Slides .

If you want to use a template to start a new presentation, click the New button, then move the cursor over the right arrow next to Google Slides and select From a template . The template gallery for Google Slides will open; click a thumbnail to start a new presentation in that template.

Creating a new presentation from Google Drive.

From Google Slides or Drive: You also can use the search box at the top to find presentations in your Google Drive or shared with you. Enter words or numbers that may be in the presentation you’re looking for.

Upload a PowerPoint presentation to Slides

You can edit a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation in Google Slides, but first you must upload it to Google Drive.

From Google Slides: Click the folder icon ( Open file picker ) that’s above and toward the right corner of your presentations list. On the panel that opens, click the Upload tab. Drag-and-drop your PowerPoint file (.ppt or .pptx) onto this panel, or browse your PC’s drive to select it.

From Google Drive: Click the New button, then File upload , and select the PowerPoint file from your PC’s drive and click Open .

Traditionally, when you uploaded PowerPoint files to Google Drive, they were automatically converted to Slides format. That’s still the case when you upload PowerPoint files via the Google Slides home page .

However, Google now supports the ability to edit Microsoft Office files in their native format. By default, any .pptx files that you upload via Google Drive will remain formatted as PowerPoint documents. You can edit and collaborate on a PowerPoint file right in Slides, with all changes made by you or your collaborators saved directly to the PowerPoint file.

On the Google Slides and Drive home pages, native PowerPoint files will be denoted with an orange “P” icon, and when you open a native PowerPoint file in Sheets, you’ll see a “.PPTX” flag to the right of the document title.

Native PowerPoint files show the PowerPoint icon (top) instead of the Google Slides icon (bottom).

If you’d rather have Google convert PowerPoint files to Slides format automatically when you upload them via Google Drive, click the gear icon in the upper-right corner of the Drive home screen and select Settings from the drop-down menu. In the Settings box next to “Convert uploads,” check the checkbox marked Convert uploaded files to Google Docs editor format .

Work in a presentation

When you open a new or existing presentation, its first slide appears in the main window of Google Slides. Here’s a breakdown of the toolbars, menus, panes, and sidebars that appear around your presentation.

The left pane shows thumbnails of all the slides in your presentation. Click a thumbnail, and the slide it represents will appear in the main window, where you can edit it.

The Google Slides editing interface. (Click image to enlarge it.)

Your presentation’s title appears along the top of the screen. To change it, click anywhere inside the title and start typing.

The menu bar below your presentation’s title has a complete set of tools for working with presentations. These are the main submenus to know:

• File has commands for taking action on the whole presentation, including Print, Rename, and Share.
• Edit lists the standard editing commands such as copy, cut, paste, delete, duplicate, and find and replace.
• View lists several ways that you can view your slides as you design and edit them. This includes arranging them into a grid, previewing them as a slideshow, or zooming in on them. You can also watch the transition effect that takes place between slides when they’re played in a slideshow.
• Insert lets you add several objects to your slides, including charts, diagrams, pictures, tables, and text. You can also add links to YouTube videos or sound or video files that are stored in your Google Drive.
• Format lets you change the look of your slides. Certain functions on this submenu become clickable depending on whether you’ve selected an image or text on a slide, or selected the slide itself.
• Slide is where you can add, delete, or duplicate a slide that you’ve selected. You can also add a preset layout to a slide, change its background or theme color, or add and edit a transition effect that takes place between slides when your presentation is played as a slideshow.
• Arrange lists tools that let you group or reorder objects on a slide in relation to another. For example, you can place an image behind another image or group an image and a block of text together to make them easier to move at once.
• Tools leads to several miscellaneous functions. These include letting you record a voice clip to go with a slide, running a spell checker, and showing you a list of objects in your presentation that are linked to other files.

The toolbar directly above your presentation puts commonly used commands in easy reach. From this toolbar, you can click buttons to add to a slide or change its background, comments, layout, objects (images, lines, shapes, text), text style, theme colors for the whole presentation, transition effects during a slideshow, and more. The buttons on the toolbar change depending on whether you’ve selected image or text on a slide or the slide itself.

Notice that there’s no Save button in the toolbar — or anywhere in Google Slides. That’s because Slides automatically saves any changes you make to your presentation.

Speaker notes: Along the bottom of each slide you’ll see an area marked Click to add speaker notes . Here you can type in brief notes to remind yourself what to do or say when the slide is being shown. Only you will see these notes when you show your presentation to an audience.

Themes sidebar: When you start a new blank presentation, the Themes sidebar opens on the right side of the screen. (You can also open this sidebar at any time by clicking Theme on the toolbar above your presentation.) Themes apply the same fonts, colors, and other design elements to all the slides in a presentation, giving it a consistent look and feel. Click a thumbnail in this sidebar to change your presentation to that theme.

Create and manage slides

Here are the basic things to know about working with slides in a presentation.

Add a new, blank slide to your presentation: Click the + button at the left end of the toolbar above your presentation. Alternatively, if you click the down arrow next to the +, you can choose a layout to use as the basis for a new slide.

Click the down arrow next to the + button in the toolbar to choose a layout for a new slide.

Apply or change a slide’s background: Select the slide’s thumbnail in the left sidebar and click Background on the toolbar above your presentation. On the panel that opens, you can change the slide’s background color or use an image file from your Google Drive, Google Photos account, or PC as the background.

Apply or change a slide’s layout: Select the slide’s thumbnail in the left pane, then click Layout on the toolbar above your presentation. On the panel that opens, select the layout you want to apply to this slide.

Apply or change a slide’s transition: Select the slide’s thumbnail in the left sidebar and click Transition on the toolbar above your presentation. In the Motion sidebar that opens along the right side of the screen, you can apply or change the animated transition effect that is played before this slide.

Choosing a transition style in the Motion pane.

Move a slide to a different spot in the slideshow sequence: Click and hold its thumbnail in the left sidebar, drag it up or down to another place in the sequence, and release it.

Delete a slide: Right-click its thumbnail in the left sidebar and select Delete from the pop-up menu. Alternatively, select its thumbnail and select Edit > Delete from the menu bar or just press the Delete key.

Share and collaborate on a presentation

Presentations are often a group effort, with several team members contributing to and polishing a presentation. In Slides, it’s easy for multiple collaborators to work on a presentation together.

First, you need to share the presentation. When you’re viewing your presentation in Google Slides, click the Share button at the upper-right. Or, from your Google Drive homepage, click to highlight the presentation that you want to share. Then, in the toolbar toward the upper right, click the Share icon (a head-and-shoulders silhouette with a +).

Either way, the “Share” panel will open.

Setting permissions for a file being shared privately.

Share a presentation privately

In the entry box, enter the email addresses (or names of your Google Contacts) of the people with whom you want to share. By default, the people you invite to your presentation can edit it and reshare it with others.

To change access permissions for invitees: Click Editor to the right of the entry box and choose another option from the drop-down menu. Commenter means they can view your spreadsheet and add comments but can’t change it. Viewer means they can view your presentation but can’t edit it or add comments.

