3 Easy Ways to Convert a PDF to Google Slides [2024]

Have you ever wanted to turn a PDF file into a Google Slides presentation? Maybe you have a report, a brochure, or a flyer that you want to share with your audience in a more interactive way. Or maybe you just want to avoid the hassle of switching between different applications during your presentation.

Whatever the reason, converting a PDF file to Google Slides can be a useful skill to have. But how do you do it? Unfortunately, there is no direct way to import a PDF file into Google Slides.

However, don’t despair! In this article, we will show you some easy methods to convert your PDF file to Google Slides, using a free online tool and a little bit of creativity. By the end of this article, you will be able to transform any PDF file into a stunning Google Slides presentation, without losing any sleep over it.

But why even convert a PDF file into Google Slides, what are the benefits and what’s the difference between the two? Let’s discuss that first.

Difference Between PDFs and Google Google Slides

PDFs and Google Slides are two different file formats that can be used for different purposes. PDFs are portable document files that preserve the layout and formatting of the original document, regardless of the device or software used to view them.

PDFs are ideal for sharing information that does not need to be edited or modified by others. Google slides are online presentation files that can be created, edited, and shared using Google’s web-based application.

Google Slides are ideal for creating and presenting slideshows that can include text, images, animations, transitions, and more. Google Slides can also be easily accessed and collaborated on by multiple users from any device with an internet connection.

In short, PDFs are great for sharing and preserving document integrity, Google Slides offer collaboration, real-time editing, and a better presentation experience.

READ MORE: What is Slidesgo & How to Use It in Google Slides ➜

Why Even Convert PDF File to Google Slides?

Following are some of the benefits of using Google Slides over PDFs.

• Collaboration and Accessibility: Google Slides allow for seamless collaboration with teammates. You can work on presentations together in real-time, making it easier to share ideas and make edits. Unlike PDFs, which are static, Google Slides enable dynamic collaboration. It can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection.
• Editing Flexibility: Google Slides provide a user-friendly interface for editing and customizing presentations. You can easily add or modify content, adjust formatting, and incorporate visuals.

• Interactive Presentations: Google Slides allows you to create interactive presentations with animations, transitions, and embedded videos. Google Slides have many features and tools to create interactive and attractive presentations.
• Sharing and Distribution: Sharing a Google Slides link is more convenient than sending large PDF attachments via email. You can control access permissions, share with specific individuals, or make the presentation public.
• Collaborative Note-Taking: During a live presentation, collaborators can take notes directly within Google Slides. This feature ensures that important points and feedback are captured in real-time.

So, how do you convert a PDF file to Google Slides to take advantage of all these features of Google Slides? Let’s dive straight into this tutorial without wasting any time.

READ MORE: How to Convert & Download Kindle to PDF (Mobile or PC) ➜

How to Convert a PDF File to Google Slides: 3 Easiest Methods [2024]

In this guide, we’ll be discussing the 3 easiest ways to convert a PDF file to Google Slides using a single, free and online tool: iLovePDF.

iLovePDF is an online service that provides a comprehensive set of free and user-friendly PDF tools. You can access iLovePDF online or download the iLovePDF Desktop App for offline processing on your Mac or Windows PC. There’s also a mobile app for managing documents remotely on Android and iPhone devices.

As there isn’t a direct method or native tool built into Google Slides to convert a PDF file directly to Google Slides format, we will use some sneaky but easy tricks to achieve our end goal in just a few steps.

Method 1: PDF → PowerPoint → Google Slides

1. Go to iLovePDF on any browser installed on your device. 
   

   

2. Click the PDF to PowerPoint converter on the website. 
   

   

3. Then, click the “Select PDF file” button to upload the PDF you wish to convert. Alternatively, you can drag and drop the file directly onto the webpage. 
   

   

4. Once the PDF is uploaded, click the “Convert to PPTX” button to initiate the conversion process. 
   

   

5. After the conversion is done, click the “Download PowerPoint” button to save the PPTX file to your computer. 
   

   

6. The website will prompt you to choose the desired download location for your newly converted PPTX, so make sure to choose accordingly, from where you can easily locate and access it later.
7. Now, go to Google Slides and Create a blank presentation. 
   

   

8. On the top left corner click File > Import slides. 
   

   

9. Choose the PPTX file that you just downloaded and upload it. 
   

   

10.  Now select the slides that you want to import or select all slides of the PPTX. 
    

    

11. Click Import slides to add them to your presentation. 
    

    

12. Your slides should import correctly into Google Slides if you have followed the steps above accurately. 
    

There you have it; you have successfully converted your PDF file to Google Slides by using iLovePDF. Now you can easily play around with your presentation within Google Slides and format it according to your liking with the help of all the powerful tools baked into Google Slides.

