How to translate Google Slides in 3 easy steps

If you’re creating Google Slides presentations for international audiences, you may be surprised to learn the program doesn’t have a native translation feature. 

Manually copying presentation text into Google Translate can provide a quick fix, but this solution is tedious and error-prone at enterprise scale. Fortunately, third-party plugins and translation tools can translate Google Slides presentations accurately and efficiently.

In this guide, we’ll explain how to translate Google Slides efficiently, identify the challenges of translating presentations on Google Slides, and list the most helpful third-party Slides translators.

Common challenges of translating Google Slides

Translation in Google Slides presents many challenges. Here are the most common roadblocks:

Google Slides doesn’t feature a native translation tool

Google Translate is one of the world’s most commonly used machine translation (MT) tools, but there’s no native integration for Google Slides.

To translate slides with Google Translate, you must manually copy and paste your text into the text box of Google Translate in a separate tab or window. This method requires you to re-format the slides for each translation and constantly switch between tools. 

Free third-party add-ons have limits to translation

Add-ons such as “Translate My Slide” or “Slides Translator” can facilitate the translation process within Google Slides. Still, they come with limitations, such as translating only one text box at a time and limiting the file size of your presentations.

In addition, many add-ons only utilize Google Translate’s machine translation tool, meaning you’re stuck with this engine’s shortcomings and unable to customize localization efforts.

Third-party add-ons introduce privacy concerns

The content you submit for translation in third-party apps may be stored and used to improve the service, potentially exposing your sensitive information.

3 methods to translate Google Slides

Now that you’re familiar with the difficulties of translating Google Slides, you can make an informed decision about your translation solution. Here are three translation tools that can speed up the process:

Smartling

Smartling provides comprehensive translation services at scale to global businesses of all sizes. Our solutions utilize numerous machine translation engines, so you get the highest quality translations in your localized internal documents and consumer-facing content. 

Smartling’s Google Drive Connector is the best option for efficiently translating Google Slides and documents. It simplifies the process by linking your Google Drive to Smartling’s platform. All you have to do is set up the connection and share your presentations in the proper folders. Smartling takes care of the rest, allowing you to authorize decks of any size for translation from within the Smartling platform. Translations are automatically sent back to Google Drive once complete.

Most slideshow translation services rely exclusively on machine translation, which may not capture all the nuances of your messaging. Smartling offers various translation methods—human, AI, hybrid, and MT—ensuring an option that fits your budget and quality standards. No matter which approach you choose, your company’s translation memory, glossary, and style guide are all incorporated into the translation process alongside rigorous quality control, preserving your unique brand voice across languages.

Slides Translator

Slides Translator is a widely used third-party add-on for Google Slides and Google Docs. This tool works by translating selected text boxes rather than whole slides. It offers control over what gets translated, but it can be time-consuming when translating text-heavy presentations.

In addition, Slides Translator doesn’t currently support custom glossaries or style guides, making it less appealing for business use cases, where niche terminology and branded language are key. The free version only translates 200-slides, which isn’t ideal for large presentations or batch translations.

To use the Slides Translator, visit the Google marketplace page and add it to your Google account. After installation, open Google Slides and navigate to Extensions > Slides Translator > Translate Text Box. Select the text to translate, choose your target language, and apply the translation.

Translate My Slide

Translate My Slide is another add-on that works within Google Slides. This slide translation tool is better at bulk translations, allowing users to translate an entire slide at once rather than individual text boxes.

Still, it doesn’t support the translation of entire presentations at once, and the free version includes a daily translation quota. Like Slides Translator, it doesn’t support custom linguistic assets, such as translation memory, glossaries, and style guides.

The process for using Translate My Slide is similar to that of Slides Translator. Start by visiting the Google marketplace and installing the program. Follow the prompts to grant permissions. Once installed, open your Google Slides presentation and go to Extensions > Translate My Slide > Start a new translation. Select your languages, then click “Translate” to begin.

How to translate a Google Slides presentation in 3 easy steps

If you’re wondering how to translate Google Slides to Spanish—or any other language—Smartling’s Google Drive connector makes it simple. Here’s how to translate your presentations quickly and easily:

1. Create source files in Google Drive

First, create a source folder in your Google Drive to store your Google Slide presentations. Connect the Google Drive folder with Smartling’s service account, then place Google Slide presentations into that folder when they’re ready for translation.

2. Set up the translation project in Smartling

Next, create a new project in Smartling. Select the source folder and the destination folder in your Google Drive. Translated copies of your presentations will go in the destination folder. Configure the languages you want your files translated into.

3. Request translations

Now, you can request translations within Smartling’s translation hub. Select the desired presentation, click “Actions,” and choose “Request Translation.” A popup window will prompt you to name the job and select the target language. Smartling takes over once you authorize the translation, automatically delivering the translated text back to your Google Drive.

FAQs

Can I translate my presentation into different languages like Spanish, French, or German?

Using integrations like Smartling, Slides Translator, or Translate My Slide, you can translate presentations into multiple languages. These tools work within Google Slides, and each supports over 100 languages. Smartling stands out from the rest with support for over 450 languages.

Are translations 100% accurate when using these integrations?

Automated translations may not always be precise. Context, idioms, and technical terms might be lost or altered when using a purely MT approach. Users should review translated text boxes manually or have them checked by a professional translator to avoid errors.

Fortunately, Smartling accounts for this by offering a human review step to ensure accuracy. Alternatively, you can use our advanced AI solutions, which come with a satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not happy with a translation, we’ll redo it at no extra cost.

Can I translate images in Google Slides?

Google Slides doesn’t translate text inside images, but some third-party translation services do, such as Slides Translator.

Are there tools to translate my Google Slides for free?

Free options like Slides Translator and Translate My Slide can translate text within your presentation. Alternatively, you can copy and paste text into Google Translate and reinsert it manually.

How can I maintain formatting for multiple languages?

To maintain the formatting:

• Use fonts that support all target languages and apply the same font and size as the original text.
• Adjust text boxes after translation to fit longer words in languages like German.
• Keep slide layouts flexible and avoid tight text placements.

Elevate your marketing materials with Smartling

You need a professional translation service to gain the trust of international audiences and connect with business partners in their native language. Simple errors in translations can lead to misunderstandings and lost opportunities, whether they appear in emails, marketing copy, or presentations.

Not sure where to start with your global marketing tactics? Our eBook, the “Ultimate Guide to Translating Your Marketing Materials,” explains how to translate specific marketing content types, identifying unique considerations and the best tools to get started.

Don’t let poor translations slow you down. Communicate with confidence and make a lasting impact worldwide.