The filmstrip is the list of slide thumbnails in Google Slides, and it provides a useful navigation route for screen-reader users. It is separate from the canvas, where individual slide objects are edited. Move focus deliberately so a navigation key does not act on the wrong editing area.
Focus the filmstrip
With screen-reader support enabled, use the platform shortcut described in Google’s Slides guidance. On Windows or ChromeOS, the documented filmstrip shortcut is Ctrl+Alt+Shift+F. Consult the platform-specific help for Mac instead of assuming the same key combination applies.
Navigate and interpret announcements
Use the up and down arrows to move between slides. Google’s guidance explains that announcements differ according to Braille mode: without it, the slide’s content is presented; with it, the announcement focuses on slide number, title, and layout.
Use that information to confirm the intended slide before editing. A repeated layout name alone is not enough to distinguish several similar examples in a large deck.
Move into the canvas intentionally
From the filmstrip, use Tab to move to the canvas. Tab moves through its layout or container elements; Enter begins editing an element and Escape returns to its container. Check the actual announcements in your configured browser and screen reader. Review alternative text and object order when the reading sequence is unclear. Filmstrip navigation helps locate slides, but it does not establish that every visual detail is described or that a separate audience export offers the same navigation experience. Confirm the current slide title.
References
Reviewed against the linked official product guidance on November 3, 2026. Features, limits, screen labels, and access can vary by account, platform, region, and organization policy.