How to Add and Use Speaker Notes in Presentations in Google Slides

Google Slides is a versatile and go-to presentation-making app for many. While giving presentations can be nerve-racking, you can take help of the speaker notes in Slides.

Google Slides it packs cool features, including sample presentation templates and multiple add-ons, which you can use to improve your presentations. Out of all that, one of the most versatile feature that helps you while delivering your presentation vocally is Speaker Notes.

You can use the Speaker Notes feature in Google Slides for including important points or examples as references. We will show how to add and use Speaker Notes in Google Slides. Let us check it out.

Why Should You Use Speaker Notes in Google Slides

Everyone loves smaller presentation slides. However, it’s the actual explanation of slides that’s challenge. The speaker notes act as cue cards to let you speak more about a particular slide rather than just reading the content on it.

If your presentation is quite elaborate and deep, the speaker notes can help you cover all points and also keep you on track with the time.

Besides the talking points, you can include questions or quizzes to interact with the audience so that the presentation doesn’t turn into a boring monologue.

The Speaker Notes feature is available in the Google Slides web version along with Android and iOS app. Moreover, it also has the option to run Speaker Notes on dual-screen. Meaning, the speaker notes will be visible to you while you can have the presentation running on a different screen.

Create Speaker Notes in Google Slides on the Web

Now that you have a better understanding of including Speaker Notes in Google Slides and its benefits, here’s how you can create add them using Google Slides web version. Here are the steps:

Step 1: Open the Google Slides website on any browser on your desktop. Log in with your Google account.

Visit Google Slides

Step 2: Open an existing presentation or create a new one.

Step 3: Select the slide, and click on the bottom space titled Click to add speaker notes. Here you can add all the important points, questions, or trivia you want to refer while presenting.

Step 4: Repeat the same for all the other slides.

If you want more space while creating a presentation, you can disable the Speaker Notes section at the bottom. To do that, drag the horizontal line above the Speaker Notes section and pull it all the way down.

Alternatively, you can head over to the top Menu bar and select the View option. Here, disable the Show speaker notes option.

Create Speaker Notes in Google Slides on Android

Google Slides app on iOS and Android has the same interface. So the steps remain the same.

Step 1: Download and install the Google Slides app on your mobile.

Download Google Slides

Download Google Slides for iPhone or iPad

Step 2: Open the app and tap on the presentation where you want to add Speaker Notes.

Step 3: Google Slides will open the presentation in vertical style. Tap on the slide and select the option Edit Slide from the menu that pops up.

Step 4: The slide will now open separately. Tap on the 3-dot menu button on the top-right.

Step 5: You need to select the Show speaker notes option.

Step 6: The bottom of the slide will show a blank space with the title Tap to add speaker notes.

Again, you can add all the points you want to cover along with questions or other things.

Enable Speaker Notes While Giving a Presentation

After adding speaker notes to slides, you’ll need to view them while giving a presentation.

You can use two screens to avoid showing your speaker notes to the audience. Here’s how you can use Speaker Notes

Step 1: Open Google Slides on the web and select the presentation on which you have added Speaker Notes.

Step 2: Click on the arrow beside the Present button located at the top.

Step 3: From the drop-down menu, select the Presenter view option. This option will allow you to view speaker notes.

Step 4: Clicking on Presenter view will open the presentation on one screen and the speaker notes on another screen with a timer. The timer is there to help you finish up things within the time limit if there is any.

Never Miss a Point With Speaker Notes

Speaker Notes is a handy function, letting you remember important things which need to be addressed during a presentation. Include only the relevant points instead of stuffing it up with full sentences, unless you’re preparing it for someone else.