How to Insert, Add & Embed a Video in PowerPoint

Adding a video to PowerPoint makes a presentation far more engaging. This guide breaks down how to insert, add and embed a video in PowerPoint, step by step, whether the clip lives on your computer or on YouTube, and whether you are on Windows or Mac.

PowerPoint uses all three words for the same menu. Insert is the tab you click, embed describes a video saved inside the file, and add is what most people call it. This guide covers both routes.

Let's dive in.

Why add videos to PowerPoint?

Why consider putting a video in your PowerPoint in the first place? For starters, videos inject energy and boost engagement, transforming static information into lively content.

A short demo or walkthrough often explains a process faster than several slides of bullet points, because your audience can watch the thing happen instead of reading a description of it.

Videos also add a personal touch and enable storytelling.

Think of it as making your viewers' experience better. It's not just hearing or reading; it's visually seeing and helps connect people emotionally to what you're saying.

Simply put, videos in PowerPoint make your shows better.

Let's learn the 'how-to'.

How to prepare for video embedding

Before you dive into how to embed videos into PowerPoint, take note of a few crucial things to do first:

• Check your PowerPoint version: Video embeds are supported by PowerPoint 2010 and later versions. If you have an older version, consider upgrading to help you better integrate your video.
• Verify video file type: If embedding from your device, ensure the format is compatible with PowerPoint. Commonly supported formats include MP4, MOV, and AVI.
• A good connection: To embed online videos, ensure you have stable internet for smooth playback.

Now that you're set, let's get started!

How to embed online videos into a PowerPoint

Let's walk through how to embed an online video, like a YouTube clip, into your PowerPoint slide:

Step #1 - Find your video

Where your video is depends on how you embed it.

First, make sure your video is available on YouTube, Vimeo, Microsoft Stream, or SlideShare. These are the services PowerPoint supports, and YouTube is the most reliable of them. If your video isn't there, take the time to upload it first.

For this example, we'll use YouTube. 

Simply find the YouTube video you want to use. Copy the URL from the browser bar.

Step #2 - Embedding your video

Now, head over to your PowerPoint.

Open the slide in which you want to embed the video. Now follow these steps:

• Click Insert (the tab at the top)

• Select "Video."

• Select "Online Videos"

• Paste your URL into the text box.

You'll now see your video in your PowerPoint.

You can even adjust the design of your slides using the Designer tab on the right. As you can see, your video content is formatted into the design for you.

Voila! The video is now part of your main event.

Inserting an online video on Mac

PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 for Mac version 16.27 or later supports online videos from YouTube and Vimeo. The menu label differs from the Windows version:

1. Copy the video's URL from YouTube or Vimeo.
2. In PowerPoint, choose Insert → Video → Online Movie.
3. Paste the URL and select Insert.

If Online Movie is missing, update PowerPoint. You can also download the video as an MP4 and insert it with Insert → Video → Movie from File, which is covered in the next section.

How to embed offline videos into a PowerPoint

If you're using a video file saved on your device, PowerPoint has got you covered. Here's how you can embed offline videos:

Step #1 - Find and format your video

First, find the video on your computer.

This could be a Loom video. A training video. A video for your startup? A video you've produced with OBS. A video you've taken from YouTube. Whatever you want.

However, you must make sure it's in a format compatible with PowerPoint. MP4 encoded with H.264 video and AAC audio is the format Microsoft recommends, and the one most likely to play on someone else's machine. MOV, AVI, WMV and M4V also work, but they lean on the codecs installed locally, so they are riskier if you are presenting from a computer that isn't yours.

Step #2 - Embedding the video

Find the slide in your PowerPoint to which you wish to add the video. Now follow these steps.

• Click the Insert tab.

• Click "Video."

• Click "This Device"

Now, simply go to where you saved your video (as in Step #1) and click "Open."

Step #3 - Positioning and resizing the video

Once inserted, the video appears on your slide. 

Just like any object, you can drag it around to position it where you like. Need a bigger or smaller video? Drag the corners to resize. PowerPoint will maintain the video aspect ratio by default.

And there you go! Your offline video is firmly planted in your PowerPoint.

How to configure playback options

Fine-tuning your video playback ensures smooth, seamless screenings during presentations. Let's look at several useful options:

Note, Playback options are ONLY available to offline videos. You can't use playback options on a YouTube or other online videos. You will need to press play when you load the slide.

