How to Create a Slideshow: Easy Steps and Free Tools

Note (September 2026): Wondershare VidAir, the online slideshow maker this article originally recommended, closed on June 28, 2023. This guide now explains how to create a slideshow with tools that are still available.

To create a slideshow, choose your photos, open a slideshow tool such as PowerPoint (Insert > Photo Album), Google Slides, Apple Photos or Microsoft Clipchamp, add the pictures in order, set how long each slide shows, add transitions, text and music, then play it or export it as an MP4 video to share.

Key Takeaways

• Every slideshow follows the same steps: pick and order photos, choose an aspect ratio, set timing, add music and text, then export.
• Wondershare VidAir, the online tool this article first recommended, closed on June 28, 2023.
• Wondershare DVD Slideshow Builder Deluxe is still listed by Wondershare, but only for Windows.
• Free options include PowerPoint’s Photo Album, Google Slides, Apple Photos on Mac and Microsoft Clipchamp, which exports up to 1080p free with no watermark.

Most people now have hundreds of phone photos and short clips from birthdays, weddings, trips and work events. A slideshow turns a selection of them into one sequence that plays in order, usually with music, captions and transitions.

A slideshow can be a live presentation (PowerPoint, Google Slides, Keynote) or an exported video file (MP4) that plays anywhere. This guide covers both, starting with the Wondershare tools this article originally described and then the free tools most people already have.

How to Create a Photo Slideshow

When this article was first published in March 2021, it recommended Wondershare VidAir, an online video maker, for creating a slideshow without watermark. According to the VidAir website, access to VidAir products and services ended on June 28, 2023, so the steps below describe how the service worked, not a tool you can still use.

Wondershare DVD Slideshow Maker: Steps to create a slideshow

The process of creating a slideshow with Wondershare’s tools followed four steps: sign up, choose a template, pick an aspect ratio, then edit and export. The same four steps still apply to most online slideshow makers today.

Register yourself on the website

The first step was to sign up for an account on the Wondershare VidAir website. Once registration was complete, the editor opened in the browser. Microsoft Clipchamp, for example, asks you to sign in with a free personal Microsoft account before you start.

VidAir ran entirely online, with no software to install. It is no longer available: the official VidAir site states that the service closed on June 28, 2023, and asked subscribers to contact Wondershare customer service about cancelling renewals or refunds.

No special skills were needed to register or use the editor. Note that the heading above names Wondershare DVD Slideshow Builder, which is a separate Windows desktop program; VidAir was the online service.

Choose a template

Wondershare VidAir offered more than 1,000 templates, according to its website, grouped by purpose, such as YouTube, Instagram and TikTok videos, promos, intros and outros, and slideshows. Choosing a template first gives you a ready-made layout, font set and timing that you then fill with your own photos.

If you want to preview these templates, all you need to do is simply hover your mouse over them. You can also click on the template to extend them and gain information. To use it, press on the Use This Template button and begin your slideshow making work.

The aspect ratio

Choosing the right resolution is crucial when it comes to creating a slideshow. The aspect ratios, which the slideshow has in store are Square (1:1), Wide (16:9), and vertical (9:16). Among the three options, you can choose the one that will suit you well with your needs.

Pick the aspect ratio for where the slideshow will be watched: 16:9 for YouTube, TVs and laptops, 9:16 for vertical phone formats such as TikTok, Reels and Shorts, and 1:1 for square feed posts. Set it before you start editing, because changing it later can crop your photos.

Edit and export your slideshow online

When you have already selected the template and aspect ratio, you can immediately redirect towards the editing page. The editing room is the actual place where all the magic takes place.

The editor combined a timeline, a media library and a preview window. After editing, the finished slideshow was exported as a video file; always watch the full export once before sharing it, to catch cropped faces or text that disappears too quickly.

What makes Wondershare VidAir different?

Many slideshow makers exist, and their features differ, so compare how each one handles text, images, audio and video before you commit to it.

The sections below describe the features Wondershare VidAir offered before it closed in June 2023. Similar features are now found in free tools such as Microsoft Clipchamp, covered later in this guide.

Adding Text

No matter what type of template you choose for your slideshow, each of them will carry its very own text format. You can replace the style of the text and customize it however you wish. There are two types of text formats that you will encounter, Dynamic text and Basic text.

