How to Make Google Slides Readable with Helperbird
Learn how to turn on the Helperbird beta setting that makes a view-only Google Slides deck readable, so fonts, rulers, colors and read aloud all work on it.
Jump to the stepsOn this page7 sections
The Problem This Solves
The Slides editor draws slide text differently from ordinary webpages. To read that text, use Screenshot Reader or the Google Workspace add-on. Helperbird’s notice links to More information about these options.
With this on, opening a supported view-only deck switches you to an HTML version of the same deck. Reading tools work directly in that view, so Helperbird no longer shows the add-on notice.
This is a beta feature, so it is still being worked on.
Who is This For?
This is helpful for:
- Students sent lecture slides as a view-only link
- Anyone who needs slides read aloud or in a different font
- People revising from a deck rather than a document
Step 1: Turn It On
Beta features live on the settings page. Open Helperbird, open Options, choose Settings, and scroll to Beta features. See how to use beta features for the full route.
View full-size image (opens in a new tab)Readable Google Slides is on by default for new settings. Turn it on if you previously disabled it.
Step 2: Open a Deck
Open a Google Slides preview link. A shared deck can say “View only” while its address still contains /edit; Helperbird leaves that editor view unchanged.
If your link contains /edit, replace /edit and everything after it with /preview in your browser’s address bar, then press Enter. Keep the deck ID before it unchanged. For example, https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/DECK_ID/edit?slide=... becomes https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/DECK_ID/preview.
This changes only the view you open, not the deck or its sharing permissions. Helperbird switches the supported preview to a readable page, where your fonts, rulers, colors and read aloud can work with the slide text. Published or embedded links containing /presentation/d/e/ are not converted.
To get back to the slides as they were designed, press your browser's Back button. To stop future conversions, turn Readable Google Slides off and reopen the original preview link.
Presentation Mode
While Readable Google Slides is on, expand More options. Turn on Also use in presentations if you want presentation links to open in the text view too. This extra switch is off by default.
Turn it on and full-screen presentations switch to the readable view too. It is off by default for a good reason: it changes the deck while you are presenting it, which is rarely what you want in front of a room.
What It Never Changes
Editor links containing /edit stay unchanged, whether you have editing access or see “View only”. Helperbird does not edit the deck or change its sharing permissions. Preview links can open the readable view even for decks you own.
View full-size image (opens in a new tab)Need Additional Help?
If you have any questions or run into any issues, please contact the Helperbird support team. You can reach us at Helperbird support. We are happy to help you get the most out of Helperbird.
Printed from the Helperbird Help Center · Updated October 26th, 2026
Questions? We are happy to help — helperbird.com/support