Michael Anderson
Former journalist turned tech writer with a passion for helping professionals enhance productivity through AI.
Introduction
Google Slides is hands-down awesome for whipping up presentations—whether you’re prepping for class, a work meeting, or just messing around with a fun project. But, come on, editing slides one by one can be such a drag. Want to speed things up on your next deck? Knowing how to select multiple slides at once will seriously level up your workflow. In this post, I’ll walk you through two dead-easy ways to do it. Let’s dive in!
Why You Might Need to Select Multiple Slides
Have you ever needed to delete a bunch of slides, move them to a new spot, or change their design all at once? Selecting multiple slides makes these tasks way faster. Picture this: you’re piecing together a massive presentation for a class project, and halfway through, it hits you—half the slides need a fresh background. Ugh, clicking each one individually? No thanks. Instead, you can snag them all in like two seconds flat. It’s one of those little hacks that feels like a total lifesaver.
Method 1: Using the Shift Key
The first way to select multiple slides is perfect when they’re all next to each other. Here’s how to do it:
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Open your Google Slides presentation.
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Look at the left side of the screen where you see tiny previews of your slides.
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Click on the first slide you want to select.
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Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard.
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While holding Shift, click the last slide in the group you want.
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Done! All the slides between your first and last click will be highlighted.
It’s a great way to grab a bunch of slides in a row—say, if you want to delete slides 3 to 7 in one shot. Give it a try!
Method 2: Using the Ctrl Key (or Cmd on Mac)
What if the slides you want aren’t right next to each other? No problem! You can pick and choose specific ones with this second method. Here’s what to do:
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Go to the slide preview pane on the left again.
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Hold down the Ctrl key (or Cmd if you’re on a Mac).
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Keep the key held, and click on each slide you want—one at a time.
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Let go of the key when you’ve got all the slides you need.
Now those slides will be highlighted—even if they’re scattered across your presentation. It’s perfect when you just want to tweak a few random slides without messing with the rest.
Tips for Working with Selected Slides
Once you’ve got your slides selected, there’s a lot you can do! Try these:
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Move them: Drag the group to a new spot in your presentation.
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Copy them: Right-click and hit “Copy,” then paste them wherever you want.
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Format them: Change the background or layout for all the selected slides at once (look under the “Slide” menu).
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Delete them: Press the “Delete” key to remove them in one quick step.
It’s all about working smarter, not harder—those little shortcuts can spare you a ridiculous amount of clicking.
Conclusion
There you have it—two simple ways to select multiple slides in Google Slides! Use the Shift key for a range of slides or Ctrl (or Cmd) to pick specific ones. Try these out the next time you build a presentation—you’ll save yourself a lot of time. Until then, happy presenting!
FAQ: Selecting Multiple Slides in Google Slides
Q: How do I know if I selected the right slides? A: Easy! Just look at the left sidebar – any slides you’ve picked will glow with a blue outline. If you see multiple highlights like that, you nailed it!
Q: Do these tricks work on my Chromebook or iPad? A: Yep! The Shift and Ctrl/Cmd keys work anywhere with a keyboard (even touchscreen ones). On tablets without keys: try long-pressing slides – some devices let you “multi-tap” like magic ✨
Q: Oops! I selected the wrong slides. Now what? A: No stress! Tap any blank spot in the sidebar to reset. Or hold Ctrl/Cmd and click the slide you added by mistake – it’ll vanish from your selection like it was never there.
Q: Does this work for copying slides between presentations?
A: Yep! Once selected, just right-click and choose “Copy,” then open your other presentation and paste them in. They’ll keep their original formatting unless you choose “Paste without formatting.”
Q: Can I select slides while in “Present” mode?
A: Unfortunately not. You’ll need to exit presentation view and switch to editing mode to select or modify slides.
Q: Why isn’t the Shift key selecting all the slides between two clicks?
A: Make sure you click the first slide before holding Shift. If you press Shift too early, the range might not register correctly. Let go of the key and try again!
Q: Wait, if I format slides… Does that include hidden ones I selected?
A: Heads up — yes! Hidden slides aren’t safe if they’re selected. Want to protect them? Before selecting, go to Slide > Skip Slide and turn off the “Skip hidden slides” shield. 🛡️
Q: Can I select, like, 500 slides at once?
A: Technically yes, but your grandma’s laptop might start crying. 😅 If things get slow, select smaller groups. Pro tip: Coffee breaks > laggy screens.
Q: How do I multi-select on my phone?
A: Mobile’s different! Long-press a slide thumbnail until it “pops,” then tap others. Look for tiny checkmarks — they’re your “gotcha!” confirmation. ✔️
Q: My keyboard’s missing Ctrl/Cmd. Help?
A: No panic! Try these:
• Use the floating keyboard (if your device has one).
• Check settings for “sticky keys” or shortcuts.
• On touchscreens, long-press often acts like Ctrl!
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