To skip a slide in Google Slides, right-click the slide’s thumbnail in the filmstrip on the left and choose Skip slide. An eye-with-a-line icon appears on the thumbnail, and the slide is hidden when you present but stays in your file. To show it again, right-click it and choose Unskip slide. You can select several thumbnails with Ctrl (or Command on a Mac) and skip them all at once.
This guide covers skipping slides on a computer and in the mobile apps, how skipped slides behave in presenting, printing, and downloads, and alternatives like linking to skipped slides.
Skip a slide on a computer
- Open your presentation in Google Slides.
- In the filmstrip on the left, right-click the slide you want to hide.
- Click Skip slide.
You can also select the slide and use Slide > Skip slide from the menu bar.
Skip multiple slides
- Hold Ctrl (Command on Mac) and click each thumbnail, or click the first and Shift-click the last to select a range.
- Right-click one of the selected slides and choose Skip slide.
Unskip a slide
Right-click the skipped slide (it shows a crossed-out eye icon) and choose Unskip slide, or use Slide > Unskip slide.
Skip slides in the mobile app
- Open the presentation in the Google Slides app on Android or iPhone.
- Tap the grid view or filmstrip, then touch and hold (or tap) the slide.
- Tap the More (three dots) menu and choose Skip slide.
How skipped slides behave
| Situation | Skipped slide |
|---|---|
| Slideshow and Presenter view | Hidden; the presentation jumps past it |
| Editing and speaker notes | Still visible and editable |
| Published to the web or embedded | Hidden |
| Printing and PDF export | May still be included depending on settings; check the print preview |
| Sharing the file | Collaborators can still see and unskip it |
Jump to a skipped slide while presenting
If you might need a hidden backup slide, link to it: select text or a shape on another slide, press Ctrl + K, choose Slides in this presentation, and pick the skipped slide. Clicking the link during the slideshow opens it. You can also type the slide number and press Enter during a presentation to jump to it.
Tips
- Move backup slides to the end so they’re easy to find.
- Use skipping to keep one master deck and tailor it for different audiences.
- Remove sensitive slides entirely (or make a copy without them) before sharing, since skipped slides are still in the file.
To see every slide at once, use grid view in Google Slides.
Frequently asked questions
Does skipping a slide delete it?
No. The slide stays in the presentation and can be unskipped anytime.
Can viewers see skipped slides?
Anyone with access to the file in the editor can see them. In a slideshow or published version, they’re hidden.
Is skipping the same as hiding a slide in PowerPoint?
Yes. It works the same way, and skipped slides stay hidden when you download the presentation as a .pptx file.
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.