How to Add Voice Memo to Google Slides

You’ve recorded the perfect voice memo explaining your slide content. Maybe it’s a voiceover for a self-paced training module, narration for an asynchronous presentation, or audio instructions for students who’ll view your slides independently. Now you just need to add it to Google Slides. Simple, right?

Wrong. And here’s where Google Slides will disappoint you.

Unlike PowerPoint, which lets you record and embed audio directly into slides, Google Slides has no native audio recording or voice memo embedding feature. None. You can’t just drag and drop an audio file. You can’t record directly in the app. It’s genuinely frustrating, especially when you’re trying to create self-running presentations or accessible content.

But don’t close that tab yet. There are workarounds — they’re just more complicated than they should be.

Why Google Slides Makes This So Difficult

Let’s address the elephant in the room: Google’s decision to not include direct audio support is baffling. It’s 2024, and one of the most-used presentation tools on the planet still can’t handle a basic audio file without jumping through hoops.

Here’s what you’re probably expecting to do:

• Record a voice memo on your phone
• Send it to your computer
• Drag it into your slide
• Done

Here’s what you actually have to do:

• Record a voice memo on your phone
• Transfer it to your computer
• Convert it to the right format (if needed)
• Upload it to Google Drive
• Wait for it to process
• Go back to Google Slides
• Insert → Audio
• Find your file in Drive
• Configure playback settings
• Hope it works when you present

It’s not impossible, but it’s definitely annoying. Let’s walk through each method so you can pick the one that works best for your situation.

Method 1: Upload Voice Memo to Google Drive (The Standard Way)

This is the most straightforward method if you want your audio to play directly within your presentation. It’s the closest thing to “real” audio embedding that Google Slides offers.

Step 1: Prepare Your Voice Memo File

First, get your voice memo onto your computer. If you recorded on an iPhone, your voice memo is likely in M4A format. Here’s the thing — Google Slides only accepts MP3 and WAV files. So you may need to convert it.

To convert your voice memo:

• Use a free online converter like CloudConvert or Online Audio Converter
• On Mac, you can use the built-in Music app (formerly iTunes) to convert
• On Windows, tools like Audacity (free) work great

Save your converted file somewhere you’ll remember.

Step 2: Upload to Google Drive

1. Open Google Drive in your browser
2. Click the + New button in the top left
3. Select File upload
4. Navigate to your voice memo file and upload it
5. Wait for the upload to complete (you’ll see a checkmark)

Pro tip: Create a folder in Drive specifically for presentation audio. Keeps things organized and makes files easier to find later.

Step 3: Insert Audio into Your Slide

1. Open your Google Slides presentation
2. Navigate to the slide where you want the voice memo
3. Click Insert in the top menu
4. Select Audio
5. A window will pop up showing your Drive files — find your voice memo
6. Click Select

A small speaker icon will appear on your slide. This is your audio player.

Step 4: Configure Playback Settings

Click on the speaker icon, then look for the Format options panel on the right side (or right-click and select “Format options”). Here you can control:

• Start playing: Choose “On click” (plays when clicked) or “Automatically” (plays when slide appears)
• Volume: Adjust the playback volume
• Hide icon when presenting: Check this if you don’t want viewers to see the speaker icon
• Loop audio: Useful for background music, probably not for voice memos
• Stop on slide change: Usually what you want for narration

For voiceover narration, I recommend:

• Start playing: Automatically
• Hide icon when presenting: Yes (unless you want viewers to control playback)
• Stop on slide change: Yes

Method 2: Embed via YouTube (The Workaround)

If you’re having trouble with the Drive method, or if you want your audio accessible to people without Google accounts, the YouTube route works too. Yes, it feels ridiculous to upload audio to a video platform, but it works.

Step 1: Create a “Video” from Your Voice Memo

YouTube doesn’t accept audio-only files, so you’ll need to turn your voice memo into a video. This is easier than it sounds:

Using Canva (Free):

1. Create a new video project
2. Add a static image or solid color background
3. Upload your audio and add it to the timeline
4. Export as MP4

Using iMovie (Mac):

1. Create new project
2. Import your audio
3. Add any image to the timeline
4. Share/Export as video file

Using Windows Video Editor:

1. Create new video project
2. Add a photo
3. Add your voice memo as background audio
4. Export

Step 2: Upload to YouTube

1. Go to YouTube Studio
2. Click Create → Upload video
3. Select your video file
4. Set visibility to Unlisted (important — this means only people with the link can view it)
5. Fill in a title you’ll recognize
6. Publish

Wait for YouTube to process your upload. This can take a few minutes.

Step 3: Insert into Google Slides

1. Copy your YouTube video URL
2. In Google Slides, go to Insert → Video
3. Paste your URL or search for your video
4. Click Select
5. Resize and position the video player on your slide

The downside? You’ll have a video player visible on your slide, complete with YouTube branding. It’s not as clean as a hidden audio icon, but it gets the job done.

