How to Quickly Insert Spreadsheets Into Google Slides

Google Slides is a powerful presentation tool that lives in your browser. Google Sheets is an equally adept web-based tool for data logging and analysis. Learn how to insert Google Sheets into Google Slides for a seamless presentation link to your data.

There are a surprising number of options to insert Sheets into Slides. Based on the settings you choose, you can stay connected to your data automatically and keep your cell styles intact. We’ll cover all of those in this tutorial as you learn how to put a spreadsheet in Google Slides.

Why Connect Spreadsheets to Google Slides

Google Slides is a powerful tool you can use to build presentations. It’s different from other popular apps like Microsoft PowerPoint and Apple Keynote.

Why? Namely, it exists fully online. Instead of a desktop app, you make edits right inside your web browser. This makes Google Slides a powerful tool for collaboration around the globe.

Google Slides is part of the Google Docs Editors suite of productivity apps. Another app is Google Sheets, where you can build spreadsheets. Just as Google Slides is similar to PowerPoint, Google Sheets resembles Microsoft Excel. 

Both Slides and Sheets are incredibly versatile. And they don’t exist in a vacuum. They work well together. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to insert Google Sheets into Google Slides. But you may be asking: why is this useful?

Consider the following advantages:

• You’ll save time. If you’ve got data in Google Sheets, you don’t have to enter it again in Google Slides. When you insert Sheets into Slides, you can make use of the work you’ve already done.
• You’ll stay up to date. When you link to a file, the linked version updates when you change the original file. For example, a linked table in Slides updates when you make a change in Sheets.
• You can control access. Anyone with access to your Google Slides presentation can view linked data from Google Sheets. They don’t need access to the linked file in Google Sheets.
• It’s better for sharing. Google Slides helps you build shareable content for the world. Google Sheets is a data manipulation and processing tool, like any spreadsheet. To make a winning impression, sharing data in Google Slides is your best bet.

As you can see, the advantages of linking Google Slides and Sheets are many. Often, you’ll find yourself using this feature every day! Let’s learn how to put a spreadsheet in Google Slides.

How to Put a Spreadsheet in Google Slides

When you think of how to insert Google Sheets into Google Slides, you first need a presentation to work with. To build winning slide decks, premium Google Slides templates from Envato Elements are your best option.

With thousands of templates to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect option. And as an Elements subscriber, you’ve got unlimited downloads of all these. Join now for a flat monthly rate.

For this tutorial, we’ll work with the beautiful Forward – Multipurpose Google Slides Presentation from Envato Elements. Inside, it’s got 86 custom slide layouts to work with. Download it today to follow along.

1. Create Data to Insert Sheets Into Slides

Imagine now that you’ve got a table of data like the one shown below. You want to feature it in your Google Slides presentation. As we learned in the intro above, you don’t have to re-type this data on your slide. Instead, you can insert Sheets into Slides to seamlessly link data. 

To begin, you’ll want to find a table in Google Sheets that you want to place in Google Slides.

Select a range of cells in Google Sheets and copy them to your clipboard by going to Edit > Copy.

When you’ve found the range of cells you want, click and drag your cursor to select them. Then, copy to your clipboard by clicking Edit > Copy on the Slides menu bar. 

2. Add Your Data to Google Slides

Let’s return to the Forward Google Slides presentation. Navigate to the slide where you want to place the data you’ve selected from Google Sheets. On the menu, go to Edit > Paste.

When you click Paste, the Paste Table dialog box appears onscreen. Here, you’ve got a decision to make. You can choose between Link to Spreadsheet and Paste Unlinked.

Let’s explore both options to help you decide:

• Link to Spreadsheet. This links the data in the Slides table back to Google Sheets. If a change is made in Sheets, you and your collaborators can see it in Slides. Choose this option if you need to ensure data is always up to date in your Google Slides deck.
• Paste Unlinked. This simply pastes the data from Sheets to Slides. Changes made in Sheets won’t reflect in your presentation. To update, you’ll need to type manually (or paste again). This is a good option if you only need a static snapshot of a table and don’t plan to make any changes. 

When you’ve made your selection, click Paste. You’ll see the table appear on your slide. From here, you can manipulate it like other text in Slides. Pull on the corners to move and resize it. Plus, you can select the text and change the font size and style using the menu bar. It’s that easy!

