Using speaker notes in the Google Slides app on an iPhone allows you to project only the slides to the audience while reading private talking points on your own screen. When streaming to an external display via AirPlay or Chromecast, you can view your notes by turning on the Speaker notes option within the app; this ensures the audience never sees your notes.
How Speaker Notes Work While Presenting on iPhone
When presenting via Google Slides on an iPhone, what the audience sees depends directly on how you launch the presentation. When presenting on a single device screen, the phone switches to full-screen slide mode. However, when connected to an external receiver (AirPlay or Google Chromecast), the iPhone transforms into an independent remote control and presenter display.
Thanks to this method, you can keep slide text concise while tracking detailed explanations and talking points from the screen in your hand. If you are curious about the workflow on a computer, you can also explore our previously published guide on using Google Slides speaker notes.
Presenting to Apple TV and External Displays via AirPlay
AirPlay is a practical method for presenting wirelessly within the Apple ecosystem. To prevent the audience from seeing your notes, you must use the in-app presentation protocol directly:
- Open the Google Slides app on your iPhone and select the relevant presentation.
- If an Apple TV or AirPlay receiver is nearby, swipe up from the bottom of your screen (or open Control Center).
- Tap AirPlay Mirroring and select the receiver you want to use.
- Tap the switch next to Mirroring.
- Tap Present in the Google Slides app.
- Swipe left or right to change slides. You can control the volume using your device's volume buttons.
- Tap Speaker notes to show or hide your speaker notes.
As stated in the official support guide, you can tap the Close button at the top to exit the presentation (For detailed steps, see Google Docs Editors Help: Present slides on iPhone & iPad).
Presenting by Casting to a TV via Chromecast
When casting a presentation to a Google Chromecast-enabled display, the devices must be on the same network and local network permissions must be configured:
- Make sure your iPhone is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the Chromecast device.
- Open the presentation in the Google Slides app.
- Tap the Cast icon.
- Swipe left or right to change slides. You can control the volume using your device's volume buttons.
- Tap Speaker notes to show or hide your speaker notes.
- Tap the Close button to stop casting.
If Chromecast does not appear, you must go to the Slides app in the iOS Settings menu and verify that Local Network permission is turned on (See Google Docs Editors Help: Present slides on iPhone & iPad). Also, remember that Google Slides presentations do not work in Chromecast guest mode.
What Does the Audience See? The Critical Difference Between Screen Mirroring and Casting
The most common mistake is mirroring the entire phone screen to an external monitor before starting the presentation, and then opening the presentation in editing or review mode on the phone. In this scenario, every interface element visible on the phone screen can mirror directly to the external display.
However, when switching to presentation mode via the Google Slides app's native AirPlay or Cast integration, full-screen slides are sent to the external display. The speaker notes area you open on your iPhone screen is not transmitted to the external display. If your notes do not appear on screen at all or you experience display issues, you can follow the steps in our Google Slides speaker notes disappeared guide.
A Realistic Scenario: Product Launch Speaker Note Plan
Below is an example slide outline and accompanying speaker note plan that can be managed from an iPhone for a mobile product launch:
Slide 1: Title (New Mobile Experience) - Speaker Note: Welcome attendees. Summarize the launch's core theme in 30 seconds; focus on user experience without diving into technical details.
Slide 2: User Growth and Engagement Chart (Hypothetical Example) - Speaker Note (Visible only on iPhone): Highlight the 45 percent increase on the chart. Reference the data update from the second quarter; if questions arise, leave them for the end of the presentation.
Slide 3: Future Roadmap - Speaker Note: Walk through the three main phases. Keep the third point brief due to time constraints; get ready to invite the team to the stage.
If your team visualizes presentation drafts in external tools and imports them into Slides, do not forget to manually review the notes fields in the desktop or mobile editor before the presentation (For desktop, see Google Docs Editors Help: Present slides on Computer).
Common Issues and Troubleshooting Steps
- Cast or AirPlay icon does not appear: Verify that the iPhone is on the same Wi-Fi network as the external display. Google Slides casting is not supported in Chromecast guest mode. Confirm that Local Network access is turned on for the Slides app in iPhone Settings.
- Notes interface when drawing on slides: When you open the Draw tool during a presentation, you can draw on the screen. While in drawing mode, you can swipe left or right in the speaker notes section to change slides. To remove drawings, you can tap Clear drawing or change the slide.
- Volume control: During the presentation, you can adjust the volume directly using the physical volume buttons on your iPhone device.
Checklist for a Smooth Presentation with iPhone
- Check your iPhone battery level or keep the device plugged into a charger.
- Turn on Do Not Disturb mode to prevent notifications from appearing on screen.
- Confirm that the Local Network permission is active in Google Slides settings.
- After establishing the Chromecast or AirPlay connection, start broadcasting with the Present or Cast option.
- Once connected, tap the Speaker notes button to open or hide your notes.
- When you want to end the presentation, tap the Close option at the top.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see my speaker notes when presenting from an iPhone in a Google Meet call?
According to official Google Slides documentation, presenting with Google Meet involves tapping Present to select where to present, and using the Close button to exit. However, the Speaker notes button explicitly highlighted in Chromecast and AirPlay options is not independently provided in the Meet workflow; for this reason, verifying and tracking your notes from an external source or a computer during Meet calls is recommended.
How can I change slides while presenting on an iPhone?
When presenting via Chromecast or AirPlay, simply swipe left or right to advance or return through slides. When using the drawing tool, you can also swipe left or right within the speaker notes area to switch slides.
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