how to include video in powerpoint presentation

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5 Ways to Embed a Video File in Microsoft PowerPoint

Last Updated: March 27, 2024 Fact Checked

Embedding a Web Video

Embedding a video file, embedding a stock video, using android, linking movie files (powerpoint 2007).

This article was co-authored by Mitch Harris and by wikiHow staff writer, Rain Kengly . Mitch Harris is a Consumer Technology Expert based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Mitch runs his own IT Consulting company called Mitch the Geek, helping individuals and businesses with home office technology, data security, remote support, and cybersecurity compliance. Mitch earned a BS in Psychology, English, and Physics and graduated Cum Laude from Northern Arizona University. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,127,318 times.

If you want to spruce up your PowerPoint presentations, you can add a video to your slides. If you have a video file on your computer, you can easily embed it into your presentation. You can also embed YouTube videos, use looping stock videos, or, on older versions of PowerPoint, link to the videos. This wikiHow will show you how to add a video to Microsoft PowerPoint using your Windows, Mac, or Android device.

Things You Should Know

• Copy a YouTube URL. In PowerPoint, click "Insert' → "Video" → "Online Videos/Movie". Paste the URL and click "Insert".
• To embed a video file, click "Insert" → "Video" → "This Device" → select a file → "Insert".
• To use a stock video, click "Insert" → "Video" → "Stock Videos" → select a video → "Insert".

• You must have a subscription to use Office 365 . [1] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source
• Adding a video to your PowerPoint can help you make a great presentation .

• You can insert a video from supported websites such as: YouTube, SlideShare, Vimeo, Microsoft Stream, and Flip.

• On Mac, this will look like Online Movie .

• You'll see a preview of the video.

• To adjust when the video plays, click the drop-down menu next to Start: . Select In Click Sequence , Automatically , or When Clicked On .
• Check the boxes to apply any of the following: Play Full Screen , Hide While Not Playing , Loop until Stopped , and/or Rewind after Playing .
• Click Volume to adjust the video's volume. Select Low , Medium , High , or Mute .

• Select the web video and click the Video Format tab.
• Click Poster Frame on the left of the toolbar.
• Click Image from File… .
• Select From a File , Stock Images , Online Pictures , or From Icons .
• Select the image source from the chosen method, and then click Insert .

• Stock videos work best as a background graphic to your PowerPoint text, since these videos loop seamlessly

• The stock video will be added to your slide. By default, it will cover the entire slide.

• PowerPoint is available for Android in the Google Play Store .

• The menu will open.

• If you want to take a video using your camera, tap Open Camera instead.
• The video file will be added to your PowerPoint.

• Videos can only be "embedded" (included in the presentation file itself) in PowerPoint 2010 or newer.

• Click the Office button and select "Publish."
• Select "Package for CD" and then select your presentation.
• Ensure that "Linked files" is selected in the "Options" menu.

Community Q&A

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• ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/insert-a-video-from-youtube-or-another-site-8340ec69-4cee-4fe1-ab96-4849154bc6db#OfficeVersion=Windows
• ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/insert-audio-or-video-in-powerpoint-for-android-95e0a2af-35fb-405a-8536-cdcd934f659a
• ↑ https://support.office.com/en-us/article/My-movie-doesn-t-play-190cf574-183d-4b7f-b627-3783a14b7b07?ui=en-US&rs=en-US&ad=US
• ↑ https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Add-and-play-a-movie-in-a-presentation-f3fcbd3e-5f86-4320-8aea-31bff480ed02

About This Article

1. Open the slide. 2. Click Insert . 3. Click Movie . 4. Click Movie from File or Video on my PC . 5. Select the video and click OK . 6. Click Playback . 7. Choose how to play the video. 8. Save your presentation. Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to embed a video in PowerPoint for a more engaging presentation

What type of content do you primarily create?

Making an engaging PowerPoint presentation is no easy feat.

You have to figure out what to say, and what you want your audience to grasp. Then, decide how to bring the two together to deliver a compelling presentation.

One popular way to add flair is by embedding video into the content, like what Dr. Frans de Waal did in his TED Talk on inequity aversion . To emphasize his points, he included videos of animal experiments, turning a mind-numbingly boring topic into an engaging and viral presentation—which now has over 5 million views.

In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn how to embed a video in PowerPoint so you can create exceptional presentations that grab your audience’s attention and help them remember what you said.

