How to Skip a Slide in Google Slides

To skip a slide in Google Slides, right-click the slide in the panel on the left and select Skip slide. An eye icon with a line through it appears on the thumbnail, and the slide won’t show when you present. To bring it back, right-click it again and select Unskip slide.

Applies to: Google Slides in a web browser, plus the Slides app for Android, iPhone, and iPad.

Skipping hides a slide during a presentation without deleting it. It’s useful for backup slides, a shorter version of a talk, or slides that are still unfinished.

Skip a slide on a computer

1. Open the presentation in Google Slides.
2. In the slide panel on the left, right-click the slide you want to hide.
3. Select Skip slide.

You can also select the slide, then go to Slide > Skip slide in the menu bar.

Skip several slides at once

1. Click the first slide, then hold Ctrl (Cmd on a Mac) and click each other slide you want to hide. Hold Shift to select a range.
2. Right-click one of the selected slides and choose Skip slides.

Unskip a slide

Right-click the skipped slide, or select it and open the Slide menu, then choose Unskip slide. The eye icon disappears and the slide shows again when you present.

Skip a slide on a phone or tablet

1. Open the presentation in the Google Slides app.
2. Tap and hold the slide in the filmstrip or grid view.
3. Tap More (three dots) if needed, then Skip slide.

What happens to skipped slides

• Presenting: Slideshow and Presenter view jump straight over them.
• Editing: They stay in the presentation, so you and collaborators can still see and edit them.
• Printing: In the print preview, you choose whether to include skipped slides.

When to skip, delete, or move a slide

• Skip a slide you may need later, such as extra detail for questions, an alternative ending, or a section for a different audience.
• Delete a slide you’ll never use again. Deleted slides can still be recovered from File > Version history.
• Move a slide when you want it in a different place. Drag the thumbnail, or use Slide > Move slide.

Check your presentation before you present

1. Look down the left panel for the crossed-out eye icons, so you know which slides are hidden.
2. Select Slideshow and click through, or press the arrow keys, to confirm skipped slides don’t appear.
3. If you share the file with a co-presenter, tell them which slides are skipped, because the setting applies to everyone who presents the file.

Other ways to leave a slide out

• Move it to the end: Drag backup slides after your closing slide, so you only reach them if you need to.
• Make a copy: For a shorter version of the talk, go to File > Make a copy and delete slides from the copy.
• Link to it: Insert a link to a skipped slide from another slide. You can still jump to it while presenting if a question comes up.

If skipping doesn’t work

• The Skip slide option is missing: You only have view or comment access. Ask the owner for edit access, or make your own copy.
• A skipped slide still appears: Check the eye icon is on the thumbnail. If you’re presenting from a downloaded PowerPoint file, check that the slide is hidden there too.
• You can’t find the skipped slides: Look for the crossed-out eye icon on thumbnails in the left panel, or switch to grid view with Ctrl + Alt + 1.

Frequently asked questions

Do skipped slides stay hidden in PowerPoint?

When you download a presentation as a PowerPoint file, skipped slides are usually marked as hidden slides, which PowerPoint also skips during a slide show. Check before you present.

Can viewers see skipped slides?

Anyone who opens the file in the editor can see them. They’re only hidden in presentation mode.

How do I skip a slide in PowerPoint?

In PowerPoint, right-click the slide thumbnail and select Hide Slide, or use Slide Show > Hide Slide. It works the same way as skipping in Google Slides.

Can I skip a slide for one presentation only?

Skipping is saved in the file, so it affects everyone who presents it. If you need different versions, make a copy for each audience.

Does skipping a slide delete my speaker notes?

No. The slide keeps its notes and content, and you can still show the speaker notes in Google Slides for the slides you present.