How to Run Presentations on Google Slides Remotely (With Phone App)

Imagine this. You're meeting with an important client. They're very interested in your product. And, you've got the perfect Google Slides presentation that'll answer all their questions. It's too bad you didn't bring any equipment to make your presentation with.

Or did you?

If you've got the right app and/or a simple device you can use your smart phone like a remote control. This allows you to give your Google Slides presentation on a TV or monitor. You'll also need access to WiFi.

Whether you make presentations as part of your job or just occasionally, knowing how to run a presentation from your phone can come in handy for unexpected situations. You never know when the equipment for a planned presentation won't work properly. Using your phone or other smart device as a remote to run your presentation makes a good backup plan.

In this tutorial, you'll learn the basics about making a Google Slides presentation remotely with your smart device. We'll show you how to use the Google Slides app to run your Google Slides presentation from your iPhone or iPad with an Apple TV using Apple's AirPlay mirroring feature. We'll also discuss Google's Chromecast feature for Android devices and explain how it works.

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Now let's learn all about running Google Slides presentations remotely using your phone or smart device.

Use Your iOS Device to Run Google Slides Remotely

If you've got access to an Apple TV, the Google Slides app lets you show your Google Slides presentation from your iOS device. Use Apple TV's AirPlay Mirroring feature to show the presentation slides on your Apple TV.

Step 1 

Start by downloading the Google Slides App from the Apple Store onto your iPad or iPhone. Click the Get button on the Apple Store screen to start the download process:

Step 2 

Click the Install button. Next, click the Open button to open the Google Slides app on your iOS device:

Step 3 

Click the Sign-In button in the lower left corner to sign in to your Google account.

Note: If you've not used your Google account on this device before you may receive a security notification in your Gmail account.

Google Slides opens on your iPad or iPhone with thumbnails of some of the most recent presentations showing:

Click on the presentation you wish to open. Your Google Slides presentation opens on your device:

For this tutorial, we're using a presentation based on the popular Everland Google Slides theme from GraphicRiver.

To discover more great Google Slides themes and templates available through GraphicRiver, check out this featured article:

• Presentations
  15 Best Google Slides Presentation Themes (Premium Templates to Download)
  Sean Hodge

Step 4 

Once your presentation is open, use your Apple TV remote to turn on your Apple TV. Swipe up on your iPad or iPhone screen from the bottom to see the AirPlay Mirroring option:

Step 5

Click the AirPlay Mirroring button on the bottom left. A pop-up menu appears. Select the Apple TV option from the pop-up menu. Your presentation is now visible on the Apple TV screen, however, it does not take up the whole TV screen—at least not yet.

Step 6 

To get your presentation to take up the whole screen on your Apple TV, click the right arrow icon on the menu on the upper left of the presentation screen on your iOS device:

A drop-down menu appears. Select the Present to external display option. Your Google Slides presentation now fills the screen on your Apple TV.

Step 7 

Use the thumbnails at the bottom of the screen on your iOS device to move through the presentation. You can also use the Google Slides Speaker Notes or the Q&A features during your presentation. For more information on the Google Slides Q&A and Speaker Notes features, study the following Envato Tuts+ tutorials:

• 14+ (Quick) Professional Tips to Using Google Slides Better.
• How to Present Your Google Slides Slideshow Presentation.

Step 8 

When you're done showing your presentation, turn off AirPlay Mirroring. Swipe up on the screen of iOS device:

Click the Apple TV button. From the pop-up menu, select the Turn Off AirPlay Mirroring option. Your presentation is no longer visible on your Apple TV.

Use Your Android Device to Run Google Slides Remotely

If you've got an Android table or smart phone, you can also use your device to make your Google Slides presentation. You'll need a Chromecast device and a WiFi connection.

A Chromecast device is a piece of hardware from Google that allows you to stream content from your computer or smart device to your TV. It plugs into your TV's HDMI port using a connector cable.

The most common use of Chromecast devices is to play content from services like Netflix or Hulu. The screen mirroring feature is what allows you to show your Google Slides presentation on a TV. Casting only works on a device running Android 4.4.2 or later. The Android device also has to be optimized for Chromecast. Google has provided a list of supported devices here.

Unfortunately I don't own a Chromecast device, so I can't provide screenshots. But here's what you need to know about how the casting process works: 

Step 1

Once you've got your Chromecast device, connect it to your TV. How you connect the device varies depending on which type of Chromecast device you are using. For detailed instructions on how to connect your particular Chromecast device to your TV, review Google's instructions. You'll also need to set up a password for your Chromecast device and name the device.

Step 2

Make sure that you've got the Google Slides app installed on your Android device. If you don't already have the app, download it from the Google Store. Your TV and your smart device or laptop should be connected to the same WiFi network for you to use the Chromecast device. Plus, the microphone of your Android device must be turned on in Google Play Services section of your Android settings or you won't be able to mirror your device screen.

Step 3

Once everything is properly set up, open the Google Slides app on your Android device. Choose the presentation you want to make. Click the Present option on your Google Slides presentation. 

A drop-down menu displays. Select the Present on another screen option from the drop-down menu. Choose your Chromecast device from the list. You can now display your presentation on the TV that is connected to the Chromecast device.

When you're done making your Google Slides presentation, simply stop casting the screen to the TV.

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Conclusion

Don't ever be caught without access to a vital business presentation ever again. Use the right tools and you can run your Google Slides presentation using your smart phone or other smart device as a remote, as long as you are connected to WiFi. 

Apple AirPlay's Mirroring feature and Google's Chromecast device are good backup options to make sure that you can give a Google Slide presentation whenever you need to.

Whether making Google Slides presentations is part of your job or just something you do once in a while, it's a good idea to learn how to give your presentation using a smart device. 

Learn more about how to use Google Slides in these tutorials: 

• Presentations
  How to Use Google Slides (Quick Start Guide)
  Rebecca Tarnopol
• Google Slides
  How to Add YouTube Video to Google Slides Presentations
  Laura Spencer
• Google Slides
  17+ Cool Google Slides Themes (To Make Presentations in 2017)
  Sean Hodge

Also, be sure to practice using your smart device as a remote to make your presentation before you have to depend on using it for an important meeting. By practicing, you'll know exactly what to do and how to do it when the time comes to make your presentation live.

Do you use your smart device as a remote to make Google presentations? If so, share your tips in the comments below.