How to Create a TV Slideshow the Easy Way

TV slideshows are a great way to grab an audience's attention, whether you’re showcasing upcoming events, sharing data in business presentations, or advertising products in a retail store. With today’s technology, creating a TV slideshow is easier than ever. You don’t need advanced tech skills or expensive tools; with a few simple solutions, you can bring your photos, videos, or presentations to life on the TV screen.

We’ve put together these straightforward ways to get your video or photo slideshow on screen. Let's dive in...

What is a TV slideshow and how can you use it?

A TV slideshow is a sequence of images, videos, or slides displayed on a screen. They can be used in almost any setting from offices or events to even retail or even industrial settings, to tell a story, share information, or simply entertain. 

In a TV slideshow, content is arranged to play automatically, and may often be looped to keep the viewers engaged.

Many businesses use a simple slideshow tool, often using software loaded on a USB flash drive to loop images. However, there are many reasons why a cloud based software solution is a much better option, especially if you need to update the footage regularly.

There are many uses for a slide show including:

• Displaying company information and announcements
• Images of products for retail displays
• Safety information for factories, warehouses and industrial settings
• Information and entertainment content for waiting rooms or public areas
• Shared photos from recent events
• Exhibitor or wayfinding information for trade shows

This is just a small slice of the use cases for these slide shows - chances are you've probably had a few ideas yourself while reading this.

But whats the best way to display images and content for your TV slideshow?

Different ways to put a slideshow on your TV

With the TVs we have available today, there are countless ways to play a photo slideshow, ranging from using a simple USB stick, to streaming with a more sophisticated digital signage solution. Whether you're looking to display static images, videos, dynamic animations, or slide presentations, this section highlights the best options to consider.

1. Play slideshow with a USB flash drive

A USB flash drive is the simplest way to launch a TV slideshow because you don't need a laptop or desk computer for the actual display. However, this method has limitations - you can only display simple image formats like JPEG, GIF and PNG, and videos like MP4, MKV, AVI, and MOV.

To put a slideshow on your TV with a USB flash drive:

• Set up the photo collection/video files on the drive. You can use a PC or Android device with OTG to set this up
• Plug it into your TV's USB port
• Navigate to the native media player on your TV and open the pictures
• Use the TV's slideshow player feature to loop between the pictures

With this step, it's important to arrange your photos and videos exactly as you want them to appear in the slide show to avoid a jumbled slideshow.

Another challenge with USB drives is that you'll need to manually update each screen whenever you need add new information. This might be sufficient for one screen with content that doesn't change (such as a menu board or welcome screen).

But if you have multiple screens, multiple locations or regularly changing content, you'll need to find a more user friendly option.

2. Use PowerPoint for your slideshows

For a more polished slideshow, PowerPoint or Google Slides can be an excellent option because they let you add graphics and other visual elements to your slides.

To create and play a slideshow on your TV using PowerPoint or Google Slides:

• Design your slides with PowerPoint on a laptop or desktop computer.
• Once your slideshow is finished, export them in formats like JPEG or PNG. In PowerPoint, you can do this by selecting "File > Export > Change File Type > PNG/JPEG" and saving all slides
• Save the exported images to a USB drive in the order you want them to appear.
• Insert the USB into your TV's port and use the native media player to access and play the images.

When exporting your PowerPoint slides as images, double-check their order and resolution. So if you're preparing a looping slideshow for a wide-screen TV, be sure your images are formatted in a 16:9 ratio.

Read more about PowerPoint for digital signage here.

3. Display photos with a computer

Using a computer connected to your TV is a straightforward way to display your slideshow. You can present your slides exactly as they appear on your computer screen; all you need is an HDMI cable.

Here’s how to display photos on your TV using a computer:

• Create your slideshow with software like PowerPoint, Slide bean, or simply collate all your pictures in a photos app
• Use an HDMI cable to connect the computer to the TV. Most modern TVs automatically detect the connection, but if needed, use your TV remote to switch to the correct HDMI input.
• On your computer, go to your display settings (on Windows or macOS) and choose the option to mirror or duplicate your screen onto the TV. You can also hit the windows key + P to access display options right away.
• Start the slideshow on your computer and control it directly using your keyboard or mouse. You can skip ahead, rewind or pause as needed.

Using your computer method gives you complete control over how the slideshow is presented. It also helps to use the same tool to create and present slides because you can easily make adjustments or add commentary.

