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One Canva feature that people often forget is its ability to make beautiful presentations. With tons of pre-made templates, Canva makes it easy to spice up even the most boring of topics. But, what do you do if you want to use Canva within Google Slides? How do you import them?
To import Canva presentations into Google Slides, design your slides in Canva. Then, either connect your Canva account to Google Drive, or download your presentation as a PowerPoint file. Import it into Google Slides. You can also download your Canva presentation as images to import into your Google Slides presentation.
There are a number of ways to import your Canva presentations into Google Slides. The method you choose will depend on your preferences and what you need to do.
Let’s dive in.
Option 1: Connect Your Google Drive Account to Canva
Canva can connect to Google Drive. This makes it quick and easy to share your presentation with your Google Drive account, which will then open it in Google Slides. There you go!
That said, you may not be comfortable connecting your Canva account to your Google Drive account. If that’s the case, skip to option 2.
If you are comfortable connecting your Canva and Google Drive accounts, here’s what you need to do.
1. Create your presentation in Canva.
Even though your slides will be editable once they’re imported into Google Slides, I still suggest designing them fully in Canva. Especially if you have Canva Pro, this will give you access to all of Canva’s amazing templates, images, design elements to make your presentation awesome.
You can get a free trial to Canva Pro here!
2. Once you’re done, click the “Share” button and the “More” button
After you’ve finished designing your presentation in Canva, click on the “Share” button in the top right corner. Scroll down until you see the “More” button. Click on it.
3. Choose the Google Drive option
There are a LOT of options to share, save, and download your presentation. Find the Google Drive option within the Save section.
4. Connect your Canva and Google Drive accounts
If your Canva and Google Drive accounts aren’t connected already, you’ll need to go through a series of steps and permissions to connect them. Again, if you’re not comfortable with this, go to option 2.
5. Choose where you want to save your presentation and save it as a PPTX document
Once your Canva and Google Drive accounts are connected, you need to choose where in your Google Drive you want to save your presentation. Choose the folder that works for you.
Next, choose your file type. In order for the conversion to Google Slides to work properly, you’ll want to save your presentation as a Microsoft PowerPoint document (PPTX).
6. Use your Canva presentation in Google Slides!
When you share your PPTX file to your Google Drive account, it should open in Google Slides.
The great thing about this option is that you can still edit your presentation! You can edit the text, move things around, and make the changes you need.
But, if you don’t want to connect your Canva and Google Drive accounts, the good news is that option 2 lets you edit your presentations as well. And, it’s only a few more steps than option 1.
Option 2: Import a PowerPoint Presentation into Google Slides
With this method, we’ll be downloading your Canva presentation as a PowerPoint presentation and then importing it into a Google Slides presentation. Let’s walk through it step-by-step.
1. Create your presentation in Canva.
Even though your slides will be editable once they’re imported into Google Slides, I still suggest designing them fully in Canva. Especially if you have Canva Pro, this will give you access to all of Canva’s amazing templates, images, design elements to make your presentation awesome.
2. Once you’re done, click the “Share” button and the “More” button
After you’ve finished designing your presentation in Canva, click on the “Share” button in the top right corner. Scroll down until you see the “More” button. Click on it.
3. Download your presentation as a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation file
There are a LOT of options to share, save, and download your presentation. Scroll down to the “Save” section and click on “Microsoft PowerPoint” and then click on the “Download” button.
4. Open a new Google Slides presentation
Navigate to Google Slides and open a brand new presentation.
5. Choose the “Import Slides” option in Google Slides
Within Google Slides, click on “File” and then choose “Import Slides.”
6. Drag and drop your Canva presentation into Google Slides
A box will appear that will allow you to either drag and drop your files into Google Slides, or find the file on your computer. Find your Canva presentation your just downloaded as a Microsoft PowerPoint file and drag and drop it into this box in Google Slides.
7. Choose the slides you want to import
Google Slides will ask you to choose the slides you want to import. Click on the “All” button, or individually click on all of your slides to import all of them into Google Slides.
8. Enjoy your presentation!
Google will import your slides after your first blank slide, so simply delete that first blank slide. Then, you’re done! You can edit, rearrange, and use your slides seamlessly within Google Slides!
Yay! Like option 1, you can edit your presentation in Google Slides. Edit the text, move things around, adjust your presentation as needed.
The first two options we’ve talked about are the quickest ways to import Canva presentations into Google Slides while maintaining your ability to edit them. That said, there are other options you may be interested in, depending on your needs. Let’s quickly review them.
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Option 3: Import Fully Designed Canva Images into Google Slides
With this method, you’re going to design your slides in Canva and then move them over to Google Slides in their fully finished forms. These will be static images, so you WON’T be able to edit them down the road.
- Open a Canva Presentation document. You want it to be “presentation” because the sizing will be similar to what you’ll need for Google Slides, which means you won’t have to mess with it too much when you’re done.
- Design everything as you need it to be when it’s fully finished. All photos, texts, backgrounds; make sure all of it is there and finalized.
- Download your Canva slides as png images.
- Set up your Google Slides presentation with the number of blank slides that you need.
- Drag and drop each png image onto a blank slide and position it so that it covers the entire slide.
- Make sure your slides are in the right order and then you’re done!
If you have zero need to edit your presentation in the future, this could be an appealing option for you. Our final options involves static images as well.
Option 4: Import Partially Designed Canva Images into Google Slides
If you don’t want to design your presentation fully in Canva, this could be a good option for you. Maybe you just want to create a unique background image, or import a few unique design elements. You aren’t worried about needing to edit them down the road and want to work on the majority of your presentation in Google Slides.
Here’s what you can do. Again, these will be static images that will NOT be editable in Google Slides.
- Open a Canva Presentation document.
- Design any static images and elements that you’re ok with finalizing and not being able to change later.
- Download your Canva slides as png images.
- Set up your Google Slides presentation with the number of blank slides that you need.
- Drag and drop each png image onto a blank slide and position it so that it covers the entire slide.
- Add any text and elements that you still need in Google Slides.
If you have some static backgrounds, images, or elements you want to incorporate into your Google Slides presentation, this can be a great option.
Use Canva to Present Your Slideshow
Alright, so this is not an option for importing your Canva presentation into Google Slides, but it’s worth talking about.
It’s easy to forget that Canva can be a one stop shop for presentations. If you don’t actually need to use Google Slides, Canva’s own presentation mode is pretty good!
You can also share your presentation and collaborate with others within Canva itself.
In the toolbar, click on the share button. From there, you can type in the email addresses of your collaborators and choose whether you want them to simply view, or full on edit the presentation.
Important note: if you use any Pro elements within your presentation, those on your team with a Pro subscription should be the ones to export or download your project if needed.
If you have the Pro version, you can also share the presentation for use as a template for future projects.
These capabilities are only available within Canva. Once you import your Canva presentation into Google Slides, you’re leaving the Canva ecosystem.
The biggest hurdle with this option is getting all of your team members on board with using Canva. As Canva users, we all know that once people start using Canva, they fall in love with it.
It can be hard to adjust to new platforms though. Even though Canva is easy to learn and use, it’s still an adjustment.
If you can woo your team onto the Canva train though, my best suggestion is to simply make your presentations in Canva and keep them there. As a presentation platform, Canva has a lot to offer.
Diana has been an artist for over 26 years and has training in drawing, painting, digital drawing and graphic design. Diana’s latest obsession is digitally drawing with Procreate and creating t-shirt designs with Canva. Diana has experience selling her art across a number of platforms and loves helping other artists learn how to make money from their art as well.