To share Google Slides in presentation mode, open the presentation and click Slideshow in the top-right corner (or press Ctrl + Enter on Windows, Command + Enter on a Mac). To present in a video call, start the slideshow, then share that browser tab or window in Google Meet, Zoom or Teams. In Google Meet, you can also click the Meet button in Slides and choose Present tab to meeting, which lets you control the slides without switching windows.
Below are the steps for presenting in person and online, how to use Presenter view with your notes, and how to share a link that opens straight into slideshow mode.
Start a slideshow
- Open your presentation in Google Slides.
- Click the slide you want to start from, or the first slide.
- Click Slideshow at the top right. Click the arrow next to it and choose Start from beginning to start at slide one.
- Use the arrow keys, Space or a click to move between slides. Press Esc to exit.
Use Presenter view to see your notes
- Click the arrow next to Slideshow and choose Presenter view.
- The slideshow opens in one window and the presenter controls in another, with your speaker notes, a timer and the next slide.
- Drag the slideshow window to the screen or projector your audience sees, and keep the presenter window on your laptop.
Presenter view also has an Audience tools tab where you can start a live Q&A session, so viewers can submit questions from a link.
Present in Google Meet
- Join the Google Meet call in one tab and open your presentation in another.
- In Slides, click the Meet button (the camera icon) near the top right.
- Choose your meeting and click Present tab to meeting.
- Click Slideshow. Use the controls in Slides to move through the presentation while participants see it in Meet.
Present in Zoom or Microsoft Teams
- Open the presentation and click Slideshow or Presenter view.
- In Zoom or Teams, click Share and choose the browser window showing the slideshow, not the presenter notes window.
- Click back into the slideshow window so your arrow keys control the slides.
Sharing a single window keeps your notes, email and other tabs private.
Share a link that opens in presentation mode
- Present link: Copy the presentation’s address and replace /edit and everything after it with /present. People with access see the slideshow straight away.
- Publish to the web: Click File > Share > Publish to web, choose auto-advance timing and whether to loop, and click Publish. Anyone with the link can watch, even without a Google account.
Slideshow keyboard shortcuts
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Right arrow or Space | Next slide |
| Left arrow | Previous slide |
| Number + Enter | Jump to that slide |
| B | Black screen |
| W | White screen |
| S | Open speaker notes |
| L | Laser pointer |
| Esc | Exit the slideshow |
Present on a TV or projector
Connect your laptop with an HDMI cable, then use Presenter view and drag the slideshow window to the TV. If you use a Chromecast or Google TV, click the arrow next to Slideshow and choose Present on another screen.
If presentation mode isn’t working
- Presenter view doesn’t open: Allow pop-ups for docs.google.com in your browser.
- Audience sees your notes: Share the slideshow window, not the presenter window or your whole screen.
- Videos don’t play in Meet: Use Present tab to meeting so audio is shared too.
Related: print speaker notes in Google Slides.
Related: skip a slide in a Google Slides presentation.
Related: Cast Google Slides to a TV.
Frequently asked questions
Can I present Google Slides offline?
Yes, if you turn on offline access in Google Drive settings beforehand, or download the presentation as a PowerPoint file.
Can viewers see my speaker notes?
Only if you share the presenter window or turn on notes in the slideshow. Share only the slideshow window to keep them private.
Can I present from my phone?
Yes. In the Google Slides app, open the presentation and tap the Play button. You can also cast to a TV from the app.
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.