How to Add Audio to Google Slides (Full Guide)

Google Slides is one of the many free online components that are part of the Google Drive Suite, and it can be used by anyone just as long as they have a browser and Internet connectivity.

In terms of how you can use Google Slides, the interface is made to look and feel like Microsoft PowerPoint, so anyone used to that tool will have no problem getting used to Google Slides.

However, while some may argue that Google Slides is not as feature-packed as Microsoft PowerPoint, the fact that it is 100% free and that it can open ppt and pptx files is more than enough for most users, making it a go-to solution when you have a presentation coming up and you need to make some last-minute adjustments.

Speaking of features, one great aspect about Google Slides is that it allows you to also add audio to your presentation, allowing them to be even more engaging with your audience, and making your presentations much more memorable and far less boring, especially if they are long or if they are packed with paragraphs upon paragraphs of text.

That being the case, we’re going to show you exactly how you can embed audio files in your Google Slides presentations, detailing every single step and providing you with pictures and gifs to guide you.

How to Insert Audio Into Google Slides?

There are currently 3 ways through which you can add audio to your Google Slides presentations:

1. Use Online streaming services
2. Use YouTube videos
3. Add audio files from your Google Drive
4. Add video files from your Google Drive

1. Use Online Streaming Services

This method involves simply adding a link from an online music streaming service such as Spotify and Google Play.

1. Open your Google Slides presentation.
2. Select a text or an icon to anchor the URL link to the streaming service.
3. Go to Insert and select Link from the dropdown list.
4. Open your preferred media service and search for the audio that you want to insert.
5. Copy the URL to the track or use the URL from the Share option.
6. Return to your slide and paste the URL in the link text box.
7. Click Apply.

Once you’ve applied the link, it is time to check how it works:

1. In the Google Slides presentation, click on View.
2. Select Present.
3. Double-click on your link.
   • This will open the audio file in a new tab.
4. Hit Play to turn on the audio.
5. Minimize the newly-opened audio tab, and return to your Google Slides presentation.

Note: You can also apply a URL to a text or icon by selecting it, and then pressing Ctrl + K, as this will also open the URL box

The only problem with this particular solution is that you require a constant Internet connection for it to work, so you won’t be able to use it in Google Slides’ Offline Mode. More so, the act of switching between tabs can be a bit disruptive to the entire flow of the presentation.

2. Use YouTube Videos

This method involves inserting an actual video into your Google Slides presentation, and since there’ no way to have only the audio from it, you need to either hide the video behind a picture or make it so small that it can fit somewhere behind an icon.

1. Go to the official YouTube website.
2. Open the video that you desire.
3. Click on Share and copy the URL from there.
4. Open your Google Slides presentations.
5. Go to Insert and select Video.
6. In the Paste YouTube URL here, paste the YouTube URL link and click the Select button.
   • Now a thumbnail of the video should appear on your slide.
7. Select the thumbnail and go to the Format options.
8. Click on the down arrow button next to Video playback.
9. Enter the Start at and End at timestamps.
10. Select Autoplay.
    • By following these steps, the video will play automatically.
11. Now minimize the video and hide it somewhere behind a picture or icon.

3. Add Audio Files From Your Google Drive

This method involves embedding your own audio file, but certain steps need to be taken before you can do it:

1. Use a converter to turn your audio file into either MP3 or WAV.
2. Upload the audio file video to your Google Drive storage.

Once the audio file has been converted and uploaded, it is time to add it to your Google slides:

1. Open your Google Slides presentations.
2. Go to Insert and select Audio.
   
3. Select My Drive.
4. Find your MP3 or WAV file and click the Select button.
5. Click on the Audio icon and go to Format options.
6. Set the autoplay option to be either On click or Automatically.
7. Hide the icon somewhere behind a picture so it doesn’t distract the audience.

4. Add Video Files From Your Google Drive

This method is a combination of all of the above, and it involves embedding a video that you actually have on your Google Drive, and then hiding it as you did with the YouTube video.

1. Use a converter to turn your audio file into an MP4 video.
   • This is the only format that Google Slides currently supports.
2. Upload the video to your Google Drive storage.
3. Open your Google Slides presentations.
4. Go to Insert and select Video.
5. Select My Drive.
6. Find your MP4 file and click the Select button.
7. Select the thumbnail and go to the Format options.
8. Click on the down arrow button next to Video playback.
9. Enter the Start at and End at timestamps.
10. Select Autoplay.
11. Now minimize the video and hide it somewhere behind a picture or icon.

How to Add Audio to Google Slides, What Now?

Audio files can certainly make a difference when you’re holding a presentation, and by using one of the methods listed above, you should be able to make your own slideshows a lot more interesting to watch.

Let us know what other neat Google Drive tips and tricks you want to read about, and we’ll write those articles right away.

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