Also, you can easily adjust the text’s duration by manually dragging it on the timeline to decide the point of time it should appear within the footage. With the help of the small tool-bar, you can change the size of the text that you wish to put in without any issues.

Adding Images

When it comes to adding images or photos to your slideshow is pretty convenient with VidAir. All you need to do is press on the Add Photo button, which you will find within the library section. Clicking on it will provide you with a list of royalty-free images from which you can make a selection.

Otherwise, if you want to upload a photo from your device, you can do that as well. Make sure to click on the upload button and choose the photo you want from your device. You can also adjust the image within the timeline so that it blends perfectly with the end footage.

Adding Audio

Wondershare VidAir let you add music or sound effects to a slideshow. Music sets the pace: many editors, including Apple Photos, can fit the length of each slide to the length of the song.

VidAir included a library of royalty-free audio, and some templates came with a soundtrack already built in. If you plan to post a slideshow publicly, use royalty-free or licensed music, because commercial songs can trigger copyright claims on video platforms.

Add Videos

Adding a video to your slideshow is pretty simple and easy. The process of adding a video is similar to how to add text. There is no need to look for the perfect video because VidAir already has many of them in store. All the video footages are royalty-free and are located within the library section.

Choose the video you wish to implement, add it to the timeline, and place it right at the end of the timeline. After that, you will find the video within the preview.

If you don’t want to add the videos provided by VidAir, you have the full freedom to add videos from your device with no issues. All you need to do is press on the upload button and add the videos you prefer.

Reasons to opt for the Wondershare Slideshow Builder

Wondershare DVD Slideshow Builder Deluxe is a separate Windows desktop program that is still listed on Wondershare’s website as of September 2026. It turns photos and video clips into slideshows that can be burned to DVD or saved as video files. These are its main features, checked against Wondershare’s official product page.

Comes in two modes

DVD Slideshow Builder Deluxe has two modes: Standard and Advanced.

Standard mode builds a slideshow quickly from ready-made movie styles. Advanced mode unlocks detailed customization of effects, text and timing for each slide.

The movie styles

When you want to give your slideshow a Hollywood-style feel, you can do so through the various movie styles this software has in store. All these movie styles are pre installed within the software, and you do not have to do it separately.

The program includes zoom effects and transitions for a more polished result. Wondershare’s product page lists more than 480 movie styles, formerly paid packs now included free, while 3D styles are excluded from that offer.

Transition effects and text effects

If the premade movie styles do not suit a project, you can build the slideshow yourself from individual effects. Wondershare’s product page lists more than 130 2D and 3D transitions.

Transitions can be inserted between any two photos or clips. Alongside them, the software includes more than 30 premade text effects for titles and captions.

When you want to add some special words or make the entire slideshow captivating and meaningful, the text and transition effects will help you.

The ability to edit

Basic slideshow tools often lack photo editing, so a crooked or badly framed picture has to be fixed in a separate app first.

You will not experience something like this when you use the Wondershare slideshow builder. Why? It’s because this software comes with editing options and will allow you to make all the necessary changes to the photo.

You will come across many editing features, such as rotate, crop, and adding filters. With these editing features, you can enhance the look for the photos or images quickly and efficiently.

Share it with everyone

Once the slideshow is finished, you can burn it to DVD or export it as a video file. Wondershare lists direct YouTube upload and export in formats such as MP4, AVI and MOV, which can then be posted on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Most modern slideshow tools can also export MP4 for social media, so this is no longer unusual, and no tool can guarantee an error-free upload. Wondershare lists output profiles for devices such as iPhone, iPad and Xbox. The official page lists Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista and XP as supported systems and mentions no Mac version, so Mac users should use Apple Photos or another Mac tool instead.

Final Words

Wondershare DVD Slideshow Builder Deluxe remains an option for Windows users who want to burn slideshows to DVD, while Wondershare VidAir closed in June 2023.

For most people, a free built-in tool is enough: PowerPoint’s Photo Album on Windows, Apple Photos on a Mac, Google Slides in a browser, or Microsoft Clipchamp when you need a finished MP4 video.