To prevent your presentation from being reshared, downloaded, or printed: Click the gear icon at the upper-right of this panel. On the smaller panel that opens, uncheck the boxes by Editors can change permissions and share and Viewers and commenters can see the option to download, print, and copy .

When you’re done setting permissions (and, optionally, typing in a message to your invitees), click Send , and everyone you’ve added will receive an email with a link they can click to access the document.

The shared presentation icon.

A presentation you’ve shared (or that others have shared with you) will have an icon of two silhouetted heads next to it in the presentations list on your Google Sheets and Google Drive home pages.

To limit or change a person’s access to your presentation: With the presentation open in Google Slides, click the Share button at the upper-right. Or, from Google Drive, highlight the presentation and click the Share icon.

The Share panel reopens showing a list of all the people you’ve invited, along with their permission status. Click the down arrow to the right of a person’s name, change their permission level or remove their access entirely, and click Save .

You can change permissions for people you’ve shared a presentation with on an individual basis.

If you have a Google Workspace subscription, another option is to select Give temporary access and, next to Access expires , select a date within one year of the current date. If you set an expiration date for a person that you’ve assigned as Editor, their access will be downgraded to Commenter on the expiration date.

Share a presentation publicly

Most business users will want to share presentations privately with select colleagues or clients, but you do have the option to share a presentation publicly. At the bottom of the Share panel is a “General access” area where you can copy a link to the document. By default, this link is restricted to those you invite to the document. To change it to a public link, click Restricted and select Anyone with the link from the menu that appears.

Click Copy link and the link to your presentation will be copied to your PC’s clipboard. You can share this link by pasting it into a chat message, document, email, forum post, or most other means of online written communication. Anyone who clicks this link will be able to view your presentation online. (Be aware that anyone can copy and reshare this link.)

To allow anyone in the public to comment on or edit your presentation: At the bottom right of the Share panel, click Viewer and select Commenter or Editor from the drop-down menu. Then click the Done button. Now the web link to your presentation will let anyone who clicks it add a comment or edit it.

Sharing a spreadsheet publicly.

To turn off public sharing for your presentation: Bring up the Share panel again. Near the bottom, click Anyone with the link and select Restricted from the menu, then click the Done button.

Note: You can apply both public and private sharing methods to your presentation. For example, you could allow the public to only view your presentation, but allow specific people that you’ve invited to comment on or edit it.

Collaborate on a presentation

The people you’ve shared a spreadsheet with can view or work on it at the same time as you or at other times. Remember that people who have Editor privileges to your presentation can change all aspects of it. Having multiple people making changes to a presentation can get confusing. In most cases, setting everyone to Commenter is the best way to collaborate in Slides: People can attach comments to a slide or to objects in a slide, but their comments won’t alter your presentation’s information or design.

To add a comment to a slide: Right-click its thumbnail in the left sidebar and select Comment from the menu that opens. Alternatively, you can select its thumbnail and select Insert > Comment from the menu bar or click the Add comment button (a speech balloon with a + sign).

A blank comment card with your name on it opens to the right of the slide in the main window. On this card’s entry line, type a brief comment, and when you’re finished, click the Comment button.

Typing in a new comment.

To add a comment to an object on a slide: Right-click the object (a block of text, chart, image, picture, etc.) and select Comment from the menu that opens. Alternatively, you can select the object and select Insert > Comment from the menu bar.

To draw someone’s attention to a comment: As you’re composing the comment, type the @ symbol and begin typing their name, then select the person from the list of suggested Google contacts that appears. They’ll receive an email notifying them of the comment and linking to it.

To read, reply to, or remove a comment: A slide that contains a comment is denoted in the left sidebar with a speech balloon by its thumbnail. Click the slide’s thumbnail to make the slide appear in the main window, and you’ll see all its comment cards on the right.

To reply to a comment, click its card. The card will expand to reveal an entry line where you can add a comment in response.

Replying to a comment.

Clicking the checkmark at the upper right marks the comment card as “resolved” and removes the card from the presentation. Clicking the card’s three-dot icon opens a menu that lets you edit or delete your comment.

To see a list of all comments: Click the Open comment history icon (the speech balloon) to the left of the Slideshow button. A sidebar will open along the right side of the screen; it lists all the comment cards in your presentation. When you click a comment on this list, the view of your presentation in the main window will jump to the cell where the comment is located and open its comment card.

The Comments pane lets you quickly review all comments and jump to specific ones.

For more details about collaborating on your presentation, including what it’s like to collaborate in real time, see “ How to collaborate on a document ” in our Google Drive guide. You can also collaborate on a presentation in Google Chat; that’s covered later in this story.

Recover older versions of a presentation

It’s easy to go too far when making tweaks to a presentation. Fortunately, it’s also easy to roll back to an earlier version of the presentation. Click File > Version history > See version history . This opens a panel on the right that shows a list of older versions of your presentation.

Using Version history to view an earlier version of a presentation. (Click image to enlarge it.)

To view an earlier version of your presentation: Click the date for it in the list. That version of the presentation will then appear in the main window.

To restore an earlier version so it replaces your current presentation: With the version you want to restore showing in the main window, click the yellow Restore this version button at the top of the screen. The restored version will then appear at the top of the version history list.

To give an older version a unique name: Click on its date. You’ll be prompted to type in words to replace the date. (The date and time will then appear in smaller size underneath the new name.)

Give a presentation

When it’s time to play your presentation to an audience, Google Slides has two modes: Slideshow and Presenter view. Slideshow mode essentially shows what your audience will see. Presenter view mode provides additional tools for your eyes only that run alongside Slideshow mode.

Slideshow mode: Click the Slideshow button at the upper-right corner of the screen. Google Slides will expand to full-screen view and show the slide that’s currently in the main window. (If you want to start the slideshow from the first slide in your presentation, click the down arrow to the right of the Slideshow button and select Start from beginning .)

The control bar in Slideshow mode lets you click through the slides, turn on auto-play, use a laser pointer effect, and more. (Click image to enlarge it.)

When you move the on-screen pointer to the lower-left corner of your presentation, a control bar appears. You use this to click forward and back through the slides. Clicking the three-dot icon on the control bar opens a menu with other controls, such as starting auto-play and adjusting how quickly it moves from slide to slide.

On this menu, Turn on the laser pointer turns the mouse pointer into a simulated red laser dot. Captions preferences — available only if you’re using a Chrome browser or Chromebook — lets you turn on real-time, automatic transcribing of your words as you say them (English only) and shows them to your audience as on-screen captions. Open speaker notes takes your presentation out of full screen and opens a separate “Presenter view” window, as described below.

Presenter view mode: Click the down arrow to the right of the Slideshow button and select Presenter view . This shows the presentation in your browser window and launches a separate window that assists you while you’re giving your presentation.

Presenter view lets you (but not your audience) see your speaker notes while presenting. (Click image to enlarge it.)

From the Presenter view window, you can jump to any slide in your presentation, read the speaker notes you wrote for a slide, and control the Q&A feature. There’s also a timer that you can set to remind yourself how much time you’re spending showing a slide — or the entire presentation — to your audience.

