5 Best Ways to Count Words in Google Slides

 Google Slides is a powerful tool for creating presentations, but it lacks a built-in word count feature like Google Docs or Microsoft Word. If you need to count words in a presentation, whether for academic, business, or creative purposes, there are several methods to do so efficiently. This article will guide you through the five best ways to count words in Google Slides, ensuring you can analyze your content with ease.

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Why Count Words in Google Slides?

Before diving into the methods, let's understand why word count matters in Google Slides:

• Time Management – Helps in estimating presentation duration.
• Clarity & Conciseness – Ensures slides are not overloaded with text.
• Word Limits – Essential for school projects, pitches, or competitions with strict word count requirements.
• SEO & Readability – Important for digital presentations that will be shared online.

Since Google Slides doesn’t provide a native word count tool, you’ll need alternative approaches. Below are the most effective methods.

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1. Copy-Pasting Into Google Docs (Fastest & Easiest Method)

How This Works:

Google Docs has a built-in word counter, making it an excellent workaround for Google Slides.

Steps to Follow:

1. Open your Google Slides presentation.
2. Select all text on a slide (Ctrl + A on Windows or Cmd + A on Mac).
3. Copy the text (Ctrl + C or Cmd + C).
4. Open Google Docs in a new tab.
5. Paste the copied text into a new document (Ctrl + V or Cmd + V).
6. Click Tools > Word count (or press Ctrl + Shift + C).
7. A pop-up will show the total word count.

Pros & Cons:

✅ Quick and requires no additional tools.
✅ Free and easy for occasional word counts.
❌ Time-consuming if you have many slides.
❌ Does not automatically update when you edit slides.

Best for: Occasional users who need a simple way to count words without installing anything.

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2. Using a Word Counter Website (No Copy-Pasting Needed)

How This Works:

Word counter websites allow you to upload your Google Slides file and get an instant word count.

Steps to Follow:

1. Go to a reliable online word counter or similar tool.
2. Download your Google Slides file as a .txt file:
   • Click File > Download > Plain Text (.txt).
3. Upload the .txt file to the word counter website.
4. The tool will display the total word count.

Pros & Cons:

✅ No manual copy-pasting required.
✅ Works well for long presentations.
✅ Some tools also count characters and sentences.
❌ May not recognize text in images or special elements.
❌ Requires an internet connection.

Best for: Users who frequently need word counts and prefer an automated approach.

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3. Using Google Apps Script (Automated Word Counting)

How This Works:

Google Apps Script is a built-in coding tool in Google Workspace that lets you create scripts to automate tasks like word counting.

Steps to Follow:

1. Open your Google Slides presentation.

2. Click Extensions > Apps Script.

3. Delete any pre-filled code and paste the following script:

   javascript
   function countWordsInSlides() {
       var presentation = SlidesApp.getActivePresentation();
       var slides = presentation.getSlides();
       var totalWords = 0;
       
       for (var i = 0; i < slides.length; i++) {
           var slideText = slides[i].getShapes().map(shape => shape.getText().asString()).join(" ");
           totalWords += slideText.split(/\s+/).filter(word => word.length > 0).length;
       }
       
       Logger.log("Total Word Count: " + totalWords);
   }
   

4. Click the Run button (play icon).

5. Check the Execution Log in the Apps Script editor for the total word count.

Pros & Cons:

✅ Fully automated, no manual work.
✅ Works directly inside Google Slides.
✅ Counts words across all slides.
❌ Requires basic coding knowledge.
❌ Cannot count words in images.

Best for: Tech-savvy users who want an efficient, built-in word counting solution.

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4. Exporting to Microsoft Word (Best for Large Presentations)

How This Works:

By exporting your Google Slides as a Microsoft Word document, you can use Word’s built-in word counter.

Steps to Follow:

1. Open your Google Slides presentation.
2. Click File > Download > Microsoft PowerPoint (.pptx).
3. Open the file in Microsoft PowerPoint.
4. Click File > Export > Create Handouts > Microsoft Word.
5. Choose Notes next to slides (to include all text).
6. Open the Word document and check the word count (Ctrl + Shift + G).

Pros & Cons:

✅ Great for long presentations.
✅ Maintains text formatting.
✅ Word provides detailed analytics like character count.
❌ Requires Microsoft Office.
❌ Extra steps involved.

Best for: Users with large presentations who already use Microsoft Word.

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5. Using an Add-on (Fully Integrated Solution)

How This Works:

Some Google Slides add-ons provide word count features directly within the platform.

Steps to Follow:

1. Open Google Slides.
2. Click Extensions > Add-ons > Get add-ons.
3. Search for a tool like Doc Tools or Word Counter Plus.
4. Install the add-on and follow the on-screen instructions.
5. Use the add-on’s word count feature to analyze your slides.

Pros & Cons:

✅ Directly works inside Google Slides.
✅ No need to switch between applications.
✅ Some add-ons offer advanced analytics.
❌ May require a subscription.
❌ Some add-ons may not be reliable.

Best for: Users who frequently count words and want an integrated, hassle-free solution.

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Final Thoughts: Which Method Should You Use?

Each method has its strengths, depending on your needs:

Method	Best For	Ease of Use	Accuracy	Automation
Copy-Pasting to Google Docs	Quick one-time word counts	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	❌
Online Word Counter	Users who prefer automatic counting	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	✅
Google Apps Script	Tech-savvy users	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	✅
Exporting to Microsoft Word	Large presentations	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	✅
Using an Add-on	Frequent users	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	✅

If you need a quick and free solution, copy-pasting into Google Docs is the best method. If you want an automated approach, try an add-on or Google Apps Script. For large presentations, exporting to Microsoft Word is ideal.

By using these methods, you can efficiently count words in Google Slides and optimize your presentations for clarity, conciseness, and engagement. Count Everything Count Everything Count Everything Count Everything https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vRYFqJPfZDwoChE3f9XFfQ4DxSm2Gbrga5ZpB9_EnYKIAZ1-iq9ms5V6ek_LOGRa3ImdhEa4g2KMICT/pubhtml https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRc0YkfOLttdowcIAbM6edhnXGGSsDg8JVSyaSMv607RBZYz1jkt4D1cmggcsAZgK5nUNN0Fsot9DeB/pub