Master Google Slides Shortcuts for Effortless Presenting
Delivering a smooth, confident presentation isn’t just about your content it’s also about how quickly you can navigate your slides.
Google Slides offers keyboard shortcuts that make presenting more efficient, saving time and helping you stay focused on your audience. Whether you're teaching, pitching, or sharing updates, these shortcuts are your secret weapon for a polished presentation experience.
1. Start Presentation from Beginning
- Shortcut:
Ctrl + F5(Windows) /Cmd + Shift + Enter(Mac)
- Why It Helps: Instantly starts your presentation from the first slide, so you don't waste time clicking through.
2. Start Presentation from Current Slide
- Shortcut:
Ctrl + Enter(Windows) /Cmd + Enter(Mac)
- Why It Helps: Useful when you're in the middle of editing and want to preview from a specific slide.
3. Exit Presentation Mode
- Shortcut:
Esc
- Why It Helps: Quickly return to edit mode without searching for the exit button.
4. Move to Next Slide
- Shortcut:
Right ArroworPage Down
- Why It Helps: Keeps your flow smooth during live presentations.
5. Go Back to Previous Slide
- Shortcut:
Left ArroworPage Up
- Why It Helps: Easily revisit points or answer audience questions.
6. Jump to a Specific Slide
- Shortcut: Type the slide number and hit
Enter
- Why It Helps: Perfect for jumping to important slides during Q&A sessions.
7. Black Out or White Out Screen
- Shortcut:
Bfor black screen /Wfor white screen
- Why It Helps: Temporarily hide your content and shift attention back to you.
8. Toggle Pointer On/Off
- Shortcut:
Ctrl + L
- Why It Helps: Use the laser pointer effect to guide attention during your explanation.
9. Open Speaker Notes
- Shortcut: While presenting, click on the three-dot menu > "Open speaker notes"
- Why It Helps: Helpful for staying on track with your key points and talking notes.
10. Mute/Unmute Video (Embedded)
- Shortcut:
M
- Why It Helps: Control your slide media without interrupting the presentation flow.
Shortcuts speed up your workflow but for real time-saving magic, check out MagicSlides.app. It lets you generate beautiful Google Slides presentations instantly from just a topic, URL, PDF, or video!
Conclusion
Mastering shortcuts in Google Slides gives you control, confidence, and clarity during presentations.
With just a few keystrokes, you can shift slides, highlight information, or recover from an unexpected hiccup without missing a beat. Use these shortcuts to impress your audience and present like a pro.
FAQs are here to help!
Can I customize keyboard shortcuts in Google Slides?
A: No, Google Slides doesn’t currently allow customization of shortcuts, but the built-in ones cover most needs.
Do these shortcuts work on all browsers?
A: They work best on Chrome and may vary slightly on other browsers, especially on macOS.
Is there a full list of shortcuts within Google Slides?
A: Yes, press
Ctrl + / (Windows) or Cmd + / (Mac) to view all available Google Slides shortcuts.
