Let’s be real—a presentation without audio can feel flat. Whether you’re creating a slideshow for a client pitch, a wedding montage, or a classroom project, knowing how to add music to Google Slides is a game-changer. The problem? Google Slides doesn’t have a built-in “Insert Audio” button like some other tools. But don’t worry—there are several solid workarounds that take just minutes to master.
The good news: you have options. You can embed audio directly from Google Drive, use YouTube videos as your audio source, or leverage third-party tools. We’ll walk you through each method so you can pick what works best for your workflow.
Method 1: Upload Audio to Google Drive & Insert as Video
This is the most straightforward way to add music to Google Slides. Here’s the catch: Google Slides treats audio files as video objects, so you’ll be uploading an audio file and inserting it as a “video.” Sounds weird, but it works perfectly.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prepare your audio file. Make sure it’s in an MP3, WAV, M4A, or OGG format. If you don’t have one yet, tools like Audacity (free, open-source) let you trim, edit, or convert audio files.
- Go to Google Drive. Open drive.google.com in your browser and sign in with your Google account.
- Upload your audio file. Click the “New” button on the left sidebar, then select “File upload.” Choose your audio file from your computer. Wait for it to finish uploading—you’ll see a checkmark when it’s done.
- Open your Google Slides presentation. Navigate to the slide where you want to add music.
- Go to Insert menu. Click “Insert” in the top menu bar.
- Select “Video.” From the dropdown, click “Video.” (Yes, we’re inserting it as a video, but it’ll play the audio.)
- Choose “Upload from Drive.” A dialog box will appear. Select the “Search Drive” tab and find your audio file, or click the “Upload” tab to add a new one.
- Click the audio file. Select it from the list and click “Select.”
- Resize and position. The audio will appear as a small video player on your slide. You can drag it to reposition or resize it using the corner handles. Many presenters hide it in the corner or make it small since viewers only need to hear it, not see a player.
- Test playback. Click the play button to make sure the audio works. In presentation mode (press Shift + F5), the audio will play when you click the player.
Pro Tip: If you want the music to play automatically when you reach that slide, you’ll need to use Method 2 or 3, since this method requires a manual click to start playback.
Method 2: Use YouTube Video as Your Audio Source
This method works great if your music is available on YouTube (royalty-free music channels, your own uploads, etc.). The advantage? YouTube videos can be set to autoplay, and they integrate seamlessly with Google Slides.
How to Set It Up
- Find your audio on YouTube. Search for the song or audio track you want to use. Make sure you have permission to use it (check the video’s license or use royalty-free music channels like Audio Library).
- Copy the video URL. From the YouTube page, copy the full URL from the address bar.
- In Google Slides, go to Insert > Video. Click the “Search YouTube” tab.
- Paste the URL. Paste the YouTube link into the search box and press Enter.
- Select the video. Click on the correct result and then click “Select.”
- Position the player. Like Method 1, you can move or resize the video player. Hide it off to the side if you prefer.
- Enable autoplay (optional). Right-click the video player and look for playback options. Note: autoplay may not work in all browsers or presentation modes—always test beforehand.
Safety Warning: Make sure the YouTube video’s license allows for reuse. Many videos have copyright restrictions. Use YouTube’s Audio Library (free, no copyright strikes) or Creative Commons licensed content when possible.
Method 3: Embed Audio Using Third-Party Tools
If you need more control—like background music that plays automatically without a visible player—third-party embedding tools are your answer. Tools like Soundcloud, Spotify (with restrictions), or custom HTML embedding work here.
Using SoundCloud
- Upload to SoundCloud. Create a free SoundCloud account and upload your audio file.
- Get the embed code. Click “Share” on your SoundCloud track, then select “Embed.” Copy the embed code provided.
- In Google Slides, insert a text box. Go to Insert > Text box and draw a text box on your slide.
- Paste the embed code. Unfortunately, Google Slides doesn’t natively support HTML embedding, so this method has limitations. Instead, you can use the SoundCloud player link directly as a video insertion (similar to YouTube).
Real Talk: Third-party embedding in Google Slides is clunky. If you need sophisticated audio controls, consider exporting your presentation as a video file using a tool like Screencastify or recording your presentation separately with audio added in post-production.
Supported Audio Formats & File Size Limits
Google Slides supports these audio formats when uploaded via Google Drive:
- MP3 – Most common, widely compatible
- WAV – High quality, larger file sizes
- M4A – Apple’s format, good quality
- OGG – Open-source format, good compression
File size limits depend on your Google Drive storage. A single file can be up to 5TB (for Google One subscribers), but practically speaking, audio files are small—most songs are 5-10 MB. The real limit is your Drive storage quota (15 GB free, or more with a paid plan).