How to embed a video in PowerPoint from your PC or Mac

First, of course, you’ll need a video, either one online or from your media library. The next step is to find a way to make it play during your PowerPoint presentation. You could do it manually by bringing up the video from another website or program while you’re speaking, but that process is clunky and you might end up facing technical challenges.

Luckily, there are simpler and easier methods of embedding videos in PowerPoint. You can link to your video file externally or embed it directly in your presentation. 

Use the tutorial below to insert videos in PowerPoint from a computer.

How to embed a video in PowerPoint in Windows

Step 1: select the powerpoint slide.

Launch Microsoft PowerPoint on a Windows computer and open a blank or existing PowerPoint file. 

Then, go to the slide you want to embed a video and select the Insert tab in the toolbar.

Step 2: Click Video > This Device

Select the Video option. Here, you can either embed a video from your computer or from an online source, like a website or YouTube and other supported platforms.

Click This Device from the drop-down menu to embed a video from a folder on your computer.  

PowerPoint supports MP4 files encoded with H.264 video and AAC audio. So, you can upload videos in file formats, such as M4V, MOV, ASF, AVI, MPG, MPEG, or WMV.

If you don't want to play a video full screen, resize it to your preferred dimensions.

For precise height-to-width proportions:

• Select Format (PowerPoint 2013 or newer) or Options (PowerPoint 2010) in the Size group
• Click the Dialog Box Launcher Icon image
• Click Size, then select the Lock aspect ratio checkbox under Scale 
• Enter your preferred height and width under Size and rotate or enter the percentage of size that you want in the Scale height and width boxes

Then, select Video Format to access formatting options like borders and effects or right-click the video for more options. You can also use the Designer tool to choose from professional slide templates. 

Then, click the Playback tab to trim your video, add captions, choose playback options, like In Click Sequence, Automatically, or When Clicked On.

Note: In PowerPoint for Microsoft Office 365 or PowerPoint 2016 version 1709 or later, you can use the In Click Sequence option. This way, your video can play in sequence with other actions you’ve programmed on the slide, like animations or transitions. 

To insert a web video, select Video > Online Videos . 

Note: PowerPoint supports YouTube, SlideShare, Vimeo, Stream, and Flip video providers.

Step 3: Click Insert

If you choose to embed an online video, copy the link to the video you want to embed and paste it in the blank field. A preview of your video will appear in the Insert video pop-up.

Click the Insert button to embed the video in your presentation. 

PowerPoint will download and insert the video on the selected slide. You can drag the edges of the video thumbnail to resize it, then use Video Format options, like shape, border, and effects to enhance the video. 

Select the Playback tab to insert captions or choose how your video plays (automatically or when clicked). 

Note: You can’t change when an online video starts. But if you’re embedding a YouTube video, you can copy the video URL at the current time to link from a specific start time. 

Click the Slide Show tab to preview the video with all the formatting changes you made. Then, save your presentation to your computer or click the Share button to move or copy it to the cloud.

How to embed a video in PowerPoint on a Mac

To embed a video in PowerPoint for Mac, you’ll need to save the video file in the same folder as your presentation.

Launch PowerPoint and open a blank or existing presentation, then select the slide you’d like to add a video to. 

Select Insert .

Step 2: Click Video > From File

Click Video to access video embed options from the drop-down menu:

• Video browser
• Video from file
• Stock videos
• Online film

Select Video from file to insert a video file from your Mac.

In the Choose a Video dialog box, select the video file you want to insert, then click the Insert button to embed the video on the slide.

If you want to put a link to the video on the slide, click Show Options in the lower left corner of the dialog box. 

Then, select the Link to file box, and click Insert .

Select the Video Format tab to add effects and choose whether your video will play automatically or when clicked.

Tip: If you’re using the 2016 version of PowerPoint (or newer), you can play back videos with multiple audio tracks. These versions also support closed captions and subtitles embedded in video files.

Select the Playback tab to do the following:

• Trim your video
• Add fade in and fade out effects
• Play the video on full screen or hide during the show
• Insert captions
• Select start time options (in click sequence, automatically, or when clicked)
• Loop the video to play repeatedly and continuously during the presentation
• Rewind your video

How to embed a video in PowerPoint from YouTube

Embedding a YouTube video to a PowerPoint presentation is simple. You can use the video URL or integrated search function to embed a video you uploaded to YouTube or someone else’s video (with permission).

To add a video to your PowerPoint presentation, you’ll copy the video embed code and paste it into the slide you want. The code will load the video at the source and play it on the platform you’re using. 

