Share a Keynote that plays on an iPhone
Most people will read your deck on a phone. Sending the .key file means they need the Keynote app; sending a PDF means they get stills. A hosted link gives them the real deck in Safari.
Why the .key file fails on a phone
A .key file only opens in Keynote. If the recipient does not have the app, or opens the message on Android or Windows, they get nothing. Even with the app, a 200 MB file has to download fully before the first slide appears.
The link route
Three steps, all on your Mac.
- In Keynote: File → Export To → HTML… and save the export.
- Right-click the exported folder and choose Compress to make a .zip.
- Upload the .zip on the Linkdeck home page and copy the link.
What happens when they tap the link
It opens in Safari, no app and no Apple ID. The deck runs in landscape and fills the screen; a tap advances to the next build or slide. Embedded video plays inside the slide.
Sound starts on the first tap. iOS blocks audio until the viewer interacts with the page, so Linkdeck holds any audio and starts it the moment they tap.
Android and laptops too
The same link works in Chrome on Android and in any desktop browser. You send one URL and stop thinking about which device is on the other end.
Make the deck phone-friendly
A few things that help on a five-inch screen.
- Keep text large. Anything under 24 pt in Keynote is hard to read on a phone.
- Keep video short. Long clips mean a long wait on cellular.
- Open the link on your own phone before you send it.
Free and Pro
Free hosts one deck up to 200 MB for 3 days. Pro (€12 a month) hosts 10 decks up to 500 MB with no expiry, a custom slug, password, email gate, comments, replace in place, per-slide analytics and your own end card.
Questions
Does the viewer need the Keynote app?
No. The link opens in Safari or any other browser. Nothing is installed and no Apple ID is needed.
Why is there no sound when the link opens?
iOS, Android and desktop browsers block audio until the viewer taps the page once. Linkdeck queues the audio and starts it on that first tap, so the viewer hears it a moment later rather than never.
Does it work over cellular?
Yes. It is a web page. Decks heavy with video take longer to load on a slow connection, so keep clips short if your audience is on the move.
Send a link, not a file
Upload one Keynote export free, then open the link on your own iPhone.