How to Post a Slideshow on TikTok

Still pictures are dominating TikTok, and some of the platform's biggest trends right now are built around simple and engaging photo slideshows. It's a fantastic way to tell a story or share a series of memories without the pressure of filming and editing a full video. This guide breaks down exactly how to create your own photo slideshow on TikTok, covering both the simple built-in method and a more custom approach for creators who want extra control.

Why TikTok Slideshows Are a Content Goldmine

Before getting into the "how," let's quickly cover the "why." Slideshows are one of the most accessible yet effective content formats on TikTok. They allow you to hop on trends, create compelling narratives, and repurpose content you already have - your photos!

Here’s why they work so well:

• Low Effort, High Impact: You don't need fancy video equipment or complex editing skills. If you have a camera roll full of photos, you have endless content potential.
• Perfect for Storytelling: Slideshows are brilliant for "before and after" transformations, "a day in my life" recaps, travel diaries, step-by-step tutorials, or showcasing a collection of products. Each photo becomes a beat in your narrative.
• Hugely Trend-Driven: Many viral TikTok sounds are specifically designed for photo slideshows, often with beats that signal when to swipe to the next image. Participating in these trends is a fantastic way to increase your content's reach.

Method 1: Using TikTok's Built-In Photo Mode

This is the fastest and most common way to create a slideshow directly within the TikTok app. The end result gives users the ability to manually swipe through your photos at their own pace, a feature that can significantly boost watch time and engagement.

Step 1: Open TikTok and Start a New Post

Tap the plus (+) icon at the bottom of the screen, just as you would to record or upload any video. This takes you to the creation screen.

Step 2: Upload Your Photos

In the bottom-right corner, you’ll see an "Upload" button. Tap it to open your device’s photo gallery. Select all the photos you want to include in your slideshow. You can select multiple photos at once, and TikTok will show you a small numbered circle on each selection so you can keep track.

Once you've selected your images, tap "Next."

Step 3: Choose Between "Photo Mode" and "Video Mode"

This is where new users often get confused. After uploading your photos, TikTok will present you with two options at the bottom of the screen: Photo Mode and Video Mode.

• Photo Mode: This is a true slideshow. TikTok displays one photo at a time, and users can manually swipe through them. It feels more like an Instagram carousel post but integrated with TikTok's sound and effects ecosystem. White dots at the bottom indicate how many photos are in the set. This mode is the default and is incredibly popular for story-driven content.
• Video Mode: This option automatically converts your static photos into a video clip. TikTok will create transitions between each photo, and you can switch up the style later. The user cannot control the pacing, they watch it like a standard video.

For most trends and use cases, Photo Mode is what you want. After making your choice, proceed to the editing screen.

Step 4: Add the Perfect Sound

Music is the soul of a TikTok slideshow. Tap the "Add sound" button at the top of the editing screen. From here, you can browse trending sounds, saved favorites, or search for a specific song or audio clip. Many viral slideshow trends are tied to a particular sound, so using a popular one can give your content a major boost.

Step 5: Enhance with Text, Stickers, and Effects

Now it's time to add personality. Most successful slideshows use on-screen text to provide context or tell the story. You can add a text overlay to each photo individually or have text that persists across the entire slideshow.

• Text: Tap the "Text" icon on the right-hand panel. Type your message, choose fonts, colors, and backgrounds. You can drag and position it anywhere on the screen.
• Stickers: Tap the "Stickers" icon to add polls, emojis, GIFs, or other interactive elements.
• Effects: Hit the "Effects" button to browse TikTok’s massive library of filters and AR effects to give your photos a unique look.

Step 6: Write a Caption, Add Hashtags, and Post

Once you're happy with your slideshow, tap "Next." This brings you to the final posting screen. Here you'll write an engaging caption, add relevant hashtags to help people discover your content, tag any other accounts, and set your privacy settings. When you're ready, hit "Post," and your slideshow will go live.