You won’t need to download and upload the video from YouTube and the video will load and play faster regardless of the file size. Plus, you can share video content that’s covered under copyright, so you’re not in danger of crossing any legal lines. 

Follow these steps to embed a video in PowerPoint from YouTube on a Windows PC or Mac. 

How to embed a video in PowerPoint from YouTube in Windows

Step 1: click “insert video”.

Open a PowerPoint presentation and select the slide you want to embed your video.

Click Insert > Video .

Step 2: Choose “Online video”

Select the Online Videos option.

Step 3: Insert the URL from YouTube

Right-click the video to copy the video link or embed code, or click Share to get the embed code. Then, paste the URL or embed code in the link field. 

A preview of your video will appear in the Insert video dialog box.

Click Insert to embed the video in your presentation. 

Resize the video thumbnail, then use the video formatting options to enhance it. 

Click Playback play the video automatically or when clicked or add captions. Then, preview the video with all the edits you made and save or share your presentation.

Note: YouTube’s video file formats are similar to those PowerPoint supports, so your video will likely play without issues. However, YouTube supports some formats that PowerPoint doesn’t, including FLV, 3GPP, WebM, DNxHR, ProRes, HEVC (h265), and CineForm. If your video isn’t playing, check to make sure it’s a supported file format.

How to embed a video in PowerPoint from YouTube on a Mac

Step 2: choose “online film”.

Select Online Film . 

A URL pop-up will appear prompting you to enter the link to the YouTube video.

Go to YouTube and copy the link or embed code of the video you want to embed in your presentation. You can right-click the video and select copy video URL or copy embed code, or click Share and copy the video link or embed code.

Paste the video link or embed code in the URL pop-up in your PowerPoint presentation, then click Insert .

Resize your video and polish your slides before saving the presentation to your computer.

How to insert a video file link in PowerPoint

Embedding a video in PowerPoint may be convenient, but it increases the size of your presentation. 

To reduce your presentation file size, insert a video file link to create a linked video. The downside with linked videos is that links can break, but you can prevent this by copying and storing your presentation and linked videos in the same folder, then linking to the video there.

Ensure you have a stable internet connection, then use the steps below to insert a video file link in PowerPoint on a PC or Mac.

Insert a video file link in PowerPoint on a PC or Mac

Step 1: take a screenshot of the video.

Find the video you want to link to in PowerPoint and take a screenshot of the clip. 

To take a screenshot in Windows, you can either use the Snipping tool, press the PrtScn (print screen) key and Windows Logo key on your keyboard. 

If you’re using a Mac computer, you can take a screenshot by pressing and holding SHIFT + COMMAND + 3 keys together (for full screenshot) or SHIFT + COMMAND + 4 keys to screenshot a specific area. 

Step 2: Insert the screenshot in your presentation

Alternatively, navigate to the slide you want to add your screenshot to, select Insert > Pictures > Picture from File . Then, find the screenshot you took, select Insert to add it to the slide, then crop, resize, and position it to your liking.

Step 3: Hyperlink the image to your video

Right-click the image and select Link . 

If your video is in Descript, copy the video link from your dashboard.

 Insert the video link in the address field then click OK .

The hyperlink will be connected to the image itself, not other elements on the slide or the entire slide.

Click Slide Show to test your video and ensure it links to the right video. When you click on the image, it will open in a web browser, ready for you to play.

Why can’t I embed a video in PowerPoint?

Embedding videos to a PowerPoint presentation is a straightforward process, but sometimes the video may fail to play. Let’s review some reasons for playback failure and how to resolve them.

Video playback issues

Video playback may fail in PowerPoint if:

• The storage folder is corrupt
• The video’s audio is out of sync
• The video file is corrupt, damaged, in an unsupported file format, or missing certain files

How to fix: Convert your video into a supported file format, check PowerPoint playback settings, or make the video visible by unchecking the Hide while not playing option in the playback tab. You can also save your presentation using the PPT or PPTX extension, so it’s easier to open the file in older or modern Office versions. 

File size and compatibility

Your video might not play if the file is too big. To resolve this issue, compress the media file by going to File > Info > Compress Media. Then, select one of these options: 

• Presentation quality/full HD: Adjusts the video size while maintaining its quality.
• Internet quality/HD: Saves on space and video quality.
• Low quality/Standard: Saves more space but doesn’t keep overall video and audio quality. This option is ideal if you want to share the presentation with others and ensure your videos will still play.  

