how to unhide a slide in google slides

2 min read 01-02-2025

So, you've accidentally hidden a slide in your Google Slides presentation and now you're frantically searching for a way to get it back? Don't worry, it's a common mistake, and thankfully, unhiding a slide is a straightforward process. This guide will walk you through several methods, ensuring you can quickly restore your hidden slides and get back to creating your presentation.

Understanding Hidden Slides in Google Slides

Before diving into the solutions, let's clarify what a "hidden" slide actually means in Google Slides. A hidden slide is essentially a slide that's been temporarily removed from the presentation's view. It's not deleted; it's simply hidden from the main presentation flow. This is incredibly useful for organizing your work, preparing for different presentation versions, or temporarily removing sections during editing. The content remains intact, waiting to be revealed whenever you need it.

Methods to Unhide Slides in Google Slides

There are several ways to unhide a slide. Here’s a breakdown of the most effective methods:

Method 1: Using the Slides Navigation Panel

This is the most straightforward and commonly used method.

Open your Google Slides presentation.
Locate the Slides navigation panel. This is usually found on the left-hand side of the screen. If you can't see it, click the "three vertical dots" (More Options) icon in the top right corner of your slides interface and check if "Show Slides Panel" is selected.
Identify the hidden slide. Hidden slides are usually indicated by a small eye icon with a diagonal line through it.
Click the checkbox next to the hidden slide to unhide it. The eye icon will reappear without the diagonal line, signifying the slide is now visible.

Method 2: Utilizing the "Edit" Menu

This method provides an alternative approach if you prefer keyboard navigation or menu-driven actions.

Open your Google Slides presentation.
Go to the "Edit" menu located at the top of the screen.
Select "Undo." If you've recently hidden the slide, this simple action might reinstate it. This works best immediately after hiding the slide.

Method 3: Using the "Show Hidden Slides" Feature (for Multiple Hidden Slides)

This approach is particularly helpful if you've hidden multiple slides and want to quickly unhide them all at once. While this option isn’t explicitly labeled, its effect is the same. Essentially, by unhiding one hidden slide, the others will also become visible.

Locate a hidden slide using the method outlined in Method 1.
Unhide the slide. By unhiding just one, all hidden slides reappear in the navigation panel.

Troubleshooting Tips

Check your presentation's version: If you've been collaborating on the presentation, check if someone else might have hidden the slide unintentionally or if you're working with an older version.
Review your undo history: Google Slides keeps track of your actions. If the “Undo” function doesn’t work immediately, exploring your undo history might bring the slide back.
Consider a "copy/paste" workaround: In the rare case that the other methods fail, you could try copying the content from a backup (if available) and pasting it onto a new slide. This is a last resort, as it involves recreating the formatting and layout.

By following these steps, you should be able to effortlessly unhide any slides in your Google Slides presentation. Remember that hidden slides are a powerful organizational tool, so don't hesitate to use them to streamline your workflow. If you continue to experience difficulties, contact Google Slides support for further assistance.