How to Voice Record on Google Slides

Adding voice recordings to Google Slides can make presentations more engaging and informative.

While Google Slides doesn’t have a built-in recording feature, you can still add audio by recording it separately and then embedding it.

In this guide, we’ll go through each step to help you add voice recordings to Google Slides for a more dynamic presentation.

How to Voice Record on Google Slides: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Choose a Voice Recording Tool

Since Google Slides doesn’t offer a recording feature, you’ll need an external tool to record your audio.

You can use popular tools like Audacity (free), Voice Memos (on iOS), or an online recorder like Online Voice Recorder.

Chromebook users can also record audio using Screencastify or Loom.

Step 2: Record Your Voice

Open your chosen voice recording tool and start a new recording.

Speak clearly and at a moderate pace, covering the content for the specific slide or section you’ll be adding audio to.

Once finished, save the audio file to your computer. MP3 and WAV formats work best with Google Slides.

Step 3: Upload the Audio File to Google Drive

After saving the recording, upload it to your Google Drive to make it accessible for embedding in Google Slides.

Go to Google Drive, click on "New," then "File upload," and select your audio file.

Once uploaded, right-click the file and set the sharing settings to "Anyone with the link can view," so that others can listen to it in your presentation.

Step 4: Insert the Audio into Google Slides

Open your Google Slides presentation and navigate to the slide where you want to add the audio.

Go to the "Insert" menu, select "Audio," and choose the file you just uploaded to Google Drive.

The audio icon will appear on the slide, indicating that your recording has been added successfully.

Step 5: Adjust Audio Playback Settings

After inserting the audio, you can customize playback settings by clicking on the audio icon and going to "Format options."

Here, you can set the audio to play automatically or on click, adjust volume levels, and even hide the icon during playback for a cleaner slide appearance.

Step 6: Test the Audio

Finally, play the slide in "Present" mode and click the audio icon to ensure the recording works as expected.

Adjust any playback settings if necessary to ensure the audio plays smoothly and at the correct volume.

Conclusion

Adding voice recordings to Google Slides can enhance your presentation by providing additional context and engaging your audience.

Although it requires a few extra steps, embedding audio is simple once you’ve recorded and uploaded it to Google Drive.

This technique is especially helpful for educational slides, business presentations, or self-guided tours.

FAQs can come handy!

Can I record audio directly in Google Slides?

No, Google Slides does not have a built-in recording feature. You’ll need to use an external recording tool and upload the audio file to Google Drive.

What audio formats are compatible with Google Slides?

Google Slides supports MP3 and WAV files, so save your recordings in one of these formats for best results.

How can I ensure the audio plays automatically on each slide?

In "Format options," select "Start playing" > "Automatically" to have your audio play as soon as the slide appears in your presentation.