How to Convert a PowerPoint Presentation to Google Slides

For decades, Microsoft PowerPoint has been the king of slideshow presentations. The only catch is that you have to buy the Microsoft Office suite.

Fortunately, there are now free and competent alternatives to PowerPoint. With Google Slides, you can create new presentations as well as open existing PowerPoint files. To know how to do it, see below.

How to Open PowerPoint with Google Slides on PC

Opening a PowerPoint with Google Slides on any computer is easy. If by any chance you don't have a Google account yet, create one by following these steps.

Open a PowerPoint presentation from your Gmail

If someone sent you a PowerPoint presentation in your Gmail account, opening it in Google Slides will only take a few clicks.

1. Open your Gmail in a browser.
   
2. Open the email containing the PowerPoint file.
   
3. At the bottom of the email, you should see the presentation file attached. Hover the mouse cursor over the attachment.
   
4. There are three icons that appear on the attachment. Click it Edit with Google Slides icon. It's the one on the right that looks like a pencil.
   
5. The Google Slides app now opens in a new browser tab with the PowerPoint presentation.
   

From here you can proceed to view and edit the layout. Please note that Google Slides automatically saves any changes you make to the presentation. Of course, you can always undo the changes by clicking on the button cancel in the upper left corner of the application toolbar. You can also use the undo keyboard shortcut by pressing Ctrl + Z. If by any chance you've made too many changes that you can't undo, you can always start fresh by opening the presentation file again.

Opening a PowerPoint presentation from a folder

If you downloaded a PowerPoint presentation to your computer, follow the steps below.

1. From your Gmail inbox, click the Google Apps icon in the upper-right corner of the screen (a nine-point square next to your profile picture).
   
2. A context menu will appear, scroll down until you find the Slides app and click on it.
   
3. In the Recent presentations section, click the Open file picker icon. It's the one on the far right that looks like a folder.
   
4. When the pop-up window appears, click the Download tongue.
   
5. Click on Select a file on your device.
   
6. Now go to PowerPoint presentation.
   
7. Once the file is located, select it and click on the button Open button in the lower right corner of the window.
   
8. Wait for the file to download.
   
9. The file will automatically open in Google Slides.
   

All that remains is to display and modify the presentation. As mentioned in the section above, Google automatically saves all your changes.

How to Open a PowerPoint with Google Slides on an iPhone

To open a PowerPoint presentation with Google Slides on your iPhone or iPad, you'll need the following:

1. A Google Account.
2. Application mobile Gmail.
3. Application mobile Google Drive.
4. Application mobile Google Slides.

If you don't already have a Google account, creating one is pretty simple. Just follow the instructions in the "How to open a PowerPoint with Google Slides on a Windows PC, Mac, or Chromebook" section above.

Next, visit the App Store to install Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Slides mobile apps on your device. Once you have all the apps on your device, you are ready to start playing with PowerPoint presentations in the Google Slides app.

Open a PowerPoint presentation from your Gmail

For anyone using the Gmail app, you can open a PowerPoint with the Slides app in just a few steps.

1. Start the Gmail app on your iPhone.
2. In your inbox, find the email with the PowerPoint presentation attached.
3. Now long press on the attachment.
4. Tap "Open in Slides" from the pop-up menu that appears.
5. This will open the PowerPoint presentation in the Google Slides app, allowing you to view and edit it.

Opening a PowerPoint presentation from a folder

If you already have a PowerPoint file on your device, you can open it with Google Slides like this:

1. Start the “Google Slides” application on your iPhone.
2. Tap the folder icon in the upper right corner of the screen. It's on the right side of the search field.
3. You can now choose to open the file from Google Drive or your device storage.
4. Whichever option you choose, just locate the PowerPoint file you want to open.

How to Open PowerPoint with Google Slides on Android Device

Before trying to open a PowerPoint file on your Android using Slides, make sure you have installed the apps for Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Slides first. Of course, since you're using a device with Google's Android operating system, chances are you already have them on your smartphone or tablet.

Open a PowerPoint presentation from your Gmail

For Android users, the process of opening PowerPoint files in Google Slides is also quite easy.

1. Open Gmail on your smartphone.
   
2. Find and open the email with the PowerPoint presentation attached.
   
3. Tap the attachment.
   
4. In the “Open with” menu, tap on “Slides”.
   
5. The PowerPoint presentation will now open in the Google Slides app, allowing you to view and edit the content.
   

Opening a PowerPoint presentation from a folder

If you already have a PowerPoint file on your device, just find it using the Slides app.

1. Open Google Slides on your phone.
   
2. In the upper right corner of the screen, you will notice an icon resembling a folder. Press it.
   
3. The “Open from” context menu appears, allowing you to choose whether you want to open a presentation file from Google Drive or your device storage.
   
4. If you choose "Device Storage", a new menu will appear showing you all the presentation files on your device.
   
5. Tap the one you want to open and that's it.
   

Bring PowerPoint to Google

Hope this article helped you learn how to open a PowerPoint presentation with Google Slides. With support for a wide range of devices, you're sure to find a way to do just that. Using Gmail and Google Drive in combination with Slides, editing free presentations is just a few clicks (or taps) away.

Have you successfully opened a PowerPoint file in the Slides app? What type of device do you commonly use to edit slideshows? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.