Google Slides lets you add audio files directly to individual slides or play music across your entire presentation

You can insert music into Google Slides in two ways: upload an audio file to play on a specific slide, or add background music that plays throughout your presentation. Google Slides accepts MP3, WAV, OGG, and M4A files up to 100 MB each. The audio will play when you reach that slide during a presentation, and you control whether it starts automatically or when you click.

The process differs slightly depending on whether you want music on one slide or across multiple slides, and whether you're presenting in person or sharing the file for others to view. Both methods work on desktop; mobile apps have limited audio support.

Key Takeaways

  • Insert audio files by going to Insert > Audio, then uploading an MP3, WAV, OGG, or M4A file from your computer or Google Drive.
  • Audio plays only on the slide where you inserted it unless you copy and paste the audio object to other slides.
  • You can set audio to play automatically when the slide appears or only when you click the speaker icon during your presentation.
  • Downloaded music or audio you record yourself works, but copyrighted music may cause problems if you share the presentation publicly.
  • Audio does not play in edit mode—you must start a presentation to hear it, either in presenter view or full-screen mode.

How to insert audio on a single slide

Open your presentation in Google Slides and click on the slide where you want the music. Go to the menu bar and click Insert, then select Audio from the dropdown. A dialog box will open asking you to choose a file.

You can upload an audio file from your computer by clicking Upload from your computer, then selecting the file. Alternatively, click Google Drive to choose a file you've already uploaded there. Once you select the file, Google Slides will add a speaker icon to your slide. You can drag this icon to position it anywhere on the slide, or resize it by dragging the corners.

The audio file itself is not embedded in the presentation in a way that increases file size dramatically—Google Slides stores it separately. This means the presentation will remain relatively small even with multiple audio files.

Setting audio to play automatically or on click

After inserting the audio, right-click the speaker icon and select Audio options. A panel will open on the right side of your screen. Under Playback, you'll see two choices: On click or Automatically.

Choose On click if you want to control when the music plays during your presentation—you'll click the speaker icon to start it. Choose Automatically if you want the music to start playing the moment that slide appears. If you select Automatically, you can also set a delay in seconds before the audio begins, which is useful if you want a few seconds of silence before the music starts.

You can also check the box for Mute audio if you want to temporarily silence it without deleting it. This is helpful if you're testing your presentation and don't want sound playing repeatedly.

Adding the same music to multiple slides

If you want the same audio file to play on several slides, insert it on the first slide, then copy and paste it to the other slides. Click the speaker icon on the first slide, press Ctrl+C (or Cmd+C on Mac), then click on the next slide and press Ctrl+V (or Cmd+V). Repeat for each slide where you want the audio.

Each copy is independent, so you can set different playback options for each one. For example, the audio might play automatically on slide 3 but only on click on slide 5. This gives you flexibility in how the music flows through your presentation.

If you want music to play continuously across multiple slides without restarting, you'll need to use a single long audio file rather than copying the same file multiple times. Copying the same audio will restart it on each new slide.

Testing audio before you present

Audio does not play while you're editing your presentation—you'll only hear it when you start a slideshow. To test the audio, click the Present button in the top right corner of Google Slides. This will start your presentation in full-screen mode. Navigate to the slide with audio and either wait for it to play automatically or click the speaker icon if you set it to play on click.

If the audio doesn't play, check that your computer's volume is turned up and that the file format is supported (MP3, WAV, OGG, or M4A). If you're presenting remotely and sharing your screen, make sure your audio settings allow sound to be shared with other participants.

What to know about sharing presentations with audio

When you share a Google Slides presentation with others, the audio files go with it. Anyone with access to the presentation can hear the audio when they view it in presentation mode. However, if you share the presentation as a downloadable file (by exporting it as a PowerPoint file), the audio may not transfer correctly—Google Slides audio is designed to work within Google's platform.

If you're using copyrighted music, be aware that sharing the presentation publicly or uploading it to YouTube could trigger copyright claims. Music you've created yourself, royalty-free music, or music licensed under Creative Commons are safer choices for shared presentations. Many free music sites like Pixabay, Freepik, and YouTube Audio Library offer music you can use without copyright concerns.

Troubleshooting audio problems

If your audio isn't playing during a presentation, first check that you're in presentation mode—audio only plays when you click Present, not while editing. If the audio still doesn't play, verify that the file format is one Google Slides supports: MP3, WAV, OGG, or M4A. Files in other formats like FLAC or AAC may not work.

If you're presenting remotely via video call, check your browser's audio permissions. Some browsers require you to allow audio before starting a presentation. If you're using a Chromebook, audio support is limited—test your presentation on the device you'll actually use to present.

If the audio file is very large (close to the 100 MB limit), it may take longer to load. Try compressing the file using free tools like Audacity or an online audio converter before uploading it to Google Slides.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add music that plays throughout my entire presentation?

Google Slides doesn't have a built-in feature for background music across all slides. You can copy the same audio file to each slide and set it to play automatically, but it will restart on each new slide. For continuous music, you'll need to create one long audio file that covers the entire presentation and place it on your first slide.

What audio file formats does Google Slides accept?

Google Slides supports MP3, WAV, OGG, and M4A files up to 100 MB each. If your audio is in a different format like FLAC or AAC, you'll need to convert it using a free tool like Audacity or an online converter before uploading.

Will the audio play if I download my presentation as a PowerPoint file?

Audio may not transfer correctly when you export a Google Slides presentation as a PowerPoint file. If you need to share as PowerPoint, test the file after downloading to see if the audio plays. If it doesn't, you may need to re-insert the audio files in PowerPoint using its own audio insertion tool.

Can I add audio on my phone or tablet?

The Google Slides mobile app has limited audio support. You can view and play audio that's already in a presentation, but inserting new audio files works best on desktop. If you need to add audio, use a computer with the full Google Slides website.

How do I remove audio from a slide?

Click the speaker icon on the slide and press Delete or Backspace. The audio file will be removed from that slide only. If you've copied the audio to multiple slides, you'll need to delete it from each slide separately.