How to record a video presentation using Google Slides

Google Slides now lets you record presentations using drop-in video from your webcam. Each recording can last up to 30 minutes. You no longer need to use third-party tools or web conferencing applications (such as Google Meet) to record presentations. Instead, just use Google Slides on your laptop to start and complete tasks.

Beginning March 2024, customers using Google Workspace Business Standard or Plus can record slideshows; Enterprise Starter, Essentials, Essentials Plus, Standard, or Plus; and Education Plus.

How to do basic slide recording in Google Slides

To create a slideshow recording, you’ll need to use Google Chrome on a computer equipped with a camera and microphone.

1. Go to Google Slides and open your presentation.
2. Select the Record button in the upper right area, then select the Record New Video button (Figure A).

The system will switch to the screen recording interface, with recording controls displayed below the slideshow. By default, the inset (picture-in-picture) video is displayed at a medium size in the lower right corner of the slide because this part of the slide is usually empty.

3. Alternatively, before you start recording, you can adjust three settings:
4. 1. 1. Modify the location of the inserted (picture-in-picture) video frame (Picture B). Select the Insert Position icon to the right of the Forward Slide (>) icon to move the position to any corner or center area of ​​the slide.

         

      2. Modify the size of inserted video frames. Select the size icon to the right of the video insertion position icon, and then select a small, medium, or large video frame size.
      3. Use the button to the left of the back slide (<) icon to open speaker notes. This will display speaker notes for you to refer to while recording. (Ideally, you don't need to refer to speaker notes so you can look directly into the camera while recording.)

4. When you’re ready to record, select the big red button at the bottom of the screen.
5. If prompted, you may need to allow access (Figure C) and Camera and Microphone to the tab. For example, when recording on a Chromebook, you might be prompted with “Allow docs.google.com to view this tab?” and “Also allow tab audio.” If prompted, select Allow.

In some cases, you may need to access the following link in Chrome to adjust permissions:

1. 1. • Camera: chrome://settings/content/camera.
      • Microphone: chrome://settings/content/microphone.

6. A brief countdown should be displayed (i.e. 3, 2, 1) and then recording should begin. Record your video and advance the slideshow as needed.

7. To pause recording, press the big red button at the bottom of the screen.
8. After pausing, you can choose from two options (Figure D):

After selecting “Save to disk,” wait a few moments until the system indicates that the file has been saved. If you leave or close the tab too early, you may lose your recordings.

How to choose insert video shape and size

On any slide, you can use the Insert | Speaker Spotlight option (Figure E), then select a formed video frame. This will insert a frame on which the speaker video will appear. You can reposition or resize the frame: select the shape and drag it to move it elsewhere on the slide, or select a corner and drag it to resize it.

When you insert a speaker spotlight shape, it replaces the position and size you might have selected in basic recording. In other words, the speaker’s video will appear in one of the corners or center, and in a small, medium, or large shape selected through settings – unless you have a speaker spotlight shape inserted on the page (Figure F). Use the speaker spotlight option to deliver the most polished, professional results, as it provides precise control over the shape, size and position of your video footage.

How to play, share and manage slideshow recordings

You can access your slideshow recordings in Google Slides on your computer. However, unlike recordings, which require the use of Google Chrome, you can access and play existing recordings in Google Slides on a variety of modern browsers. For example, the following steps will work when you’re using Google Slides in Google Chrome or Apple’s Safari browser.

To access the recordings associated with your Google Slides presentation, follow the steps below.

1. Go to Google Slides and open your presentation.
2. Select the “Record” button in the upper right area. Your recording of the briefing will appear. Importantly, the date and duration of each recording is displayed.
3. To view, share, or download a recording, click the play icon or anywhere on the recording title (Figure G). It should open in a new tab. In this tab you can:

• • Select the “play” icon in the video image center to play the recording.
  • Select the Share button in the upper right corner of the screen to modify access settings and allow others to access the file.
  • Select the Download icon in the down arrow above the tray icon in the upper right corner of the screen to download the file.

4. Select the three-dot menu to the right of a listed recording to:

• • Rename the file to something other than the default recording title.
  • Delete previously recorded recordings that are no longer needed.
  • Copy the link and get the Google Drive URL of the recorded file.

All Google Slides recordings are stored in the Slides recordings folder on Google Drive. Recordings are saved as .webm files, a widely supported web video format. You can easily open and play .webm files on Apple and Android phones. Any recording you make using Google Slides should be easy to view on almost any device.

Would the ability to record presentations in Google Slides streamline your workflow? What type of video presentation will you create with this new feature? Mention or message me on X (@awolber) Let me know how you use screen recording in Google Slides.