Method 2: Create a Custom Video Slideshow for More Control

While TikTok's built-in Photo Mode is quick and easy, you might want more creative control over your slideshow's pacing, transitions, and effects. Creating a video slideshow in a third-party app and uploading it to TikTok as a single video clip gives you that power.

Apps like CapCut (made by the same company as TikTok), InShot, or even your phone's default video editor are excellent for this.

Step 1: Choose Your Project Settings and Photos

Open your video editing app of choice and start a new project. The very first thing you should do is set the aspect ratio to 9:16. This is the standard vertical format for TikTok and ensures your final video will fill the entire screen without any awkward black bars.

Import all the photos you want to use from your camera roll into the project timeline.

Step 2: Customize Photo Duration and Transitions

This is the biggest advantage of using an external app. On the timeline, you can tap on each individual photo clip and adjust its duration. Want the first photo to linger for 3 seconds and the rest to flash by in 0.5 seconds? You can do that precisely.

You can also add transitions between each photo. These can be simple fades, cool wipes, or dramatic zooms that make your video feel more dynamic and professional than TikTok's default Video Mode transitions.

Step 3: Export and Upload to TikTok

Once your video is perfectly timed and edited, export it in high quality (1080p is a great standard). Save the video file to your phone.

Now, open TikTok, tap the (+) icon, and hit "Upload." This time, select the video file you just created. You are now uploading one single video clip instead of multiple photos.

Step 4: Finalize Within TikTok

Even though you did most of the editing externally, it's still a good idea to add your sound directly in TikTok. Using a trending or popular sound from TikTok's library is much better for the algorithm than just using music you baked into your video file.

Finalize your post by adding any additional text overlays or stickers, writing your caption, adding hashtags, and then publishing it for the world to see.

Pro Tips for Making Your Slideshows Go Viral

Knowing how to make a slideshow is one thing, making one that people actually stay and watch is another. Here are a few tips to elevate your slideshow content.

1. Hook Them Fast

The first photo in your slideshow is your headline. It needs to be captivating enough to stop someone from scrolling. Use an intriguing image and pair it with a text hook like, "You won't believe what happened..." or "Three mistakes you're making with..."

2. Tell a Real Story

The best slideshows have a clear narrative, even if it's a simple one. Don't just dump a random assortment of photos. Structure them with a beginning, middle, and end. Before-and-afters naturally tell a story of transformation. A collection of trip photos should feel like a journey, not a random photo album.

3. Sync Photos to the Music's Beat

Paying attention to the rhythm of your chosen sound dramatically improves the viewing experience. If you’re using photo mode, the user swipes, so it is less critical. But if you’ve created a video file, timing the photo changes to align with the beat drops or lyrical cues makes the video feel incredibly polished and satisfying to watch.

4. Use High-Quality, Vertical Photos

This sounds obvious, but it’s the most common mistake. Blurry, poorly lit, or horizontal photos just don't perform well on a vertical-first platform like TikTok. Before you start, quickly go through your camera roll and choose sharp, interesting images that were shot vertically (or can be cropped to look good vertically).

5. Leverage On-Screen Text as a Narrator

Many users watch TikToks with the sound off, so on-screen text is your best friend. It can provide context that the photos can't on their own. Each slide can build on the last, telling a story or providing pieces of information that keep the user swiping or watching to get the full picture.

Final Thoughts

Creating eye-catching slideshows is a simple yet powerful strategy to add to your TikTok content mix. Whether you use the platform's quick Photo Mode or take extra control with an external video editor, it's all about combining compelling images with a great story and the perfect soundtrack.

Once you nail the creation process, keeping all of your content planned and organized is the next step to growing your account. That’s an area where we really focused. At Postbase, we built a simple, visual calendar specifically for modern social media. It lets you plan and schedule all your engaging TikToks, Reels, and Shorts alongside your other posts, giving you a clear view of your entire strategy so you can get ahead and stay consistent without the stress.