Adding music to Google Slides means uploading an audio file and inserting it into a specific slide

Google Slides does not have a built-in music library, so you need to provide your own audio file. You can upload an MP3, WAV, OGG, or M4A file from your computer, then place it on any slide you want. The audio will play when you present the slideshow, either automatically or when you click it, depending on how you set it up.

The process takes about five minutes if you already have the audio file ready. If you do not have music yet, you will need to find or create it first — that step happens outside Google Slides.

Key Takeaways

  • Google Slides accepts MP3, WAV, OGG, and M4A audio files uploaded from your computer.
  • You insert audio by going to Insert > Audio, then selecting the file from your drive or uploading it directly.
  • Audio plays during a presentation when you click the speaker icon on the slide, or you can set it to play automatically when the slide appears.
  • The audio file size cannot exceed 100 MB, and the file must be in a supported format.
  • You can adjust when the audio starts and stops, and whether it loops, through the audio settings panel.

Prepare your audio file before you start

Before opening Google Slides, make sure you have an audio file saved on your computer in one of these formats: MP3, WAV, OGG, or M4A. The file must be smaller than 100 MB. If your audio file is in a different format (like FLAC or AAC), you will need to convert it first using a free tool like Audacity or an online converter.

Know where the file is saved on your computer — your Downloads folder, Desktop, or a specific folder you created. You will need to find it quickly when you insert the audio into your slide.

Insert audio into a specific slide

Open your Google Slides presentation and click on the slide where you want the music to appear. This is usually the first slide if you want background music for your entire presentation, but you can place audio on any slide.

At the top of the screen, click Insert in the menu bar. A dropdown list will appear. Click Audio. A dialog box will open with two options: "Upload" and "Google Drive". Click Upload to add a file from your computer. A file browser window will open. Navigate to the folder where your audio file is saved, click the file once to select it, then click Open. Google Slides will upload the file and place a speaker icon on your slide.

If your audio file is already in Google Drive, you can click Google Drive instead and select it from there. This is faster if you have already uploaded the file.

Set the audio to play automatically or on click

After the speaker icon appears on your slide, right-click it (or on a Mac, Control-click it). A menu will appear. Click Audio options. A panel will open on the right side of the screen with playback settings.

Under "Start playing", you have two choices. On click means the audio only plays when you click the speaker icon during your presentation. Automatically means the audio starts playing as soon as the slide appears. Choose whichever fits your presentation — background music usually plays automatically, while sound effects or narration often play on click.

If you choose "Automatically", you can also set a delay in seconds before the audio starts. This is useful if you want a moment of silence before the music begins. Leave it at 0 if you want the audio to start right away.

Control when the audio stops and whether it repeats

In the same audio options panel on the right, you will see "Stop playing". The default is "When slide changes", which means the audio stops as soon as you move to the next slide. If you want the audio to keep playing even after you advance, click the dropdown and select Never. This is rarely used, but it can work for background music that spans multiple slides.

Below that, you will see a checkbox for "Loop audio". Check this box if you want the audio to repeat from the beginning once it finishes. This is useful for background music that you want to play continuously during a long presentation. If you leave it unchecked, the audio plays once and then stops.

Move and resize the speaker icon on your slide

The speaker icon that appears on your slide can be moved and resized like any other object. Click and drag it to a new position on the slide — many people put it in a corner so it does not cover important content. To resize it, click the icon once, then drag one of the small squares at the corners or edges to make it larger or smaller.

If you do not want the speaker icon visible during your presentation, you can make it very small or move it to the edge of the slide. The audio will still play; the icon is just a control for you to click during the presentation.

Test your audio before presenting

Before you present to an audience, click the play button in the top toolbar to start a preview of your slideshow. Navigate to the slide with audio and test whether it plays correctly. Listen for the volume level — if it is too quiet or too loud, you may need to adjust your computer's volume settings before presenting.

If the audio does not play, check that the file format is supported (MP3, WAV, OGG, or M4A) and that the file is smaller than 100 MB. If you uploaded a file that is too large or in the wrong format, delete the audio from the slide and try again with a different file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add music to multiple slides?

Yes. Repeat the Insert > Audio process on each slide where you want music. Each audio file is separate, so you can have different music on different slides, or the same music on multiple slides.

What if my audio file is too large?

Google Slides has a 100 MB file size limit. If your file is larger, use a free tool like Audacity to compress it or reduce the quality. Save the compressed version and upload that instead.

Will the audio play if I share the presentation with someone else?

Yes, as long as the person you share with has permission to view the presentation. The audio file is stored inside the presentation, so it travels with the file. They will hear it when they play the slideshow.

Can I record audio directly in Google Slides instead of uploading a file?

No. Google Slides only accepts pre-recorded audio files. If you need to record narration, use a free tool like Audacity or your phone's voice recorder, save the file, then upload it to Slides.

What happens to the audio if I download my presentation as a PowerPoint file?

The audio will download with the file and should play in PowerPoint. However, some audio formats may not work perfectly in PowerPoint, so test it after downloading to make sure the sound still plays correctly.