Click the AUDIENCE TOOLS tab to use the Q&A feature, which lets you take questions from your audience. To open questions for a slideshow, click the Start new button. A web link appears at the top of your presentation. An audience member watching your presentation on their computer, phone, or tablet can click/tap that link, which will take them to a page where they can type a question for you. You’ll see the question  in your Presenter view window, and you can choose whether to show their question to the rest of your audience during the presentation. To close questions for a presentation, turn the switch from ON to OFF .

Audience members can submit questions from their devices, and the presenter can decide whether to display them as part of the slideshow. (Click image to enlarge it.)

Present in Google Meet

Need to give a presentation during a Google Meet video meeting? As long as you’re using a Chromium-based browser (Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Opera, etc.), it’s easy: Toward the upper right of the Google Slides page, click the Google Meet icon. From the panel that opens, select a meeting that’s scheduled on your Google calendar today, start a new meeting, or type/paste in the web link or code that you have for another meeting.

Click the Meet icon to get started presenting to a video meeting.

If you start a new meeting, a sidebar for the meeting will open on the right. At the bottom of the sidebar, click the Present now icon (a box with an up arrow). On the panel that appears, select your presentation and click the Share button, and you’ll be presenting to the meeting.

Choose which tab or window you want to share and click the Share button. (Click image to enlarge it.)

If you join a scheduled meeting, you have two choices: “Join the call” and “Just present this tab.” If you click Join the call , a sidebar for the meeting will open on the right. Follow the same steps as above to present to the meeting. If you click Just present this tab , you’ll go directly to the panel where you select your presentation and click Share , but you won’t have a sidebar where you can follow the main meeting.

To stop sharing your presentation to the meeting, click the Stop sharing button at the top left of your browser window.

For more details about using Google Meet, see our Google Meet cheat sheet .

Download and export a presentation

Google Slides lets you download presentations for use offline. On the top menu, select File > Download and choose a file format. You can save your presentation to your PC as a PowerPoint (.pptx) file or in other formats such as PDF, or as JPG or PNG for an individual slide.

5 tips for working with Google Slides

Now that you’re comfortable working in Google Slides, try these intermediate tips.

Use the Google Slides mobile app

With the exception of the “Version history” tool, the Google Slides app for Android , iPhone , and iPad has many of the same features described in this guide.

When you have a slideshow open, the toolbar at the top of the screen lets you take a variety of actions:

• To present your slides on your phone or tablet, on a Chromecast device, or in a Google Meet meeting, tap the triangle icon.
• To share your presentation with other people, the headshot silhouette. (See “How to share from the Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides mobile apps” in our Google Drive cheat sheet .)
• To view all the comments in the presentation, tap the Comments icon (a chat balloon) if you see it in the toolbar, or tap the three-dot icon and select View comments from the menu that appears.
• The three-dot menu also lets you see the presentation’s Q&A history, export it, make it available offline, and more.

The Google Slides Android app.

To edit or comment on a slide: Tap the slide, and a menu will appear that lets you add or view comments for that slide or edit it. Tap an element on a slide, such as text or an image, and tools to edit that element will appear.

Any changes you make to your presentation in the mobile app are automatically saved and will appear the next time you open it in the Google Slides web app.

Get suggested slide layouts and content

Click the Explore icon at the lower-right corner of the screen. The Explore sidebar will open along the right side. In most cases, you’ll be presented with thumbnails of suggested layouts that Google Slides has automatically customized for the slide that’s open in the main window. Click the one you want, and it will be applied to the slide.

Use the Explore tool to get suggested layouts (left) and search for images (right).

At the top of the Explore sidebar is a search box. You can type in a word or phrase to find related content on the web or in your Google Drive. Search results appear on separate Web, Images, and Drive tabs in the sidebar. Click a web or Drive result to open it in a new browser tab. On the Images tab, click the + icon on the upper-right corner of an image to insert it onto your slide.

Create custom slide layouts to use as templates

You can design your own slide layouts to use as templates in any future presentation. First, open a new, blank presentation as described above. Then:

• On the menu bar over the blank presentation, select View > Theme builder .
• The main window switches to a layout editor. Toward the left you’ll see a column with the heading THEME on top and LAYOUTS just below that. Click the thumbnail of any layout in the LAYOUTS list. It will appear in the main window.
• You can remove objects that are already in any layout. For example, click on a block of text. A frame appears around the text. Without selecting the text itself, move the pointer to ward an edge of the frame, right-click, and select Delete from the menu that opens.

Creating a custom slide layout. (Click image to enlarge it.)

• Using the formatting toolbar above the slide, you can add new objects to the slide, including images, image placeholders, shapes, lines, and blocks for text. (Tip: enter placeholder words inside the text blocks.) When you click on any object, a frame appears around it. Drag and drop the frame to relocate it on the slide, or drag its edges to change its shape or size. You can also add or change the border and background colors for any object on the slide and/or change the background color for the whole slide.
• When you’re finished designing your layout, click the Rename button above the slide and give the layout a unique name.
• If you want to create another custom layout, click on the thumbnail of another layout under the column LAYOUTS and repeat the above steps starting from #3.
• When you are finished custom-designing all your layouts, click the X toward the upper-right of the slide layout in the main window.
• Along the top of the screen, click anywhere inside Untitled presentation and start typing. Tip: Use a name that indicates this is a template (e.g., “Annual Budget Presentation – Template”).

In the future, you can make new presentations starting from this template, and your custom slide layouts will be available.

• Open the template presentation you created in the steps above. On the menu bar, click File > Make a copy > Entire presentation . On the panel that opens, type in a name for the new presentation you want to create and click the Make a copy button. Google Slides will open this new presentation in a new browser tab.
• On the toolbar above the first slide of your new presentation, click Layout . From the panel of thumbnails that opens, select one of the layouts that you created. It will then be applied to the slide in the main window.

Collaborate on a presentation in Google Chat

An alternative way to collaborate on a presentation is to share it in Google Chat. Other people in your chat can add comments and help make changes to your presentation.

Start in Google Chat . To the left of the box where you type in your chat messages, click the + icon and select Drive file from the menu that opens. A panel will open over the screen listing the files in your Google Drive. Find and click your presentation to highlight it, then click INSERT on the lower-right corner.

You’ll be taken back to the chat message box. Click the blue right-pointing arrow to the right of the box, and a panel will open over the screen designating permissions for the shared presentation. By default, permissions are set to Comment. To change this, click Comment and select View or Edit . You can also allow the people in the chat to share a web link to your presentation with others outside of the chat by selecting Turn link sharing on .

You can share a presentation to individual or group chats in Google Chats. (Click image to enlarge it.)

After you’ve set the permissions, click SEND , and your message will appear in the chat stream with a large thumbnail of your presentation. To open a presentation in the chat, click the thumbnail. The presentation will open inside a large window that’s laid out alongside the right of the chat stream.