4. Use your smart TV apps

If you own a smart TV, you can use its built-in apps to display slideshows without any extra hardware. If you're using an Apple TV for example, you can easily access your iCloud account and display your slideshows. That means you only need to upload photos from your iPhone or Mac and let your TV handle the rest.

It's the same with other Smart TVs like Samsung Tizen, since many of them allow you to connect your Google Drive and Google photos, Dropbox, or even OneDrive account.

Here’s how to use smart TV apps to display your slideshow:

• Open your smart TV’s app store to see available apps for viewing or sharing media. Popular apps like Google Photos, Plex, or even native photo gallery apps can work well for slideshows.
• If your TV supports cloud-based apps, upload your slideshow files (images or videos) to a cloud service like Google Drive or Dropbox. For platforms like Google Photos, you can organize the files into an album for easy access.
• Download the relevant app on your smart TV and log in. Access your uploaded files directly from the app and start streaming

This approach is great for anyone who wants a streamlined, wireless solution. It eliminates the need for additional devices and allows you to manage your content directly from your cloud account.

5. Cast from your phone or tablet

Casting from your phone or tablet is another great way to display a slideshow on your TV. It works well for quick setups, especially if your content is already saved on your phone or in the cloud.

Here’s how to cast a slideshow from your phone or tablet:

• Check if your smart TV has built-in casting features like Chromecast, AirPlay, or Miracast. If not, you can use an external casting device like a Chromecast or Fire TV Stick.
• Make sure your phone or tablet and your TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network
• Use a photo app, Google Slides, PowerPoint, or any slideshow creator on your phone to organize your photos or slides in the desired order.
• For Android, tap the cast icon (usually in the notification menu or within the app) and select your TV.
• For iPhones or iPads, use AirPlay by opening the Control Center and tapping “Screen Mirroring.”
• Once connected, start the slideshow on your phone or tablet, and it will play on your TV. Use your device to control playback, navigate between slides, or pause if you need to.

6. Use a streaming device

A streaming device like a Chromecast, Roku, Fire TV Stick, or Apple TV can be a powerful tool for displaying slideshows on your TV. because they connect seamlessly with your TV, making it easy to stream photos, videos, or even presentations wirelessly. This is a great option for those who want more control or additional features like high-resolution playback or looping.

Here’s how to use a streaming device to display your slideshow:

1. The first obvious step is connecting your streaming device to your TV and configuring it on your Wi-Fi network. You may need to follow the device’s instructions for initial setup if you haven’t already done so.
2. Organize your photos or slides on your preferred platform, such as Google Photos, Dropbox, or a compatible app on your phone or computer. For presentations, you can use tools like Google Slides or PowerPoint.
3. Open the corresponding app for your streaming device. That may be the Google Home app for Chromecast or the Amazon Photos app for the Fire TV stick.
4. Navigate to your photo album and start streaming.

7. Use digital signage software

Digital signage software is the option for people who want to save time and use a more modern slideshow tool. If you're creating slideshows for large venues, multiple locations, or for a company town hall meeting then its the most efficient way to display your content.

The right digital signage solution will serve as a slideshow player, letting you manage your slideshow remotely, schedule content, and even display across different screens simultaneously.

Here’s how to display a slideshow on your TV using digital signage:

1. Select a reliable software solution that supports TV slideshows.
2. Create your slides using PowerPoint, Canva, or another design tool. With remote presentation tools like ScreenCloud, you can even create your stunning slideshow in app, making the process one step easier for you
3. You could create a playlist and arrange all your photo and video files in the order they need to appear so all that's left is to hit play.
4. If you're using a Smart TV screen, you can follow this guide to install ScreenCloud on your Android TV. Otherwise, you'll need a device like the ScreenCloud OS. Plug the device into your TV’s HDMI port and connect it to the internet.
5. From your CMS, schedule when and where your slideshow will play. You can set it to loop continuously or display at specific times as easily as clicking a few buttons.

Read More: How How Digital Signage is Changing Conference Room Scheduling.

Why creating TV slideshows with digital signage is easier

There are many ways to make a TV slideshow, whether you want to put something simple on a loop or create an elaborate presentation. But with digital signage, you can take things to the next level and simplify the process of creating and displaying your slides. 

But that's barely scratching the surface of what you can accomplish with ScreenCloud. For example, with our corporate digital signage solution, you can turn your TVs into collaborative whiteboards, manage meeting rooms, and even create digital bulletin boards.

Sign up for a 14-day free trial and see for yourself how easy it is to create professional slideshows.