If your video file is incompatible with PowerPoint, it may be in an unsupported file format or missing a codec. 

How to fix: Convert the video to a supported format or add a missing codec to your computer for smooth playback.

Broken links

When adding an online video, you might accidentally enter an incorrect link or the video link may be broken at the source. This means it won’t embed correctly and won’t play when you’re presenting. 

How to fix: Before inserting or embedding an online video, install the required updates for your version of PowerPoint and check that you’ve copied the right link. Then, test your video to ensure it plays on any device.

Make the best videos to embed in PowerPoint with Descript

Embedding a video in PowerPoint is a pretty simple process with several benefits for you and your audience. To prevent yawns and glazed-over eyes, you’ll need professional-quality videos that will draw your audience in, keep them engaged, and improve message recall.

Descript’s audio and video editing software lets you record, edit, and publish studio-grade videos to YouTube, then embed them in your PowerPoint presentations in a few clicks. 

Plus, Descript’s AI-powered automatic transcription generates high-quality transcripts from your video’s audio, which you can use as notes while making your presentation. You can also use Descript’s AI features to get text summaries, auto-generate copy for social media posts, and enhance your audio with Studio Sound .

Take Descript for a spin today to make quality videos that will help you deliver exceptional PowerPoint presentations.

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How to Embed a Video in PowerPoint (Step-by-Step)

• PowerPoint Tutorials
• Shortcuts & Hacks
• September 27, 2019

In this article, you’ll learn how to embed a video in PowerPoint directly from your hard drive as pictured below.

On top of that, you’ll learn what you can and can’t do when embedding videos into PowerPoint, including:

• How to trim a video (including how to trim a YouTube video)
• Getting your video to play full screen
• Creating a video thumbnail or Poster Frame
• How to compress your videos

If you want to grab the latest version of Microsoft Office (Microsoft 365) like I’m using in this tutorial, you can check it out here .

But before you get carried away adding videos to PowerPoint, it’s important to first understand what your options are.

Table of Contents

Embedding online videos vs. desktop videos.

• Videos from your computer
• Videos from online sources like YouTube

1. Video size

2. Internet connection

Online videos require a good – STRONG – internet connection to play properly.

That means that if you embed a YouTube video in your PowerPoint and the conference room you are presenting in has a weak internet connection, you are in trouble.

So I highly recommend spot checking the internet quality of the room you will be presenting in before working with any online video in your presentation.

If your internet connection is weak, be prepared to skip the video in your presentation.

3. Playback options

How to embed a video in PowerPoint

To embed a video in PowerPoint from your computer, simply:

• Navigate to the  Insert  tab
• Open the  Video  drop down (within the Media group)
• Choose  Video on my PC
• Navigate to where the video resides on your PC
• Select the  Video
• Click  Insert

Clicking  Insert , the video is added to your PowerPoint slide as an editable PowerPoint object, as you can see below.

With the video now inserted on your slide, you can use the features found in the  Video Playback  and  Formatting  tabs. These tabs will be discussed below.

If you convert your presentation into a video, your embedded video will play within your video (if that makes sense). To learn how to convert PowerPoint to video,  read our guide here .

How to trim an embedded video in PowerPoint

• Select  your video
• Navigate to the  Playback  tab
• Select the  Trim Video  command
• Adjust the  Green Start Time ​ cursor
• Adjust the  Red End Time  cursor

How to add a Video thumbnail

Adding a video thumbnail (or what PowerPoint calls a  Poster Frame ) is super easy.

But this is only applicable to videos you add to your presentation from your computer. That’s because online videos will automatically populate with whatever thumbnail their creator gave it (you cannot edit it or change it in PowerPoint).

There are two types of thumbnails you can add to your videos in PowerPoint:

• Use a frame from your video as the thumbnail (easiest)
• Import your own custom thumbnail image (most flexible)

Neither is better or worse (your video will still play the same either way), it’s just a personal preference.

What is a video thumbnail and why is it important?

A video thumbnail is simply an image that is displayed before you play your video. You will see these on YouTube videos all the time before you click to play them.

In PowerPoint, the thumbnail image can become an important part of your overall slide design theme.

If you don’t add your own thumbnail, the first frame of your video will automatically be used as the video’s  Poster Frame .

Adding a  Poster Frame  is an optional step, but can go a long way to improving the overall design of your PowerPoint slides.