This is actually Google Slides running inside the chat window with your presentation loaded in it. Thus, most of the Slides commenting and editing tools are available for you and others in the chat to use on your presentation (if you granted them permission to comment or edit). The user interface is the same, except there’s no menu bar.

Collaborating on a presentation from within a Google Chat. (Click image to enlarge it.)

Use keyboard shortcuts

Save time in Slides by using keyboard shortcuts for common tasks. Below are some of the most useful to know. For more, select Help > Keyboard shortcuts from the top menu when you have a spreadsheet open or press Ctrl + / (Windows, Chrome OS) or ⌘ + / (macOS).

Handy Google Slides keyboard shortcuts

This story was originally published in September 2019 and updated in August 2022.

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How to Add Google Sheets to Google Slides

Evan Gower With over a decade of experience in digital publishing. Evan leads our team with a keen eye for emerging tech trends. Read more May 19, 2021

Making a presentation involves effectively communicating your ideas to other people. Being able to use spreadsheet data in a slideshow, especially one that can be easily kept up-to-date, can certainly help in that regard

In this article, we’ll show you how to add Google Sheets to your Google Slides presentation, along with other useful tips to take advantage of the integration.

Google Sheets and Google Slides Integration

Google Slides is a very useful presentation program that only requires a Google Drive account. Although the program itself is essentially free, it’s still packed with a lot of features that can be utilized to your advantage.

Take Google Sheet integration for example. By linking a spreadsheet to your Google Slide presentation, you can easily display existing worksheet data without having to input it manually. This integration comes with the additional feature of having the presentation updated whenever the spreadsheet itself is edited. You can never downplay the importance of up-to-date data when trying to make a proper presentation.

Adding a Table to Your Presentation

Adding a Google Sheets chart to your Google Slides presentation is a simple process. You can do so by following these steps:

If you want to change the data range that is included in the linked table, you can click on it, and then click on the link icon at the upper right side. Next, follow these steps:

You can edit the worksheet from Google Slides, by clicking on Open Source from the Linked Options Menu. If the Google Sheets file has been updated, whether through Google Slides, or in Google Sheets alone, you’ll be given the option to update. A small Update button will appear on the upper right of the table. Click it to update your data.

Do note that while a table is linked to Google Slides, anyone that has access to the Google Slides file will have access to the Google Sheets table as well. It doesn’t matter if the users themselves don’t have permission to access to the Google Sheets file, as long as it’s linked, they’ll be able to see it.

Adding a Chart to Your Presentation

You can also add a chart made in Google Sheets to your Google Slides presentation. To do so, follow these instructions:

Showing Pertinent Information

A linked Google Sheets file allows you to show pertinent information on your presentation without the hassle of copying data individually. The updating option makes sure that such data is always current to the file itself. Being able to show accurate information will contribute greatly to a well delivered presentation.

Do you have other tips on how to add google Sheets to a Google Slides presentation? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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How to Integrate Google Sheets Into PowerPoint

Integrating Google Sheets into PowerPoint can greatly enhance your presentations by adding dynamic data, visualizations, and real-time collaboration capabilities. In this article, we will explore the reasons why you should integrate Google Sheets into PowerPoint, the benefits it offers, and provide a step-by-step guide on how to seamlessly integrate the two platforms.

Table of Contents

Why Integrate Google Sheets Into PowerPoint?

Google Sheets is a powerful spreadsheet tool that allows you to organize, analyze, and visualize data. By integrating Google Sheets into PowerPoint, you can bring this data to life within your presentations, making them more engaging and informative. Whether you need to showcase financial data, track project progress, or present survey results, integrating Google Sheets into PowerPoint can elevate your presentations to the next level.

One of the key advantages of integrating Google Sheets into PowerPoint is the ability to update data in real-time. With a live connection between the two applications, any changes made to the data in Google Sheets will automatically be reflected in your PowerPoint presentation. This ensures that your audience always has access to the most up-to-date information, without the need for manual updates or re-creating slides.

Additionally, integrating Google Sheets into PowerPoint allows for seamless collaboration and sharing of data. Multiple team members can work on the same spreadsheet simultaneously, making updates and edits in real-time. This collaborative approach ensures that everyone is working with the same data, reducing the risk of errors or inconsistencies in your presentation.

The Benefits of Using Google Sheets in PowerPoint Presentations

The integration of Google Sheets into PowerPoint offers several benefits. Firstly, it allows for real-time updating of data. This means that any changes made to the data in your Google Sheet will automatically update in your PowerPoint presentation, ensuring that your information is always up-to-date. Additionally, by using Google Sheets, you can take advantage of its collaboration features, allowing multiple users to work on the same spreadsheet simultaneously. This collaborative workflow can significantly streamline the process of creating and presenting data-driven presentations. Furthermore, Google Sheets provides powerful data analysis and visualization capabilities, enabling you to create dynamic charts, graphs, and tables directly in PowerPoint.

Another benefit of using Google Sheets in PowerPoint presentations is the ability to easily import and export data. With just a few clicks, you can import data from other sources into your Google Sheet, such as CSV files or Excel spreadsheets. This makes it convenient to gather and organize data from various sources and incorporate it into your presentation seamlessly. Additionally, you can also export your Google Sheet data back into different formats, allowing you to share or present your data in different ways.

Furthermore, Google Sheets offers a wide range of formulas and functions that can be used to manipulate and analyze data. These formulas can be directly applied within your PowerPoint presentation, allowing you to perform calculations and generate insights on the fly. Whether you need to calculate averages, perform statistical analysis, or create complex formulas, Google Sheets provides a robust set of tools to help you make sense of your data and present it effectively.

Step-by-Step Guide to Integrating Google Sheets Into PowerPoint

To integrate Google Sheets into PowerPoint, follow these steps:

1. Open your Google Sheet and navigate to the sheet containing the data you want to integrate into PowerPoint.

2. Select and copy the desired data by pressing Ctrl+C (Windows) or Command+C (Mac).

3. Open PowerPoint and navigate to the slide where you want to insert the data.

4. Paste the data by pressing Ctrl+V (Windows) or Command+V (Mac), or right-clicking and selecting “Paste.”

5. Choose the Paste Options that best suit your needs. You can choose to Link the data, Embed it as an object, or simply paste it as a picture.

6. Customize the appearance of the data in PowerPoint. You can resize, format, and apply styles to the data to make it visually appealing.

7. If you linked the data, any changes made to the original Google Sheet will automatically update in PowerPoint. If you embedded the data or pasted it as a picture, you will need to update it manually if changes occur.

8. Save your PowerPoint presentation to preserve the integration between Google Sheets and PowerPoint.

Understanding the Basics of Google Sheets and PowerPoint Integration

Integrating Google Sheets into PowerPoint can be done using different methods, each with its own advantages and considerations. Let’s explore the basics of these integration methods.

Linking vs. Embedding in PowerPoint

When integrating Google Sheets into PowerPoint, you have the option to either link the data or embed it as an object. Linking the data creates a connection between PowerPoint and the Google Sheet. Any changes made to the original sheet will reflect in your PowerPoint presentation. On the other hand, embedding the data essentially copies it into your presentation, creating a static snapshot of the data at that point in time. While embedding offers the advantage of not relying on an internet connection or external file, it also means that any changes made to the original sheet will not be reflected in your presentation. Choosing between linking and embedding depends on the specific needs of your presentation.

