How to Make a Slideshow on TikTok: Step-by-Step Guide (Photo Mode & Templates)

To make a slideshow on TikTok, tap the "+" icon, upload multiple photos, and either switch to Photo Mode for a swipeable carousel or use the Templates option for an auto-playing video format. Both methods take under five minutes.

Quick Answer: Two Ways to Make a TikTok Slideshow

TikTok gives you two distinct slideshow formats, and they work very differently from each other.

Photo Mode creates a swipeable carousel — viewers manually swipe through your images, one by one, while audio plays in the background. It supports up to 35 photos.

Template Mode stitches your photos into an auto-playing video with preset transitions and music. No swiping required from the viewer.

If you want more control and viewer interaction, Photo Mode is the better choice. If you are

new to TikTok or just want something quick, Templates work fine.

How to Make a Swipeable TikTok Slideshow Using Photo Mode

This is the format most creators mean when they ask how to make a slideshow on TikTok. Here is how to do it, step by step.

Step 1 — Open TikTok and Tap the "+" Icon

Open the TikTok app and make sure you are logged in. Tap the "+" icon at the bottom centre of the screen to start a new post. While TikTok is primarily known as a short-form video platform, its Photo Mode feature — introduced in 2022 — has since become one of the faster-growing content formats on the app, giving creators a way to share multiple images in a single post without filming any video.

Step 2 — Upload and Select Multiple Photos

On the creation screen, tap Upload (usually in the bottom right). Your camera roll will open. At the bottom of the gallery view, tap Select Multiple and choose the photos you want.

A few things to keep in mind here:

• You can select up to 35 photos
• The order in which you tap them is the order they will appear in your slideshow
• For the cleanest result, use images sized at 1080 x 1920px (9:16 vertical ratio) — this fills the screen without cropping or black bars

In practice, most creators find that selecting photos in the wrong order is one of the most common early mistakes. You can fix this later by dragging thumbnails to reorder, but it is faster to get the sequence right during selection.

Step 3 — Switch from Video Mode to Photo Mode

This is the step that trips people up most often. After tapping Next, TikTok defaults to Video mode, which turns your photos into an auto-transitioning video clip. That is not the same as a swipeable slideshow.

Look at the bottom of the screen for the option that says "Switch to Photo mode" and tap it.

You will know it worked when you see small dots appear below the image preview — each dot represents a separate, swipeable slide. If you do not see those dots, you are still in Video mode.

What's often overlooked is that skipping this step does not give you an error — TikTok simply creates a video instead of a carousel, and many users post it without realising the format is different.

Step 4 — Edit Each Slide Individually

Once you are in Photo Mode, you can customise each slide separately. Tap the photo thumbnails at the bottom to jump between slides, then:

• Add text — keep it concise; a short sentence or phrase per slide works best
• Apply stickers or filters relevant to that image
• Reorder slides by pressing and holding a thumbnail, then dragging it to a new position

Try to keep the text on each slide to one clear point. Slides that are too text-heavy tend to lose viewers before they reach the end.

Step 5 — Add Audio

Tap Add Sound at the top of the screen. In Photo Mode, the audio track plays continuously from the first slide to the last, regardless of how fast or slowly the viewer swipes.

A few practical notes on music:

• Personal accounts have access to TikTok's full music library

• Business or brand accounts should use the Commercial Music Library to avoid copyright issues — as reported by TechCrunch, TikTok's licensing agreements with major labels like Universal Music Group govern what music is available on the platform and under what commercial terms, with brand usage subject to specific clearance rules

• Choose a track that fits the full duration of your slideshow — if you have 10 slides, pick something with enough length that it does not cut off abruptly

Step 6 — Set Cover Image, Add Caption and Hashtags

Before posting, tap the cover image selector to choose which photo represents your slideshow in feeds and on your profile. This matters more than it sounds — the cover image is often what convinces someone to tap in.

Write a caption that gives context and add relevant hashtags. You do not need to overload it. Three to five focused hashtags tend to perform better than a long list of loosely related ones.

