How do I embed apps in my slides?

The slides editor lets you embed interactive apps directly into your slides — from classroom tools like timers and spinners to learning tools like Word Builder and Base Ten Blocks.

Browsing available apps

1. Open the Apps tab in the right sidebar (or press Shift+A)
2. Browse the available apps by category — choose the app you want to insert then click anywhere on the canvas to insert
3. Use the search bar to find a specific app — press Enter to instantly insert the first match

Inserting an app

1. Click on the app you want to insert
2. The top bar will show a hint: "Click to insert app"
3. Click anywhere on the slide to place the app
4. The app appears on your slide, ready to configure

To cancel inserting an app, press Escape or click the cancel button at the top.

Configuring an app

Once an app is placed, you can configure its settings:

1. Select the app on the slide
2. Click the Settings button on the floating toolbar, or use the settings button in the bottom-left corner of the app shape
3. Adjust the app's settings in the Settings panel

Pinning favourite apps

If you use certain apps frequently, you can favourite them for quick access at the top of the Apps panel. These are the same favourites available throughout the rest of the Hive.

App controls

When you select an app on a slide, the floating toolbar gives you these options:

• Settings: Open the app's configuration
• Delete: Remove the app from the slide
• Duplicate: Create a copy of the app with all its current settings
• Lock/Unlock: Prevent or allow the app from being accidentally moved
• Background colour: Change the app's background
• Zoom to fit: Zooms the camera to fit just the selected app in view. Handy for focusing on a particular element. The top bar will show a button to go back to the whole-slide view when you're zoomed in somewhere.

Apps in presentation mode

Apps remain fully interactive during presentation mode. You and your students can interact with timers, spinners, and other learning apps while you present.

Saved settings

App settings can work in two ways:

• Global settings: Changes to the app's settings apply everywhere the app is used across the Hive - both within slides, and on dedicated single-app pages
• Shape-local settings: Settings specific to this particular instance of the app on the slide

Note that when switching to global settings, any current settings you've made to the app in your slide will be replaced with those from your global settings.

Tips

• Browse the full app library — new apps are added regularly
• Use the search bar to quickly find the app you need
• Pin your most-used apps so they're always easy to find
• Apps can be resized and positioned like any other object on the slide
• Lock apps in place after positioning them to prevent accidental moves during editing