Tips and Tricks for Seamlessly Integrating Google Sheets into PowerPoint

Here are some tips and tricks to enhance the integration of Google Sheets into PowerPoint:

1. Keep the design consistent: Ensure that the design, colors, and fonts used in Google Sheets and PowerPoint align to create a cohesive presentation.

2. Use relevant data: Choose data that is relevant to your presentation topic. Avoid overwhelming your audience with excessive or unnecessary information.

3. Format the data appropriately: Customize the formatting of the data to improve its readability and visual appeal. Utilize features like conditional formatting, filters, and pivot tables in Google Sheets to refine your data before integrating it into PowerPoint.

4. Practice data caching: To avoid potential issues with internet connectivity during your presentation, consider caching a copy of your Google Sheet data locally on your computer.

5. Test before presenting: Before the actual presentation, thoroughly test the integration between Google Sheets and PowerPoint to ensure that everything is working as intended.

Creating Dynamic Data Visualizations with Google Sheets in PowerPoint

One of the key advantages of integrating Google Sheets into PowerPoint is the ability to create dynamic data visualizations. With Google Sheets’ powerful charting capabilities, you can turn raw data into compelling visuals that effectively communicate your message. In PowerPoint, you can further enhance these visualizations by customizing the chart styles, adding animations, and creating interactive elements. By using dynamic data visualizations, you can engage your audience and make complex information more easily understandable.

Enhancing Data Analysis in PowerPoint with Google Sheets Integration

Integrating Google Sheets into PowerPoint not only allows you to present data but also facilitates in-depth data analysis directly within your presentations. By linking your Google Sheet data, you can utilize PowerPoint’s data analysis tools to perform calculations, create formulas, and apply statistical functions. This integration enables you to conduct on-the-fly data analysis during your presentations, providing valuable insights to your audience.

Customizing and Formatting Data from Google Sheets in PowerPoint Presentations

When integrating data from Google Sheets into PowerPoint, it is important to customize and format the data to suit your presentation’s needs. PowerPoint offers a wide range of formatting options that you can apply to the integrated data. This includes adjusting fonts, colors, data labels, axes, chart styles, and more. Utilize these formatting features to create visually appealing and professional-looking data visualizations that effectively convey your message.

Collaborative Workflows: Using Google Sheets to Update Data in Real-Time in PowerPoint

Another notable advantage of integrating Google Sheets into PowerPoint is the ability to collaborate in real-time on the shared data. By utilizing Google Sheets’ collaborative features, multiple users can work on the same spreadsheet simultaneously, updating the data in real-time. This collaborative workflow ensures that any changes made by team members are immediately reflected in the integrated data within PowerPoint. Whether you’re collaborating on financial reports, project updates, or survey data, this real-time integration allows for efficient and collaborative presentation creation.

Troubleshooting Common Issues When Integrating Google Sheets into PowerPoint

While integrating Google Sheets into PowerPoint can greatly enhance your presentations, it is important to be aware of potential issues that may arise. Some common issues include:

1. Data formatting inconsistencies: If the formatting of your Google Sheet data does not align with PowerPoint’s formatting, it may result in visual discrepancies when integrated into your presentation. It is recommended to double-check and adjust the formatting before integrating.

2. Connectivity issues: If you have linked your Google Sheet data and experience connectivity issues during your presentation, the data may not update properly. To mitigate this, consider caching a local copy of the data or ensuring a stable internet connection.

3. Compatibility issues: Depending on the versions of Google Sheets and PowerPoint being used, compatibility issues may arise. It is essential to ensure that both platforms are up-to-date to minimize any compatibility issues.

4. Data privacy concerns: When integrating Google Sheets into PowerPoint, be cautious of any sensitive or confidential data that may be accessible to others during the presentation. Prioritize data privacy and consider adjusting the sharing settings of your Google Sheet accordingly.

Best Practices for Maintaining Data Integrity in Google Sheets and PowerPoint Integration

To maintain data integrity when integrating Google Sheets into PowerPoint, follow these best practices:

1. Regularly update your data: Ensure that the data in your integrated Google Sheets remains accurate and up-to-date by regularly reviewing and updating it as necessary.

2. Double-check formulas and calculations: If you have implemented formulas or calculations in your Google Sheet, carefully check them for accuracy after integration to prevent any errors in your PowerPoint presentation.

3. Make backups: Create backups of your Google Sheets and PowerPoint presentations to safeguard against any data loss or accidental changes.

4. Share access selectively: Limit access to your Google Sheet and PowerPoint presentations to only those who need it, respecting data privacy concerns and maintaining control over your data.

Advanced Techniques for Leveraging the Power of Google Sheets within PowerPoint

Beyond the basics, there are advanced techniques that can further enhance your integration of Google Sheets within PowerPoint:

1. Utilize data connectors: Explore third-party data connectors and add-ons that can facilitate the integration between Google Sheets and PowerPoint. These tools often offer additional features and functionalities to streamline the integration process and enhance data visualization capabilities.

2. Leverage scripting and automation: Harness the power of Google Apps Script or Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) to automate data updates, perform complex calculations, and create custom functions that further extend the capabilities of your integrated Google Sheets within PowerPoint.

3. Explore add-ons and plugins: Investigate the various add-ons and plugins available for Google Sheets and PowerPoint that can expand the functionality and integration options. These add-ons can offer advanced visualization tools, data analysis functions, and seamless synchronization between the two platforms.

In conclusion, integrating Google Sheets into PowerPoint can significantly enrich your presentations by providing real-time data updates, dynamic visualizations, collaborative workflows, and extensive data analysis capabilities. By following the step-by-step guide and leveraging best practices, you can seamlessly integrate the power of Google Sheets within PowerPoint to create engaging, informative, and visually appealing presentations. Experiment with advanced techniques to further enhance your integration experience and unlock the full potential of data-driven presentations. So, why wait? Start integrating Google Sheets into PowerPoint and elevate your presentations to new heights.

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Insert Google Sheets Into Google Slides [Easy 2024 Guide]

• Last updated February 21, 2024

When you have to give a presentation at work or school, you must remember that making a presentation entails effectively communicating your ideas. The ability to use spreadsheet data in a slideshow, especially one that you can easily update, can certainly help.

Now, if you want to do that, you must learn how to navigate through Google Sheets. So in this article, we will go over how to insert Google Sheets into Google Slides presentations , along with other valuable tips to take advantage of the easy integration.

Why Insert Google Sheets into Google Slides

Related: How to Make Google Slides Vertical

Among many other platforms, Google Slides has proven to be an instrumental presentation program that only requires a Google Drive account. Although the program itself is straightforward, it’s still packed with many features you can utilize to your advantage, and just like Google Sheets, these features can sometimes be a bit complicated to understand.

