How to Add Audio to Google Slides (5 Best Ways)

Want to spice up your Google Slides presentation with sound? Good news — it’s easier than you think! Adding audio can make your slides more fun, engaging, and memorable. Whether it’s background music, voice narration, or sound effects, we’ve got the top five ways for you to do it. Let’s dive in!

1. Use Google Drive to Add Audio Files

This is the most direct way to insert audio into Google Slides. Here’s how you do it:

Step 1: Upload your MP3 or WAV file to your Google Drive.
Step 2: Open your Google Slides presentation.
Step 3: Go to the slide where you want to add the audio.
Step 4: Click Insert > Audio.
Step 5: Choose the file from your Drive.

That’s it! A speaker icon will show up on your slide. You can move it around or hide it behind an image.

2. Add Audio with a YouTube Video

Need music and don’t have a file? Use YouTube! This trick works well for background music:

Step 1: Go to YouTube and find the music you want.
Step 2: Copy the video’s URL.
Step 3: In your slide, click Insert > Video.
Step 4: Paste the URL and click Select.

You can resize and move the video off the visible slide, so the music plays but the video isn’t seen.

3. Record Your Own Voice

This method is great for narrating your slides. You’ll need a voice recorder first (you can use your phone or free online tools like this one).

Step 1: Record your voice and save it as an MP3 or WAV file.
Step 2: Upload the file to Google Drive.
Step 3: Insert it into your slide the same way as in method #1.

It’s a cool way to explain your slides — especially if you’re sharing them with others who won’t be there for your live presentation.

4. Use an Online Audio Link

If you’ve found an audio clip online that you want to use, you can link to it. Here’s how:

Step 1: Find the direct link to the audio file (must end in .mp3 or .wav).
Step 2: Insert a shape or icon on your slide.
Step 3: Click the Insert link icon and paste your URL.

This doesn’t automatically play, but your viewers can click it to open in a new tab and listen. It’s simple but useful!

5. Use Audio Add-Ons or Extensions

There are a few great add-ons designed to help you with audio in Google Slides.

AudioPlayer for Slides: Adds simple controls to play audio per slide.
Slides Media: Lets you insert audio stored in the cloud.

To use them, go to Extensions > Add-ons > Get add-ons and search for “audio.” Find one you like and follow its instructions.

Pro Tips for Using Audio in Slides

Keep your audio short and sweet — no one wants a 5-minute track on one slide!
Always test your presentation before sharing. Make sure the audio plays smoothly.
Adjust audio playback settings (like autoplay) by clicking the speaker icon and using the format options.

Time to Make Some Noise!

Google Slides doesn’t have a built-in recording tool yet, but these five methods make it easy to add any sound you want. Whether you’re telling a story, teaching a lesson, or just adding some awesome background tunes, audio can take your presentation to the next level.

So the next time you’re building your slides — go ahead and turn up the volume!