How to Create a Slideshow With Free Tools

The tools below are free or already installed on most computers. Menu names are taken from each maker’s official help pages as of September 2026.

How do you make a photo slideshow in PowerPoint?

PowerPoint’s Photo Album feature creates a new presentation with one or more photos per slide. Microsoft lists it for PowerPoint for Microsoft 365, 2024, 2021, 2019 and 2016.

1. Go to Insert, click the arrow under Photo Album, then New Photo Album.
2. Under Insert picture from, click File/Disk, select your photos and click Insert.
3. Reorder the pictures with the arrow buttons.
4. Under Album Layout, choose a Picture layout (for example, four photos per slide) and a Frame shape. Tick Captions below ALL pictures if you want captions.
5. Click Create.

How do you turn a PowerPoint slideshow into a video?

PowerPoint can save any presentation as a video. Select File > Export > Create a video, pick a quality, choose whether to use recorded timings, enter the seconds to spend on each slide, then save as MPEG-4 Video, which Microsoft recommends for the best compatibility.

How do you make a slideshow play automatically in Google Slides?

Google Slides runs in a web browser. To auto-advance while presenting, click Slideshow in the top right, then at the bottom choose Options > Auto advance options and pick a speed. Google notes that you need to set this again each time you present. For a slideshow that plays and loops by itself from a link, use File > Publish to the web, set the auto-advance time and tick the options to start as soon as the player loads and restart after the last slide.

How do you make a slideshow on a Mac?

Apple Photos has two options. For a quick slideshow, select photos and choose File > Play Slideshow, then customize the transition, duration, music and loop. For a saved project, select photos and choose File > Create > Slideshow > Photos, pick New Slideshow and name it. You can then choose a theme (which sets fonts, text position and transitions), add music, set the duration to Fit to Music or a custom length, and export the finished project.

How do you make a slideshow video on Windows?

Microsoft Clipchamp is Microsoft’s video editor. Microsoft announced it was buying Clipchamp on September 7, 2021, and added it to Windows 11 test builds on March 9, 2022. According to Clipchamp’s pricing page, the free plan exports videos at up to 1080p with no watermark, while premium features, including 4K export and premium stock assets, come with Microsoft 365 Personal and Family plans. It works well for slideshows because you can drag photos onto a timeline, add music and text, and export an MP4.

Which Slideshow Maker Should You Use?

Tips for a Better Slideshow

• Choose fewer, better photos. Remove near-duplicates and blurry shots before you import.
• Put them in a clear order, usually by date or by the story you want to tell.
• Set the aspect ratio first: 16:9 for TVs and YouTube, 9:16 for vertical phone video, 1:1 for square posts.
• Keep captions short so they can be read before the slide changes.
• Use one transition style throughout; mixing many effects looks busy.
• Use music you are allowed to use if you will post the slideshow online.

For more on the software side, see this guide to the best video editing software for Windows and this review of Wondershare Filmora, Wondershare’s main video editor. To tidy your pictures first, try one of these online photo editing sites. If your slideshow is for a talk rather than a video, these tips to create a successful presentation and PowerPoint design templates for teachers will help.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the easiest way to create a slideshow?

The easiest way to create a slideshow is to use a tool you already have: Apple Photos on a Mac (File > Play Slideshow), PowerPoint’s Insert > Photo Album on Windows, or Google Slides in any browser. Each can turn a folder of photos into a slideshow in a few minutes.

Is Wondershare VidAir still available?

No. Wondershare VidAir closed on June 28, 2023, according to a notice on its website. Wondershare DVD Slideshow Builder Deluxe, a separate Windows program, is still listed on Wondershare’s site.

Can I make a slideshow without a watermark for free?

Yes. Microsoft Clipchamp’s free plan exports videos at up to 1080p with no watermark, according to its pricing page, and PowerPoint, Apple Photos and Google Slides do not add watermarks.

How do I add music to a slideshow?

In Apple Photos, click the Music button in a slideshow project and choose a song. Microsoft Clipchamp includes a library of royalty-free music and sound effects that you can add to a slideshow video, according to its pricing page.

How do I save a slideshow as a video?

In PowerPoint, choose File > Export > Create a video and save it as MPEG-4. Apple Photos can export a slideshow project, and Clipchamp exports MP4 video directly.

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