Think twice before using "Beautify this Slide"
You may have noticed a new feature appearing in Google Slides recently: the Beautify this slide button. The latest edition of University of Minnesota's
Accessibility Issues
Loss of Reading Order: Because the slide becomes one flat image, screen readers cannot identify titles or the logical order of elements.
Broken Links: Any URLs or linked text on the slide become unclickable.
Alt-Text Issues: Existing alt-text on individual images is deleted and replaced by a single description for the entire slide.
When (and When Not) to Use It
The IT@UMN team recommends avoiding this feature for any presentations intended for public consumption or distribution. However, the article does highlight a few tips for when it might be helpful, such as simplifying complex shapes you've built manually.
Read the full March 2026 Teaching with Technology article here.
Article by Karen Matthes, Extension Learning Technologies, klm@umn.edu
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