Google Slides hide slide

What does it mean to skip a slide?

In Google Slides, skipping a slide lets you choose not to show it while presenting; the slide is not deleted from the file. The feature is intended to help organize the presentation flow. Skipping a slide does not hide its contents from people you share it with: Google notes that people with access to the shared presentation can see skipped slides. So do not rely on the skip setting to hide sensitive content or anything you do not want to share.

In this guide, “hiding” means skipping a slide in the presentation flow. On a computer, Google’s procedure is to use the Skip slide option. For details about the feature and the sharing warning, see Google Slides: Add, delete, and organize slides.

Before you begin

Open the presentation in Google Slides and find the slide you want to work with in the list on the left. If several slides have similar titles, do not choose based on the title alone; check the thumbnail and the presentation order to make sure you have the right slide. This is a useful precaution to avoid changing the wrong slide.

The steps below follow the method described in Google’s help for computers. The source procedure is to right-click the slide on the left and select Skip slide from the menu. If the option appears in a different language in your interface, check the label shown in the menu; this guide does not assume the same label appears in every language. The source does not require a specific additional device or account type for this procedure.

Skip and show a slide again

Open your presentation in Google Slides.
In the slide list on the left, right-click the slide you want to skip.
In the menu that opens, click Skip slide.
To show the slide again, right-click the same slide and click Skip slide again.

Google’s instructions also say that you can select and skip multiple slides. If you plan to skip several slides at once, check before proceeding that the selected slides are the ones you intend to skip. Afterward, review the slide list and presentation flow as well. If the option or appearance differs in your interface, verify the option in the open menu before proceeding. Google’s Tips for making a great presentation page also describes right-clicking a slide on a computer and selecting Skip Slide, then using the option again to show it.

Example: Remove an extra slide from the main presentation flow

Hypothetical example: A team is preparing five slides for a new service: 1. Cover, 2. Need, 3. Solution, 4. Detailed technical explanation, 5. Next steps. The team plans not to present the technical explanation at the main meeting, but to return to the slide later if needed.

The team finds the fourth slide in the list on the left, right-clicks it, and selects Skip slide. Then they check the presentation flow and confirm that the intended sequence moves from the third slide to the fifth. If they want to show the technical explanation in another presentation, they use Skip slide again from the fourth slide’s menu and check the flow once more. The slide numbers in this example are only there to explain the example sequence; they do not indicate that Google’s interface has a special numbering feature.

Check the presentation flow and sharing status

After applying the skip setting, compare the presentation flow with the order in which you want the audience to see the slides. If you have skipped several slides in a row, it may be helpful to review each slide’s status and the order of the following slides separately. This is a verification recommendation, not a separate feature that replaces the menu step.

Do not confuse the slide list in editing view with the flow the audience sees during the presentation. A skipped slide remains in the file. Google also says that people the presentation is shared with can see skipped slides. Therefore, not showing a slide in the presentation flow is not the same as hiding its contents in the file from people you share it with. If there is content you do not want to share, check whether it is in the presentation before sharing it.

Troubleshooting

I can’t find the option in the menu. Make sure you right-clicked the slide itself in the slide list on the left. Check the wording shown in the menu; the option in the source steps is called Skip slide. If your interface differs, do not take another action until you have verified the option in the menu.

The wrong slide was skipped. Open the wrong slide’s menu and use Skip slide again to show it. Then find the slide you intended to skip and follow the steps for that slide. For slides with similar titles, check the order and thumbnail too.

I don’t want other people to see the skipped slide. Skipping it will not achieve this. Google says that people the presentation is shared with can see skipped slides. Keep this warning in mind and review the file’s contents before sharing it.

Frequently asked questions

Is a skipped slide deleted?

No. According to Google’s help, the slide is not deleted; it is skipped during the presentation.

Can I show it again later?

Yes. Right-click the slide again and use Skip slide once more. Then check the presentation flow.

Is a skipped slide hidden from people I share it with?

No. Google says that people you share with can see skipped slides. Do not rely on this feature to hide content.

Final checklist

You selected the correct presentation and the correct slide.
You right-clicked the slide and used Skip slide in the menu.
You checked the presentation flow and confirmed that the intended slides are shown.
You kept in mind that the skipped slide is not deleted and that people you share the presentation with can see it.
If you needed to show the slide again, you used the same menu option and checked the flow again.

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