Presenter View in Google Slides provides presenter-facing controls alongside the slideshow workflow. It is useful when you need notes or audience tools during a talk. Before using it live, verify which view appears on each screen and which surface is being shared to remote viewers.
Open Presenter View
In the desktop editor, click the arrow beside Slideshow at the top right and choose Presenter view. Google’s presenting guidance describes this route. Open the relevant presenter controls, such as speaker notes, within that view.
Arrange the workspace
Identify the audience slideshow and the presenter-facing window. If you have a second monitor, use the supported display options and test the arrangement. Google’s guidance says Presenter View and full-screen presentation cannot be used together on a single monitor through the multi-display arrangement it describes.
Keep the presentation version and starting slide clear. A presenter window associated with an older deck is not a useful source of notes for the file currently being shared.
Verify before speaking
Run a short rehearsal and check the audience display, your notes, and normal navigation. In a video call, confirm that you are sharing the slideshow rather than the presenter window. Review any private wording in notes before allowing a screen-sharing route that exposes them. Presenter View helps delivery; it does not make notes confidential from people who can access the editable presentation, and opening it does not prove that the audience receives the intended screen or that all media will play. Confirm the active browser window.
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.