How to Add Audio to Google Slides: Step-by-Step Guide

To add audio to Google Slides, first save the sound file in Google Drive, then open the presentation on a computer and choose Insert > Audio. Google currently supports MP3 and WAV files for this workflow. After the file is inserted, you can choose whether it starts on click or automatically, adjust playback, and decide whether it should continue across slides.

What you need before you start

• An MP3 or WAV audio file stored in Google Drive.
• A Google Slides presentation opened on a computer.
• Permission to use the audio, especially for music or other copyrighted material.

Google's current Slides help confirms that audio is inserted from Drive and supports .mp3 and .wav files. See the official Google Slides insert-media instructions.

How to add audio to Google Slides

1. Upload the audio to Google Drive. In Drive, choose New > File upload, then select your MP3 or WAV file. Wait for the upload to finish before returning to Slides.
2. Open the target slide. Open your presentation and select the slide where the audio should begin.
3. Choose Insert > Audio. The audio picker opens and shows compatible files from your Drive.

4. Select the audio file. Find the file in My Drive, Shared with me, Recent, or by using search, then select it.
5. Position the speaker icon. Slides places an audio icon on the slide. You can move or resize it like another slide object.

6. Open Format options. Select the audio icon, then choose Format options. Under Audio playback, set Start playing to On click or Automatically. You can also adjust volume and, when available, set optional start and stop times.

Finally, click Slideshow and test the slide from the beginning of the section where the audio is used. Testing in presentation mode is important because browser permissions, file access, and playback settings can behave differently from edit mode.

How to play background music across multiple slides

For background music, insert the track on the slide where you want it to begin and set it to play automatically. In Audio playback, leave Stop on slide change unchecked so the track can continue when you advance. Turn on Loop audio if you want the file to restart after it reaches the end. If you do not want the speaker symbol visible during the presentation, enable Hide icon when presenting when that option is available.

Make sure other viewers can hear the audio

The audio file remains a Drive-hosted file, so sharing matters. Google says Slides uses an access checker that can suggest permission changes when a presentation contains audio or video. When you share the deck, add the people or groups who need access and confirm any recommended permission updates. Google's Drive sharing guide explains Viewer, Commenter, and Editor access.

Can you use YouTube or a streaming link instead?

Yes, but that is different from inserting an audio file. For YouTube, use Insert > Video; Google Slides currently lets you search YouTube, paste a YouTube URL, or choose a video from Google Drive. You can then use Format options > Video playback to control how the video starts. If you only add a Spotify or other streaming-service link, it remains a hyperlink and may open another browser tab instead of playing as embedded slide audio.

Quick fixes when audio does not work

• The file does not appear: confirm that it is an MP3 or WAV file and that it has finished uploading to Google Drive.
• Other people cannot play it: recheck the presentation and audio-file sharing permissions, then accept any access-checker suggestions.
• The audio stops on the next slide: open Audio playback and make sure Stop on slide change is not selected.
• You want hands-free playback: choose Automatically, then test the deck in Slideshow mode before presenting.
• You only have a YouTube track: insert it as a video rather than treating the URL as a native audio file.

For most presentations, the Drive-based MP3 or WAV method is the cleanest option because playback stays inside Google Slides and you can control when the audio starts, whether it continues across slides, and whether the icon is shown to the audience.