Alex Ruben
How To Enable Autoplay and Loop in Google Slides
If you’re trying to get a presentation to run automatically, maybe for a kiosk or a digital display, enabling autoplay and looping in Google Slides isn’t super obvious at first. It’s kinda weird, but there’s no straightforward toggle for all that stuff. Usually, you’ve got to set it up during slideshow mode, and even then, some options are hidden behind menus. On some setups, it takes a bit of fiddling, and on others, sometimes you need to restart the tab or clear cache. Anyway, here’s the lowdown on what helps and when it might fail.
Step 1: Open Your Google Slides Presentation
Go to Google Slides and open your presentation. Or create a new one if you haven’t yet. Doesn’t matter if it’s freshly made or just a draft; the setup works the same.
Step 2: Jump into Slideshow Mode
Hit View in the top menu and select Present. Wait till it starts in full-screen mode. This is kinda key because autoplay settings aren’t accessible outside slideshow view.
Step 3: Access the Autoplay Settings
Here comes the tricky part—once in presentation mode, look at the bottom left corner. You should see three dots (some call it the “more options” menu). Click on it. Sometimes the icon is small or hidden behind the browser window—if that happens, try enlarging your window or moving it around a bit. From there, select Autoplay. This opens a sidebar or a menu with some options. Why it helps: this is where you tell your slides how long they stay up and whether they loop at the end.
Step 4: Configure Timing & Looping
In the autoplay panel, pick how long each slide should stay before moving on. Usually, you’ll see dropdowns like 5 seconds, 10 seconds, etc. Set that to something reasonable, depending on your content. Then, look for a checkbox labeled “Loop” or “Repeat” (again, kinda hidden or can be inconsistent). Make sure it’s ticked, or the presentation won’t restart after the last slide. Why it helps: because without looping, your presentation stops at the end, which kinda ruins the kiosk vibe.
Here’s a sometimes overlooked tip: if the autoplay option isn’t visible or isn’t working, check your browser zoom or try a different browser. Chrome tends to be the most stable, but Edge, Firefox—sometimes they all glitch a bit on Google Slides.
Step 5: Test It Out
Once you’ve got that set, click Present again and give it a whirl. Wait and see if it advances at your chosen interval and loops back to the start after the last slide. Fair warning: on some machines, it might kinda fail the first time—so try restarting the browser or clearing cache if it’s acting flaky. On one setup it worked flawlessly after a restart, on another, it needed a full browser refresh. Because of course, Google Slides has to make it harder than necessary.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
If your slides aren’t advancing or the looping isn’t kicking in, double-check those settings. Sometimes, the autoplay menu doesn’t save properly, especially if you’re switching between tabs or browsers. Also, note that Google Slides doesn’t officially support background music that loops with the presentation, but you can embed audio per slide if needed (not ideal, but it’s there). Also, remember that different browsers sometimes handle the slideshow controls differently, so switching browsers can fix weird hiccups.
Conclusion
Getting autoplay and looping in Google Slides isn’t super intuitive, but once you get the hang of navigating the slideshow menu and enabling autoplay options, it’s straightforward. Just be prepared for some weird bugs or inconsistent behavior, and don’t forget to test thoroughly before you rely on it for the big display. The main thing is to check those options in presentation mode and keep an eye on browser quirks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set different timings for different slides?
Nope, Google Slides applies the same interval to all slides when using autoplay. To make each slide display differently, you’d have to manually adjust content or create separate presentations.
Is there a way to add music to my presentation while it loops?
Not directly. Google Slides doesn’t support looping background music across the whole slideshow. You can insert audio into individual slides, but it won’t auto-play or loop seamlessly with the presentation.
What if my autoplay settings don’t seem to work?
Try ensuring you’re in slideshow mode when adjusting settings—settings outside of presentation mode won’t do anything. If they still trickle or don’t save, refresh the page or switch browsers because sometimes Google Slides just acts up without explanation.
Summary
- Open presentation and go to View > Present
- Click the three dots in the bottom left and pick Autoplay
- Set the slide interval and check Loop
- Test by re-presenting and see if it works
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. Because, let’s be honest, Google Slides could make this way easier.