Connect Google Slides to Shift so you can merge all your web apps into your browser
Download ShiftWhat is Google Slides?
Google Slides is a web-based presentation app in Google Workspace for creating, editing, and presenting slide decks in the browser. It serves individuals, teams, educators, nonprofits, and businesses that need cloud-first, collaborative slide creation and delivery.
Slides supports real-time co-editing, sharing controls, revision history, templates, multimedia (images, video, animations, transitions), speaker notes, presenter view, and import/export of PowerPoint files. Advanced features such as slide recording, presenter spotlight, and Gemini-powered image or slide generation are available via Google Workspace plans or add-ons. Files live in Google Drive and integrate with Docs, Sheets, and other Workspace tools for easy asset embedding and versioning. Whether you’re drafting lessons, investor decks, training modules, or team updates, Slides is built for collaborative, cloud-first workflows and works alongside other apps you may use in Shift.
How Google Slides works in Shift
Adding Google Slides to Shift puts your decks into a single, organized workspace where you can stay signed into multiple Google accounts and switch context quickly. In Shift, you can group Slides with Drive, Gmail, Chat, and research tabs so assets, comments, and feedback are immediately accessible without hunting through browser windows.
Multi-account support keeps personal, client, and work Slides open at once, avoiding constant sign-outs when you collaborate across organizations. Use Spaces to store recurring setups—project decks, meeting materials, and presenter tools—so you can reopen the exact layout later. Custom layout controls let you view Slides side-by-side with reference docs or a video call, while Smart Links and Shift’s app routing ensure shared links open in the correct account. For frequent presenters, Shift reduces tab overload, preserves session state, and speeds context switching for a clearer, calmer workflow.
Alternatives to Google Slides
- Microsoft PowerPoint — A long-established presentation tool included with Microsoft 365, offering extensive design options, advanced animations, offline capabilities, and native Office integration.
- Prezi — Presentation software built around a zoomable, non-linear canvas that enables dynamic storytelling and visually engaging, spatial presentations.
- Canva — A design-focused platform with a drag-and-drop editor and large template/asset libraries that helps non-designers produce visually polished presentations quickly.
- Visme — A content creation platform aimed at multimedia-rich and data-driven presentations, offering templates, data visualization tools, and interactivity features.
- Beautiful.ai — An AI-assisted presentation builder that automates design to produce consistent, professional-looking slides with minimal manual layout work.
FAQ
1. What is Google Slides and what is it used for?
Google Slides is a cloud-based presentation editor used to create, edit, and present slide decks collaboratively in a browser. It’s suited for classroom lessons, business presentations, training, and team reports.
2. How to use Google Slides?
Open slides.google.com or start a new deck from Google Drive, choose a template or blank deck, add content and media, and use the Share button to invite collaborators. Edits autosave and multiple people can co-edit in real time.
3. Can you convert Microsoft PowerPoint presentations into Google Slides format?
Yes—upload a.pptx to Google Drive and open it with Google Slides to edit; you can also export Slides back to PowerPoint format. Some complex PowerPoint animations or fonts may render differently.
4. Who can create in Google Slides?
Anyone with a Google account can create and edit Slides; organizations using Google Workspace can enable additional admin controls and sharing policies. Educators and students often use Slides via Workspace for Education.
5. Are some features only available on Google Workspace plans?
Yes. Advanced features like certain AI-generated assets, enhanced presenter tools, and admin-level controls may require Google Workspace subscriptions or add-ons. Core editing and collaboration are available for free accounts.
6. How do I share and work with others in Google Slides?
Use the Share button to invite people by email or link and choose view, comment, or edit permissions. You can assign commenters, leave suggestions, see revision history, and present directly from the browser.
