Canvas slideshows turn your course materials into a visual presentation

A slideshow in Canvas is a built-in tool that lets you display images, text, and other content in a sequence that students can click through at their own pace. You create it directly in Canvas without needing external software like PowerPoint or Google Slides. The slideshow appears as a single item in your course, and students see it embedded on the page or in a module.

Canvas calls this feature a "Slide Show" and it lives in the Rich Content Editor — the text box you use whenever you create an assignment description, a discussion post, or a page. You do not need any special permissions or plugins to use it.

Key Takeaways

  • Slideshows are created through the Rich Content Editor using the Slide Show button, which appears in the toolbar whenever you are writing course content.
  • You can add text, images, and links to each slide, but slideshows work best for visual content rather than long blocks of text.
  • Students navigate slideshows by clicking next and previous buttons, and the slideshow is responsive — it adjusts to different screen sizes.
  • Once you create a slideshow, you can edit it later by clicking the slideshow itself and selecting the edit option from the menu that appears.

Where to find the Slide Show button

Open any page in Canvas where you can write content: a course page, an assignment description, a discussion prompt, or a module item. Click in the text box to place your cursor. Look at the toolbar above the text box — it contains buttons for bold, italic, links, and other formatting options.

The Slide Show button looks like a small rectangle with horizontal lines, often positioned near the image and media buttons. If you do not see it immediately, click the three-dot menu icon (sometimes labeled "More") on the right side of the toolbar. The Slide Show option will appear in that dropdown.

Creating your first slide

Click the Slide Show button. A dialog box opens asking you to create a new slideshow. You will see a blank slide with a title field and a content area. Type a title for your first slide in the title field — this is optional, but it helps organize your content.

In the content area below, you can type text, paste an image, or add a link. Keep the text brief; slideshows work best when each slide focuses on one idea. If you paste an image, it will scale to fit the slide. You can also leave the content area blank if you want a title-only slide.

Once you have filled in your first slide, look for an "Add Slide" button or a plus icon. Click it to create a second slide. Repeat this process for as many slides as you need. Canvas does not set a limit on the number of slides you can add.

Adding images and formatting slides

To add an image to a slide, click in the content area and use the image button in the toolbar that appears within the slide editor. You can upload an image from your computer or paste one you have already copied. The image will resize automatically to fit the slide without distorting.

You can format text on individual slides using the same toolbar options available in the main text editor: bold, italic, lists, and text alignment. However, slideshows are not designed for heavy formatting. If you need complex layouts or animations, a tool like Google Slides or PowerPoint may serve you better.

You can also add links to slides. Highlight text, click the link button, and enter the URL. This is useful if you want to direct students to a resource or another page without leaving the slideshow.

Arranging and removing slides

After you create multiple slides, you may want to reorder them. In the slide editor, look for drag handles (usually small arrows or dots) next to each slide in the slide list on the left side. Click and drag a slide up or down to change its position in the sequence.

To delete a slide, click the slide you want to remove and look for a delete or trash icon. Confirm the deletion when prompted. Removing a slide is permanent, so make sure you no longer need it.

Saving and publishing your slideshow

When you finish building your slideshow, click the "Save" or "Insert" button at the bottom of the dialog. The slideshow will be embedded in your course content at the location where your cursor was placed. If you were creating a page, you will need to save the page itself for the slideshow to appear in your course.

Students will see the slideshow as a self-contained item. They navigate it using next and previous buttons, and they can move through slides at their own speed. The slideshow does not track which slides a student has viewed, so it is not a graded activity.

Editing a slideshow after you create it

To change a slideshow you have already published, click directly on the slideshow in your course. A menu will appear with options including "Edit." Click "Edit" to open the slide editor again. You can add slides, delete slides, change text, swap images, or reorder slides using the same process you used to create it.

After you make changes, click "Save" or "Update" to apply them. The updated slideshow will appear immediately to students who view the page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add audio or video to a slideshow?

Slideshows do not support embedded audio or video directly. If you need to include video, add a link to the video on a slide, or use a separate video item in your course. For audio, consider uploading it as a separate file or linking to it from a slide.

What happens if I delete a slide by mistake?

Once you confirm the deletion, the slide is gone. Canvas does not have an undo button within the slideshow editor. If you need to recover the content, you will have to recreate it manually. Always double-check before confirming a deletion.

Do slideshows work on mobile devices?

Yes. Slideshows are responsive and adjust to fit phone and tablet screens. Students can navigate them using the same next and previous buttons, though the buttons may appear in different positions depending on the device.

Can I reuse a slideshow in another course?

Not directly. Each slideshow is tied to the course where you created it. If you want the same slideshow in another course, you will need to recreate it or copy the course content using Canvas's course import feature.