How to Auto Advance Google Slides: A Detailed Guide

Google Slides is one of the most popular tools for creating presentations, offering features that make creating and delivering slideshows easy and efficient. One useful feature in Google Slides is the ability to auto-advance slides, which ensures that your presentation moves smoothly without needing manual input. This is especially helpful when you’re running a hands-free slideshow at an event, in a kiosk, or for automated online presentations.

In this detailed guide, we will walk you through how to set up auto-advance in Google Slides, covering step-by-step instructions, customization options, and tips to make the most out of this feature.

Why Use Auto-Advance in Google Slides?

Auto-advancing slides can be beneficial in a variety of situations:

Hands-Free Presentations: When you want to focus on talking and not on manually advancing slides, auto-advance can ensure a smooth flow.

Kiosk Displays: If your presentation will be played in a loop at a kiosk or an event, auto-advancing the slides ensures they rotate automatically.

Timed Presentations: For timed presentations like PechaKucha or Ignite, where each slide is shown for a specific time, auto-advance is essential.

Video or Online Presentations: When running a Google Slides presentation as a video or in an automated webinar, auto-advance ensures your viewers can follow along without manual input.

Now that we’ve established why you might want to use this feature, let's dive into the steps to set it up.

How to Auto Advance Google Slides

Step-by-Step Guide to Auto-Advance Google Slides

Step 1: Open Your Google Slides Presentation

Start by going to Google Slides and opening the presentation you wish to auto-advance.

If you haven’t created your presentation yet, start a new one and add your slides.

Step 2: Enter "Present" Mode

Click View > Slideshow button in the upper right corner of the Google Slides interface to start your presentation.

This will bring your slides to full-screen mode, and it’s in this mode that auto-advance can be configured.

Step 3: Open Auto-Advance Options

While in Present mode, hover your mouse at the bottom-left corner of the screen to reveal the control panel.

From the drop-down menu, select Auto-Play. This will open a submenu where you can choose how long each slide will be displayed.

Step 4: Set the Auto-Advance Timing

In the Auto-advance (when played) submenu, you can choose the timing for how long each slide should remain visible. Google Slides offers pre-set intervals, including:

1 second
2 seconds
3 seconds
5 seconds
10 seconds
15 seconds
30 seconds
1 minute
2 minutes
5 minutes

Choose the time that best fits your presentation. For example, if you're creating a slideshow for a kiosk, you might choose 30 seconds per slide, while for a fast-paced PechaKucha presentation, 20-second intervals might work better.

Step 5: Test and Adjust Auto-Advance

After selecting the appropriate timing, run through your presentation to ensure the auto-advance timing fits your needs. You can do this by allowing the slides to play and seeing how the flow works.

If the timing feels too slow or too fast, simply re-enter Present mode, adjust the timing, and test again.

Step 6: Auto-Advance with Looping (Optional)

If you want your Google Slides presentation to loop continuously, so it restarts automatically after the last slide:

Click on File in the main toolbar, and select Publish to the web.

In the pop-up window, choose Link and check the box that says Restart the slideshow after the last slide.

You can also adjust the auto-advance timing here by selecting a specific time interval for each slide.

After setting these options, click Publish to generate a link for a looping, auto-advancing presentation.

Now, your presentation will run continuously, auto-advancing through the slides and starting over after reaching the final slide.

Advanced Tips for Auto-Advancing Slides in Google Slides

1. Use Auto-Advance for Timed Presentations

If you’re preparing for a timed presentation, such as a PechaKucha (20 slides, 20 seconds per slide), or an Ignite presentation (20 slides, 15 seconds per slide), using auto-advance ensures you stay on track. In these formats, auto-advance will manage the slide timing so you can focus on delivering your talk rather than worrying about changing slides manually.

Set the timing to exactly 15 or 20 seconds per slide to match the format.

Practice your speech along with the timed slides to ensure smooth transitions between points.

2. Adjust Timing for Different Sections

If your presentation contains sections where you need more or less time, you can duplicate your slides and set different timing for each section. For instance, you might have introductory slides auto-advance after 30 seconds but set product demo slides to advance after 2 minutes. You can do this by editing specific sections of your presentation and manually selecting the timing when publishing or playing.

3. Combine Auto-Advance with Animations

If you want to add more dynamic elements to your presentation, you can combine auto-advance with animations:

Add animations by selecting an object on a slide and going to Insert > Animation.

You can set the animations to trigger on click or automatically after a certain time.

When combined with auto-advance, this creates a fully automated, engaging presentation where not only slides but also elements within slides appear at preset intervals.

4. Embed Videos with Auto-Play

If your presentation includes videos, you can set them to auto-play when the slide they’re on appears. This works great for timed presentations, ensuring that your video starts without you having to click it manually:

Select the slide with the video, click on the video, and choose Format options.

In the right-hand panel, check the box next to Auto-play when presenting.

When the slide appears during the presentation, the video will automatically start playing, and the slide will move on after the set time.

5. Use Auto-Advance for Kiosks or Digital Signage

Auto-advance can also be useful for looping presentations in public places, such as kiosks, digital signage, or company booths. In this case, setting a longer auto-advance interval and enabling looping ensures that the slideshow continues running for as long as you need.

Make sure the content is clear and large enough to be seen from a distance.

Use bullet points, images, and brief text that can be absorbed quickly by passersby.

6. Practice Your Timing

When setting up auto-advance, it's essential to practice your presentation with the chosen timing. Sometimes, the default settings may feel too fast or too slow for the points you're trying to make. By running through the presentation several times, you’ll get a feel for the right pace.

Troubleshooting Common Auto-Advance Issues

1. Auto-Advance Isn't Working

If auto-advance isn’t working as expected, here are a few things to check:

Make sure that you’re in Present mode. Auto-advance will only work in this mode, not in the editing or preview views.

Ensure that you’ve set the correct timing under the Auto-advance (when played) settings.

If you’re using a video, ensure it’s set to Auto-play.

2. Timing is Too Fast or Too Slow

If the timing is too fast or too slow:

Re-enter the Auto-advance (when played) menu and adjust the interval.

Remember, you can also use different times for different sections of your presentation, depending on the flow and content.

3. Looping Issues

If your presentation isn't looping:

Ensure that the Restart slideshow after the last slide option is selected under the Publish to the web settings.

Double-check that the loop option is enabled in the auto-advance settings.

Conclusion

Auto-advancing slides in Google Slides is a simple yet powerful feature that can significantly enhance the flow of your presentations. Whether you’re running a kiosk display, delivering a timed talk, or creating a hands-free presentation, this feature allows you to focus more on content delivery and less on slide transitions.

By following the step-by-step guide above and implementing the tips for customizing your auto-advance settings, you can create smooth, polished presentations tailored to your needs. Test your presentation multiple times to ensure the timing fits, and use advanced features like looping and animation to create dynamic, engaging slideshows.

Now that you know how to set up auto-advance in Google Slides, go ahead and enhance your next presentation with seamless transitions!