How to Add a GIF to Google Slides

Your Google Slides presentation doesn’t have to be boring, static slides. One of the ways you can inject a bit of character into your slideshow is by adding a GIF to Google Slides.

Using GIFs in your Google Slides can make your presentation more visually appealing and captivate your audience's attention.

So, if you are looking for a more fun and contemporary way of bringing your Google Slides to life, keep on reading to learn how to add a GIF to your Google Slides.

How to add a Gif in Google Slides

Adding GIFs to your Google Slides is extremely easy. You can upload it from your computer or Google Drive. However, the latter method may be a bit more complex if you’ve never done it.

The easiest way is to add a GIF by copying and pasting its URL from sites like GIPHY.

The most important thing is to upload the GIF correctly, so it works as an animation and not as a static image.

Below, we’ll discuss how to add a GIF from your computer and with an URL.

1. How to insert a GIF to Google Slides from your computer

Inserting a GIF from your computer is easy. First, you need to find and download the GIF you want to use to your local or cloud storage like you’d save an image or video.

Then, follow the steps below to add a GIF from your computer.

1. Open your presentation in Google Slides and find the slide where you want to insert the GIF.
2. Select ‘Insert’ > ‘Image’ > ‘Upload from computer’.

3. Locate the GIF you want to upload and click ‘Open’ to insert the GIF.

You can move the GIF and adjust the size according to your needs. Click and drag the GIF or hover over it and drag the corners of the GIF to resize it.

Learn how to insert Google Drawing into Google Slides to make them stand out.

2. How to insert a GIF to Google Slides with the URL

Apart from uploading it from your computer, you can also insert a GIF by using its URL with the Insert image by URL option in Google Slides. Here’s how to do it:

1. Find the GIF image you want to insert on GIPHY or another GIF site and copy the URL of the GIF.
2. Open your Google Slides presentation and go to the slide on which you want to insert the GIF.
3. Then, click on the ‘Insert’ tab > select ‘Image’ > ‘By URL’.

4. Paste the GIF URL in the field. Right-click and select ‘Paste’ or press ‘Ctrl + V’ on Windows or ‘Cmd + V’ on Mac.
5. When the GIF loads, click on ‘Insert’ in the window.

Now, you can adjust the size and move the GIF on the slide as you wish.

Benefits of adding GIFs in presentations

Above, we briefly discussed how adding GIFs to your Google Slides could help bring more life into your presentation. But if you are still not convinced, here are additional benefits why you should consider adding GIFs to your Google Slides presentation:

• Adding humor to your slides - Most GIFs are created to be funny, so adding a GIF can help you connect with your audience with humor and get a better response.
• Make your slides entertaining - When people engage with visually stimulating content such as GIFS, the information they receive is more understandable and enjoyable for them. This way, GIFs can also help increase audience engagement.
• Visually enhanced information - You know the saying ‘an image is worth a thousand words. Then, imagine what GIFs can do. GIFs introduce visual aid which enhances the information in the presentation. This, in turn, can help the audience understand a topic better without you having to elaborate on the topic.
• Creating more relatable content - Let’s be honest - everyone loves GIFs. GIFs help your audience to relate to your presentation and stay connected to you as a presenter and the information you are referring to. As a result, GIFs increase overall engagement.

Bonus read: How to highlight in Google Slides.

How to create a GIF for Google Slides

Above, we mentioned GIPHY as a source where you can find GIFs.

But, if you can’t find a relevant GIF, and you have something else in mind, you can also create your own GIF. There are many sites that allow you to create a GIF.

To mention several:

• MakeaGIF is a super handy site that allows you to create a GIF out of literally every format out there - picture, YouTube video, Facebook video, uploaded video or webcam.
• FreeGifMaker is another site for creating GIFs. You need at least 3 images and 10 images maximum to create a GIF. You can choose from 5 types of frame speed and add effects such as Blur, Guggle, Motley, Swirl, Explosion, Zoom, Rotation and Negative.
• Gicrk also allows you to create a GIF by uploading at least 3 images and up to 10 images. On Gicrk, you can also create custom GIF sizes with custom speed (up to 10 seconds). It supports photos uploaded from your computer, Flickr and Picasa.
• Imgflip also supports creating GIF images out of video files, Youtube videos, video websites, or images. The panel is really easy to use, supporting a drag-and-drop function and image rearranging feature.

If you prefer uploading already made images, there are many GIF sites that offer vast GIF libraries to search from. To name a few: Tenor, Reddit, Gfycat, Imgur and Reaction GIFs.

Some popular GIFs to make your presentation even better

Here are some of the most popular GIFs to give you inspiration about what to include in your presentation:

1. Homer Simpson Backing Away

via GIPHY

2. Can’t Toddler Today

via GIPHY

3. I’m Sorry, What?

via GIPHY

4. Realizing the Obvious

via GIPHY

5. Cotton Candy Girl

via GIPHY

6. That’s Not It

via GIPHY

7. Kombucha Girl

via GIPHY

8. Destroyed

via GIPHY

9. Think About It with Levar Burton

via GIPHY

10. Confused Level: Winona Ryder

via GIPHY

You can find all these and more GIFs on the GIPHY app. To add them to your Google Slides presentation, just click on the ‘Share’ icon right of the GIF and click ‘Copy GIF Link’. Then, just follow the steps for inserting a GIF to Google Slides with the URL above.

Alternatively, right-click on the GIF and select ‘Save Image As’ to download the GIF to your computer, and then follow the steps to insert it by uploading it from your computer.

Conclusion

Adding GIFs to your Google Slides helps you infuse more life into your presentation, make it more visually appealing, and increase audience engagement.

There are two ways you can insert a GIF into Google Slides: by downloading the GIF from a website like GIPHY and then using the Insert > Image > Upload from computer option; or by inserting the GIF with the URL by clicking Insert > Image > By URL.

Continue learning new Google Slide tips, for example, how to record a Google Slides presentation.