Purpose and scope
To show a QR code in Google Slides, identify the link it should lead to, turn that link into a QR image, and add the image to the presentation. These steps do not recommend a specific service for creating QR images; evaluate the reliability and terms of the service you choose separately. Google’s help explains how to add an image from a computer to a presentation as Insert > Image > Upload from computer. Since menu names may vary by interface language or update, check the equivalent in your own Slides menu: Google’s steps for adding an image to a presentation.
The image-insertion steps below are based on Google’s computer-interface instructions; if you are using another device, do not assume the menus are the same. Google’s Slides training page lists web, Android, and iOS options, but that alone does not show that every device has the same menus or workflow: Google Slides training and help page.
Prepare the destination link
First, choose the content you want the QR code to open, such as an event program, registration form, web page, or online document. Copy the link and open it in a browser to check that it leads to the right content. If the content requires sign-in or an access request, consider whether your audience will encounter the same screen. Access settings may depend on the content owner or organization; the QR code does not change these permissions.
Next, enter the link in the QR creation service you selected and obtain the resulting code as an image. Since button names vary by service, do not assume a specific interface path at this stage. After creating the code, scan it and verify that the address it opens is the expected destination. If the destination link changes, create a new QR image for the new link and replace the one on the slide.
Add the QR image to a slide
- Open the presentation in Google Slides and select the slide where you want to place the code. Make sure the slide itself is selected; do not proceed on the assumption that you are in the presentation’s theme or layout editor.
- In the computer editor, open Insert > Image > Upload from computer and select the QR image. Google’s image-insertion instructions confirm this upload-from-computer option. If the same wording does not appear in the menu, check the available Insert > Image options; do not proceed as if another option were available.
- Move and resize the image to a suitable place on the slide. As a practical design choice, do not cover the code’s pattern with other objects, and leave space around it. Do not assume the size or colors will guarantee successful scanning; test it in the actual presentation view.
- Add a short prompt next to the code explaining what it opens. It may also be helpful to provide the short link as text for people who cannot scan the code; check that the link is written correctly as well.
Example: event program slide
Hypothetical example: A team wants participants to open an online event program. First, they open the program link in a browser and check that the expected page appears. Then they create a QR image from the link and save it to their computer. On the slide, they place the session names and times under the heading, the QR image beside them, and the text “Scan to open the program” beneath the code. They also add the short link to the slide for people who cannot scan it.
After inserting the image, the team opens the presentation in the presentation view that the audience will see, scans the code, and compares the page that opens with the program. This is a practical step for checking that the destination and image are still correct together, especially after the final edits to the slide. If access needs to be tested with different accounts, do so in accordance with the content owner’s sharing rules; do not assume that any particular account or additional device is required for everyone.
If scanning or access is a problem
If the code is not recognized: Check the image on the slide. It may be blurry, too small, or covered by other elements. Change its size or placement and try again in the presentation view. These suggestions do not guarantee scanning; the screen, camera, and condition of the image can affect the result.
If the code is recognized but the content does not open: Check the QR image’s destination and the destination content’s access permissions separately. Confirm that the link leads to the correct page, then check with the content owner whether the audience is authorized to access that page. If access will remain restricted, explain on the slide which account viewers should use or how they should get access.
If the wrong page opens: Compare the destination shown in the browser with the expected link. If the link has changed, create a new QR image, replace the old one on the slide, and scan it again.
Final checklist
- The QR image was created from the link I intended and checked by scanning it.
- I reviewed the destination content’s access requirements for the intended audience.
- The image is visible on the slide, with no other elements covering it.
- I checked the code and the destination it opens in presentation view.
- I added a suitable text link or access explanation for people who cannot scan the code.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the destination not open even though the QR code is visible?
The image being visible does not mean the destination page is accessible. Check the link and the destination’s access permissions separately.
Will the code on the slide change if I change the destination link?
Do not assume it will. Create a new QR image from the updated link and replace the image on the slide; then scan the new code to verify it.
Related application guides
You can explore the relevant step in this workflow in more detail with the guide Choosing a font to display code in PowerPoint. You can explore the relevant step in this workflow in more detail with the guide PowerPoint error code 0x0: what to check.
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