Here are the different ways to add a thumbnail or Poster Frame to your embedded video:

1. Using a video frame as the thumbnail (or Poster Frame)

• Scrub to the video frame you want to use as your thumbnail
• Navigate to the  Video Format  tab
• Open the  Poster Frame  drop down
• Select  Current Frame

2. Importing a video thumbnail (or Poster Frame)

• Choose  Image from file…
• Select  From a File
• Navigate  to the image on your computer
• Select the image you wan to use

​For help creating your own video thumbnail, you can see how to crop photos in PowerPoint  and how to remove an image background .​​

How to reset a thumbnail (or Poster Frame)

• Select  Reset

How to make a video play full screen

• Select  the video on your slide
• Navigate to the  Playback  tab
• Click  Play Full Screen

Getting an online video to play full screen

How to compress a video in PowerPoint

• Navigate to  File
• Select the  Info  tab (selected by default)
• Open the  Compress Media  drop down
• Choose between  1080p ,  720p  and  480p ​

• ​ Full HD (1080p) : Save space while maintaining overall audio and video quality.
• HD (720p):  Quality will be comparable to media which is streamed over the Internet.
• Standard (480p):  Use when space is limited, such as when sending presentations via e-mail.

So that’s how to embed a video in PowerPoint, including how to embed a YouTube video in PowerPoint.

You also learned about the different formatting options available to you, which can determine which type of video you want to embed in your PowerPoint presentations in the first place.

When used well, videos are a great way to back up your main points and improve the overall quality of your presentation as they are more engaging than static images.

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How to Insert a Video in PowerPoint (from a File on Your PC or Shared Drive)

Insert or Embed a Video in a PowerPoint Presentation from a File and Set Playback Options

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated October 9, 2021

Applies to: Microsoft ® PowerPoint ® 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 365 (Windows)

You can insert a video into a PowerPoint  presentation from a file on your PC or from a shared drive. Video can help to engage your audience and focus attention. In 2010 and later versions, video files are embedded or copied into PowerPoint by default so video files can increase file size significantly.

Recommended article : How to Compress Video and Audio Media in PowerPoint to Reduce File Size

Do you want to learn more about PowerPoint?  Check out our virtual classroom or live classroom  PowerPoint courses >

When inserting video in PowerPoint, consider the following:

• PowerPoint 2010 and later versions support common video formats such as WMV (Windows Media Video file), ASF (Windows Media file), MP3 and MP4 (Movie files) and AVI (Windows Video File).
• The default format for PowerPoint 2013 and later versions is MP4.
• In 2010 and later versions, video is embedded by default not linked as in previous versions.
• If you choose to link to a video, it's good practice to copy the video file to the same folder as your presentation before you link. You will not be able to apply certain types of formatting to linked videos.

Note: Buttons and Ribbon tabs may display in a different way (with or without text) depending on your version of PowerPoint, the size of your screen and your Control Panel settings. For PowerPoint 365 users, Ribbon tabs may appear with different names. For example, the Video Tools Playback tab may appear as Video Playback.

Although you can insert a video in Slide Master View, we'll assume here that most of your videos will be inserted on slides in Normal View.

Inserting a video from a file

To insert a video from a file and embed it on a slide:

• In Normal View, navigate to the slide where you want to insert a video.
• Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
• Click Video. A drop-down menu appears.
• Depending on your PowerPoint version, choose Video on My Computer, Video on My PC or This Device. A dialog box appears.
• Navigate to the folder where your video is saved and click the video to select it.
• On the bottom right of the dialog box, click Insert to embed the video. You can also double-click it. If you click the drop-down menu beside Insert, you can choose Link to File. If you decide to link rather than embed, you may want to copy your video or movie clip to the same folder as your presentation before you insert it on your slide. PowerPoint will place the video in the center of the slide.
• In Normal View, click the video and then Play on the media controls to play the video.

After you insert a video, two tabs will appear in the Ribbon when you click the video (Video Tools Playback and Format or Video Playback and Format) in Normal View.

Below is the Video Tools Playback tab in the Ribbon with a video selected (this may appear as Video Playback):

Below is the Video Tools Format tab in the Ribbon with a video selected (this may appear as Video Format):

Playing a video automatically or when clicked

You can change the way a video plays when you run a slide show.

To control the way a video plays during a slide show:

• In Normal View, click the video on the slide.
• Click the Video Tools Playback or Video Playback tab in the Ribbon.
• In the Video Options group, beside Start, choose In Click Sequence, When Clicked On or Automatically from the drop-down menu.

If you select When Clicked On, you must click directly on the video when running a slide show.

