After previous timing in Google Slides starts an animation when the preceding effect finishes. It is useful for a short automatic sequence triggered by one initial action. It should not be confused with a fixed schedule for advancing the entire presentation.
Identify the preceding effect
Open the Motion panel on a computer and inspect the slide’s object animations. Determine which effect should finish before the next one begins. Check that the objects and their order match the explanation rather than relying on the order in which they were originally created.
Choose the start setting
Select the relevant animation and choose After previous in its start control. Google’s guidance defines this as beginning immediately after the previous animation ends. Adjust the effect’s speed separately if the visual movement itself needs another duration.
Keep automatic sequences short enough to follow. If the audience needs time to interpret a result, a presenter-controlled pause may be more appropriate than another immediate reveal.
Verify the sequence
Preview with Play, then rehearse in slideshow view. Confirm the first trigger, the order of appearances, and whether the speaker can keep pace without rushing. Check the tested browser because some animations can vary across viewing environments. If the sequence creates an unintended claim before its qualifying text appears, redesign the reveal. After previous is a timing relationship between effects; it does not verify the logic of a process, control every media dependency, or guarantee that a static export will explain the same sequence clearly.
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.