When attempting to make a proper presentation, you should never underestimate the importance of having up-to-date data. Consider Google Sheets integration. Related: Free Google Slides Jeopardy Templates

You can easily display existing worksheet data without manually entering it by linking a spreadsheet to your Google Slide presentation. This integration has the added benefit of automatically updating the presentation whenever the spreadsheet is modified.

Brief Overview

Adding a Google Sheets chart to your Google Slides presentation is a simple process. There are various ways you can embed a Google Sheet in a Google Slide you have created.

If you end up with a linked table, you can change the data range included in it by clicking on it and then clicking on the link icon in the upper right corner.

By selecting Open Source  from the Linked Options Menu , you can edit the worksheet from Google Slides.

You’ll be prompted to do so if the Google Sheets file has been updated, whether through Google Slides or directly in Google Sheets. A small Update button will appear on the table’s upper right. In order to update your data, you must click on it.

Note, Before You Move On

While a table is linked to Google Slides, anyone with access to the Google Slides file will also have access to the Google Sheets table. It doesn’t matter if the users don’t have permission to access the Google Sheets file. As long as it’s linked, they’ll be able to see it.

You can also add a chart made in Google Sheets when you insert a spreadsheet into Google Slides for your presentation.

Step-By-Step Guide on How to insert Google Sheets into Google Slides

Let’s jump right into the action of adding Google Sheets to Google Slides!

Here are the two methods you can use to import a Google Sheet table or a chart into your Google Slide presentation:

Add a Table

Step 1: Go to the Google Slide you wish to import your table.

Step 2:  Click on Insert, then click on table.

NOTE:  You can select the 1×1 dimension even if your table is larger than that, Google Slides will adjust the size automatically.

Here’s how a 1×1 table should look:

Step 3: Go to the Google Sheet from which you want to import the table and select the cell range with the table, right-click, and copy it.

In the Screenshot above, I have selected the cell range A1:D7  since that is where my table lies.

Step 4: Go back to the Slide and paste the table copied from Google Sheets into the 1×1 table in Google Slides.

NOTE:  Remember to click inside the table before pasting. You can either right-click and select paste from the menu or press CTRL+V or CMD+V on a macOS device.

Now, let’s add a chart to this document.

Add Chart From Google Sheets to Google Slides

Step 1: Go to the Slide where you want to import the chart.

Step 2: Go to Insert > Chart , and click on From Sheets .

Step 3: Select the Spreadsheet.

Step 4: Select the chart and click on Import.

NOTE:  If ticked, the Link to Spreadsheet box will link the chart in the Google Slide to the chart in Google Sheets. As a result, any changes made to the chart in Google Sheets will also be reflected in Google Slides. If you do not want that, click on the box to untick it, otherwise, click on the box to activate Link to Spreadsheet .

And done! You have successfully added a chart.

Here are the files we used so you can check them out to understand better:

How to insert a Google Sheet into a Google Slide – presentation template

Insert Google spreadsheet into Google presentation – spreadsheet template

And an article you might also find useful: 5 Simple Ways to Insert Google Sheets Images

Additional Things to Know

Now that we know the ways you can insert Google Sheets into Google Slides, there are still a few things worth noting, the reason a linked Google Sheets file is beneficial is because it allows you to display relevant information on your presentation without the hassle of manually copying data.

The updating option ensures that such data is always up to date in the file itself. The ability to display accurate information will significantly contribute to a well-delivered presentation.

Importing spreadsheet data into a slideshow eliminates the need to copy all that information manually. Furthermore, because Slides does such an excellent job of formatting it, you don’t even need to create the table or chart yourself; it’s all done automatically in seconds and looks exactly like it does in Sheets.

Also, copying and pasting an Excel spreadsheet  may not work as well as a Google Sheet; for one thing, you won’t be able to update the copied version instantly.

Some third-party services will let you link an  Excel spreadsheet  into Slides. However, it’s easier (and more secure) to first paste the Excel sheet’s data into a Google Sheet and link from there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i import a google sheet into google slides.

If you want to import Google Sheets to slides, you must go on your computer, open a document or presentation in Google Docs or Google Slides. From Sheets. Click the spreadsheet with the chart you want to add, then click Select . Click the chart you want to add and press Enter .

How Do You Turn a Google Sheet Into a Slide?

Contrary to the steps to link a Google Sheet to a Google Slide, in order to turn a Google Sheet into a slide, first Open a Google Docs or Google Slides document or presentation on your computer. After that, you must Click on Insert Chart.

The next step is to select the spreadsheet containing the chart you want to add. After that, go ahead and Select the chart you want to include. Uncheck Link to spreadsheet  if you don’t want the chart to be linked to the spreadsheet, and lastly Select Import .

How Do I Merge a Google Sheet Into a Google Doc?

If a user wants to merge a Google Sheet into a Google Doc, they must click on a Google Sheet, and then select the Google Sheets file you created earlier from the drop-down menu that appears.

If your spreadsheet file contains multiple sheets, select the one you want to use for the mail merge. After that, click Connect to Spreadsheet. For a detailed guide, see our other article on How to Insert Google Sheets .

How Do I Fit a Spreadsheet on One Slide in Google Slides?

If you want to fit your Google spreadsheet, On your computer, open a document or presentation in Google Docs or Google Slides. After that, Click Insert Chart. Then click on From Sheets. After you have done that, Click the spreadsheet with the chart you want to add, then click Select. Click the chart you want to add. If you don’t want the chart linked to the spreadsheet, uncheck Link to spreadsheet . Then Click on Import. Thes you should be able to scroll the spreadsheet inside the slide

After going through all the necessary steps on how to insert Google Sheets into Google Slides, and knowing just how and why it is beneficial, you can independently upload your Google Sheets into your Google Slides.

It is also worth noting that because Google Sheets spreadsheets are online, updating what you see in the slideshow is as simple as updating the spreadsheet. Any changes you make to this type of document are reflected everywhere else it’s accessed from, including your Slides files, when you link it.

This means that even though Sheets is being accessed in your slideshow, you can still benefit from its structured format, helpful formulas, and so on. And as mentioned before, whilst you cannot directly copy-paste your Excel file onto your Google Slides, you can still use third-party applications.

• Google Sheets Project Management Templates
• How To Do Hanging Indent on Google Slides
• How to Convert Google Slides to PowerPoint
• How to Convert PowerPoint to Google Slides 
• The Free Google Sheets Task List Template
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Generate Google Slides from Google Sheets 😎

Do you spend a lot of time creating presentations at work? Perhaps you're a teacher who needs to create lesson plans or quizzes for your class? Or maybe you're a salesperson who creates presentations to pitch clients? Or just someone who (like me) creates lots of reports for all sorts of reasons!

Creating these presentations can take a lot of time and also it can become repetitive and boring. This is where some coding using Apps Script can be super useful. Using Google Slides, Google Sheets and Apps Script, you can automatically generate these presentations!!

In this tutorial, I will show you how to generate a Google Slides presentation using data from a Google Sheets spreadsheet.

This tutorial assumes that you're familiar with:

How to create and run simple Apps Script scripts using the script editor in Google Sheets?

