You cannot embed YouTube videos as audio-only in Google Slides, but you can download the audio and upload it as a file

Google Slides does not have a direct "add YouTube audio" button. YouTube's terms of service prohibit downloading most videos without permission, so the platform does not offer a built-in tool to pull audio from YouTube links. If you own the video or have permission to use it, you can download the audio file to your computer, then upload it into Slides as a media file. If you do not own the video, you will need to find royalty-free music from a different source — YouTube itself offers a free audio library inside Google Slides that requires no download step.

The fastest route depends on what music you need. If you are looking for background music for a presentation, YouTube's Audio Library (built into Slides) takes seconds and requires no downloading. If you have a specific YouTube video you own or have permission to use, you will need a download tool, a file converter, and about five minutes of setup.

Key Takeaways

  • Google Slides has a built-in Audio Library with thousands of free, royalty-free tracks that you can add directly without downloading anything.
  • YouTube's terms of service prohibit downloading most videos, so you cannot legally download audio from most YouTube videos without the creator's permission.
  • If you own a YouTube video or have written permission, you can use a third-party download tool to save the audio as an MP3 file, then upload it to Slides.
  • Downloaded audio files must be in MP3, WAV, or OGG format to work in Google Slides.
  • Audio plays only during a slideshow presentation, not while editing — you will not hear it in the editor view.

Using YouTube's Audio Library inside Google Slides (no download needed)

The easiest way to add music to your presentation is through the Audio Library that Google built into Slides. Open your presentation, click the "Insert" menu at the top, then select "Audio." A panel will open showing thousands of free, royalty-free tracks organized by mood, genre, and length. You can preview each track by clicking the play button, then click "Insert" to add it to your slide.

Once inserted, the audio appears as a speaker icon on your slide. During the presentation (slideshow mode), the audio will play when you reach that slide. In edit mode, you will see only the icon — you will not hear the sound. You can move the icon anywhere on the slide, resize it, or delete it. The Audio Library covers background music, ambient sounds, and short musical stings, so most presentation needs are covered without leaving Slides.

Downloading audio from a YouTube video you own

If you have a YouTube video that you created or have permission to use, you can download its audio. Use a third-party download tool like 4K Video Downloader (Windows and Mac, free version available), youtube-dl (command-line tool, free), or an online converter like y2mate.com or convertio.co. Paste the YouTube URL into the tool, select audio-only format, and download the file to your computer.

The file will likely download as an MP4 or WebM video file. Google Slides only accepts audio in MP3, WAV, or OGG format, so you will need to convert it. Use a free converter like CloudConvert, Audacity (desktop app), or Online-Convert.com. Upload your downloaded file, select MP3 as the output format, convert, and download the audio file to your computer. This step takes two to three minutes.

Uploading an audio file to Google Slides

Once you have an MP3, WAV, or OGG file on your computer, open your Google Slides presentation. Click "Insert" at the top, then select "Audio." Instead of browsing the Audio Library, click "Upload" (or "My Drive" if the file is already in Google Drive). Select your audio file from your computer and click "Open." Google Slides will upload the file and insert a speaker icon on your current slide.

The audio will play during slideshow mode when you reach that slide. If you want the same audio on multiple slides, you will need to upload it separately to each slide — Google Slides does not have a way to reuse the same audio file across slides without uploading it again. You can move, resize, or delete the speaker icon at any time.

Audio file format requirements and troubleshooting

Google Slides accepts MP3, WAV, and OGG audio formats. If your file is in a different format (M4A, FLAC, WMA), you must convert it before uploading. Most download and conversion tools default to MP3, which works reliably in Slides. If you upload a file and Slides rejects it, the file is likely corrupted or in an unsupported format — try converting it again with a different tool.

Audio files larger than 100 MB may fail to upload. If your file is too large, you can trim it using Audacity (free, desktop app) or an online editor like Kapwing or Cuttermaster. Remove silence at the beginning or end, or cut the audio to the length you actually need in your presentation. Most background music clips do not need to be longer than 30 to 60 seconds anyway.

Why you should not download most YouTube videos

YouTube's terms of service prohibit downloading videos unless the creator has explicitly allowed it. Most music videos, official uploads, and copyrighted content cannot be legally downloaded. If you download audio from a video you do not own and use it in a presentation you share, you risk a copyright strike or takedown notice — especially if the presentation is public or distributed online.

If you need music from a specific artist or song, check whether the artist has uploaded it to YouTube's Audio Library or made it available under a Creative Commons license. Many independent musicians and composers release their work with permission to use and remix. Always check the license before downloading and using any audio in a presentation you plan to share.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a YouTube video (not just audio) to Google Slides?

Yes. Click "Insert," then "Video," then paste the YouTube URL. The video will play during slideshow mode. You do not need to download anything — Slides links directly to YouTube. This works for any public YouTube video.

Will the audio play if I share the presentation with someone else?

Yes, if you uploaded the audio file to Slides. The audio is stored in your presentation file. If you embedded a YouTube video instead, the other person will need internet access to watch it. Audio from the Audio Library always plays for anyone who opens the presentation.

Can I trim or edit audio after I upload it to Slides?

No. Google Slides does not have audio editing tools. If you need to trim the audio, edit it before uploading using Audacity or an online editor, then upload the trimmed version to Slides.

What if the audio does not play during my presentation?

Make sure you are in slideshow mode (press "F" or click the play button in the top right). Audio does not play in edit mode. Also check that your computer's volume is not muted and that the speaker icon is actually on the slide you are viewing.

Can I use copyrighted music from YouTube in a presentation I am sharing online?

Not without permission from the copyright holder. If you upload a presentation containing copyrighted audio to YouTube, Google Drive, or a public website, the copyright owner can file a takedown notice. Stick to the Audio Library, Creative Commons licensed music, or music you own or have written permission to use.