Can you help me add videos to Google Slides on iPad?

Ipad
1

I’m trying to spice up my presentation with some videos, but I’m having trouble figuring out how to add them using my iPad. I’ve looked through Google Slides’ options but can’t seem to get it right. Can anyone give me a step-by-step guide or tips on how to do this?

2

Hey, I’ve been through this a few times on my iPad! Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you add videos to Google Slides. It can get a little tricky on iPads, but once you get the hang of it, it should spice up your presentation nicely. Let’s dive right into it.

Step-by-Step Guide for Adding Videos to Google Slides on iPad

  1. Open the Google Slides App:
    First off, ensure you have the Google Slides app installed on your iPad. Open the app and either create a new slideshow or open an existing one where you want to add the video.

  2. Select the Slide:
    Navigate to the specific slide where you want to insert the video. Make sure you’ve selected that slide by tapping on it.

  3. Open Menu Options:
    On the top right corner, tap on the three vertical dots (menu options). This will open up a variety of options.

  4. Insert Video:
    Typically, you’d see an option to “Insert,” but this is where it can get a bit tricky on iPads because the interface is slightly different. You won’t find an ‘Insert’ option directly for videos like you would on a desktop.

  5. Workaround using Google Drive:
    Here’s the workaround:
    a. Upload Video to Google Drive: First, make sure the video you want to add is uploaded to Google Drive.
    b. Open the Drive App or Site in Safari: Open Google Drive on Safari or through the Drive app on your iPad.
    c. Get Video Link: Find the video in Google Drive, tap on the three vertical dots next to the file, and select “Get link.” Make sure the link is set to “Anyone with the link can view” to ensure it’s playable in your Slides presentation.

  6. Insert a Link:
    a. Back to Google Slides: Go back to your Google Slides app.
    b. Add Text Box: On the slide where you want the video, tap the “+” button at the top right and add a text box.
    c. Insert Link: Paste the video link you copied from Google Drive into the text box. To make it look cleaner, you could type something like “Click here to watch the video” and then hyperlink it.

  7. Test the Link:
    After inserting the link, tap on it to ensure it directs to the video and plays correctly in Google Drive.

Handy Tips:

  • Video Formatting: Make sure the video is in a format supported by Google Drive (preferably MP4) to avoid any compatibility issues.
  • Internet Connection: Ensure you have a stable internet connection when you’re linking the video and during your presentation as the video will stream from Google Drive.
  • Presentation Mode: During your presentation, interacting with the text link will open Safari and play the video through Google Drive.

Alternative: Using YouTube

If your video is on YouTube, the process is a bit different.

  1. Find the YouTube Video:
    a. Open YouTube app or the website and find the video you want to add.
    b. Tap the “Share” button and select “Copy link.”

  2. Insert YouTube Video:
    a. Go back to your Slide in Google Slides app.
    b. Tap the “+” button and select “Text Box.”
    c. Enter a descriptive text (e.g., “Watch this video on YouTube”) and select the link icon (chain icon on the top right of the keyboard).
    d. Paste the YouTube link.

Managing Video Links:

To manage multiple video links in your presentation:

  • Hyperlink Multiple Text Boxes: Instead of one large space for your text, use separate text boxes for each video link to organize them better within your slides.
  • Title Slide Notes: If you have any notes about the videos, add these at the bottom of the slide or in the “Speaker notes” section to keep track of them during your presentation.

Hope this steers you in the right direction! It feels a bit roundabout compared to working on a desktop but for iPad users, hybrid tactics through Drive and YouTube work well.

3

Byteguru’s method seems really convoluted, especially when you’re trying to get things done quickly on an iPad. Why jump through so many hoops? Obviously, Google Slides on iPad isn’t as user-friendly as on a desktop for this. Here are a few reasons why sticking solely to Byteguru’s method is not the best:

  1. Time-consuming: Uploading the video to Google Drive and getting the link wastes a lot of time. Why not just use a simple link from YouTube directly? If you’re not dealing with confidential or proprietary content, public YouTube videos save time and hassle.

  2. Stability: Streaming from Google Drive during a presentation can be hit-or-miss depending on your internet connection. Imagine if your Wi-Fi just glitches for a second—bye-bye smooth presentation.

Instead, consider these options:

HEADING INTO APP STORE TERRITORY

Keynote App – Have you tried Apple’s Keynote? It’s way more fluid on iPad and adding videos is straightforward. You can directly insert videos stored in your iPad which is a massive time saver.

  • Pro: User-friendly, seamless integration with iPad’s functionalities.
  • Con: Learning curve if you’re used to Google Slides.

Microsoft PowerPoint – Another great alternative, more powerful and familiar than Google Slides for some users.

  • Pro: Enhanced multimedia options compared to Google Slides.
  • Con: May need a Microsoft Office subscription.

In the end, if you’re married to Google Slides, use @byteguru’s method as a LAST resort. Otherwise, there are simpler alternatives out there without the headache.

4

Honestly, if you’re using an iPad to get your Google Slides presentation up and running with videos, you’re up for some hassle. @techchizkid and @byteguru brought good points, but I gotta say, both their methods involve a bit more effort than necessary, especially if you’re aiming for a quick addition of videos.

Instead of going through all those steps to insert a video link via a text box with Google Drive, why not think a bit outside the box? Here’s an alternative:

Use the Google Slides in Safari Workaround

  1. Open Safari:
    Yeah, you read that right. Open Safari on your iPad and head to slides.google.com.

  2. Desktop Site:
    Tap the “AA” button on the left side of the URL bar and request the desktop website. Google Slides here is way more similar to the desktop version.

  3. Insert Video:

    • Once in the desktop view, open your presentation.
    • Select the slide and tap “Insert” from the top menu.
    • Choose Video and paste your YouTube link. This way, no need to deal with Google Drive’s link annoyances.

This avoids the whole mess of going back and forth between apps and ensures a more reliable method during your presentation.

Concerning Alternatives:

  • Apple’s Keynote is great simply because it’s optimized for iPads. Dragging and dropping videos from your Camera Roll is straightforward and saves time. If you’re comfortable switching, Keynote offers a seamless experience that wouldn’t leave you hanging buffering in front of an audience.

  • Microsoft PowerPoint on iPad also has a more intuitive multimedia integration. Inserting videos is far simpler, especially if your videos are local.

Though some might say sticking exclusively to Byteguru’s Google Drive method gives you cloud sync advantages, it’s too convoluted. You might not even have that luxury if your internet connection decides to stutter.

My Two Cents:

I understand the beauty of staying within the Google ecosystem, but sometimes it’s wise to pivot – considering the time you save and the headache you avoid.

In summation, ditch the complexity, think about Keynote or give the Safari desktop site method a shot for a more streamlined experience with Google Slides! Trust me, no one wants to juggle apps mid-prep.