To add GIFs to Google Slides on a computer, select a slide, click Insert > Image > Stock & web, search for a topic, click All, select GIFs, and click a result. You can also upload a saved GIF or insert one from an accessible image URL, Google Drive, or Google Photos.
The desktop steps use Google Slides in your browser. On Android, iPhone, or iPad, you can select a GIF through the app’s image picker, though mobile image insertion alone does not guarantee animated playback.
The short version
- Search inside Slides: Open Insert > Image > Stock & web and filter your search to GIFs.
- Use a saved file: Choose Upload from computer, select your GIF, and click Open.
- Add an online GIF: Choose By URL for an accessible image URL or Drive & Photos for a GIF in your library.
- Reuse a GIF: Copy an inserted GIF and paste it onto another slide.
| Option | Where to start | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in GIF search | Insert > Image > Stock & web | A search term |
| Right sidebar library | Image-library control beside the slide | A search term |
| Saved GIF upload | Upload from computer | A saved .gif file |
| Image URL | By URL | An accessible GIF image URL |
| Google Drive | Drive & Photos | A GIF in accessible Drive storage |
| Google Photos | Drive & Photos | A GIF in your Photos library |
| Drag and drop | Slide interior | A GIF from your computer or a webpage |
| Image replacement | Replace image | An existing image and a saved GIF |
| Image placeholder | Insert image inside the placeholder | A slide containing an image placeholder |
| Slide background | Slide > Change background | A GIF file under 50 MB |
| Android image picker | Insert > Image | A GIF accessible through an image source |
| iPhone or iPad image picker | Insert > Image | A GIF accessible through an image source |
| Copy an inserted GIF | Select the GIF on its slide | A GIF already inserted into Slides |
Find a GIF inside Google Slides
Open your presentation and select the slide that should contain the GIF. Click Insert > Image > Stock & web, then enter search terms for the GIF you want. Click All, select GIFs, and click a result to insert it.
You can also open the image-library control in the sidebar to the right of the slide canvas, search for a GIF, and select it. If you cannot identify that control, use Insert > Image > Stock & web.
Upload a GIF saved on your computer
With your destination slide selected, click Insert > Image > Upload from computer. Select the .gif file and click Open. This route uses your saved file directly, without an online image URL.
Insert a GIF using its image URL
For a GIF hosted online, click Insert > Image > By URL. Paste the GIF image’s URL, then click Insert. The URL must point to an accessible image.
If the URL does not work, check that you are using an accessible GIF image URL. If you already have a saved copy, choose Insert > Image > Upload from computer, select the file, and click Open.
Choose a GIF from Drive or Photos
To insert a GIF stored in Google Drive, click Insert > Image > Drive & Photos. Locate the GIF in accessible Drive storage, select it, and click Insert.
For a GIF in your Google Photos library, open Insert > Image > Drive & Photos. Locate the GIF in your Photos library, select it, and click Insert.
Drag a GIF onto the slide
On a computer, drag a GIF from your computer or a webpage into the interior of the slide. Keep the drop inside the canvas because dropping an image near an empty slide’s border sets it as the background instead.
Dragging an external GIF onto a slide does not guarantee that it will retain its animation. If the dragged GIF does not animate, use the built-in GIF search or upload the saved .gif file through Upload from computer.
Replace an image or fill a placeholder
Replacing an image substitutes the GIF for the existing image. Right-click the image, select Replace image > Upload from computer, and choose your GIF.
For a slide that already contains an image placeholder, click Insert image inside the placeholder. Choose the GIF’s source and then the file.
Add a GIF on Android or iPhone and iPad
In the Google Slides app on an Android phone or tablet, open your presentation and tap Insert > Image. Choose the image source and tap the GIF you want to insert.
On an iPhone or iPad, open the presentation in the Google Slides app and tap Insert > Image. Choose the image source, then tap the GIF. If you want to use the built-in GIF search instead, open Slides in a desktop browser and follow the search steps above.
Use a GIF file as a background
Google Slides accepts .gif files under 50 MB as background images on desktop. Acceptance of the file format does not guarantee animated background playback, so use the GIF insertion methods above when motion is the purpose.
Changing the background replaces the selected slide’s background. Click Slide > Change background, then click Choose beside Image. Choose the GIF, click Select, and click Done to apply it to that slide.
Reuse an inserted GIF on another slide
Select the GIF already inserted in your presentation. Press Ctrl + C, select the destination slide, and press Ctrl + V. On a Mac, use Command + C and Command + V instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need to install Google Slides on a computer?
No installation is needed for desktop use because Google Slides runs in your browser. For mobile use, Google identifies app availability through the App Store and Play Store.
Can you open the insertion menu with a keyboard?
In Chrome on Windows or ChromeOS, press Alt + I to open the insertion menu. In other Windows browsers, press Alt + Shift + I. On a Mac, press Control + Option + I.
Can you apply the GIF background to the presentation?
Applying the background to the theme changes the presentation’s background rather than only the selected slide’s background. After choosing the GIF and clicking Select in the background picker, click Add to theme. GIF-format acceptance still does not guarantee animated background playback.
Can you replace an existing image by dragging a GIF onto it?
Yes, this replaces the existing image with the GIF. Drag the GIF directly onto the image you intend to replace.
Does a Workspace administrator need to enable the image sidebar?
Google says the sidebar feature has no admin control. You do not need an administrative activation step for that feature.