Google Slides is a widely used presentation tool that makes creating, editing, and sharing slideshows simple and collaborative. However, many users aren’t sure how to delete multiple slides in Google Slides, especially when working with lengthy or shared presentations. Whether you’re cleaning up your deck, removing duplicate slides, or preparing a final version for a meeting, learning this skill will save time and effort.
This guide explains step-by-step how to delete multiple slides in Google Slides using both desktop and mobile devices. We’ll also cover useful tips to manage your presentation more efficiently.
Why You May Need to Delete Multiple Slides
When working on a presentation, it’s common to end up with extra slides you don’t need. These might include:
- Duplicate or backup versions of slides
- Slides from a copied template you didn’t use
- Mistakenly added slides during collaboration
- Unnecessary content for the final version
Instead of deleting slides one by one, knowing how to delete multiple slides in Google Slides can make the process quicker and more effective.
How to Delete Multiple Slides in Google Slides on Desktop
Deleting multiple slides is easiest on the desktop version of Google Slides. Here’s how you can do it in just a few clicks.
Steps to Delete Multiple Slides:
- Open your presentation at slides.google.com.
- On the left sidebar, you’ll see the list of slide thumbnails.
- Hold down the Ctrl key (Windows) or Command key (Mac).
- Click on each slide you want to delete.
- Once selected, right-click on one of the selected slides.
- Choose Delete from the menu.
All selected slides will be removed instantly from your presentation.
Tip:
If you want to delete a range of consecutive slides, hold down the Shift key instead:
- Click the first slide.
- Then hold Shift and click the last slide in the range.
- Right-click any selected slide and hit Delete.
This method is perfect when clearing out sections of a presentation quickly.
How to Delete Multiple Slides in Google Slides App
The mobile version of Google Slides is more limited than the desktop version, but you can still delete slides with some extra steps.
On Android or iOS:
- Open the Google Slides app on your phone or tablet.
- Tap to open the presentation.
- Tap the slide sorter icon (four squares) to view all slides.
- Tap and hold a slide until it is selected.
- Tap other slides to select multiple.
- Tap the trash icon to delete them.
Note that selecting multiple slides might not be supported in all versions or devices. If that’s the case, consider editing from a computer browser for full control.
What Happens When You Delete Slides in Google Slides?
When you delete multiple slides in Google Slides:
- The deleted slides are removed immediately from your presentation.
- Deleted content cannot be recovered using the undo button if you exit the file.
- Any comments, animations, or media on those slides are permanently deleted.
- However, if you made a copy of the presentation before editing, you can recover them from that version.
To avoid losing important data, always double-check which slides you’re removing.
Undoing a Deletion
If you deleted slides by accident, there’s a simple way to undo it—as long as you haven’t closed the file.
How to Undo:
- Press Ctrl + Z (Windows) or Command + Z (Mac) immediately.
- Or click Edit > Undo from the top menu.
- You can also tap the undo arrow on the toolbar.
This will bring back the deleted slides as long as your editing session is still active.
Tips to Manage Slides Efficiently
Deleting slides is only one part of maintaining a clean and effective presentation. Here are a few additional tips to keep things tidy:
- Group similar slides to easily identify what can be deleted.
- Use slide titles to keep track of sections and content themes.
- Duplicate your presentation before major edits to preserve the original.
- Use Master Slides to control repeated content and avoid duplications.
Knowing how to delete multiple slides in Google Slides becomes even more powerful when paired with these organizational habits.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I delete multiple slides in Google Slides at once?
Use Ctrl (or Command on Mac) to select non-consecutive slides, or Shift to select a range. Right-click and choose Delete to remove them all together.
Can I delete multiple slides in the Google Slides mobile app?
Yes, but it’s limited. Use the slide sorter view, long-press to select a slide, then tap others and use the trash icon to delete them.
What if I accidentally deleted the wrong slides?
Press Ctrl + Z or click Undo immediately to recover them. If you already closed the file, they may be gone unless you have a previous version saved.
Can I recover deleted slides in Google Slides?
No, unless you undo the deletion right away or restore an older version from Version history under File > Version history.
Will deleting slides affect the entire presentation layout?
No, only the selected slides are removed. The rest of the presentation and theme remain unaffected.
Whether you’re cleaning up your slides before a big presentation or removing drafts and duplicate content, knowing how to delete multiple slides in Google Slides helps streamline your workflow. The process is quick and simple on desktop, and while it’s a bit limited on mobile, it still gets the job done.
Make sure you double-check your selections, especially in collaborative documents. And always use undo or version history if you make a mistake. With these steps and tips, managing your Google Slides presentation becomes more efficient and organized.