What a Facebook slideshow is and how to start one

A Facebook slideshow is a video made from still photos and music that plays automatically on your timeline or in a group. Facebook creates the slideshow for you — you pick the photos and a song, and the platform arranges them with transitions and timing. The result looks like a short video, but it takes just a few minutes to make.

You start a slideshow from your timeline or from a group page. The option appears in the same menu where you would normally post a photo or status update. Facebook stores the finished slideshow as a video on your profile, so anyone who can see your posts can watch it.

Key Takeaways

  • You create a slideshow by clicking "Photo/Video" on your timeline, then selecting "Create Slideshow" instead of uploading individual photos.
  • Facebook automatically adds transitions and timing between photos, and you can choose from a library of free music or upload your own audio.
  • The slideshow saves as a video file on your profile and can be shared, liked, and commented on like any other post.
  • You need at least two photos to create a slideshow, and each photo can stay on screen for 3 to 10 seconds depending on what you choose.
  • Slideshows work on both desktop and mobile, though the creation process is slightly different on a phone.

Creating a slideshow on desktop

On a computer, start by going to your Facebook timeline or the group page where you want to post. Look for the box at the top that says "What's on your mind?" or "Create post." Click the button labeled "Photo/Video" inside that box.

A menu will appear with several options. Look for "Create Slideshow" — it is usually near the bottom of the list, separate from "Upload Photos" or "Upload Video." Click it. Facebook will open a window asking you to select photos from your computer. You can pick multiple photos at once by holding Ctrl (or Command on a Mac) and clicking each one you want. Click "Open" when you have chosen all your photos.

Facebook will arrange your photos in the order you selected them. You can drag any photo to a different position if you want to change the order. Below each photo, you will see a number showing how many seconds it will display — the default is usually 3 seconds. Click that number to change it to 5, 7, or 10 seconds if you want photos to stay on screen longer.

Adding music to your slideshow

After you arrange your photos, you will see an option to add music. Click "Add Music" or "Add Audio." Facebook shows you a library of free songs organized by mood and length. You can search by typing a song name or artist, or browse by category like "Upbeat," "Calm," or "Inspirational."

Click any song to preview it. If you like it, click "Use This Song" or "Select." The music will play over your entire slideshow. If you have your own audio file on your computer — a recording, a voice message, or a song you own — look for an option to "Upload Audio" instead of choosing from the library. Facebook will sync the photos to the length of your audio.

You can also choose to have no music at all. If you do not want sound, just skip the music step and proceed to preview and post.

Previewing and posting your slideshow

Before you post, click "Preview" to watch how your slideshow will look with the photos, timing, and music together. Watch the whole thing to make sure the photos are in the right order and the music fits the mood you want. If something is wrong, click "Back" or "Edit" to change the photo order, timing, or music.

When you are happy with the preview, click "Post" or "Share." You can add a caption or description before posting if you want — this is the text that appears above the slideshow on your timeline. Type anything you want to say about the photos, then click "Post."

Facebook will process the slideshow and turn it into a video. This usually takes a minute or two. Once it is done, the slideshow will appear on your timeline as a video post. People can like it, comment on it, and share it just like any other video.

Creating a slideshow on your phone

On an iPhone or Android phone, open the Facebook app and tap the camera icon or the box that says "What's on your mind?" at the top of your feed. Tap "Photo/Video" or the photo icon. Instead of taking a photo or uploading one, look for an option that says "Create Slideshow" or "Slideshow." Tap it.

Your phone will open your photo library. Tap each photo you want to include — you will see a checkmark appear on each one you select. Once you have chosen all your photos, tap "Next" or "Create." Your phone will arrange them in the order you selected.

Tap each photo to adjust how long it stays on screen, then tap "Add Music" to choose a song from Facebook's library or upload audio from your phone. Preview the slideshow by tapping "Play," then tap "Post" to share it on your timeline or in a group.

Troubleshooting common problems

If the "Create Slideshow" option does not appear, make sure you are using an updated version of Facebook. On desktop, try refreshing the page. On a phone, close the Facebook app completely and open it again. If the option still does not show, your browser or app version may be too old — update it from your browser's menu or from the App Store or Google Play.

If your photos are not uploading, check that your image files are in a common format like JPG or PNG. Very large files sometimes fail to upload — if a photo is over 20 MB, try compressing it first using an online tool or your computer's built-in image editor. Make sure you have a stable internet connection, as slideshows require a steady upload speed.

If the music does not sync properly to your photos, try shortening or lengthening the time each photo displays. You can also try a different song from the library — some songs work better with certain photo counts than others. If you uploaded your own audio and it sounds distorted, the file may be corrupted — try uploading a different version.

What happens after you post your slideshow

Once your slideshow is live, it behaves like any other video on Facebook. People in your network can watch it, like it, comment on it, and share it to their own timelines. You can see how many views it has gotten by clicking on the post. If you posted it in a group, group members can react and comment.

You can delete the slideshow at any time by clicking the three dots in the corner of the post and selecting "Delete." You can also edit the caption or description after posting by clicking the three dots and choosing "Edit Post." However, you cannot edit the photos, music, or timing after the slideshow is posted — you would need to delete it and create a new one.

If you want to save a copy of your slideshow to your computer, right-click the video and select "Save Video As." This downloads the video file to your Downloads folder so you have a backup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use copyrighted music in my slideshow?

The music in Facebook's library is cleared for use on the platform, so you can use any of those songs without copyright problems. If you upload your own audio, Facebook may mute it or block the post if it detects copyrighted music. Stick to the library or use music you own or have permission to use.

How many photos can I put in one slideshow?

Facebook does not set a hard limit, but slideshows with more than 50 photos can take a long time to create and may be slow to load. Most slideshows work best with 5 to 20 photos. If you have many photos, consider making two separate slideshows instead.

Can I post a slideshow to a group instead of my timeline?

Yes. When you click "Photo/Video," you can choose which timeline or group to post to using the dropdown menu. Select the group name, then create your slideshow the same way. Group members will see it in the group feed.

What if I want to change the order of photos after I post?

You cannot edit a slideshow after posting. You would need to delete the post and create a new slideshow with the photos in the correct order. This is why it is important to preview before posting.

Does Facebook charge money to create a slideshow?

No. Creating slideshows and using Facebook's music library are both free features. You do not pay anything to make or post a slideshow.