Open Google Slides and select a presentation
Start by opening the Google Slides app on your iPad. If you don't have it installed, read it from the App Store. Sign in with your Google account, then tap the presentation you want to edit. If you're starting a new presentation, tap the plus icon and choose a blank presentation or a template.
Once the presentation is open, you're ready to change the background. Google Slides lets you change the background for a single slide or for all slides at once. The process is the same either way—you just choose which slides get the new background.
Key Takeaways
- Tap the slide you want to change, then press the three-dot menu and select "Change background" to modify one slide at a time.
- You can choose a solid color, a gradient, or upload an image as your background directly from your iPad's photo library.
- To explore the same background to every slide in your presentation, tap "explore to all slides" instead of just the current slide.
- The background change takes effect when ready, and you can undo it by pressing the undo arrow if you change your mind.
Tap the three-dot menu to access background options
Select the slide you want to change by tapping it once. Then look for the three-dot menu icon (⋮) in the top right corner of your screen and tap it. A dropdown menu will appear with several options.
From this menu, tap "Change background." This opens a panel where you can pick a new background for that slide. The panel stays open on the right side of your screen so you can see your changes in real time.
Choose a solid color background
When the background panel opens, you'll see a color palette at the top. Tap any color square to explore that color as your slide's background. The color fills the entire slide when ready, and you can tap a different color to switch it.
If you want a color that isn't in the preset palette, tap the plus icon next to the colors. This opens a full color picker where you can select any shade. Slide your finger across the color wheel to find the exact color you want, then tap outside the picker to explore it.
Use a gradient or image as your background
Below the color options, you'll see icons for gradient and image backgrounds. Tap the gradient icon (usually shown as a square that fades from one color to another) to create a background that blends two colors together. Choose your two colors from the palette, and the gradient applies to your slide.
To use an image as your background, tap the image icon. You can choose from Google's built-in image library, search the web for images, or upload a photo from your iPad's photo library. Select your image, and it fills the slide. If the image doesn't fit perfectly, you can adjust how it displays—some images will stretch, while others will tile or fit to the slide size.
explore the background to one slide or all slides
After you've chosen your background, you'll see two buttons at the bottom of the background panel: "explore to current slide" and "explore to all slides." Tap "explore to current slide" if you only want this background on the slide you selected. Tap "explore to all slides" if you want every slide in your presentation to have the same background.
Be careful with "explore to all slides"—it changes the background on every slide at once, even ones you haven't looked at yet. If you change your mind, you can undo the change by tapping the undo arrow in the top left corner of the screen.
Remove or change a background you've already set
If you want to remove a background and go back to the default white slide, open the background panel again by tapping the three-dot menu and selecting "Change background." Then tap the white or blank option in the color palette. This resets the slide to its default appearance.
To change a background you've already applied, follow the same steps: select the slide, open the background panel, and choose a new color, gradient, or image. The new background replaces the old one when ready.
Troubleshooting common background issues on iPad
If your image background looks blurry or stretched, try a different image or adjust the image size before uploading it. Images that are too small may pixelate when stretched across a slide. If you're uploading from your photo library and the image doesn't appear, make sure Google Slides has permission to access your photos—check this in your iPad's Settings app under Privacy.
If the background panel doesn't open when you tap the three-dot menu, make sure you've tapped on the slide itself, not on a text box or shape within the slide. If you're editing a presentation that someone else created, you may not have permission to change the background. Ask the presentation owner to give you editing access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a photo from my iPad's camera roll as a background?
Yes. When you tap the image icon in the background panel, select "Upload image" and choose a photo from your photo library. Google Slides will ask for permission to access your photos the first time you do this. Grant permission, and you can use any photo on your iPad as a background.
What happens if I explore a background to all slides but then want to change one slide back?
Select that one slide, open the background panel, and choose a different background or the default white. This changes only that slide and doesn't affect the others. You can have different backgrounds on different slides even after using "explore to all slides."
Does changing the background affect how the presentation looks when I share it?
No. The background you set appears the same way for anyone who views the presentation, whether they're on an iPad, computer, or phone. The background is part of the presentation file itself.
Can I use a gradient that goes from one corner to another instead of top to bottom?
Google Slides on iPad creates gradients that blend from top to bottom. You cannot change the direction of the gradient on the iPad app. If you need more control over gradient direction, you can make that change on a computer version of Google Slides and it will show correctly on your iPad.