How do I make my Google Slides accessible?

Use pre-built slide layouts already available in Google Slides. These slide layouts already have many accessibility features added and make it easier to maintain the correct reading order.

Add a new slide using Google Slide layouts

1. In the primary navigation, select Slide.
2. Select Apply Layout. 
3. Select the your preferred slide layout. 

Alt text is important because it ensures that images are accessible to people who are using screen readers. Learn more about alt-text.

Add alt text to images: 

1. Select your image.
2. Select Alt text.
3. Add your alt-text in the Description field. 

Tip: 

• You can't mark images as "decorative" in Google Slides. If an image is decorative, you will need to be sure to describe it in your alt text.

Images and text are required to have high color contrast and meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards. Make sure color alone is not used to show meaning, and that there is a text alternative available. Learn more about color and color contrast

Recommended Resources:

• WebAIM’s Contrast Checker(link is external)
• Color Accessibility - Berkeley Brand(link is external) 

Make sure each slide in your presentation has a unique, descriptive title. This helps people more quickly and easily navigate through your presentation. 

Edit your slide title:

1. On a new slide, select the text box that says "Click to add title". This is your "title" text box. 
2. Add your unique, descriptive title. 

Tip:

If your slide has been edited and does not have a "title" text box, you will need to "update" your slide layout. 

1. Select your slide that does not have a title.  
2. Select Slide. 
3. Select Apply Layout. 
4. Select a layout that includes "Title". Most prebuild slides will include this. 

Your slide will re-format with a "title" text box included. 

• Use easy-to-read fonts. We recommend Verdana, Ariel, Calibri, or Lexand. Avoid decorative fonts since these are much harder to read, especially during a presentation. 
• Make sure your font is at least 18 points or larger (but 24 points or larger is best). You want to make sure everyone in your audience can read and understand your content. 

Let your users know where they are going when they select a link by giving it meaningful link text. Learn more about descriptive links.

Change your link text: 

1. Select your link. 
2. Select Edit Link.
3. Update your link text to something that accurately describes the page you are linking to. 
4. Select Apply. 

Tip: 

• Don't use 'Click Here' or 'Read More' for your link text. These are not descriptive and don't tell users where they are going. 

Share your Google Slides presentation:

1. Select File. 
2. Select Share.
3. Select Share with others. 

Tip:

You can update the permissions to ‘Anyone with the link’ is a ‘Viewer’ if you want to make sure everyone can see your document without making any edits.

Publish your Google Slides as a web page: 

1. Select File. 
2. Select Share. 
3. Select Publish to the web.  

You will be able to share your presentation either as a URL or as an embedded file. 

Download as a PowerPoint presentation: 

1. Select File. 
2. Select Download. 
3. Select Microsoft PowerPoint (.pptx).

Once you download your PowerPoint, we recommend running the Accessibility Checker on your file to make sure all of your accessibility features migrated correctly. Learn more about making a PowerPoint accessible.