What arrays are and how to use them in Apps Script?

forEach loop in Apps Script

Reading from and writing to a range in Google Sheets using Apps Script

Step 1 — Create a Google Slides presentation template

Step 2 — Create a Google Sheets spreadsheet and enter data corresponding to each template variable in the presentation

Step 3 — Create an Apps Script to generate the presentation using the template and the data

Step 4 — Run your code to automatically replace the variables in the presentation with values coming from the spreadsheet

The first step is to create a Google Slides presentation to use as a template. I created a simple presentation for this tutorial that just has 2 slides: a title slide and a body slide.

Notice the curly braces around the words title, subtitle, slide1_title and slide1_body? The braces {{ }} tell us that the contents in between them are just placeholders and need to be substituted with the real content. These are called template variables.

In this tutorial, we'll be replacing these template variables with text using Apps Script.

Open Google Sheets and enter the template variables in column A of a sheet called Data and enter the actual text you want inserted into the presentation in column B.

First, open the Apps Script editor from Google Sheets by selecting Tools —> Script editor .

Then replace the code in the editor with the code below.

Remember to replace <PRESENTATION_ID> in the code with the actual Id of your Google Slides presentation. You can get the Id from the URL of the presentation.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/ < PRESENTATION_ID > /edit

When you run the fillTemplate() function, the variables in your Google Slides template will be replaced with data coming from your Google Sheets spreadsheet. Isn't that awesome?

Your browser does not support HTML5 video. Here is a link to the video instead.

In just a few lines of code, we were able to read data from a Google Sheets spreadsheet and then populate these values in a Google Slides presentation template. Also, this code takes only a few seconds to run!

This is the power of automation and Google Apps Script makes it extremely easy to get started. I cannot think of any other programming language or platform where you can easily build such powerful applications in so few lines of code!

Now, imagine having to create dozens of presentations manually!! What if you could extend the code to create multiple presentations? I will show you how to do that in an upcoming tutorial. Stay tuned :).

Hope you found this tutorial helpful. Thanks for reading!

Stay up to date

I'd appreciate any feedback you can give me regarding this post.

Was it useful? Are there any errors or was something confusing? Would you like me to write a post about a related topic? Any other feedback is also welcome. Thank you so much!

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View, present or collaborate in Slides on your mobile phone or tablet, available in the App Store and Play Store, or connect from your computer.

Stay productive, even offline

Access, create and edit Slides even without an Internet connection, helping you to stay productive from anywhere.

Integrate your workflows

Extend the power of Slides to fit your workflows with Slides add-ons or build your own with a range of developer tools.

Curious about Google Slides?

Take a look at our FAQ to learn more.

However, some features such as Slides recording and speaker spotlight are only available on Google Workspace plans, and Gemini for Workspace features like 'Help me visualise' are available as an add-on; see plans and pricing for organisations or Google Workspace Individual .

Yes. You can convert Microsoft PowerPoint presentations into Google Slides format, or you can directly edit PowerPoint presentations, without having to make a copy. The original file will remain intact.

Co-editing means that multiple people can work on the same slide at the same time, without having to send versions back and forth. Sharing settings allows you to control who can view and edit a slide, and revision history enables you to revert to earlier versions. Also available in Google Docs and Sheets .

Create, collaborate and present with Google Slides

How-To Geek

How to present google docs, sheets, and slides in google meet.

Present your document, spreadsheet, or slideshow in Google Meet with a click.

Quick Links

Table of contents.

Presenting a document in Google Meet has never been easier. You'll notice a handy button at the top of your Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides menu that lets you present your document directly to your meeting participants in Google Meet.

You have three convenient ways to present the document. You can open the document in a new tab for an active meeting, click a scheduled Google Calendar event, or enter a meeting code or link.

At the time of writing in July 2021, the feature is only available when using Google Chrome.

Present to Google Meet in Another Tab

• Present with a Scheduled Google Calendar Event
• Present with a Google Meet Code or Link
• How to Stop Presenting Your Document

If you've already joined your Google Meet meeting, presenting your Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides document is simple.

Open Docs, Sheets, or Slides in a new Google Chrome tab and navigate to the document you want to present.

On the top right of the screen, next to the Share button, click the icon for "Present to a Meeting" (a box around an up arrow). You should see your current active meeting appear in the drop-down box. Click "Present Tab to Meeting."

In the subsequent pop-up window, make sure "This Tab" is selected and displays your document. Select the tab content to highlight it and click "Share."

Pop over to your Google Meet tab and you should then see the document you're presenting simultaneously with your meeting participants .

Present With a Scheduled Google Calendar Event

If the meeting organizer scheduled the Google Meet in Google Calendar, you can present your document directly to the event.

Open the document and click the "Present to a Meeting" icon (a box around an up arrow). If the meeting hasn't started yet, you'll see the name and time. If it has started, you'll see the name and Now. Click the event.

In the subsequent screen, click "Present Tab to Meeting" and follow the same process as above to select the tab content and hit "Share."

While this option does have you presenting your document, it will not join you to the meeting automatically. You'll need to join your meeting like any other Google Meet and will see your document presented once you do.

Present With a Google Meet Code or Link

If you don't have the Google Meet meeting open and active and also don't have a Google Calendar event for it, you can use the meeting code or link to present your document. This assumes that you've obtained the Google Meet code or meeting link from the organizer.

Open your document, click "Present to a Meeting"(a box around an up arrow), and choose "Present Using a Meeting Code."

Enter the meeting code or link and click "Continue."

Click "Present Tab to Meeting" and follow the same process to select the tab content and click "Share."

Like with the Google Calendar event option above, you'll still need to join the meeting in Google Meet . And again, when you do, you'll see your document being presented.

Stop Presenting Your Document

When you join a Google Meet and present your document, you'll see a note of this at the top of the meeting screen. So, when you're done presenting the document, click "Stop" in that message.

Alternatively, you can go to your document tab in Chrome, click the "Present to a Meeting" icon again, and then click "Stop Presenting Tab."

There are times when sharing your screen in Google Meet is appropriate. But for those other times when you simply want to show a document, remember this handy trick.

How to automatically generate Google Slides from Google Sheets

4 simple steps to automating your google slides  .

Create a custom Google Slides template

Create a Google Sheet with data for the presentation

Connect your template and data sheet in Slideform

Generate the presentation

Check out the new, updated tutorial -->  

Get in touch with us to learn more

1. Create a custom Google Slides template

• {{client_name}} - this text field will hold the client name
• {{month}} - this will have the month name
• {{image:client_logo}} - this is an image placeholder and it will be replaced by the client logo that I have stored in Google Drive
• {{fn:date}}  - the date the slides are created
• {{revenue}} - the revenue in dollars for the month
• {{data:quarterly_revenue_by_cat}} - a small table of data showing revenue by product category
• {{chart:monthlyratings}} - a chart placeholder that will be filled by a chart from my Google Sheet

Save the template as a Google Slides presentation in your Google Drive workspace.    

