Easy Way to Add GIFs to Google Slides

Adding GIFs to your Google Slides presentations can make them more visually appealing and engaging for your audience. GIFs add a bit of fun and humor, clarify complex processes, and help concepts stick better in your viewers’ minds.

Fortunately, inserting a GIF into Google Slides only takes a few quick steps. Here are three easy methods to liven up your next presentation:

Upload a GIF From Your Computer

This method allows you to choose a GIF already saved on your device:

  • Open your presentation and select the slide you want to add the GIF to
  • Click Insert > Image > Upload from computer in the top menu
  • Navigate to the GIF file and select it
  • The GIF will be inserted into the center of the slide
  • Click and drag the GIF to position it where desired

Pro Tip: To resize the GIF proportionally, hold the Shift key while dragging one of the corner handles.

Insert GIF by URL

If you find a great GIF online, use its URL to add it to your presentation:

  • Copy the GIF’s image address by right-clicking it and selecting Copy image address
  • In your presentation, go to Insert > Image > By URL
  • Paste the URL into the box and click Insert Image
  • The GIF will download from the web and insert automatically

Pro Tip: Search Giphy.com to discover entertaining, informative GIFs to use.

Search for GIFs Directly in Slides

Google Slides has a built-in GIF search tool to find what you need:

  • In your open presentation, click on Insert > Image > Search the web
  • Type a keyword related to the GIF you want in the search bar
  • Click one of the GIF results to insert it directly onto your slide

Pro Tip: Click the Tools button to filter search results to only show GIFs.

Best Practices for Using GIFs

Implementing GIFs appropriately will maximize engagement and information retention. Here are some top tips:

  • Use sparingly – Limit to 1 or 2 per presentation so they remain impactful
  • Keep relevant – Choose GIFs that clearly relate to your content
  • Mind placement – Ensure GIFs don’t cover text or graphics
  • Check size – Resize overly large GIFs so they don’t dominate
  • Test playback – Confirm GIFs play smoothly before presenting

Creative Ways to Use GIFs in Google Slides

Beyond basic insertion, there are lots of clever ways to incorporate GIFs:

  • Demonstrate a process or transition
  • Represent a complex concept visually
  • Animate text to make key points stand out
  • Set a theme or mood with a background GIF
  • Introduce a new section or topic
  • Add some appropriate humor to engage viewers

Really let your imagination run wild with the possibilities!

Optimize GIFs Before Adding to Slides

Large, high-quality GIFs can load slowly and harm your presentation flow. Use these tips to “compress” GIFs for faster playback:

  • Crop to remove extra space around the image
  • Resize to smaller dimensions
  • Reduce colors from 256 to 128 or fewer
  • Delete duplicate frames if any exist
  • Turn off dithering to smooth color transitions
  • Use GIF optimizer tools to make additional reductions

Finding that perfect, impactful GIF then sizing it for smooth playback takes a little effort. But it’s worth it to boost engagement and understanding for your viewers.

With these simple methods, you can quickly insert small animated GIFs into your next Google Slides presentation. Use them strategically to captivate your audience and make your message stick!