To import Google Slides into Canva, download the presentation as a PowerPoint file first, then upload that file to Canva. In Google Slides, click File > Download > Microsoft PowerPoint (.pptx). Then in Canva, click Create (or Create a design) > Import file, choose the .pptx file, and Canva converts it into an editable Canva presentation with your slides, text and images.
Below are the full steps, what converts well and what doesn’t, and how to move the presentation back to Google Slides when you’re done.
Step 1: Download the presentation from Google Slides
- Open the presentation in Google Slides.
- Click File > Download.
- Choose Microsoft PowerPoint (.pptx).
- Save the file somewhere easy to find, like your Downloads folder.
Step 2: Import the file into Canva
- Go to canva.com and sign in.
- On the home page, click Create or Create a design, then choose Import file. You can also drag the .pptx file onto the Canva home page.
- Select the PowerPoint file and wait for it to upload and convert.
- Open the new design. Each slide is now a Canva page you can edit.
Step 3: Check and fix the slides
Most content converts cleanly, but review each slide:
- Fonts: If Canva doesn’t have a font, it substitutes a similar one. Select the text and choose a font you like.
- Charts and tables: Complex Google Slides charts may become images or simplified tables. Rebuild them with Canva’s chart tools if you need to edit them.
- Animations and transitions: These usually don’t carry over. Add Canva’s animations from the toolbar.
- Videos: Embedded YouTube or Drive videos may not import. Re-add them in Canva.
- Speaker notes: Check the notes area. Copy any missing notes from Google Slides.
What converts well and what doesn’t
| Element | Result in Canva |
|---|---|
| Text boxes and images | Usually editable |
| Shapes and lines | Usually editable |
| Fonts | Kept if available, otherwise substituted |
| Charts | May become images |
| Animations and transitions | Not kept |
| Embedded videos | Often not kept |
Why move a Google Slides deck to Canva?
- Design tools: Canva has a large library of templates, graphics, photos and fonts that make it easy to restyle a plain deck.
- Brand kit: Canva Pro and Teams accounts can apply saved brand colors, logos and fonts across every slide.
- Other formats: You can turn slides into social posts, videos or printable handouts from the same design.
- Presenting: Canva’s present mode includes presenter view, a remote control link and recording options.
If you mostly collaborate on content with people who live in Google Workspace, keeping the deck in Google Slides and only restyling a final copy in Canva can save back-and-forth conversions.
Move a Canva presentation back to Google Slides
- In Canva, click Share > Download.
- Choose Microsoft PowerPoint as the file type and download it.
- In Google Drive, click New > File upload and choose the .pptx.
- Right-click the uploaded file and choose Open with > Google Slides. Then use File > Save as Google Slides to convert it.
Tips for a smoother import
- Use common fonts in Google Slides if you know you’ll move the deck to Canva.
- Import a copy, not your only version, so you can go back if something doesn’t convert.
- Very large presentations import faster if you split them into smaller files.
- If you only need slides as pictures, download them from Google Slides as images and upload those instead.
Related: import slides in Google Slides.
Related: download a single slide as a picture.
Frequently asked questions
Can Canva open a Google Slides link directly?
Canva imports files rather than Google Slides links. Download the .pptx and import it.
Is importing into Canva free?
Yes, importing PowerPoint files works on free Canva accounts. Some Canva fonts, elements and features require Canva Pro.
Can I import only some slides?
Canva imports the whole file. Delete the slides you don’t need in Google Slides before downloading, or delete pages in Canva after importing.
Will my Google Slides theme carry over?
Colors and backgrounds usually come across. Theme layouts and master slides don’t become Canva templates, so edit each page as needed.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.