How to Upload a Slideshow on TikTok

TikTok might be the undisputed king of short-form video, but photo slideshows are one of its most powerful and consistently engaging features. They're quick to produce, perfect for storytelling, and can hook viewers in a completely different way than a standard video. This guide breaks down exactly how to upload and create a stunning slideshow on TikTok, covering everything from the quick-and-easy method to pro tips that will make your content stand out.

Why Photo Slideshows Still Work on a Video-First Platform

In a sea of highly produced video content, a well-crafted photo slideshow can feel refreshingly direct and personal. They hit a sweet spot for creators and audiences for a few key reasons:

• They are incredibly fast to create. You don’t need to shoot and edit a full video. If you have great photos on your camera roll, you have content ready to go in minutes.
• They excel at storytelling. A sequence of photos can build a narrative, suspense, or emotional arc in ways that are hard to replicate in a short video clip. Think "before and after" transformations, step-by-step guides, or a recap of a recent trip.
• They tap into popular trends. "Photo dump" trends, where users share a collection of recent candids set to a specific song, are a constant on TikTok. Slideshows are the perfect format for this.
• They encourage engagement. Swipeable photo carousels, known as "Photo Mode," pause the infinite scroll and invite users to actively interact by swiping through your content at their own pace.

Method 1: The Easiest Way - Using TikTok’s Built-in 'Photo Mode'

This is the most common and effective way to create a slideshow on TikTok today. It creates a swipe-through photo carousel that users can navigate themselves. It’s simple, interactive, and gives you a professional-looking result with minimal effort.

Step-by-Step Guide for Photo Mode:

1. Open TikTok and tap the '+' icon. This is the standard first step for creating any new content. It will open your camera screen.
2. Tap 'Upload' in the bottom-right corner. Instead of recording new content, you’ll be pulling from your phone's camera roll.
3. Select your photos. Tap the 'Select multiple' option. Now, you can tap on all the images you want to include in your slideshow. You'll see little numbered circles appear on your selections, indicating their order in the carousel.
4. Important: Switch to 'Photo mode.' After selecting your photos and hitting 'Next,' TikTok will likely default to 'Video mode,' which stitches your photos into a video clip. Look for the buttons at the bottom of the screen and tap 'Switch to photo mode.' You'll now see your images presented as a swipeable carousel.
5. Add your sound. Tap the music note icon labeled 'Add sound' at the top of the screen. Here, you can browse trending songs, use a track from your favorites, or search for something specific. Music choice is a huge factor in a slideshow's success.
6. Add text, stickers, and filters. This is where you bring the story to life. Use the tools on the right-hand side of the screen to add text overlays to each photo individually. You can customize the font, color, and timing of each text block. In Photo Mode, the text stays static on each image as the user swipes.
7. Write your caption and post. Once you’re happy with the result, tap 'Next.' On the post screen, write a compelling caption, add relevant hashtags, choose a cover photo for the slideshow, and hit 'Post.'

Method 2: Creative Control - The Video Slideshow Template Method

If you prefer to have your photos stitched together into an auto-playing video with slick transitions and effects, TikTok’s templates are your best friend. In this mode, the viewer doesn't swipe, they just watch as the photos appear and change on their own, synced to music.

Step-by-Step Guide for Using Templates:

1. Open TikTok and tap the '+' icon.
2. Look for 'Templates' on the bottom menu. Next to the standard 'Camera' and 'Effect' options, you should see 'Templates'. Tap on it.
3. Browse and select a template. Swipe through the available templates at the bottom of the screen. Each one will show you how many photos are required and will give you a preview of the transitions and effects. Some are simple cuts synced to a beat, while others have complex animations.
4. Upload your photos. After choosing a template by tapping 'Upload photos,' you'll be taken to your camera roll. Select the required number of photos for the template you chose.
5. Let TikTok work its magic. Once you tap 'OK', TikTok will automatically place your photos into the template, sync them with the pre-selected music, and apply all the effects. You'll get a real-time preview of the final video.
6. Customize and finalize. Even with a template, you can still make minor tweaks. You can change the default music, add text overlays, apply filters, or add stickers. When everything looks perfect, tap 'Next' and finish your post with a good caption and relevant hashtags.