Playing a video full screen

You can play a video so that it fills the entire screen when you run a slide show. However, depending on the resolution of the original video file, it might appear distorted if the video is lower quality.

Be sure to preview your video so that if the video appears distorted or blurry, you can turn off the full screen option. If you set a video to be displayed full screen and it is also set to start automatically, you can drag the video frame off the slide into the gray work area so that it will not be visible on the slide or flash briefly before the video goes to full screen.

To set a video to play full screen during a slide show:

• In the Video Options group, select the Play Full Screen check box.

Controlling video volume

To control video volume:

• In the Video Options group, click Volume and then choose Low, Medium, High or Mute.
• You can also set the volume of a video by using the volume slider on media controls that appear below the video.

Be sure that volume is turned on through your Control Panel settings on your computer.

Hiding a video when not playing

During a presentation, you can hide a video until you are ready to play it. However, you should create an automatic or triggered animation to start the video or you won't see it play during the slide show.

To hide a video when not playing:

• In the Video Options group, select the Hide While Not Playing check box.

Looping a video

To play a video continuously during a presentation, you can loop the video:

• In the Video Options group, select the Loop until Stopped check box.

Rewinding a video after playing

To rewind a video after playing during your presentation:

• In the Video Options group, select the Rewind after Playing check box.

Showing media controls during a slide show

To show the media controls during your presentation when running a slide show:

• In Normal View, click the Slide Show tab in the Ribbon.
• In the Set up group, select the Show Media Controls check box.

Fading a video in or out

You can start or end your video with a fade effect for a certain number of seconds.

To start or end a video with a fade effect:

• In the Editing group, under Fade Duration, choose or enter a duration for Fade In or Fade Out. To add a timed fade to the beginning of your video, in the Fade In box, click the up and down arrows to increase or decrease the fade in time. To add a timed fade to the end of your video, in the Fade Out box, click the up or down arrows to increase or decrease the fade out time.

Cropping a video

You can also crop a video in PowerPoint to remove specific areas in the video.

To crop a video:

• Click the Video Tools Format or Video Format tab in the Ribbon.
• Click Crop in the Size group.
• Position the pointer over a black cropping handle and drag the handle.
• Click Crop again to finish cropping.

Trimming a video

You can trim video at the beginning and end of each clip so you can start at any point and end the clip earlier. Trimming is different from cropping.

To trim a video clip:

• In the Editing group, click Trim Video. A dialog box appears.
• To trim the beginning of the clip, click the start point (a green marker on the far left). When the pointer becomes a two-headed arrow, drag the arrow to the desired starting position.
• To trim the end of the clip, click the end point (a red marker on the right). When the pointer becomes a two-headed arrow, drag the arrow to the desired ending position.

In this article, we've reviewed inserting video files in PowerPoint presentations from a PC or shared drive, controlling playback during a slide show as well as cropping and trimming. In future articles, we'll look at video formatting techniques and how to export a PowerPoint presentation as a video.

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More resources

How to Embed a YouTube Video in PowerPoint

How to Highlight Text in PowerPoint (5 Ways)

How to Add Audio in PowerPoint Presentations

A Beginner's Guide to Video Formats in PowerPoint

PowerPoint Keyboard Shortcuts to Play and Control Video During a Slide Show

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How to Embed a Video In PowerPoint [2022 User Guide]

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Videos have become a pivotal part of presentations. And not only. All types of content rely on videos – regardless if they are informational, educational, or sales content. According to Invideo ,

The average person is about to watch around 100 minutes of video content PER DAY in 2022.

This piece of stats only adds to the fact that people around the world embrace video content more and more, and will prefer it over text. In this article, we will show you how to embed a video in PowerPoint, so you can grab your audience’s attention and make them rate your presentation.

Article overview: 1. Why insert a video in PowerPoint? 2. How to embed a video in PowerPoint? 3. How to edit a video in PowerPoint?

1. Why insert a video in PowerPoint?

Before we show you how to embed videos in PowerPoint, we need to start with the reasons why you should add videos to your PowerPoint presentation.

✔️Reason #1 – People hate boring presentations

79% of people say they find most presentations boring. If you insert video content in your PowerPoint presentations, there’s no guarantee your presentation will be more likable. But you’ll certainly increase your chances to stand out.

✔️Reason #2 – Short attention span

Distractions are one major problem for presenters. Over the years, the average attention span has shrunk to just 8 seconds. Apart from the best practices to start and end a presentation , you can also keep your audience hooked when you embed videos in PowerPoint.