• Setting automatic play: Instead of clicking to start the video, you can set it to play automatically. Select the video, go to the 'Playback' tab, then choose 'Automatically' from the 'Start' options.

• Loop until stopped: Do you want your video to replay continuously until you stop it? Under the 'Playback' tab, check the 'Loop until Stopped' box.

• Rewind video after playing: Need your video to go back to the start once it finishes playing? Check the 'Rewind after Playing' box under the 'Playback' tab.

• Full-screen video: For a full-screen video playback, under the 'Playback' tab, click on the 'Play Full Screen' checkbox.

Adjust these settings as per your preference to get your video operating as desired.

Embedded vs linked videos, and file size

The difference matters the moment you email the deck to someone else:

• A video from This Device is embedded. The file is copied inside the .pptx, so the deck plays on any computer with no internet connection, but the file gets much bigger. A few minutes of 1080p footage can add hundreds of megabytes.
• An online video is linked. The deck stays small, but it needs a live internet connection and the video has to remain public at that URL.

If an embedded deck is too large to send, use File → Info → Compress Media on Windows to shrink the embedded clips, or compress the video before inserting it.

How to solve common problems

When adding videos to PowerPoint, here are the issues you are most likely to hit, and how to fix them:

• Video won't play: Usually an unsupported codec. Convert the clip to MP4 with H.264 and AAC and insert it again, which resolves most cases.

• Online video won't play: Online videos need an internet connection, and they stop working if the video is deleted or set to private. If you are presenting somewhere with unreliable wifi, download the video and embed it from your device instead.

• The video plays for you but not for a colleague: The clip was probably linked rather than embedded, or it relies on a codec their machine lacks. Re-insert it as an MP4 from This Device.

• Poor video quality or lagging: This might happen when your video's file size is too large. It may also mean the video resolution exceeds what PowerPoint can handle. You can try to compress the video or reduce its resolution.

Need to record your presentation for future use? Check out our comprehensive guide here on how to do it!

Conclusion

As you can see, adding videos to PowerPoint is super simple. Just click "Insert Video," select your file, and boom - you're ready for your close-up! You can even adjust how your vid plays to match your vibe.

If you run into trouble, double-check your video file type and size. Sometimes, those tiny details can throw things off.

Overall, using videos is a game changer for keeping your audience engaged. Seeing and hearing concepts just hits better than plain text on a slide. Videos help people catch your drift better and make presentations way more exciting. 

PS: If you use Tella to record the video in the first place, you can download it as an MP4 to embed in PowerPoint, or share it wherever you need it, whether that's Notion, Framer, Google Slides or Webflow.

Frequently asked questions

How do you insert a video into PowerPoint?

Open the slide you want, click the Insert tab, choose Video, then pick This Device to add a file from your computer or Online Videos to paste a link. The video appears on the slide, where you can drag to reposition it and pull the corners to resize it.

How do I embed a YouTube video in PowerPoint?

Copy the YouTube URL from your browser, then in PowerPoint go to Insert → Video → Online Videos and paste the link. The video stays hosted on YouTube rather than being saved into the file, so you need an internet connection to play it during your presentation.

Can you insert an online video in PowerPoint for Mac?

Yes. PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 for Mac version 16.27 or later supports online videos from YouTube and Vimeo. Choose Insert → Video → Online Movie, paste the video's URL and select Insert. If Online Movie is missing, update PowerPoint or insert a downloaded MP4 instead.

What video formats does PowerPoint support?

MP4 encoded with H.264 video and AAC audio is the format Microsoft recommends and the one most likely to play on any machine. PowerPoint also accepts MOV, AVI, WMV and M4V, though these depend more on the codecs installed on the computer running the slides.

Why will my video not play in PowerPoint?

The usual causes are an unsupported codec, an online video with no internet connection, or a linked file that was moved after it was inserted. Converting the clip to MP4 with H.264 and re-inserting it fixes most cases, since embedded MP4 files travel inside the presentation.

How do I make a video play automatically in PowerPoint?

Select the video, open the Playback tab and set Start to Automatically. The same tab has Loop until Stopped, Rewind after Playing and Play Full Screen. These options apply to videos inserted from your device, not to online videos.