Pro Tips for a Viral TikTok Slideshow

Knowing how to create a slideshow is just the first step. The real challenge is making one that people want to watch and share. Here are strategies that will separate your content from the rest.

1. Tell a Micro-Story

Don't just upload random photos. Your slideshow should have a clear beginning, middle, and end, even if it's very short. Think of the first photo as your hook - it needs to grab attention and make someone curious enough to swipe or watch. The middle photos build the story, and the last one provides a satisfying conclusion or a punchline.

Storytelling Examples:

• Transformation: Show the messy "before," a few process shots, and the stunning "after" reveal (e.g., a room renovation, a makeup look, a finished art piece).
• Tutorial: Each photo is a clear step in a process (e.g., recipe instructions, a simple DIY guide, a workout sequence).
• Narrative: Use text on a few photos to tell a funny or interesting anecdote from your day.

2. The Right Sound Can Make or Break Your Slideshow

On TikTok, sound is more than just background music, it's a huge part of the context and discovery. The sound you choose sets the mood and can skyrocket your reach if it’s trending.

How to find the perfect sound:

• Browse the 'For You Page': Pay attention to the songs you hear repeatedly on popular videos. If a sound is showing up frequently, it’s probably trending. Tap the spinning disc icon in the bottom-right corner of any video to see the sound page and add it to your favorites.
• Use songs that match your pacing. For a high-energy photo dump, choose an upbeat song with a strong beat you can sync photo changes to. For a more emotional story, look for a slower, more cinematic track.
• Check the "TikTok Viral" playlists. On the 'Add sound' screen, TikTok curates playlists of songs that are currently performing well on the platform. This is a goldmine for finding trending audio.

3. Master Your Text-on-Screen Game

In Photo Mode carousels, your text overlays are critical for adding context that the pictures alone can't provide. Keep it concise, readable, and engaging.

Tips for Effective Text:

• Use a Strong Hook: Your first photo's text should immediately establish the topic. For example, "Rating everything I ate in NYC" or "The 3 biggest mistakes I made when starting my business."
• Break Up Your Story: Don’t cram a huge paragraph onto one image. Spread a single sentence or thought across several photos to encourage users to keep swiping.
• End with a Call to Action (CTA): The last slide is a prime spot for a question to drive comments. For instance, "Which photo is your favorite?" or "Have you ever tried this? Let me know in the comments!"

4. Curate an Aesthetic and Use High-Quality Images

While TikTok's aesthetic is more 'real' than Instagram's polished perfection, image quality still matters. Blurry or poorly-lit photos will make people swipe away instantly. Choose your sharpest, most vibrant, and most interesting photos for your slideshows. You can also edit them slightly in a third-party app like Lightroom or even your phone's native editor to have a consistent color scheme or vibe, which makes the whole slideshow feel more cohesive and professional.

Final Thoughts

Mastering the TikTok slideshow is a fantastic way to diversify your content strategy and engage your audience in a fresh - and highly effective - way. Whether you choose the interactive Photo Mode or a dynamic video template, the key is always to combine high-quality images with compelling storytelling and the perfect trending sound to stop the scroll.

Once you’ve nailed your creation process, consistency becomes the most important factor for growth. Planning out your content ideas, including a mix of videos and slideshows, is what keeps your community coming back. To help with that, we built Postbase with a clean visual calendar designed for creators and marketers who are actually making today's content. You can schedule all your posts - videos, Reels, and TikTok slideshows - side-by-side to get a clear view of your strategy. Because it's built to be dead simple and reliable, you can trust that your carefully crafted stories will go live exactly when you plan them.