Guided Instructions to Convert PPT to Google Slides

PowerPoint has been here for a long time and it has helped us when it comes to presentations. However, it has a few limitations. The complication of sharing real-time edited presentations and access from different devices.

Google Slides comes to the rescue with benefits which makes it convenient for users to view and share their presentations with important stakeholders with ease.

This blog will walk you through the steps to convert PPT to Google Slides as well as UPDF — an effective PDF management tool that can help you organize your presentation files better. Let’s dive straight in.

Part 1. 2 Methods to Convert PPT to Google Slides

Let us go through a couple of ways in which you can convert a PPT file to a Google Slides file.

Remember that to make the workflow smoother, you will need to access your Google account first online.

Method #1 - Uploading to Google Slides

This is probably the easiest way to convert a PPT to Google Slides and it is by opening your PPT file in Google Slides.

The steps are as follows:

• Open the Google Slides website.
• Click Blank to create a blank presentation file.
• Then, head over to File on the top-left corner of your screen and click Open.

• Once a pop-up appears, click Upload. You can select the PPT file you want to convert.
• Finally, the PPT file will appear in your blank presentation as your Google Slides file.

Method #2 - Using Google Drive

An alternate method you can use is simply centered around using Google Drive.

This enables you to have your presentation saved as both a PPT and a Google Slides file. This makes it easier for you to choose any of them when accessing them at any point.

The steps are as follows:

• Open Google Drive and upload your PPT file to it with a simple drag and drop.
• Then, right-click your PPT file in Google Drive.
• Select the Open with option and choose Google Slides.

• Your presentation will open in Google Slides now. You can head over to File and click Save as to make it a permanent Google Slides file.

Part 2. 7 Reasons to Switch from PowerPoint to Google Slides

After using PowerPoint for many years, it may seem uncomfortable to switch from it and use Google Slides. It is a common reason.

However, you are missing out on some of the benefits Google Slides can offer if you don’t make that switch.

Here are a few reasons why:

2.1 Google Slides is meant for effective collaboration

Presentations are usually done by an individual or by a team effort and presented to an audience. Teamwork here is essential and this involves a lot of sharing and editing in real-time by different users.

With a PowerPoint file, you will need to manually transfer files and have them saved in different revised versions.

However, in Google Slides, everyone can be on the same version file and also do other things such as commenting and editing without losing any progress.

2.2 Ease of access from different devices

Your Google Drive can be accessed from any browser and device and this makes it a widely used storage system.

When it comes to accessing files in Google Slides, all you need is to log on to your Google account and you will have your presentations accessed from any browser.

Even on smartphones like iPhones, you can install the Slides app and access and view/edit your presentations on that.

2.3 Sharing is easy

To share your PowerPoint file, you will need to use OneDrive or SharePoint.

With Google Slides, you can simply click on the file you want to share and have them sent to different email addresses of users you want to share with.

2.4 Keep track of changes

It can be difficult to track changes on a PowerPoint file offline made by others.

However, if it is used as a Google Slides file, you can get access to the file’s version history and find out different timestamps of users who edit the document with such ease.

Moreover, you will also have the option to restore the version at any time on Google Slides.

2.5 Work on presentation files offline

Even though you could access a PowerPoint file offline using OneDrive, you can do the same for a Google Slides file.

First, simply install the Google Docs Offline extension.

Head over to your Google Drive settings, and check the option to Create, open and edit your recent Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides files on this device while offline from the Offline section.

This enables you to access and edit presentation files even if you are offline.

2.6 No need to worry about losing progress

In a PowerPoint file, you will need to manually save the file or turn on AutoRecover.

Whereas, since Google Slides is an online tool, your changes are saved automatically and you won’t lose any progress.

2.7 Add graphical representations with ease

In Google Slides, you can easily drag and drop images from your PC into your presentation by clicking Insert, and then selecting Image.

You can also add important charts from your Google Sheets file by clicking Insert, then selecting Chart, and selecting From Sheets. This helps you to import the chart you want to add.

Part 3. An Easy Way to Convert PPT to Online Slideshow for Easy Access

So far, we have covered the benefits of using Google Slides to view your slideshows online. However, there can still be a disadvantage to using it.

For instance, although Google Slides allows the file owner to set up permissions to access the file, you can still find users able to print the PPT as a PDF file and edit content. This can lead to copyright issues.

But using a tool like UPDF can allow you to set watermarks to your PDFs and set permissions such as downloading and printing to specific users without hassle.

Moreover, UPDF is an effective PDF management tool and very easy to use. Apart from PDFs, it also helps you to import your presentations and have them shown in a slideshow to your audience.

The steps are as follows:

• Convert your PPT file to a PDF first by opening the PowerPoint file, and Save as a PDF file.
• Download UPDF and then launch the app.

• Click Open File and select the PDF file of the presentation you converted. Then, click the Open button.
• Once you open the file on UPDF, head over to the View tab, then hover over the Slide Show option (macOS). In Windows, you can click on the Slideshow icon on the top toolbar.
• You will have three options to play your slideshow: Play from Start, Play from Current Slide, and Use Presenter View (In Windows, you will find this option when viewing the slide).

According to your preference, you can choose any option and conduct your slideshow.

Sharing your presentation with UPDF

Additionally, you can share your online slideshow with others byclicking on the Share button on the right-hand side panel.

Then, a small pop-up appears. You can head under the Share a Link tab, and click Create to share a link with anyone.

Over here, you can set the link expiration time for confidential reasons and also add the email address of specific people you want to share with. This provides more secure sharing.

Work with Presentations Files without Hassle…

It is time to move away from the old conventions and look to evolve your workflow.

You have seen the benefits of using Google Slides and making a switch from PPT to it can be beneficial for you.

In addition, you can use UPDF to upload your presentations and have them viewed and shared easily with your colleagues and stakeholders.