Pro tip for file size: If your audio is a WAV file, convert it to MP3 using Audacity or Online-Convert.com to reduce file size by 80-90% with minimal quality loss.
Common Issues & Fixes
Audio Won’t Play in Presentation Mode
This usually happens with Method 1. The audio player requires a click to start. Solution: Use Method 2 (YouTube) if you need autoplay, or manually click the player at the right moment during your presentation.
Audio File Won’t Upload to Google Drive
Check these things:
- File format is supported (MP3, WAV, M4A, OGG)
- File size isn’t corrupted (try uploading to a different location first)
- Your Google Drive has available storage
- Your internet connection is stable (large uploads can timeout)
Audio Plays but Sounds Distorted or Cuts Out
The file might be corrupted. Try re-encoding it using Audacity: Open the file, export it as a new MP3, and upload again. Also check your speaker volume during playback—it’s not always the file.
Video Player Shows Up But No Audio Comes Out
Make sure your computer’s speakers are on and unmuted. In presentation mode, browser mute settings can override slide audio. Check your browser’s site settings (look for the speaker icon in the address bar) and unmute Google Slides.
Best Practices for Presentation Audio
Volume Levels Matter
Test your audio in the actual room where you’ll present. What sounds fine on your laptop speakers might be too quiet in a large conference room. Use a microphone to boost audio if needed, or export your presentation as a video with audio mixed in post-production.
Royalty-Free Music is Your Friend
Using copyrighted music without permission can get your presentation flagged or removed if shared online. Stick with royalty-free sources like:
- YouTube Audio Library (free, no attribution needed)
- Epidemic Sound (subscription, high quality)
- Pixabay Music (free, Creative Commons)
- Incompetech (free, requires attribution)
Audio Length & Timing
Keep background music short—30 seconds to 2 minutes max. Longer tracks can distract from your content. If you want music throughout a multi-slide presentation, consider creating a looped background track using Audacity.
Test Before You Present
Always run through your presentation in the actual presentation mode (Shift + F5 on Windows, or press “Present” button) before the real event. Audio behavior can differ between edit mode and presentation mode. Also test on the actual device and projector/speaker setup you’ll use.
Accessibility Considerations
If your audio contains important information (not just background music), provide captions or a transcript. This helps attendees who are deaf or hard of hearing, and it’s just good practice. The W3C has solid guidelines on audio accessibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add background music that plays automatically when a slide appears?
– Yes, but only with Method 2 (YouTube video). Upload your audio to YouTube, insert it as a video, and enable autoplay in the video settings. Note: Autoplay may not work in all browsers due to muting policies. Always have a backup plan to manually start the audio if autoplay fails.
What’s the maximum file size for audio I can upload?
– Google Drive supports files up to 5TB, but that’s not really the limit for audio. Audio files are tiny—a 5-minute song is typically 5-10 MB. Your real limit is your Google Drive storage quota (15 GB free, or more with a paid plan).
Can I upload audio directly to Google Slides without using Google Drive?
– No, you have to go through Google Drive first. Google Slides doesn’t have a direct “upload audio” option. You upload to Drive, then insert from Drive into Slides.
Will the audio work if I share my presentation with others?
– Yes, as long as they have access to the file. If you share the Slides link, they’ll hear the audio when they watch it (or present it). If you download the presentation as a PowerPoint, the audio may not transfer—always test this before sending it to someone else.
Can I add music to just one slide or all slides?
– You add music slide-by-slide. Each slide can have its own audio file, or you can add the same file to multiple slides. If you want continuous background music across all slides, you’ll need to either upload the same file to each slide or use a video export tool to create a single video file with music throughout.
What if I want to edit the audio after uploading it to Google Drive?
– Google Drive doesn’t have built-in audio editing. Use Audacity (free) or Adobe Audition (paid) to edit before uploading. Once it’s in Drive, you can delete it and re-upload an edited version.
Is there a way to hide the audio player on the slide?
– Not completely, but you can resize it to be very small or position it off-screen (outside the visible slide area). Some presenters move it to the bottom-right corner where it’s less noticeable. For a truly invisible audio experience, use Method 2 with a YouTube video set to autoplay and positioned off-screen.
Can I use Spotify music in Google Slides?
– Not directly. Spotify’s embed feature is limited, and you can’t insert Spotify tracks directly into Slides. Your best option: download the track (if you have rights to do so), convert it to MP3, and upload to Google Drive using Method 1.
What if the audio plays fine on my computer but not when I present to a group?
– This is usually a speaker or browser issue. Test the audio on the actual projector/speaker system before your presentation. Also check that the presentation room’s audio isn’t muted. If the venue has poor speakers, consider using a portable Bluetooth speaker positioned near the screen.