3. Update Linked Sheet Data

If you chose the Link to Spreadsheet option, you’ve ensured that your Google Slides deck will stay in sync with changes made in Google Sheets. All you’ve got to do is follow a few quick steps to keep data updated.

There are two ways to update linked Sheets data. Imagine that you’ve changed some data in Google Sheets and need to show it in Google Slides. 

The first option is to update pasted/linked tables individually. Return to the slide containing your Sheets data table. You’ll notice that a new button has appeared. You’ll find it in the upper right corner of the table. Click Update, and the values refresh to reflect all new data. 

Now, what if you’ve got many tables linked in your Google Slides presentation? Chances are, you don’t want to scroll through the full deck, clicking Update over and over. Fortunately, you don’t have to! You’ll want to use the second option. You can perform a bulk update all at once.

To do this, go to Tools > Linked Objects on the Google Slides menu bar. A sidebar opens on the right side of your screen. At the bottom, click Update All. Every linked table refreshes.

How to Add a Chart From Google Sheets Spreadsheets

We’ve learned how to insert Google Sheets tables into Google Slides. But you can also add Google Sheets charts to Slides! This is a powerful way to visually present data. And just like adding tables, you can avoid the work involved in building the same charts twice. 

Google Slides has a unique way to insert charts from Google Sheets. If you’ve got a Sheets chart built, you can integrate it directly from the spreadsheet. This is a quick and fast way to connect the two apps and share effortlessly. Charts are especially useful in presentations because they’re so visual. They help explain data in a clear and concise way.

To add a chart to Google Slides from Google Sheets, get started by going to Insert > Chart in Google Slides. When you hover over Chart, you’ll see a menu appear with multiple options. A handful of chart styles are listed, but you’ll want the option at the bottom: From Sheets.

A file browser opens, showing the library of files in your Google Sheets collection. Browse to the Sheets file that contains the chart that you want to add. Click on it, then choose Select.

On the Import Chart box, select the appropriate chart. You’ll see a preview thumbnail of it. In the lower right corner, you’ll see a Link to Spreadsheet checkbox. This works the same way as Google Sheets tables.

If you choose to link, you can update to pull in new data if you’ve made a change to your chart. If you don’t check the box, you’ll have a non-dynamic chart that won’t update when changes are made in Google Sheets.

Choose the option that works best for you, and finally, click Import. The chart is inserted into Google Slides. As usual, you can move it around the slide. Or resize by pulling on the corners.

This is a great way to add visual interest to Google Slides, using content and charts you’ve already created in Google Sheets.

How to Add a Screenshot of Spreadsheets

Last but not least, you can add screenshots of spreadsheets into Google Slides. Think of where this might be useful. Of course, you now know how to insert Google Sheets into Google Slides. But imagine that you’re working with data or charts in another spreadsheet app. For example, you may have data in Apple Numbers that you want to share in Google Slides. 

Numbers and Google Slides don’t directly link together. But you can always insert a screenshot from Numbers (or any other spreadsheet app) right into Google Slides. It lets you share spreadsheet data, even if the app you use doesn’t directly link into Google Slides.

To get started, launch another spreadsheet app and capture a screenshot of your data. Here, you can capture numbers, text, charts, and more. Try to focus on smaller areas. If you snapshot too much data, it may be difficult to read on your slides.

A screenshot performs like any other image in Google Slides. Return to Slides and navigate to a slide where you’d like to place your spreadsheet data. Go to Insert > Image > Upload From Computer. Browse to your screenshot, then click Upload. You’ll see the spreadsheet screenshot appear on the slide. As usual, you can click and drag to move the image around. Pull on the corners to resize it.

Of course, a spreadsheet screenshot is completely static. It won’t update if you make changes in the sheet. But this is one way to insert spreadsheet data from any app that you choose to use. Thanks to Google Slides’ image features, it’s fast and easy. 

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Now You Know How to Insert Google Sheets Into Google Slides

You’ve just learned how to put a spreadsheet in Google Slides. With many options for linking data, you can choose one that works best for your project! This is an elegant solution that saves you time and helps impress even the toughest audiences. 

What are you waiting for? Start linking Google Slides and Google Sheets today. It’s the perfect powerful combination for 2023. Download your favorite Elements template and get started.