Disclosure: we make SofaDeck, which is one of the options below. Facts about other products were checked on 16 October 2026 and can change.
Google Slides runs in a browser, so the clicker question is really "what can press the arrow keys on the laptop from across the room?". A USB clicker can, and so can your phone. Here is what works, the keys Slides listens for, and the one key that catches people out.
The keys Google Slides understands
| Action | Key while presenting |
|---|---|
| Start presenting | Ctrl+F5 (Windows) or Cmd+Enter (Mac); Ctrl+Shift+F5 from the start |
| Next slide | Right arrow, Space or Page Down |
| Previous slide | Left arrow or Page Up |
| First / last slide | Home / End |
| Black / white screen | B / W |
| Stop presenting | Esc |
Plain F5 reloads the page in Chrome and Edge instead of starting the show. Many clickers and the PowerPoint-style "Start show" button send F5, so start a Google Slides show with the Slideshow button or Ctrl+F5, then use the clicker.
Option 1: your phone as the clicker
SofaDeck turns your phone into a page of big buttons over the room's Wi-Fi. Nothing is installed on the phone, so a borrowed phone works too. The free Presentation template is built for this:
- Install SofaDeck on the laptop that runs the presentation and pair your phone (scan the QR code, type the PIN).
- Tap Edit, then ✨ Templates, and pick Presentation.
- Open the deck in Chrome or Edge on the laptop and start presenting with the Slideshow button (or Ctrl+F5).
- Use Next and Previous on the phone; Black screen hides the slide, End show exits.
If the show isn't running yet, the phone's trackpad screen (Windows) lets you click Slideshow on the laptop without walking over. With Pro ($9.99 once) you can add a Ctrl+Shift+F5 "Present from start" button and keep the Presentation page next to your normal deck.
Direct installer .exe · 3.7 MB Store version signed by Microsoft No account Local network only Signed updates SofaDeck installs on your Windows PC. Your phone is the remote — it works in the phone’s browser.One email from support@dixonappstudio.com. No list unless you tick the box. PrivacyOr on your PC, go to sofadeck.com/getOption 2: a USB presentation clicker
A clicker with a USB receiver needs no software and no Wi-Fi, has real buttons you can press without looking, and often a laser pointer. For conference rooms with locked-down guest Wi-Fi, it's the safer bet. See presentation clickers on Amazon.
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Option 3: the Google Slides app
The Google Slides phone app can present a deck itself, or put it on a TV with casting. It doesn't remote-control a show that's already running in the laptop's browser, so for the usual "laptop on the projector, you at the front" setup, use a clicker or a phone remote.
Before you present
- Test the remote on the room's network: some guest Wi-Fi blocks devices from seeing each other. A phone hotspot for both works too.
- Turn off laptop sleep and notifications for the length of the talk.
- Keep the phone's screen awake (or set a longer auto-lock) so the deck doesn't disconnect.
Presenting from PowerPoint instead? See use your phone as a presentation remote. Also useful: a one-tap Teams and Zoom mute button.
Frequently asked questions
Can I control Google Slides from my phone?
Yes. A phone remote that sends arrow keys to the laptop works with Google Slides in the browser: right arrow for the next slide, left for the previous one. SofaDeck's free Presentation page does this from the phone's browser with no app.
Do presentation clickers work with Google Slides?
Yes. A USB presentation clicker acts as a keyboard and sends Page Down/Page Up or arrow keys, which Google Slides accepts while presenting. Some clickers' extra buttons (like black screen) send keys Slides doesn't use.
How do I start a Google Slides presentation with the keyboard?
Press Ctrl+F5 on Windows (Cmd+Enter on a Mac) to present from the current slide, or Ctrl+Shift+F5 to start from the beginning. Plain F5 reloads the browser page, so don't use it.
Can I black out the screen in Google Slides?
Yes. While presenting, press B for a black screen or W for a white one, and press the same key again to come back.