✔️Reason #3 – People absorb video content better

Your end goal is to convey your message no matter what your presentation is about. According to stats, audiences only retain 10% of the information they’ve seen in a text, compared to 95% in videos . If Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai can give up on bulk texts and bullet points, what stops you from following his presenting style?

2. How to embed a video in PowerPoint?

In 2022, a PowerPoint presentation can be a powerful tool that can impress audiences and sell great ideas. That’s why Microsoft has ensured they are in line with the recent digital marketing trends .

There are not one but three ways to insert videos in PowerPoint ! We will cover all of them in our tutorial.

2.1. How to insert a video into PowerPoint from my computer?

When to use : If you have your own videos to share in the presentation.

The best thing about adding videos in PowerPoint is that there is a dedicated menu. And in case some steps seem familiar, don’t get surprised.

Our first option is computer imports.  Let’s see how to add a video from a PC or Mac.

Step 2 : Pick Video , and then go to This computer – the first option.

Step 3 : Select a file of your choice and then click Insert .

2.2. How to embed a stock video in PowerPoint?

Stock videos are great options for corporate presentations. Paired with some great PowerPoint templates for download , you can capture the attention of your audience. You have over 20 categories to choose from and if you prefer, you can use the search bar to find what you need. While there isn’t much of a choice compared to YouTube and Vimeo (which we will discuss later), picking stock videos ensures you won’t have copyright issues with your presentations.

Let’s see how to insert a stock video in PowerPoint.

Step 1 : Select Insert from the menu ribbon (this step is the same).

Step 2 : Pick Video , and then go to Stock Videos – the second option.

Step 3 : Choose which video you want to select and then press Insert .

2.3. How to embed a third-party video in PowerPoint?

Without a doubt, most people ask how to embed a YouTube video in PowerPoint, as this is the best place to find video resources. But you can not only embed a video from YouTube in PowerPoint, you can also insert one from other platforms like Vimeo, Slideshare, Stream, and Flipgrid. All you need to do is just copy the address of the video URL and paste it into the search bar. Let’s see how to do so.

Step 2 : Pick Video , and then go to Online Videos  – the third option.

Step 3 : Copy the video URL and paste it into the search bar.

Step 4 : When the video preview appears, click Insert .

N.B. Embedding a video from an online source – WARNING⚠️

We need to warn you that adding videos to PowerPoint from online sources may affect the Video Format and Playback options. Also, embedding through the Web will cause a delay in loading time. I’ve personally found out that on average, a YouTube video embedded in PowerPoint starts playing in 5-6 seconds at least.

I ran an experiment where I added one Graphic Mama’s video from my computer, and it loaded instantly. It also didn’t have any formatting and playback issues. In conclusion, it may be best if you find a way to download your desired videos and upload them directly from your PC/Mac.

3. How to edit a video in PowerPoint?

If you learned how to upload a video in PowerPoint using these three methods mentioned above, that’s great. You have already made a lot of progress to satisfy your audience and meet your presentation goals. But your task doesn’t end here (unfortunately). You need to plan how your video will look and sound. Positioning your video, trimming unnecessary parts of it, etc., are all important things to consider.

Let’s see how to modify your PowerPoint videos so that they look great and add that “extra touch of finesse” to your slides.

3.1. How to format a video in PowerPoint?

Without a doubt, you need to check all the boxes when you upload your videos into PowerPoint. And the first thing to do is check your video format. Microsoft has added a lot of functions so that you can further customize the video experience for your audience.

Video Format Menu

As you can see, you can adjust the video, apply some video style, test it for accessibility, arrange it in the slide, and select its size. Let’s start.

3.1.1. How to apply visual color corrections?

Visual Corrections Presets

If you want to modify your contrast and exposure, you can use 25 pre-made color combinations between +40% and -40% brightness and contrast.

Visual Corrections Extended Menu

In case none of the presets delights you, you can manually adjust the brightness and contrast with 1% stops and values beyond +/- 40%.

3.1.2. Video Recolor

Sometimes, the video isn’t in your brand colors or you wish to make it more playful. The video recolor tool gives you just that – it applies a dramatic change to your video colors, in order to fit the Powerpoint templates colors or simply add some color punch. You’re left with three options: to pick something from the default options (21), choose a custom recolor variation, or check the video color options which are also found in Format Video Menu  on the right (check Visual Corrections Extended Menu  image).

