How to Add Music to a Google Slideshow Like a Pro

Have you ever felt how boring your audience feels while watching your Google Slides presentation? You may want to add audio to Google Slides to make them more interesting. Adding audio is an effective means to improve the quality of your slides. It also sends out emotional appeals that pull in the audience to participate with the content even more.

There are some basic functionalities in Google Slides for music integration in a slideshow, but it lacks that capability. So what’s the solution here? This article will help you with everything from setting the mood to emphasizing important topics to make your presentation more pleasant. We will show you step-by-step instructions on how to add audio to a Google slideshow. Let's begin!

Part 1: How to Add Music to Google Slides Using Built-in Features

Google Slides offers built-in options to add music directly to your presentations. While these features may seem basic, they effectively enhance your slides without needing advanced tools. These methods provide a great way to start your presentation, whether you are uploading your music or embedding audio from YouTube.

In this part of the article, we will see how we can put music on a Google slideshow by using two methods. The first one is embedding a YouTube URL, and the second one is uploading audio files from your Google Drive.

1. Add music to Google Slides using YouTube URL

Another easy way to add Music to Google Slides presentation is by embedding a YouTube video. Follow these steps.

Step 1: Choose the YouTube Video

Go to YouTube and look for the music or video that you want to use. Once you find that, you can play the video and take note of the start and end times of the part you want to include.

Step 2: Copy the YouTube Link

Click on the Share button below the YouTube video. Copy the provided Image name to use it in your presentation.

Step 3: Open Google Slides and Insert Video

Go to your Google Slides presentation. Select the slide where you want the audio to play. Click on Insert > Video from the menu. Choose the YouTube option, paste the link you copied earlier, and click Insert.

Step 4: Adjust the Video

A thumbnail preview of the video will appear on your slide. Resize the video or move it to a corner of the slide. If you want to hide it, place the video behind an image or move it off-screen.

2. Add music to Google Slides by uploading to Google Drive

Another easy way to add music to a Google slideshow is by uploading your audio file to Google Drive. Using this method will allow you to use your own custom tracks right in the presentation. Here's a process to add music to a Google slideshow using Google Drive:

Step 1: Upload your audio file into Google Drive

Open Google Drive and click +New in the top-left corner. Select File Upload from the drop-down menu and click to open an audio file. The file will thereafter be uploaded.

Step 2: Open Your Google Slides Presentation

Open your presentation in Google Slides that you would like to modify. Click on the slide where you want the audio to play.

Step 3: Insert the Audio

Navigate to the top menu and click Insert > Audio. Select your uploaded audio file from Google Drive.

Step 4: Adjust and Position the Audio Icon

After inserting the file, an audio icon will appear on your slide. Resize or reposition the icon as needed.

However, it’s important to note that this method has a few limitations to consider, such as:

• Audio doesn’t loop by default.
• Only available for certain file formats.

Part 2: How to Put Music on a Google Slides Using Third-Party App

When it comes to adding music to your Google Slides with advanced customization, Wondershare Filmora stands out as an excellent tool. Filmora is more than a video editor. It supports varied video and audio editing to prepare appealing presentations and so much more.

With Filmora, you can add music to a Google slideshow and generate voiceover. You can also change the timing of the audio for better quality with an easy-to-use interface. This tool makes sure that you guarantee your presentation looks formal and sounds great.

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Scan to get the Filmora App

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Features

• Audio Editing Tools: Adjust the volume, fade in/out effects, and sync the music perfectly with your slides.
• Music Library: Access a vast collection of royalty-free music to set the tone of your presentation.
• AI Music Generator: Create unique background music using AI to match the mood of your presentation.
• Voiceover Recording: Record your narration directly within Filmora to add a personal touch.
• Text-to-Speech Feature: Transform written text into a professional voiceover effortlessly.
• Precise Timing Control: Sync the audio with visual transitions in your presentation.
• Export in Multiple Formats: Once edited, export your project in formats compatible with Google Slides.

