How to Record a Presentation on Google Slides (Slides Recordings)

Recorded presentations save so much time. Record a client walkthrough once and send it to everyone who missed the meeting, turn a workshop into a course lesson, or give your team a five-minute update they can watch when it suits them.

Google Slides now has its own recorder, called Slides recordings, so you can talk over your slides with your camera on without any extra software. It isn't on every account, though. Here's how it works, where the video ends up and the limits worth knowing.

Recording a Google Slides presentation step by step

1. Open your presentation in Google Slides in Chrome or Edge.
2. Click Rec at the top right.
3. Select Record new video. The recording studio opens.
4. Allow camera and microphone access if Slides asks. It only asks the first time.
5. Click the red record button in the middle of the screen to start.
6. Present as you normally would, moving through your slides as you talk.
7. Pause when you're done, then select Save to Drive.

When you pause, you'll also see Re-record, which wipes the take and starts again, and Turn on camera blur, which softens what's behind you. Handy if your home office isn't looking its best.

Who can record presentations in Google Slides

This is where people get stuck. Google's help lists three conditions:

• The feature may only be available on certain work or school accounts, so a personal account may not show Rec at all.
• You can only record in Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge. Viewing, sharing and deleting recordings works in any browser.
• You need edit access to the presentation to create a recording.

If you're on a work account and still can't see Rec, it may be switched off for your organisation. That's a question for whoever manages your Google Workspace.

Limits on Google Slides recordings

Limit	What Google says
Length	Each recording can run up to 30 minutes
Storage	Over your Drive storage quota, you can't make more recordings
Browser	Recording works in Chrome or Edge only
History	Recordings don't appear in Revision History

Thirty minutes is plenty for most updates, but a longer workshop needs splitting into parts. I'd plan it that way anyway, because short videos get watched to the end far more often than long ones.

Using your camera and microphone in a Google Slides recording

Google says you don't need camera or microphone access to start recording, so a voice-only walkthrough or even a silent run-through is possible. To use an external webcam or a better microphone, open the recording studio, click Settings in the bottom toolbar and choose your device from the drop-down.

If you want your face to appear inside the slides themselves, add a speaker spotlight. In Chrome, go to Insert, then speaker spotlight, and pick a shape. Google notes that if you rotate or flip that shape, your video feed rotates or flips with it, so keep it upright.

Where Google Slides recordings are saved

Your recordings land in a folder called Slides recordings in My Drive. You can also find them from inside the presentation: click Rec and choose the recording from the list.

Because they're ordinary Drive files, they count towards your Drive storage. If you record a lot, keep an eye on space, since a full Drive stops new recordings.

Sharing or deleting a Google Slides recording

1. Click Rec in the presentation and click the recording's title in the list.
2. Use the sharing option at the top right to choose who can watch it.
3. Or open the Slides recordings folder in Drive and share the file like any other.

To delete one, click Rec, click More next to the recording and select Remove. If you made it, you can also move its Drive file to Trash. Google points out that removing it from the list alone doesn't delete the Drive file, which stays visible to anyone with access, so trash the file too if you want it gone.

If you can't record your Google Slides presentation

• No Rec button: you may be on a personal account, or recording is turned off for your organisation.
• Recording won't start in Safari or Firefox: switch to Chrome or Edge.
• Only view access: ask the owner for edit access, or make your own copy of the deck.
• No sound or video: check the browser's camera and microphone permissions, then choose the right device under Settings in the recording studio.
• Can't save a new recording: your Drive storage may be full.

Making recorded Google Slides presentations people watch

A few habits make a big difference. Keep each recording focused on one topic, say what viewers will learn in the first few seconds, and close with one clear next step. For a client update, I'd open with the decision you need from them.

If you want a more designed video, with animated titles or branded intros, Canva is worth a look, and my guide to animating designs in Canva covers the basics. Sharing the recording on a landing page or resource sheet? You can add a clickable link to a Canva design that points people straight to the video.

Frequently asked questions

How do I record a presentation in Google Slides?

Open the deck in Chrome or Edge, click Rec at the top right, select Record new video and click the red record button. Pause and select Save to Drive when you're finished.

Why is the Rec button missing in Google Slides?

Google says recording may only be available on certain work or school accounts, and it only works in Chrome or Edge. You also need edit access to the presentation.

How long can a Google Slides recording be?

Google's help says each recording has a 30-minute limit.

Where do Google Slides recordings go?

They're saved in a My Drive folder called Slides recordings. You can also click Rec in the presentation to see the list.

Can I record Google Slides without my camera?

Yes. Google says camera and microphone access isn't required to start recording.