# How to Make a Slideshow on TikTok (Photo Mode, Up to 35 Photos)

> How to make a slideshow on TikTok with photo mode or templates, add music and text, fix the step most people miss, and schedule photo posts in advance.

Canonical: https://scheduleforyou.com/blog/how-to-make-a-slideshow-on-tiktok
Last updated: 2026-10-28

Category: TikTok. 

To make a slideshow on TikTok, tap **+**, open your gallery, tap **Select multiple** (or the photo option), pick up to **35 photos** in the order you want, tap **Next**, and make sure the post is set to **Photo** mode rather than video before you add music and publish. The result is a photo post that viewers swipe through, with your sound playing underneath.

The steps are short, but one setting catches most people out, so here's the full walk-through.

## Two kinds of TikTok slideshow

| Type | How it plays | Photos | Best for |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Photo mode (carousel)** | Viewers swipe; it can also auto-advance | Up to 35 | Tips, tutorials, recipes, before-and-after, product sets |
| **Template** | Plays as a video with fixed timing and effects | Set by the template, often 5 to 15 | Quick montages that match a trending style |

Photo mode is what most people mean by a TikTok slideshow. Templates turn your pictures into a short video instead.

## How to make a slideshow in photo mode

Menu names move between app versions, but the flow has stayed the same:

1. Open TikTok and tap **+** at the bottom of the screen.
2. Tap **Upload** (the gallery thumbnail beside the record button).
3. Choose **Select multiple** or switch to the **Photos** tab.
4. Tap your photos in the order you want them to appear. The number on each one is its slide position.
5. Tap **Next**.
6. On the editing screen, check that **Photo** is selected, not Video. TikTok sometimes defaults to a video preview; the dots under the preview show it's a swipeable post.
7. Tap **Add sound** to pick music, and add text, stickers or filters to individual slides.
8. Tap **Next**, write your caption, choose who can see it, and tap **Post**.

If no photos appear in step 3, TikTok doesn't have access to your library. Allow it in your phone's settings under TikTok, then Photos.

## How to make a slideshow with a template

1. Tap **+**, then **Templates** (on some versions it sits at the bottom of the camera screen).
2. Browse and pick one; each shows how many photos it takes.
3. Tap **Upload photos**, choose the right number, and tap **OK**.
4. Edit text or sound if the template allows, then post.

Templates are quick, but you can't add more photos than the template allows, and the timing is fixed.

## Make the slideshow worth swiping

- **Hook on slide one.** The first image is the cover in the feed. Put the promise there in large text: "7 mistakes with sourdough" beats a plain photo.
- **One idea per slide.** Short text, big type, high contrast. People read slideshows quickly.
- **Use vertical images.** 1080×1920 (9:16) fills the screen; square or landscape photos get bars. Our [TikTok photo resizer](https://scheduleforyou.com/tools/tiktok-photo-resizer) crops or pads them to fit.
- **Keep text out of the bottom fifth.** The caption and buttons cover it.
- **Pick a sound that fits the pace.** Trending sounds help discovery, but the music shouldn't fight the reading.
- **End with a reason to act.** A final slide with "Save this for later" or a question invites saves and comments.

## Schedule TikTok slideshows in advance

TikTok's own scheduler (in TikTok Studio on desktop) handles videos, and photo-post support there has varied by account. Schedule For You publishes TikTok photo posts with up to 35 images: upload the slides, write the caption, choose public, friends or only me, and pick a time or a queue slot. The same images can go to an Instagram carousel in the same draft, tailored for each. The [TikTok scheduler page](https://scheduleforyou.com/tiktok) lists what's supported, and plans start at $19 a month for 15 connected accounts.

## Why your slideshow isn't working

- **It posted as a video.** You missed the Photo toggle in step 6. Delete it and post again.
- **The photos look cropped.** They weren't 9:16. Resize first.
- **No music option.** Some sounds aren't licensed for business accounts; pick one from the Commercial Music Library.
- **Few views.** Photo posts get recommended like videos, but don't qualify for the Creator Rewards Program at the time of writing. See [why your TikTok isn't getting views](https://scheduleforyou.com/blog/why-is-my-tiktok-not-getting-views) for the usual causes.

## Frequently asked questions

### How many photos can a TikTok slideshow have?
Up to 35 photos in photo mode, at the time of writing. Templates take a fixed number set by the template.

### Can you make a TikTok slideshow on a computer?
Yes, on TikTok's website or TikTok Studio you can upload images as a photo post on most accounts. Music and effect options are more limited than in the app.

### How long does each slide show for?
Viewers swipe at their own pace. If they don't swipe, the post can auto-advance with the sound; you don't set exact timings in photo mode. For exact timings, use a template or edit a video.

### Why did my slideshow turn into a video?
TikTok sometimes switches to video mode after you tap Next. Check that Photo is selected on the editing screen before you post.

### Can you schedule a TikTok slideshow?
Yes. A scheduler that supports TikTok photo posts, such as Schedule For You, publishes up to 35 images at the time you pick.

## Related

- [All guides](https://scheduleforyou.com/blog)
- [Pricing](https://scheduleforyou.com/pricing)