Step-by-step on how to add music to Google Slides video

Step 1: Export Google Slides as Videos

Open Google Slides go to extensions and click Adds on. Search Creator Studio and install it. Now download the file as mp4 to save your presentation as a video file.

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Scan to get the Filmora App

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Step 2: Import Slides into Wondershare Filmora

Open Filmora and import your video. Drag it to the timeline.

Step 3: Add Music to Slides

Use the built-in library to select music or upload your own audio file. Drag the track to the timeline.

Step 4: Record Your Voice and Create a Clone

Use the voice recording feature to add narration. Filmora's voiceover recording tool makes recording your voice easy. Or you can select Clone Voice in Text to Speech. Tap the pop-up window to record and read the text script aloud for 10–15 seconds. After recording, click Clone Voice.

Step 5: Transform Text into Speech

Select the cloned voice or a chosen voice profile under Text to Speech on the right panel. Select Generate to convert the video to text-to-speech in your language.

Step 6: Upload to Google Slides

Finally, add your voiceover to Google Slides. Select the voiceover file, select Insert, and go to audio. Pick your voiceover audio file and press Insert.

Step 7: Edit the Audio

Hit Play to replay the voiceover. The right-hand format settings allow voiceover playback adjustments.

Step 8: Export and Save

Once finished, click Export to save the final version as a video file or keep it in Google Slides.

Part 3: How to Add Music to Google Slides by Recording Audio

Audio recording requires a third-party device because Google Slides does not support it automatically. Then, the music file can be uploaded to the presentation. Some options to get the recording done are Voice Recorder on Windows or Voice Memos on iPhone/Mac.

After getting the recording done, the music can be incorporated into Google Slides using the steps mentioned below.

Step 1: Record Audio on Windows

Launch the Voice Recorder application on your Windows device. Go to Settings > System > Sound > Input. Check your microphone settings to be sure the intended microphone is selected. After that, click the blue (or red) button within Voice Recorder in order to begin recording. Save the audio file when done.

Step 2: Open Google Slides

Open your project in Google Slides from your computer. You can either use the Google Drive sync folder or visit Google Slides.

Step 3: Insert the Audio

To add your audio, use the left-hand panel to navigate to the slide where you wish to do so. Click on the Insert tab in the menu bar. From the dropdown, select Audio.

Step 4: Upload Your Audio

Browse and select your audio file from Google Drive. Please check that the file extension is one of the supported ones, like.mp3 or.wav. Click on the blue Insert button in the bottom-left corner of the file browser.

Step : Customize Playback Options

When in the presentation mode of Google Slides, the audio will automatically start or be muted until the speaker icon in the slides has been clicked. This will be the case with the speaker icon whilst on the presentation slides.

Limitations

While it’s straightforward, this method is time-consuming and might lack advanced editing options.

Part 4. Troubleshooting Music Not Playing on Google Slides

Encountering issues with music not playing in your Google Slides presentation can be frustrating. Here are some solutions to resolve common problems:

1. Check Your Internet Connection: Ensure you have a stable connection and refresh the presentation page.
2. Clear Browser Cache: Remove cached files and cookies from your browser to fix playback issues.
3. Update Your Browser: Use the latest version of your browser to avoid compatibility problems.
4. Test in Incognito Mode: Open the presentation in private mode to bypass potential extension conflicts.
5. Disable Extensions: Turn off browser extensions one by one to identify any that might block audio playback.
6. Verify Audio File Permissions: Ensure the audio file’s Google Drive sharing settings allow access.
7. Check Audio Playback Settings: Confirm the audio is set to play automatically or on click on "Format options."

Conclusion

Putting music in Google Slides can greatly change an ordinary presentation into an entertaining one, thanks to the unique features it offers. From built-in features to third-party tools or even recording your own audio, the options available are highly versatile. For advanced audio editing and seamless integration, tools like Wondershare Filmora offer unmatched customization, from voiceovers to syncing music perfectly with slides.

This guide has shown you how to add music to a Google slideshow step by step, making your slides more dynamic. Try one of the ways to improve your presentation. Music does more than just enhance a presentation; it can also create an impression for the audience.