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How to Add Audio to Google Slides is a must-know skill if you want to create engaging, dynamic presentations. Whether you’re adding narration, background music, or sound effects, this guide walks you through every step—plus tips and troubleshooting—to help you enhance your slides with sound effortlessly.
Table of contents
  1. Supported Audio Formats and Requirements
  2. How to Add Audio to Google Slides: Step-by-Step
  3. Add YouTube Music as an Alternative
  4. 💡Tips for Using Audio Effectively
  5. Troubleshooting: Audio Not Working?

Supported Audio Formats and Requirements

Before you add audio, make sure your file meets these requirements:
  • Supported formats: MP3 and WAV
  • Max file size: Google Drive supports large files, but smaller audio files (under 100MB) load faster.
  • Storage: The audio file must be uploaded to your Google Drive before you can insert it into Google Slides.

    • How to Add Audio to Google Slides: Step-by-Step

    Step 1: Upload Your Audio File to Google Drive

    To begin, you’ll need to upload your audio file to Google Drive. Open Google Drive, click the New button in the top left corner, and select File upload. Choose your MP3 or WAV file, and wait for it to finish uploading.

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    Insert Audio into Your Slide

    • Next, open your presentation in Google Slides and navigate to the slide where you want the audio to play. From the top menu, click Insert, then select Audio. A window will appear showing available audio files from your Drive.

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    • Locate the file you just uploaded, select it, and click Insert. A speaker icon will now appear on your slide, indicating the audio has been successfully added.

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    Step 3: Customize Audio Playback Settings

    Once your audio is inserted into a slide, you can tailor its behavior during the presentation by adjusting playback settings. In the Format options panel, expand the section titled Audio playback. Here, you’ll see several useful settings:
    🔘 Start playing
    • On click – the audio will only play when you manually click the speaker icon during your presentation.
    • Automatically – the audio will begin playing as soon as the slide appears.（Usually used for background music or voice narration）
    🔁 Loop audio
    Enable this option if you want the audio to repeat continuously while you’re on the same slide. This is helpful for ambient music or loops for kiosk-style presentations.

    🔇 Stop on slide change
    By default, audio stops when you move to the next slide. If you uncheck this option, the audio will continue to play across multiple slides (ideal for background music spanning an entire section).

    🙈 Hide icon when presenting
    If your audio plays automatically and you don’t need users to click the icon, you can check this box to hide the speaker icon during the actual presentation. This makes your slide cleaner.

    🔉 Volume settings
    Currently, Google Slides doesn’t let you control volume directly in the slide. You’ll need to adjust the volume before uploading your file or use your computer’s audio controls during playback.

    Add YouTube Music as an Alternative

    Google Slides doesn’t support adding audio directly from YouTube, but here’s a workaround:
    • Go to Insert > Video .
    • Paste the URL of a YouTube video with background music.
    • Resize the video to 1×1 pixels and move it off the slide if desired.
    • Set it to autoplay in Format options.
      🔺This trick works well for adding royalty-free background music!

    💡Tips for Using Audio Effectively

  • Keep it clear: Use high-quality recordings to avoid background noise.
  • Be intentional: Only add audio when it enhances your message.
  • Balance audio levels: Avoid distracting or overpowering sound.
  • Use voiceovers to guide viewers through complex slides.
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    Troubleshooting: Audio Not Working?

    Audio file not visible?

    Check that it’s in MP3 or WAV format and uploaded to Google Drive.

    Can't select the file

    Make sure it’s not in a shared folder with restricted permissions.

    No sound during slideshow?

    Check your playback device volume and test in Present mode.

    Icon not hiding?

    Double-check the “Hide icon when presenting” option is enabled.

    💬 Conclusion:

    Now you’ve learned how to add audio to Google Slides to enhance your presentations with narration or music. While effective, the process can be time-consuming, especially with uploading to Drive.
    🚀For a faster solution, try Workppt . This AI tool helps you create complete slide decks in minutes and even lets you insert videos without uploading to Google Drive. It’s simple, smart, and efficient.
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