Method 3: Screen Recording with Narration

This method flips the script entirely. Instead of adding audio to existing slides, you record yourself presenting with audio and create a video of the whole thing.

Using Loom, OBS, or Built-in Screen Recording

1. Open your Google Slides presentation
2. Start your screen recording software
3. Present your slides while narrating
4. Stop recording when done
5. Share the video file or upload to a video platform

When this makes sense:

• You’re creating a one-time presentation for others to watch
• You don’t need viewers to navigate slides independently
• You want facial presence (picture-in-picture) alongside slides

When this doesn’t work:

• You need interactive presentations where viewers control pacing
• You want audio on specific slides only
• You’re collaborating and others need to edit the slides

Method 4: Link to External Audio

The simplest workaround — and honestly, sometimes the most practical — is to not embed audio at all. Instead, add a link to your audio file.

1. Upload your voice memo to Google Drive, Dropbox, or any file hosting service
2. Get a shareable link
3. In Google Slides, add text like “Click here to listen to the audio explanation”
4. Highlight the text and add a hyperlink (Ctrl/Cmd + K)
5. Paste your audio link

Viewers click the link, and the audio opens in a new tab. Not elegant, but dead simple and works everywhere.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Here are the problems you’re most likely to run into:

• Audio won’t play during presentation: Make sure your audio file finished processing in Drive. Sometimes it takes a few minutes. Also check that you’ve configured playback to “Automatically” or clicked the play button if set to “On click.”

• File format not supported: Remember, Google Slides only accepts MP3 and WAV. M4A, AAC, OGG, and other formats won’t work. Convert before uploading.

• Audio too quiet: The volume slider in Format options only goes so high. If your original recording was too quiet, you’ll need to boost the audio in editing software like Audacity before uploading.

• Audio plays on wrong slide: Each audio file is tied to a specific slide. Make sure you inserted it on the correct one. Check by going to that slide and looking for the speaker icon.

• Viewers can’t hear audio: If you’re sharing your presentation (not presenting live), viewers need to click the speaker icon or have the presentation in slideshow mode for auto-play to work. Audio doesn’t play in edit mode for viewers.

• Audio doesn’t sync with slides in presenter view: This is a known limitation. Auto-advancing slides and audio don’t always sync perfectly. For precise timing, consider the screen recording approach instead.

The Real Problem: Voice Memos Aren’t Meant for Slides

Here’s what nobody tells you about adding voice memos to presentations: it’s often the wrong solution for the problem you’re actually trying to solve.

Think about why you wanted to add that voice memo:

• To explain something complex that text can’t capture?
• To give feedback on a document or design?
• To share thoughts quickly without typing?
• To add personality and nuance to written content?

Voice memos are great for all these things. But embedding them in slides creates friction: you have to convert files, upload to Drive, configure settings, and hope it all works when you present. And your recipients have to view the presentation in a specific way to even hear the audio.

What if you could just… share a voice note directly? No conversion, no embedding, no hoping Google Slides cooperates?

Best Practices for Presentation Audio

If you do go the embedded audio route, here are some tips to make it work better:

Keep Voice Memos Short

Nobody wants to sit through a 5-minute audio clip on a single slide. Aim for 30-60 seconds per slide maximum. If you need more, break it across multiple slides.

Test Before Presenting

Always run through your presentation in slideshow mode before the actual presentation. Audio embeds are notorious for not working when you need them most. Test on the same device and connection you’ll be presenting from.

Have a Backup Plan

What if the audio just… doesn’t play? Have speaker notes ready with the key points you were going to say. Technical difficulties happen, and you don’t want to be caught speechless.

Consider Your Audience

Will viewers be watching with sound? In offices, classrooms, or public spaces, people often view content muted. Make sure your presentation still makes sense without the audio, or add captions for key points.

Check File Sizes

Large audio files can make your presentation sluggish, especially for viewers with slow internet connections. Compress your audio files or keep them short to avoid lag.

When to Skip Audio Entirely

Sometimes the best solution is realizing you don’t need embedded audio at all:

• Live presentations: Just talk. You’re right there.
• Quick feedback: Use Google Slides comments instead
• Detailed explanations: A separate video walkthrough might work better
• Collaborative decks: Audio can be jarring when multiple people are editing

Audio works best for asynchronous, self-paced viewing where the presenter isn’t available to explain in person.

Final Thoughts

Adding a voice memo to Google Slides isn’t as simple as it should be. Google has left out native audio support, forcing you to use workarounds like Drive uploads, YouTube embeds, or external links. Each method has trade-offs in convenience, presentation quality, and viewer experience.

The Drive upload method works best for most use cases — it keeps everything within Google’s ecosystem and provides the cleanest playback experience. Just remember to convert your audio to MP3 or WAV format first, and always test before presenting.

If the whole process feels like too much friction for what should be a simple task, you’re not wrong. Voice memos are supposed to be quick and effortless, not an exercise in file conversion and cloud storage management. Consider whether embedding is really necessary, or whether a simple shareable link might serve your audience better.

Good luck with your presentation.