How to Make a Slideshow on Google Photos? Desktop & Mobile Guides

Want to showcase your best moments in a smooth, flowing slideshow? Google Photos provides an easy way to do so. We will discuss how to make a slideshow with Google Photos on desktop and mobile and recommend the well-known tool CapCut as an alternative.

CapCut
CapCut
Apr 14, 2025
56 min(s)

Making a slideshow on Google Photos is a simple yet effective way to showcase your memories. This article discusses how to make a slideshow on Google Photos using desktop and mobile and the top 5 best slideshow ideas, like travel, behind-the-scenes, and wedding slideshows. CapCut is the best alternative to Google Photos for creating slideshows due to its advanced editing features, like smooth transitions, and rich creative elements, like text effects, filters, and stickers. Reading and exploring the ways to create eye-catching slideshows!

Table of content
  1. Google Photos: A brief introduction
  2. How to create a slideshow from Google Photos on mobile
  3. How to make a slideshow with Google Photos on desktop
  4. CapCut: The best alternative to Google Photos for creating slideshows
  5. Bonus: 5 best slideshow ideas you should know
  6. Conclusion
  7. FAQs

Google Photos: A brief introduction

Google Photos is a cloud-based platform that lets users store, organize, and edit photos and videos. It is an easy way to create slideshows with basic customization, making it ideal for quick presentations. Let's look at the top benefits of making a slideshow with Google Photos:

  • Automatic slideshow creation: Google Photos can quickly generate an attractive slideshow from selected moments or albums, saving you time. This makes it perfect for making quick memories without manual effort.
  • Seamless cloud integration: Making slideshows on Google Photos is beneficial due to cloud features allowing access from any device without manual transfers. You can start a slideshow on your phone and continue it on your desktop using the cloud integration.
  • Basic playback controls: You can easily pause or skip through slides for a more seamless experience. This allows you to view images at your own pace without any interruptions.
  • AI-powered photo selection: A significant benefit of making slideshows on Google Photos is that it suggests the best shots using AI, allowing you to create appealing slideshows easily. It filters blurry or low-resolution images, keeping only the best ones.
  • Easy sharing options: Google Photos allows you to share your slideshows directly through a link, Google Drive, or social media for quick collaboration. Friends and family members can easily download them without needing extra apps.

How to create a slideshow from Google Photos on mobile

    STEP 1
  1. Open Google Photos and select "Animation"

First, open the Google Photos app on your phone and tap the "+" symbol at the top-right corner. From the drop-down menu, select "Animation."

    STEP 2
  1. Select the images

To select the images, tap on the images you want to include in your slideshow. Once you've done this, click "Create" at the top-right corner of the screen.

    STEP 3
  1. Share your slideshow

Once you click the create option, the slideshow will automatically be made. You can then share the slideshow on different social media platforms.

Creating a slideshow from Google Photos on mobile

How to make a slideshow with Google Photos on desktop

Way 1: Make a simple slideshow with Google Photos

    STEP 1
  1. Open Google Photos and create an album

To make a slideshow on Google Photos, go to the Google Photos website on your web browser. From the left-hand panel, select "Albums." Click "Create album" and add photos.

Open Google Photos and create an album
    STEP 2
  1. Select the photos for the slideshow

Open the album that you created. Then, click on the images that you want to include in your slideshow. After that, click the "Done" option in the top-right corner.

Select the photos for the slideshow
    STEP 3
  1. Access the slideshow option

Click on the selected image to open it. Then, click on the three-dot menu in the top-right corner. From the drop-down menu, select "Slideshow." The slideshow will now start playing automatically, playing in full-screen mode, automatically transitioning between the images.

Access the slideshow option

Way 2: Make a slideshow with music in Google Photos

    STEP 1
  1. Create a movie project in Google Photos

To begin with, open Google Photos and click the "+" symbol on the top-right corner and choose the "Highlight video" option.

Create a movie project in Google Photos
    STEP 2
  1. Customize the slideshow settings

Next, choose a theme or select "Create your own video." Next, click the photos or videos you want in your slideshow and arrange them in your preferred order. Once done, click the "Create" option in the top-right corner. Tap the music note icon. Then, choose from Google Photo's built-in tracks or upload your music for a more personal touch.

Customize the slideshow settings
    STEP 3
  1. Preview and save the slideshow

Click the "Save" option to watch your slideshow. The movie will then automatically be saved in your Google Drive. You can also share it on different social media platforms.

Preview and save the slideshow

Google Photos is an effective tool for creating slideshows. However, its main limitation is that it lacks advanced editing features, such as transitions and visual effects. If you want to create slideshows with advanced editing features, choose CapCut.

CapCut: The best alternative to Google Photos for creating slideshows

CapCut is a versatile video editing software and a great alternative to Google Photos for creating slideshows. It offers many customization options, like video transitions, for a smooth flow between photos. You can also enhance your videos with rich creative elements, like text effects, filters, and effects. The software also offers royalty-free music and sound effects to improve your slideshow's appeal.

