How to get around the error “The file is too large to open. Please try with a smaller file.”

If you are trying to open a shared Google slides file that is too big and see this frustrating error:

Don’t panic. It is a problem with the link, which directs Google to open the file using Google Slides.

You need to change these two things in the URL. Edit the URL and change docs to drive and presentation to file

Press enter on the address bar, and you will be able to download the file.