Google Slides is a virtual platform that lets you create and share your presentations with other people. Manipulating the slides is reasonably straightforward.
While creating a presentation, there may be instances where you want to hide certain slides from your audience. Hiding a slide can be useful if you have information on a slide that you do not want to present or if you are still working on a slide and do not want it to be seen yet.
To hide a slide in Google Slides, select the slide, right-click, and choose “Skip slide” (or go to the “Slide” menu and select “Skip slide”). To unhide it, do the same and choose “Unskip slide.”
Every time you hide a slide, that slide remains within the presentation — other people just don’t see them while you’re presenting. Also, if you print the presentation, concealed slides won’t be shown.
To learn how to hide a slide in Google Slides, read on.
How to Hide a Slide in Google Slides
Hiding a slide in Google Slides is a practical function for streaming the layout of your presentation. There are two different ways to do this:
- By right-clicking on the slide
- By using the “Slide” menu
Using the Right-Click Method
To hide a slide in Google Slides using the right-click method, simply follow the steps below:
- Open the Google Slides with the presentation you want to edit.
- In the left sidebar, click on the slide you want to hide.
- Right-click on the slide to open a context menu.
- Select “Skip Slide.”
NOTE: If you don’t see the filmstrip in the sidebar, you can enable it by clicking the “View” menu and then “Show filmstrip.”
Using the “Slide” Menu
To hide a slide using the “Slide” menu, here’s what you should do:
- Open your Google Slides presentation.
- Select the slide that you want to hide.
- Click on the “Slide” menu in the top menu bar.
- Select “Skip slide” to hide the selected slide.
Both methods will hide the selected slide during the presentation, but they’ll still be part of it (and can be unhidden later if needed).
Tip: To unhide a Google slide, follow the same steps but choose “Unskip slide” instead.
How to Hide Multiple Slides in Google Slides
Instead of hiding a single slide, Google Slides allows its users to hide multiple slides simultaneously. Simply follow these steps:
- Hold Ctrl (for Windows, Chromebook, and Linux) or Command (for Mac) while selecting slides.
- Click the “Slide” menu, then “Skip Slides.”
- Alternatively, you can right-click on one of your selected slides and select “Skip slides” within the context menu.
The process is simple, but you’ll need to be extra careful of clicking the slides you want to disappear. You might select something important accidentally — and doing so could ruin your presentation.
How to Print a Presentation in Google Slides Without the Hidden Slides
Google Slides’ skip slide function is a convenient feature while you are showing a presentation. However, this function won’t work for printing unless you do some tweaks.
Every time you print a presentation, Google Slides includes all the slides by default — even the ones you’ve hidden. Fortunately, there’s a configuration to address this matter.
Here’s what you can do:
- Open the Google Slides presentation in your web browser.
- Click on the “File” menu at the top left side of the screen and choose “Print preview.”
- In the “Print preview” panel, click on the “Include Skipped Slides” option to disable it.
- Click the “Print” button to print the presentation. The document will be complete except for the skipped or hidden slides.
How Do I Know If a Slide Is Hidden?
To determine whether a slide is hidden on Google Slides, look for the “eye” icon next to the slide in the left-hand panel.
If the eye icon is crossed out (or grayed out), the slide is hidden and won’t be shown during a slideshow or presentation.
Extra Tips on How to Use Google Slides
Now that you know how to use Google Slides to hide a slide, here are some extra tips on using this program to its fullest:
Use Templates
Google Slides offers a variety of templates for different types of presentations. You can select a template and customize it to suit your needs.
Collaborate in Real-Time
This allows multiple people to collaborate on the same presentation in real-time. You can see the changes that others make while working together on the same slide.
Use Add-Ons
Google Slides has many add-ons that can enhance your presentations. Add these by going to “Add-ons” in the top menu and selecting “Get add-ons.” Some popular add-ons include Unsplash Photos, Pear Deck, and Nearpod.
Add Multimedia
Add images, videos, and audio to your Google Slides presentation to make it more engaging. In addition, you can upload your own files or search for/use media from Google’s library.
Use Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts can help you work more efficiently. You can see a list of keyboard shortcuts by pressing “Ctrl + /” on Windows or “Cmd + /” on Mac.
Use the Explore Feature
The Explore feature in Google Slides allows you to search for and insert images, facts, and other content directly into your presentation. You can access this feature by clicking on the “Explore” button in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
Use Speaker Notes
Add speaker notes to your presentation that only you can see while presenting. This is a great way to keep track of talking points and reminders.
Use Transitions and Animations
Google Slides offers a variety of transitions and animations that can make your presentation more dynamic. You can use these to add visual interest and guide your audience’s attention.
Share your Presentation
Once your presentation is complete, share it with others by clicking on the “Share” button in the top-right corner of the screen. You can choose to share it with specific people, anyone with the link, or make it public.
Present Your Slides
To present your Google Slides presentation, click on the “Present” button in the top-right corner of the screen. You can present directly from your web browser or even download the presentation as a PowerPoint or PDF file to present offline.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Unhide Hidden Slides?
To unhide slides in Google Slides, look for the slide with the grayed-out eye icon (which indicates that the slide is hidden). Next, right-click on the hidden slide and select “Unskip slide” from the drop-down menu. Alternatively, you can click on the “Slide” menu at the top of the screen and choose “Unskip slide” from there.
The hidden slide should now be unhidden and visible in the presentation. You can determine this via the eye icon next to the slide, which should now be visible and not grayed out.
How Do You Make Slides Appear and Disappear?
Google Slides lets you make slides disappear and appear. To do this, you have to do the following:
- Select a slide that you want to manipulate.
- Right-click it and select the “Skip slide” option. This will make the slide disappear from your presentation.
- To make it appear again, select the slide and right-click it. Select the “Unskip slide,” and the slide will appear again in the presentation.
Final Thoughts
Whether you want to keep a backup slide for reference, skip over an irrelevant slide for your current audience, or simply want to maintain a more streamlined and focused presentation, hiding a slide can help you achieve your goal. So the next time you need to remove a slide from your presentation, the “Hide slide” feature in Google Slides will let you do so quickly and easily.
Related:
