how to insert music into google slides

2025

3 min read 31-03-2025

Meta Description: Learn how to add background music or sound effects to your Google Slides presentations to enhance engagement. This guide provides a simple, step-by-step process for inserting audio files and managing their playback. Boost your presentations with the perfect soundtrack! (158 characters)

Adding music to your Google Slides presentations can significantly enhance engagement and create a more memorable experience for your audience. Whether you want background music to set the mood or sound effects to emphasize key points, incorporating audio is easy. This guide will walk you through the process step-by-step.

Choosing Your Audio Files

Before you begin, select the audio files you want to use. Ensure they are high-quality and appropriately licensed for your intended use. Copyright infringement can lead to problems, so be sure to use royalty-free music or music you own the rights to. You can find royalty-free music on websites like:

Free Music Archive: Offers a vast selection of creative commons licensed music.
YouTube Audio Library: Provides royalty-free music and sound effects directly within YouTube.
Bensound: Offers a range of royalty-free tracks for various moods and purposes.

Remember to download the audio files to your computer before proceeding. Popular formats include MP3 and WAV.

Inserting Audio into Google Slides

Here's how to insert your chosen audio files into your Google Slides presentation:

Step 1: Open Your Google Slides Presentation

First, open the Google Slides presentation where you want to add music. Navigate to the specific slide where you want the audio to play.

Step 2: Access the "Insert" Menu

Click on the "Insert" menu located at the top of the Google Slides interface.

Step 3: Select "Audio"

From the dropdown menu, select "Audio." A submenu will appear.

Step 4: Choose Your Audio File

Select "Audio" again. A file explorer window will open. Navigate to the location where you saved your audio file. Choose the audio file you wish to insert and click "Select."

Step 5: Positioning Your Audio

The audio file will now be embedded into your slide. You can resize and reposition the audio player icon by clicking and dragging it. It's recommended to place it somewhere unobtrusive, perhaps in a corner, to avoid distracting from your presentation content.

Managing Audio Playback in Google Slides

Once inserted, you can control several aspects of your audio playback:

Playing the Audio During Presentation

To play the audio, simply click the play button on the audio player icon during your presentation. The audio will begin playing automatically in presentation mode. However, make sure to test this before presenting to your audience!

Setting Playback Options

Click the three vertical dots on the audio player. You'll see options to:

Play on click: The audio will only play when you manually click the play button. This offers more control over timing.
Play automatically: The audio will start playing as soon as the slide appears. Good for background music.

Choose the option that best suits your needs. Remember to test different options to find the best approach.

Removing Audio

If you need to remove the audio from a slide, simply click the audio player icon and press the delete key.

Troubleshooting Tips and FAQs

Audio not playing?: Ensure your audio file is compatible with Google Slides. MP3 and WAV are generally supported. Also, check your speaker volume.
Audio too loud/quiet?: Adjust the volume within your chosen audio editor before inserting it into Google Slides.
Audio cutting out?: Try using a shorter audio clip or compressing the file size. Large files can sometimes cause issues.

Adding music and sound effects can make your Google Slides presentations more dynamic and engaging. By following these simple steps, you can easily incorporate audio to enhance your presentations and captivate your audience. Remember to always use legally licensed audio files.