You make a TikTok slideshow by starting a new post and choosing multiple photos. Choose a photo post if you want people to swipe through the photos themselves. Do you want the images to play one after another automatically? Then make it a video. The choices you see may differ depending on the app version and account.

Below, you’ll read step by step how to add the photos and finish your post. Don’t see an option? Then check the explanation under the problems section.

TikTok slideshow: choose a photo post or video

A slideshow is a series of photos in one post. You can make one in different ways. First, consider whether viewers should be able to control the pace themselves.

For a recipe, swiping yourself is useful. Someone can then calmly read the ingredients before the next step appears. For holiday photos set to music, a video may be a better fit. A template can help you make such a video, but it is not the same as a photo post.

How to make a TikTok slideshow with photos in the app

For example, start with five photos about the same subject. This is not a TikTok limit, but an easy to manage selection to practise with.

1. Get your photos ready. Find the images in your photo library. Decide which photo should come first and which should follow. Leave out duplicate images.
2. Start a new post. Open the screen where you create a post. Look for the option to add existing photos or files.
3. Choose multiple photos. Do you see an option to select multiple files? Use it and check that all the photos you want have been selected.
4. Choose how you want to display the photos. Use the photo or Photo Mode option if you want people to swipe through the series themselves. Check the preview to make sure that is actually what happens.
5. Check the order and cropping. Are the images in the right order? Are faces and important details fully visible? Adjust this where possible. If that does not work, select the photos again.
6. Finish the post. Add sound, text and a description if those options are available. View the entire series before sharing the post.

Buttons and screens may look different for you. TikTok also has an explanation of how to create and upload photos and videos.

How to make an automatic TikTok slideshow with a template or Autocut

Do you want your photos to change automatically? Check whether you can choose a template or automatic edit. The latter option may be called Autocut, for example. It lets the app create a first version of your photo video.

First, view the layout preview. Then add your own photos and play the result all the way through. Pay attention to these points:

• Is each photo shown long enough to see what is in it?
• Do heads, dishes and other important details remain visible?
• Are the transitions between the photos not distracting?

A quick edit may suit party photos. For an explanation with text, you need more reading time. Can’t you adjust the pace enough? Try another layout or choose a photo post.

Is the automatic option missing? You can also place the photos one after another in a separate video editing app. Then upload the result as a video. Viewers will not be able to swipe through individual photos themselves.

Add music, text and a cover to your TikTok slideshow

Choose music

Use the sound option available for your type of post. Play the music together with your images. A busy track can, for example, distract from a calm photo series.

Use only music you have permission to use or that is available for your intended use. A business or promotional post does not automatically have the same usage rights as a personal post.

Add text to your photos

Keep the text short and choose a colour that contrasts clearly with the photo. Do not place words right along the edge. Cropping or a button may cover part of the text there.

For a recipe, you could start with: “Quick lunch with what’s left in the fridge.” Then show one step per photo. This means viewers do not have to read too much at once.

Can’t you find a suitable text option in TikTok? Add the text beforehand in a photo editor. Also keep the original photo without text.

Choose a cover

The cover is the preview image for your post. Can you choose it separately? Then choose a photo that immediately shows what the post is about. Without a separate cover option, your first photo is especially important. Also check the cropping if the app displays a preview of it.

Give your TikTok slideshow a clear order

Start with a photo that shows the subject. Use the following images to show something new and finish the series with a suitable final photo. Nearly identical photos add little, even if you like them all.

These fictional examples show how you can build a series:

• DIY creation: Start with your handmade vase. Then show the materials, two steps and the final result on the table.
• Online shop: Show a bag, its inside and the fastening. Show its size next to an everyday object.
• Food service: Start with a dish and then show the ingredients and preparation. Sharing menu information? Check that it is still accurate.
• Travel: Show the destination first. Then show a short walking route with landmarks.
• Event: Choose images of the venue, preparation and different moments. Leave out nearly identical group photos.

Do you want to make a post that is useful to save? Then provide complete information, such as an ingredients list or a step by step plan without missing steps. Also make sure the series can be understood without music. You cannot predict how many people will watch or save your post based on this.

Why can’t I make a TikTok slideshow?

First, check where things go wrong. Can’t you open your photos? Or does uploading work, but you only get a video? Each problem calls for a different step.

Save your original files before trying anything else. Do not delete the app as a first step: drafts stored on your phone may then be lost. An update does not guarantee that a missing feature will appear.

Can’t you make longer videos either? Then read why you can’t make a 10 minute video on TikTok. This is separate from Photo Mode being unavailable.

Check your TikTok slideshow before sharing it

View the entire post once more, from the first photo to the last. Use this checklist:

• Text: can you read everything on your phone without zooming in?
• Order: are all the steps needed to follow your explanation included?
• Privacy: can you see addresses, tickets, licence plates or private messages that you do not want to share?
• Permission: may you use the photos and music? Are recognizable people comfortable with you sharing their photo?
• Audience: have you set who can see this post?

For this last step, TikTok’s explanation of the visibility of videos and photo posts. Check the setting for the post you want to publish.

Frequently asked questions about TikTok slideshows

How many photos do I need?

Use enough photos to complete your story. For example, start with five. Add an image only if it shows something new. Follow the message in your app for the permitted maximum.

Can I combine photos and videos?

That depends on how you create the post. Do you want photos and clips to play one after another? Then an edit as a video may be suitable. Check which files you can add in the app you chose.

Can I use the same photos on Instagram?

You can reuse your own original images. On Instagram, check the cropping and music choice again. Do you want to make a short video from your images there? Then read the explanation about making an Instagram Reel.