Download CapCut today and use its advanced editing features to create compelling slideshows.

Key features

  • Rich creative elements: CapCut provides many elements to enrich slideshows, including stickers, effects, and filters.
  • Smooth transitions: You can use CapCut's transition effects to add smooth video transitions between the photos for a professional-looking slideshow.
  • Music and beat sync: CapCut provides an extensive copyright-free music library for you to add background music to your slideshows.

Steps to use CapCut to create slideshows

    STEP 1
  1. Import the image/video

To begin with, open CapCut and start a new project. Next, click "Import" and select the images or videos you want to include in your slideshow. Rearrange the photos in your desired order and use the trimming tool to adjust the duration of each photo.

Importing the image/video in CapCut
    STEP 2
  1. Edit the slideshow

Once your media is imported, it's time to edit the slideshow. Select the "Transitions" option from the top-left corner to add smooth transitions between the photos. You can also enhance your slideshow with filters, effects, or stickers by selecting them from the top-left toolbar. Click the "Audio" option and add royalty-free music and sound effects to your video.

Editing the slideshow in CapCut
    STEP 3
  1. Export the slideshow

Once you've made the edits, click "Export" in the top-right corner and select your desired format and resolution. Select a resolution of 2K or higher and click "Export" to save the slideshow to your PC. Once exported, you can share it directly on platforms like YouTube and TikTok.

Exporting the slideshow in CapCut

Bonus: 5 best slideshow ideas you should know

  • Travel slideshow

Capture your travel memories by creating slideshows that capture your best photos and videos. Use smooth transitions and add upbeat music for a more interactive experience. Highlight the important moments, from beautiful landscapes to fun activities, to relive your travel moments.

CapCut offers a royalty-free music library and transition effects to enhance your travel videos.

Travel slideshow
  • Wedding slideshow

Create a wedding slideshow to highlight the moments from your wedding day. Add soft transitions and emotional background music to blend with the video's mood. To make your slideshows meaningful, use text overlays with emotional messages.

CapCut's "Romantic" filters and text animations allow you to create a cinematic wedding slideshow.

Wedding slideshow
  • Graduation slideshow

Highlight the journey of academic success by making a graduation slideshow featuring group photos, school memories, and graduation day celebrations. Add uplifting music and inspirational quotes from famous people to make the slideshow memorable.

CapCut's extensive copyright-free music library and text animation effects allow you to create appealing graduation videos.

Graduation slideshow
  • Behind-the-scenes slideshow

Make behind-the-scenes slideshows to give your audience a peek into the making of a project or event. Combine funny bloopers and raw footage with engaging captions. Use fast-paced tracks to make it more dynamic and fun.

CapCut's music library offers fast-paced tracks and funny sound effects. You can also use the software's trimming tool to adjust each photo's duration for fast-paced effects.

Behind-the-scenes slideshow
  • Family slideshow

Cherish the best family moments by creating a slideshow featuring celebrations, reunions, or everyday fun. Use warm filters, heartfelt text, and nostalgic music to make the slideshows appealing and unforgettable. CapCut's "Vintage" effects and "Nostalgic" music enhance the nostalgic feel of the memories.

Family slideshow

Conclusion

Google Photos allows you to create slideshows with features like automatic slideshow creation, cloud storage, and AI-powered photo selection. This article discussed how to make a slideshow on Google Photos using desktop and mobile. Although Google Photos is practical for creating slideshows, its main limitation is that it doesn't contain advanced editing features. So, if you want to use advanced editing features, choose CapCut. Whether you are making wedding, travel, or graduation slideshows, CapCut's features, like transitions, filters, effects, and an extensive music library, allow you to create appealing slideshows. Download CapCut today and bring your creative slideshow ideas to life.

FAQs

    1
  1. Can I rearrange photos in Google Photos slideshow?

No, Google Photos doesn't allow you to rearrange the Photos once a slideshow starts. However, you can make an album and arrange the photos in your desired order before starting a slideshow. This lets you control the sequence. For complete control over photo arrangement and duration, choose CapCut. It allows you to manually rearrange the photos and adjust their duration for a smooth flow.

    2
  1. Is there a way to control slideshow speed in Google Photos?

No, Google Photos doesn't offer a way to control the slideshow speed. The timings are set automatically and can't be adjusted manually. If you need more control over how long each photo appears in the slideshow, you will need an advanced video editor like CapCut. It allows you to adjust the duration of each image by using the trimming tool.

    3
  1. Is there a length limit for making slideshows in Google Photos?

No, Google Photos doesn't specify a length limit for making slideshows. However, the playback mainly depends on the number of photos and their resolution. Large albums can cause slow playback or performance issues. If you need to create longer slides with more advanced editing features, choose CapCut, which offers features like transition, filters, and effects to enhance your slideshows.