How to Make Interactive Google Slides [5 Methods]

In today’s fast-paced world, a plain slideshow won’t hold anyone’s attention for long.

Why should your Google Slides be static when they can be interactive, engaging, and fun? Interactive presentations capture your audience’s attention, keep them engaged, and make your message more memorable, whether you’re teaching a class, pitching an idea, or showcasing products.

In this guide, you will learn how to make interactive Google Slides using five methods: hyperlinks, quizzes, multimedia, animations, and menu slides. By the end, you will be able to create a presentation that is not only informative but also engaging to your audience.

What Makes a Google Slides Presentation Interactive

If you have ever wondered how to make Google Slides interactive, it starts with understanding what makes a presentation interactive in the first place.

An interactive presentation goes beyond clicking “Next.” It gives your audience the chance to participate, make choices, explore sections, and even influence how the content flows.

Some key interactive elements include:

✅ Clickable menus or buttons enable viewers to jump between sections, and it is ideal when you want them to explore the slides in their own order.

✅ Quizzes or polls engage your audience, making them perfect for training sessions.

✅ Embedded videos capture viewers’ attention by presenting them directly on the slides, making them particularly useful for demonstrations or marketing pitches.

✅ Branching slides create multiple paths, making them ideal for scenario-based learning or interactive business presentations.

How to Make Interactive Google Slides in 5 Ways

Having understood why an interactive Google Slides matters, let’s explore five practical ways to make an interactive slideshow.

Method 1: Add Hyperlinks and Action Buttons

One of the simplest ways to make your Google Slides interactive is by using hyperlinks and action buttons.

These make it easy to jump between slides or open web pages, giving your audience the freedom to explore.
You can add buttons such as Next, Previous, Home, Play, and Download, depending on the experience you want your audience to have, making it easier for them to navigate your presentation.

📝 Below are the steps on how to insert a hyperlink and action buttons:

Step 1: Open your Google Slides presentation and add a new slide.

Step 2: Highlight the text or image you want to make clickable.

Step 3: Click on Insert > Link to add a link to the highlighted text or image.

insert link to make interactive google slides

Step 4: You can either paste your link or link it to the next slide.

To add an Action button:

Click on Insert > Shape to select a shape that catches your attention. It can be a rectangle or a circle.
Customise it by dragging the corners until it suits you.
Double-click the shape, and choose Edit Text and type something like “Home”, “Next”, “Back”, or any action you want.
Click on the shape, then go to Insert > Link to either paste a link or link to another slide.

That’s it. You have added some interactive elements for presentations.

Method 2: Branching Scenarios, Quizzes & Decision Paths

If you want to take your interactive slides a step further, try adding branching scenarios or quizzes. It enables your audience to choose their options and directs them to different slides for feedback. These are perfect for learning modules, quizzes, or even a choose-your-own-adventure style presentation. Before proceeding, plan your scenario structure and outline all questions, choices, and outcomes.

📝 Here is how to set up your slides:

Step 1: Prepare your slides, one for the start, a question, and others for the answers or feedback.

Step 2: Add clickable options. To do that, go to Insert > Shape and draw buttons for each choice.

Step 3: Hyperlink each button to its corresponding answer using Insert > Link > Slide.

Note: test your presentation to ensure each choice leads to the right slide.

You can also check out AiPPT to create presentation slides that can be used to make branching scenarios in Google Slides.

Method 3. Embed Multimedia (Video, Audio, GIFs)

Adding multimedia brings your slides to life. Videos, audio, and GIFs make your presentation more engaging and visually appealing. Before you proceed: download and upload the media files you plan to use to your Google Drive.

📝 Let’s walk through the process of embedding your multimedia in your slides in a way that is easy to follow.

Step 1: Click on Insert > Video to open the box where you can add videos to your slide.

Step 2: Paste a YouTube link or search directly within the window.

Step 3: Click Insert and adjust the size or position based on your preference.

For videos saved on your drive: Go to Insert >Video > Google Drive and select your file.

To add a GIF:

Click Insert > Image > Upload from computer.
Choose your GIF file and resize or crop to fit your slide.

To add audio to your presentation:

Step 1: Go to Insert > Audio to choose and add an audio file to your slide.

Step 2: Select an audio file from your Google Drive.

upload audio to make interactive presentation

Step 3: Use the Format Options panel to set it to play on click or automatically.

Method 4. Use Animations, Transitions & Interactive Visuals

Using animation, transition, or interactive visuals is a game-changer for making an interactive slideshow. They help guide attention, reveal points gradually, and make the overall experience smoother. You can also combine visuals like interactive charts or diagrams to create a more engaging experience.

To add an animation:

Select the object you want to animate.
To choose the animation you want, click Insert > Animation to open the animation panel.
Choose your preferred effect and speed.

To add slide transitions:

To add a transition, click Slide, then select Transition.
Pick a transition style and apply it to one slide or all.

To add visuals like a diagram or chart:

Click Insert > Diagram or Insert > Chart.

Method 5. Menu Slides & Navigation Framework

A menu slide acts like a home page for your presentation. It allows your audience to jump from one specific section to another rather than scrolling through every slide in order.

📝 Here is a simple walkthrough that shows you exactly how to build one from scratch:

Step 1: Insert a new slide at the beginning of your presentation. Title it Main Menu.

Step 2: Add the titles for each section you want your audience to jump to.

Step 3: Go to Insert > Shape to draw the button.

Step 4. Select each button, then go to Insert > Link to pick the slide that corresponds to that content section.

Step 5: Add a Back to Menu button on every slide so your audience can easily return to the main menu without having to navigate through slides.

To add your Back to Menu button, Insert > Shape > Link to the main menu slide.

Conclusion

If you have been thinking about how to make interactive Google Slides, here is your guide. By adding links, branching paths, media, and navigation menus, you can transform a static presentation into an engaging one that your audience will always remember.

Start applying these methods today to create a Google Slides presentation that stands out.