The Slideshow button in Google Slides starts presenting from the current slide. This is useful for reviewing a particular section, but it can surprise a presenter who expects the opening slide. Select the starting point deliberately before showing the audience the presentation.
Choose the starting slide
Open the deck on a computer and select the intended thumbnail. Read its title and content to confirm that it is the correct version. For a complete rehearsal, start with the opening slide; for a targeted review, choose the relevant section.
Start the slideshow
Click Slideshow at the top right. Google’s presenting guidance says the presentation opens from the current slide and recommends Chrome for best results. Check the first visible slide before beginning your spoken introduction.
If the talk needs a different starting behavior, inspect the available presentation options rather than assuming every Slideshow-related command starts from the beginning. Display options and presenter notes are separate parts of the workflow.
Verify navigation and audience view
Advance through a few slides using the arrow keys or the presentation controls. Check that skipped slides and animations behave as intended. Press Esc when you need to return to editing. If screen sharing is involved, verify which window or tab the audience actually receives. Starting the slideshow successfully establishes only that the presentation opened; it does not prove that the shared audience screen shows the same view or that media and external links will work for the entire talk. Check the file title before sharing its screen.
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.