Step 7 — Preview, Post, or Save as Draft

Tap Preview to watch the slideshow as a viewer would see it. Check that:

• Slides appear in the right order
• Text is readable on each image
• Audio starts and fits the content well

When you are happy, tap Post. If you are not ready, tap Drafts to save it and come back later. Drafts are accessible from your profile page.

How to Make a TikTok Slideshow Using Templates

The Template method is simpler. It is well-suited to beginners or anyone who wants a polished result without manual editing.

Step-by-Step: Template Slideshow

1. Tap the "+" icon
2. At the bottom of the screen, tap Templates
3. Browse the available templates — each one shows how many photos it supports
4. Select a template and tap Choose Photos
5. Pick your images and tap OK
6. The template automatically applies transitions, timing, and audio
7. Preview and post

Limitations of the Template Method

Templates are convenient, but they come with trade-offs:

• Viewers cannot swipe — the slideshow plays automatically as a video
• You have less control over timing and transitions
• The preloaded music may not suit your content
• Per-slide text customisation is limited compared to Photo Mode

For anyone focused on engagement and interactivity, Photo Mode is generally the stronger option. Templates work best for casual posts or when you want something done quickly.

How to Make a TikTok Slideshow on a PC

This is where things get a bit limited. TikTok's desktop browser uploader does not currently support the Photo Mode toggle — so you cannot create a native swipeable carousel from a computer.

What the Desktop Uploader Supports

• Uploading a single video file (MP4, MOV, etc.)
• Adding a caption and hashtags
• Basic post settings

It does not support multi-photo selection or the Photo Mode format.

The Workaround: Build It as a Video File

If you need to work from a desktop, the practical approach is:

1. Build your slideshow externally using tools like CapCut, PowerPoint, Keynote, or Adobe Premiere
2. Set your own transitions, timing, and text overlays
3. Export as an MP4 file
4. Upload the file through the TikTok desktop browser uploader

The result will look like a slideshow, but it will play as a video — viewers cannot swipe through it. That is the trade-off when working outside the mobile app.

TikTok Slideshow Troubleshooting

Photo Mode Option Not Appearing

If you cannot find the Photo Mode switch after selecting your photos, a few things could be causing it:

• Your TikTok app is outdated — update it through your app store
• The feature may have a regional rollout delay on your account
• Some business account types may see different creation options

Try updating the app first. That resolves the issue in most cases.

Photos Appearing in the Wrong Order

If your slides are out of sequence, tap and hold a thumbnail in the editing view and drag it to the correct position. Alternatively, go back and reselect your photos in the correct tap order.

Audio Not Playing Across All Slides

If audio seems to cut out or reset between slides, confirm you are in Photo Mode and not Video mode. In Video mode, audio behaviour is tied to the clip length, not the swipe sequence.

TikTok Slideshow Best Practices

Conclusion

Making a slideshow on TikTok comes down to choosing the right format for your goal. Photo Mode gives you a swipeable, interactive carousel with per-slide editing and continuous audio. Templates are quicker but less flexible. For desktop users, the only current option is uploading a pre-edited video file.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many photos can you add to a TikTok slideshow?

In Photo Mode, you can add up to 35 photos. Template slideshows vary — each template specifies how many images it supports, typically between 3 and 15.

What image size works best for a TikTok slideshow?

Use 1080 x 1920px at a 9:16 aspect ratio. This fills the screen vertically without cropping or leaving black borders around your images.

Can you make a TikTok slideshow on a computer?

Not natively in Photo Mode. The desktop uploader does not support the swipeable carousel format. The workaround is to create a video slideshow externally and upload it as an MP4.

What happens if you skip the Photo Mode switch?

TikTok defaults to Video mode, which auto-plays your photos as a video clip. Viewers cannot swipe through the slides individually. The format and viewer experience are different from a Photo Mode carousel.

Can you save a TikTok slideshow as a draft before posting?

Yes. After editing, tap Drafts instead of Post. Your slideshow saves to your profile's draft folder and can be edited or posted at any time.