2. Create a Google Sheet with data for the presentation

Slideform integrates with your Google workspace and many other sources. You may already have a Google Sheet with data that you need to enter into your presentation. In this example I am creating several sales reports for different clients and I have data for each client in a Google Sheet. See one of the sheets below:

Notice that some of the data in my sheet corresponds to my template. These columns will be used to fill the pragmas in the final presentations. Other data in the sheet are for internal calculations and will not appear in the presentation.  

The chart and the pre-formatted table (cells A1:D6) will be used in my slides.

3. Connect your template and data sheet in Slideform  

Now you upload the slide template and the data sheet to Slideform. Just enter the Google Sheet URL under the Add Data Source menu. Then create a New Project and enter your Google Slide template URL.

The last configuration step is to connect the data to each placeholder pragma in the template. Go to Configure Data in Slideform. You can either type in the data for a pragma or you can have it auto-filled from the Google sheet or any other data source. Either way, your slides will be filled in and formatted beautifully each time you generate the presentation.

For example for the {{revenue}} text box, I want to pull the value from a specific cell in my Google Sheet . To do this, map the {{revenue}} pragma to cell "D26" in Slideform. The dollar sign and currency formatting can either be done in the spreadsheet or you can set the formatting in Slideform.

Slideform can do complex data filtering and lookups too! For more information see: How to Configure the Data Mapping

You can embed charts, text, images, number, percents and more from a variety of data sources. Save the data configuration once all pragmas are set.

4. Generate the presentation

Now that my template and form are set up, I can generate the presentation whenever I need to by clicking Generate . 

Now for the fun part! Automate!

Let’s generate a presentation for each my clients. All I have to do is go to my form and click Generate . I choose the client’s name and click next and the slides are ready. No more copying and pasting!

If I have more reports to send out in the coming months, I can just add those data to my sheet, go into Slideform, and generate the reports with one click. We can also schedule the reports to run automatically and email you the results.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this intro to integrating Google Sheets with Google Slides. Get in touch with Slideform at https://www.slideform.co/  

Want a free trial?

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More From Forbes

Google sheets vs. microsoft excel—which is better.

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Spreadsheets are a non-negotiable tool for work collaboration and efficiency, so it's important to ... [+] choose the right app that is most effective for your business operations

Spreadsheets...Love them or hate them, they're everywhere and it's nearly impossible to imagine a work day without them.

Call them Google Sheets, Excel spreadsheets, or Zoho Sheets, but whatever app you use, they are a legacy tool that form an integral part of our processes, help us stay organized at work, enable us to keep track and monitor progress, and even go as far as having analytical, mathematical, and problem-solving capabilities.

But perhaps the most difficult decision when working with spreadsheets is to evaluate which is the best spreadsheet app for work.

It's a battle of the rivals. Whenever you think of spreadsheets, what are the first two apps that come to mind? No doubt, you immediately thought of Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets.

Now of course, unless you work in a leadership or managerial capacity, you wouldn't be responsible for making decisions as to what software to use for your work (and for your team), since generally speaking, you would use whatever the accepted software tool is for your organization. But what if you take on a leadership post, work as a project manager, or decide to start your own freelance venture or side hustle? Which spreadsheet app is most effective to get the job done?

Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Of 2024

Best 5% interest savings accounts of 2024, what to look for when choosing a spreadsheet app.

First, let's lay the foundation by ensuring you understand these fundamentals when selecting a spreadsheet app:

Features And Functionality

Does the application contain all the essential features and capabilities you need to perform your role without you needing to find another app to complement it? Does it provide tools such as data validation, pivot tables, charts, and collaboration options? Are there specific features you're looking for?

Also, is it easy to share, download, and view on any device, including compatibility with mobile devices?

The next consideration is, of course, pricing. Does it save you money in the long run? What is the pricing for your intended usage (individual or team) and how does it compare with others on the market?

Cloud Storage

Cloud storage is another important consideration, regardless of what app you choose, because it ensures your work is saved safely and you can work from anywhere flexibly. Of course, alongside this you'll also want to ensure that appropriate data protection measures are set in place so that your data is protected from unauthorized access, breaches, or loss.

Scalability

Can the spreadsheet app in question handle larger datasets as your business operations expand? Can it handle complex calculations and other demands in line with the growing demands of your work?

Google Sheets Vs. Excel

Now that you understand what to look out for, you can apply these principles as you read below to find out more about the functionalities and differences between Sheets and Excel:

What Is Google Sheets?

Google Sheets is a cloud-based spreadsheet application developed by Google that forms part of its suite of office and business productivity products (Google Workspace). It comes as a web-based application, and can also be downloaded to your mobile device. It has basic day-to-day spreadsheet functionality and features, including but not limited to:

• The ability to create, update/edit, and share spreadsheets online
• Easy collaboration features
• Conditional formatting
• Integration with other apps such as Google Docs (the Google version of Microsoft Word), and Slides (the Google version of PowerPoint)
• Basic charts and graphs for data visualization purposes
• Data filtering

Who Should Use Google Sheets?

Freelancers, small businesses, teachers, and students would highly benefit from the user-friendly features of Sheets.

Google Sheets and Excel might be similar in many ways, but there are a few subtle difference you ... [+] need to be aware of

What Is Microsoft Excel?

Excel is very similar to Google Sheets, except that it has more in-depth features and may not be as easy to use for some. It features:

• Complex and powerful data analysis and statistical tools
• Ability to access, edit, and view without the internet

Who Should Use Excel?

Business analysts, those involved in performance reporting, human resource professionals, operations managers, and accountants and auditors might find Excel more beneficial to their work than Sheets.

Differences Between Google Sheets And Excel

Let's look at some crucial difference and compare Sheets and Excel:

1. Collaboration

One of the most commonly cited differences between Sheets and Excel is Excel's lack of collaboration features; upon visiting the Microsoft website, it appears that you can indeed collaborate in real time with others, but this is with the caveat that this is only possible when sharing from OneDrive, granted that those collaborating also have a subscription. On the other hand, you can easily collaborate in real-time, at the same time, on Google Sheets, without the hassle of paying for a subscription.

Another key difference is the pricing. Google Sheets is free for individuals, and prices for businesses start from $5 a month; but with Excel, you can expect to pay upwards of $8 a month, or $160 for Excel alone, if you wish to create or edit spreadsheets.

Nonetheless, if you're handling complex data analysis and calculations you may find Excel's tools more useful than using Sheets.

4. Data Privacy

One other key consideration is data privacy and security. With one accidental or malicious click via email, the contents of your Google Sheet could be shared and land in unauthorized hands, and even edited by those who have no rights to access. This is not so easily possible with Excel.

Other than these factors, there doesn't appear to be any major difference between Google Sheets and Excel for everyday use for work.

Sheets carries many of the most essential features necessary to using and creating spreadsheets, and to make things even better, you can even apply the same formulae that you would use in Excel cells, to Google Sheet cells.

So, which is better, Google Sheets or Excel?

Sheets is best suited to small businesses and freelancers

Overall, the answer is down to your budget, your everyday work, the workload of your team, and your overall priorities as relates to the user experience and security.

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