How to Insert, Add & Embed a Video in Google Slides

Curious about adding videos to your Google Slides presentations?

See how you can seamlessly incorporate multimedia content into your slides.

In this article, you'll learn:

• How to insert, add, and embed videos in Google Slides
• How to embed TikTok videos in Google Slides
• How to cut and edit video playback in Google Slides
• How to allow access to a video in Google Slides

How to insert a video into Google Slides

To insert a video into Google Slides, open your presentation, click Insert > Video, and choose a source:

1. Search — search YouTube for a video by name and pick it from the results.
2. By URL — paste a YouTube link.
3. Google Drive — choose a video you've uploaded to Drive.

Then click Select to drop the video onto your slide. The sections below walk through each method in detail — plus how to add TikTok videos, trim playback, and share access.

Can I add a Tella video or an MP4 to Google Slides?

Yes — use a video file uploaded to Google Drive, not Tella's embed code. Google's video insertion instructions list YouTube and Google Drive as the sources for Insert > Video.

For a Tella recording:

1. Open the finished video in Tella's editor and click Download. On a narrow screen, open More (…) first.
2. Choose Video (.mp4) as the file type and click Download video. See Tella's download guide for the export options.
3. Upload the downloaded MP4 to Google Drive with New > File upload.
4. In Google Slides, choose Insert > Video > Google Drive, select the uploaded file, and click Select.
5. Give your audience access to the Drive video as well as the presentation. The access checker described below helps with this.

If you already have an MP4 on your computer, start at step 3. A Tella share link is useful for watching the video in a browser, but it isn't the file you select in Google Slides.

How do I embed a video in Google Slides?

Let's get you all set up to embed videos in your Google Slides presentation. Here's what you need to do:

1. Prep

• First things first, make sure you have a Google Account. 
• Next, ensure you have a stable internet connection. Videos can be data-heavy, so a good connection will keep things running smoothly.
• Locate your video. Whether it's from a Google Meet session, YouTube, or a screen recording saved on your device, have it ready to go.

Don't have a video yet? Here's how to record a presentation on Google Slides with your screen, camera, and voiceover first — no paid Workspace plan required.

2. Open Google Slides

Log into your Google Drive account and click on New. 

Select Google Slides.

3. Embed your video

There are a couple of ways you can embed videos in Google Slides. Let's go over them.

How do you embed a video using a Google URL?

Upload your video to Google Drive by clicking New, then File Upload. 

Go to your Google Slides presentation. Click Insert > Video, then open the Google Drive tab.

Choose your uploaded video and click Select.

How do you add a YouTube video by searching?

The quickest way to add a YouTube video is to search for it without leaving Google Slides:

• In Google Slides, click Insert > Video, then stay on the Search tab.
• Type the video's name, press Enter, and choose it from the YouTube results.
• Click Select to add it to your slide.

How do you embed a video using a YouTube URL?

• Upload your video to YouTube, or choose an existing video on YouTube.
• Copy the video's URL.
• In Google Slides, click Insert > Video, then open the By URL tab.
• Paste the YouTube URL.

Choose the video and click Select.

How do you embed a TikTok video into Google Slides?

• Download the TikTok video.
• Upload it to Google Drive.
• In Google Slides, click Insert > Video, then open the Google Drive tab.
• Choose the uploaded file and click Select.

Now, your TikTok video is embedded in your Google Slides presentation, ready to enhance your content. When you share the presentation, Slides' access checker will prompt you to give your audience access to the video.

How do I cut and edit video playback in Google Slides?

Now that you know how to embed a video in Google Slides, here's a quick guide to cutting and editing its playback. 

Choose the video on your slide. Click on Format > Format Options in the top right corner.

• Scroll down to Video Playback and trim the video's start and end times as needed.
• Enable Autoplay when presenting if desired.
• Use the Mute audio option if you prefer.
• Play around with these settings until your slide feels just right.

With these steps, you can easily customize your video playback to fit seamlessly into your Google Slides presentation. You can also add a variety of transitions and animations to spruce up your presentation.

How do I allow access to a video in Google Slides?

Click on the blue Share button in the upper right corner of your Slides.

• Adjust the permissions to make sure your audience can view the video.
• Within Google Slides, you have the option to customize videos from YouTube or Google Drive, allowing you to play specific segments or set them to autoplay. This adds a touch of interactivity to your presentation.

Wrapping up

Adding videos to Google Slides is straightforward. Whether it's from Google Drive, YouTube, TikTok, or another source - integration is smooth. Give it a try and take your presentations to the next level.

For a Tella recording, download the finished MP4 and use the Google Drive method above. If you want to send the video without a slide deck, use a Tella share link instead.