READ MORE: How to Add a GIF to Google Slides ➜

Method 2: PDF → JPG → Google Slides

1. Visit the iLovePDF website.
   

   

2. Click on the “PDF to JPG” converter on the website. 
   

   

3. Click the “Select PDF file” button to upload the PDF you wish to convert. You can also drag and drop the file directly onto the webpage. 
   

   

4. Once the PDF is uploaded, choose the “Page to JPG” option to convert every page of your PDF to a JPG file. You can also adjust the image quality and size if you want.
   

   

5. Click the “Convert to JPG” button to start the extraction process. 
   

   

6. After the conversion is done, click the “Download JPG images” button to save the image files to your computer. The JPG images will be downloaded as a ZIP file to your chosen location.
   

   

7. Locate the zipped file that contains the images that you just downloaded and Right-click on it to select “Extract All” from the context menu. 
   

   

8. A window will pop up asking you to choose a destination for the extracted files. You can either keep the default location or click on “Browse” to select a different folder. You can also check the option to “Show extracted files when complete” if you want to open the folder after extraction.
9. Click on “Extract” to start the extraction process. 
   

   

10. Once the extraction is done, you can open the folder and view the images. 
    

    

11. Now, open your Google Slides presentation and click Insert > Image > Upload from computer. 
    

    

12. Select the image files that you just downloaded and insert them into your slides. 
    

    

13. You can also set them as backgrounds by right-clicking on them and choosing Change background.
14. Adjust the size and position of the images as needed. You can also add text, shapes, or other elements to your slides. 
    

    

That’s it! It was this easy to convert your PDF file to Google Slides by first converting them to JPG.

READ MORE: How to Make A PDF Smaller on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS ➜

Method 3: By Taking Screenshots

If you do not want to use a third-party tool to convert your PDF file to Google Slides and prefer to take matters into your own hands, then this third method is perfect for you.

While this one may require more effort than the previous two, it will surely get the job done. So without further ado, let’s discuss how you can convert your PDF file to Google Slides by simply taking screenshots of the PDF.

1. Open the PDF file you wish to convert in a PDF viewer application, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader or simply in your web browser. 
   

   

2. Use the keyboard shortcut or the menu option to take a screenshot of the page or the part of the page that you want to insert into Google Slides. For example, on Windows, you can press Windows key + Shift + S to select a region of the screen and copy it to the clipboard. On Mac, you can press Command + Shift + 4 to do the same. 
   

   

3. Open a new or existing presentation in Google Slides and select the slide where you want to insert the screenshot.
4. Click on the Insert menu and choose Image. Then select Clipboard to paste the screenshot from the clipboard. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + V on Windows or Command + V on Mac to paste the screenshot. 
   

   

5. Adjust the size and position of the image as needed. You can also crop, rotate, or add borders to the image using the options in the toolbar.
6. Repeat steps 2 to 5 for each page or part of the page that you want to convert from the PDF file to Google Slides.

That was it! It was this simple to convert your PDF file to a Google Slides presentation by taking screenshots.

READ MORE: How to Convert a Screenshot to a PDF in Android ➜

Bonus: Use PowerPoint to Present Your PDF Files

If you have a PDF file that you want to present more interactively, you might want to consider using PowerPoint instead of Google Slides. PowerPoint has a built-in feature that allows you to insert a PDF file as an object; however, there’s a catch: you cannot edit the PDF directly in PowerPoint. It will be just an object in your PowerPoint presentation, which you can double-click to open in a PDF viewer.

Using PowerPoint to convert has some advantages over Google Slides, such as:

• PowerPoint has more features and customization options than Google Slides, which can help you create more sophisticated and professional presentations.
• PowerPoint is an offline tool, which means you can work on your presentations without an internet connection and have more control over your files and privacy.
• It is more compatible with other Microsoft Office products, such as Word and Excel, which can make it easier to integrate data and content from different sources.
• It has a larger and more diverse collection of templates, themes, and design elements than Google Slides, which can save you time and inspire your creativity.
• You can protect your presentation with a password or encryption with PowerPoint if you want to keep it confidential.

However, there are also some drawbacks of using PowerPoint, such as:

• You need to have PowerPoint installed on your device or use a compatible online service, such as Office 365 or OneDrive.
• You might lose some formatting or quality of your PDF file when you insert it as an object or save it as a PPTX file.
• You might face compatibility issues if you want to share your presentation with others who use different versions of PowerPoint or different devices or platforms.
• PowerPoint is less collaborative than Google Slides, which allows multiple users to work on the same presentation in real-time and leave comments and feedback.

So, you should weigh the pros and cons of using PowerPoint versus Google Slides, and choose the option that best suits your needs and preferences.

READ MORE: How to Convert a PDF File into an Editable PowerPoint Presentation ➜

Conclusion

In this article, we have shown you how to convert a PDF file to Google Slides using three easy methods. While all of them are easy to implement, we would recommend you to use Method 1 to convert your PDF file to Google Slides as it’s the easiest one and takes the least time in execution. We hope this article has been helpful and informative for you. Thank you for reading!