Google Slides is a popular presentation software that allows users to create visually appealing slide decks. However, when creating presentations, you may end up with duplicate or unnecessary slides that need to be removed. Deleting a single slide is easy, but removing multiple slides efficiently can be tricky.
This comprehensive guide will teach you how to delete multiple slides at once in Google Slides using simple keyboard shortcuts and toolbar options. Whether you are using the web browser, desktop app, or mobile app, we have got you covered.
Why Delete Multiple Slides?
Here are some common reasons why you may need to delete multiple slides in Google Slides:
- Remove duplicate or repetitive slides
- Delete an outdated section
- Cut down lengthy presentations
- Fix formatting issues
- Start sections from a clean slate
Deleting multiple slides in one go saves the hassle of removing one slide at a time. It also helps keep your slide deck concise by eliminating repetitive or irrelevant information.
How to Select Multiple Slides
Before deleting, you first need to select the slides you wish to remove. Here are some easy ways to select consecutive or non-consecutive slides on desktop and mobile:
On Desktop
- Consecutive Slides: Click the first slide, hold down the Shift key, and click the last slide to select a range.
- Non-Consecutive: Hold the Ctrl (or Command) key and click each slide you want to delete.
On Mobile
- Consecutive: Tap and hold the first slide, then tap the last slide.
- Non-Consecutive: Tap to select each slide you want to remove.
The selected slides will be highlighted with a color border.
Deleting Multiple Slides on Desktop
Once you’ve selected the slides to remove, deleting them on desktop is simple:
Using the Keyboard
Press Delete or Backspace on your keyboard. All selected slides will be deleted immediately.
Using the Right-Click Menu
- Right-click on any of the highlighted slides
- Select Delete from the menu
- Confirm deletion in the pop-up prompt
From the Toolbar
- Go to the Slide tab in the toolbar
- Click the Delete button
- Confirm the deletion
These methods allow you to quickly mass delete slides on the web browser or desktop application.
Deleting Multiple Slides on Mobile
To remove multiple slides from Google Slides mobile apps, use these steps:
On iPhone/iPad
- Tap selected slides
- Tap the scissors icon in the top toolbar
- Confirm the deletion
On Android
- Tap to select slides
- Tap the trash can icon in the top-right
- Confirm with the Delete button
And you are done! The selected slides will vanish from your presentation deck on mobile.
Tips for Effective Deletion
Follow these tips when clearing out multiple slides:
- Review all slides first to avoid accidentally deleting important information
- Save a copy before making mass deletions
- Use Ctrl/Command + Z to undo any deletions
- Delete slides from the Grid view for better oversight
- Move slides to trash if you may need them later
Recovering Deleted Slides
If you delete a slide by accident, quickly press Ctrl/Command + Z to undo it.
However, if you’ve already closed the presentation, here is how to recover deleted slides:
- Open Google Drive trash
- Find your deleted presentation file
- Select and restore the file
- Open the restored copy in Google Slides
- Copy any lost slides back into your original presentation
While slides removed from Google Slides can be recovered from the trash up to 30 days, it’s best not to rely on this method.
Conclusion
And that’s everything you need to know about erasing multiple slides in Google Slides efficiently! With handy keyboard shortcuts and easy-to-use toolbar functions, you can declutter busy presentations by removing duplicate, irrelevant, or outdated slides in seconds.
Quickly master slide deletion on both desktop and mobile apps with these simple tips. Remember to always review slides before permanent removal and utilize the undo shortcut if you change your mind.
By seamlessly deleting multiple slides at once, you can focus on perfecting the most important presentation content for your audience.
