4 ways to insert a PDF in Google Slides
There are numerous ways to insert a PDF document into a Google Slide. Some of them are:
- Place the PDF document on an online web page or in Google Docs, and insert a link to it in the slide.
- Convert the PDF document into an image file, and insert the image file in the slide.
- Capture the PDF document as a screenshot, and insert the screenshot in the slide.
- Convert the PDF document into a PPT file, and insert the PPT file in the slide.
We will show you in simple steps how you can insert a PDF document into a Google Slide, using the methods above. Let us begin.
Method #1: Insert a Link to the PDF Document in the Slide
Note: We will place the PDF document in Google Drive and create a link to it. We will then insert the link in the Google Slide.
Step #1: Open Google Drive
Open your favorite browser and go to the Google search page.
Click the Google apps icon (the nine dots) in the top right corner.
Click the Drive icon to open Google Drive.
Note: You will need to input your username and password.
Step #2: Upload PDF Document
Click the New icon.
This will open a menu.
Click the File upload icon.
The File Manager will open.
Navigate to the PDF file you want to upload.
Click the Open button.
Google Drive will confirm the upload with a notification.
Close the notification by clicking the Close icon.
Your PDF document will be available under My Drive.
Step #3: Get a Link
Right-click the PDF document.
This will open a menu.
Click the Get link icon.
A dialog box will open.
Click to Add people and groups with whom you want to share the PDF document.
Click the Copy link button at the left bottom corner.
Click the Done button to close the dialog box.
Step #4: Open Google Slides
Click the Google apps icon (the nine dots) in the top right corner.
Click the Slides icon to open Google Slides.
Open the slide in which you want to insert the link.
Note: To open a new slide, click the + button in the bottom right corner.
Step #5: Insert a Text Box
Click the Insert tab in the top menu bar.
In the menu that opens, click the Text box icon.
Click and drag the mouse button to create a text box.
Step #6: Insert the Link
Click inside the text box.
Click the Insert tab in the top menu bar.
In the menu that opens, click the Link icon.
A box will open, and inside it, you can type in the name of the PDF document.
As you begin typing, a list of possible documents will come up.
Click the one you want to insert.
The link to the PDF document will appear in the text box.
Method #2: Convert PDF Document to Image, Insert Image File in Slide
Note: This method is useful when you want to display only a part of the PDF, not the entire document. You can also add a link to the PDF document (refer to Method #1).
Step #1: Convert PDF to Image
Note: Use a PDF viewer or any suitable application on your computer for the conversion. Alternatively, use the online application smallpdf pdf-to-jpg converter for the purpose. For this tutorial, we will use the smallpdf converter.
Open your favorite browser.
Visit the page pdf-to-jpg.
You can drag and drop the PDF document you want to convert.
Alternatively, click the CHOOSE FILE tab.
The File Manager will open.
Navigate to the PDF file you want to convert and select it.
Click the Open tab to download the file, and close the File Manager.
Smallpdf will offer two options:
- Convert entire pages — for the free version of Smallpdf.
- Extract single images — for the pro, or paid version of Smallpdf.
Click the option you want.
We have selected Convert entire pages.
Click on the Choose option bar.
Step #2: Download the Converted Image
Smallpdf will offer two choices:
- Download individual pages — navigate to the page and click the Download link.
- Download the entire file — click on the Download Zip File button.
Select the option you want.
We have selected Download individual pages.
Note: If you download the zip file, you must unzip it before using it for insertion.
Smallpdf will show all the slides in the file.
Navigate to the slide you want to convert.
Click the Download button.
The File Manager will open.
Navigate to a suitable folder.
Save the downloaded file with an appropriate name.
Step #3: Open Google Slides
Click the Google apps icon (the nine dots) in the top right corner.
Note: You will need to enter your username and password to authenticate.
Click the Slides icon to open Google Slides.
Open the slide where you want to insert the link.
Note: To open a new slide, click the + button in the bottom right corner.
Step #4: Insert Image file
Click the Insert tab in the top menu bar.
A menu will open.
Hover the mouse over the Image icon.
Another menu will open.
Click the Upload from computer icon.
The File Manager will open.
Navigate to the image file you have downloaded.
Click the Open button to insert the image file.
Google Slides embeds the image file in the slide.
Method #3: Capture PDF Document to Screenshot, Insert Screenshot in Slide
Note: This method is useful when you want to display only a part of the PDF, not the entire document. You can also add a link to the PDF document (refer to Method #1).
Step #1: Convert PDF to Screenshot
Open the PDF document in your PDF viewer.
Navigate to the page that you want to convert to a screenshot.
Use the Snipping Tool in MS Windows to capture an area of the page as a snapshot.
Note: Alternately, you can also use any other screen-capturing tool.
Click the Mode icon to open a menu.
Click and select Rectangular Snip.
The cursor will change to a cross.
Click and drag the cross diagonally to select the area you want to capture.
Step #2: Save the Screenshot
Click the File tab to open a menu.
Click the Save As… tab.
The File Manager will open.
Navigate to a suitable location.
Save the screenshot with an appropriate name.
Step #3: Open Google Slides
Click the Google apps icon (the nine dots) in the top right corner.
Note: You will need to enter your username and password to authenticate.
Click the Slides icon to open Google Slides.
Open the slide where you want to insert the link.
Note: To open a new slide, click the + button in the bottom right corner.
Step #4: Insert Snapshot file
Click the Insert tab in the top menu bar.
A menu will open.
Hover the mouse over the Image icon.
Another menu will open.
Click the Upload from computer icon.
The File Manager will open.
Navigate to the snapshot file you have saved.
Click the Open button to insert the snapshot file.
Google Slides embeds the snapshot file in the slide.
Method #4: Convert PDF Document to PPT, Insert PPT in Slide
Note: Use Microsoft PowerPoint or any suitable application in your computer for the conversion. Alternatively, use the online application smallpdf pdf-to-ppt converter for the purpose. For this tutorial, we will use the smallpdf converter.
Step #1: Convert PDF to PPT
Open your favorite browser.
Visit the page pdf-to-ppt.
You can drag and drop the PDF document you want to convert.
Alternatively, click the CHOOSE FILE tab.
The File Manager will open.
Navigate to the PDF file you want to convert and select it.
Click the Open tab to download the file, and close the File Manager.
Smallpdf will convert the file.
Step #2: Download the Converted PPT
Click the Download tab.
The File Manager will open.
Navigate to a suitable folder.
Save the PPT file with an appropriate name.
Step #3: Open Google Slides
Click the Google apps icon (the nine dots) in the top right corner.
Note: You will need to enter your username and password to authenticate.
Click the Slides icon to open Google Slides.
Open the slide where you want to insert the link.
Note: To open a new slide, click the + button in the bottom right corner.
Step #4: Upload PPT file
Click the File tab in the top menu bar.
A menu will open.
Click the Open icon.
A page, Open a file, will open.
Click the UPLOAD tab.
Click the Browse button.
The File Manager will open.
Navigate to the PPT file you have saved.
Click the Open button to upload the PPT file.
Step #5: Import Slides
Click the File tab in the top menu bar.
In the menu that opens, click the Import slides icon.
In the Import slides page, click the uploaded PPT file.
Click the Select button at the bottom.
The Import slides page will now show all the slides in the PPT file.
Click to select the slides you want to import.
Click on the Import slides button at the bottom.
The selected slides are now a part of your Google Slides presentation.
Conclusion
We have shown you four methods you can use to insert a PDF in your Google Slides presentation. Use the method you find most suitable. If you have questions, please let us know in the comment section below.