3.1.3. Choosing Video Styles

Of course, choosing the right video style is important. It will be a decisive factor in measuring how well your audience will respond to the video. Picking one of the templates is okay but if you put some effort into choosing a video shape , video border , and video effects , you will notice a big difference.

Video Shape

Video Shapes can make your videos a ton better. The standard square format can be tweaked and if you add some imagination, you can end up with superb interactive elements – like arrows, comment boxes, etc.

Video Border

Video borders are very useful. They can outline the video, putting the focus on it, and the most important thing – separate the video from the background, especially if they are in similar colors.

Video Effects

Video effects are your playground. But seriously – these effects can make your embedded video stand out by adding some shadows, soft edges, glow effect, or simply giving it a smooth 3D look that will grab the audience.

3.1.4. Video Accessibility, Arrangement, and Dimensions

We decided to combine all these three under one section, as these are some of the standard options that don’t need much explanation. Alt text  is for people with visual impairment or if the resource doesn’t load due to a slow Internet connection. Typically, you need between 1-2 sentences to explain what is in the video. When you click on Alt text, a dialog box with instructions will appear on the right.

The Arrange and Size  options are related to where the video is positioned and how much space it will occupy from the slide. With Arrange , you can place the video anywhere on the slide, as well as rotate it, bring it back and forwards, and align it.

The Size  tools allow you to scale the video up and down, crop it, and by default – lock the aspect ratio. To manage the alignment and size at the same time (as these two settings go well together), there is a special dedicated menu that you can access by clicking on the small arrow (check the cursor).

3.2. How to manage Video Playback in PowerPoint?

Learning how to embed a video in PowerPoint is important but just as crucial is the way you play the video – which parts are you going to show, which effects you will add, and decide if you will add or skip adding captions. All these things can make a difference.

3.2.1. How to add bookmarks to your video in PowerPoint?

You have probably seen plenty of YouTube videos where you can find bookmarks when new important parts of the videos start. The same applies here. You can add and remove bookmarks, so as to separate the different parts of your video.

3.2.2.  Editing options

In the Editing section of the Playback menu, you can choose if you want to trim your video or add Fade In/Fade Out effects, and the duration of the latter. Below, you can see how to trim a video in PowerPoint – you can select the start and the end of it, so your audience will see the most important details only.

3.2.3. Video Options

In the Video Options , you will find several tools that you can work with.

• Volume  – starting with video volume, it’s pretty straightforward what this means. You have 3 modes /low, medium, high/ + mute.
• Start  – you have three options: Automatically /by default/, In Click Sequence , and When Clicked On .
• Play Fullscreen  – when the video is on, it will be displayed throughout the whole slide.
• Hide While Not Playing  – if the video is not playing, it will not be accessible.
• Loop until Stopped – after the video ends, it will automatically start from the beginning if you don’t stop it manually.
• Rewind after Playing – once the video is played through the end, it will display the first frame and stop.

3.2.4 Insert Captions

If your video has a voiceover, you may need to add captions to make it more understandable for an audience with hearing impairment or people sitting too far from you. The captions have to be uploaded from your computer.

Learning how to embed videos in PowerPoint is crucial for your presentation success. You will get access to a whole new world. But don’t forget about formatting. Some basic video editing can make your videos even more engaging.

If you found this article helpful, why don’t you check some of our other PowerPoint-related tutorials:

• Adding Audio to PowerPoint: The Quick Step-by-Step Guide

How to Insert GIFs into PowerPoint: The Quick Step-by-Step Guide

• How to Get Started with PowerPoint in 2022

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Nikolay Kaloyanov

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How to apply code, 🇺🇦 ukrainians can now use all subtitle and translation features for free. use code 'ukraine', how to embed a video in powerpoint (step-by-step).

Want to make PowerPoint presentations with video that people love to watch? Here's hpw.

Today, I’m going to show you how to embed a video in PowerPoint to make your presentations come to life. I'm also going to cover some of the best practices for creating a PowerPoint presentation, as well as the frequently asked questions about inserting video in PowerPoint.

So, shall we get started?

How to upload a video to PowerPoint from your desktop or laptop

Embedding video in PowerPoint makes your file size larger. But it allows you to share a video with your audience without frantically looking for it on your computer while presenting. This tutorial is for PowerPoint 365. If you’re using an older version there might be some differences but you should still be able to follow along just fine. Just follow these five easy steps:

1. Start by opening your PowerPoint presentation and navigating to the slide where you want to insert your video.

2. Then, click the “Insert” tab.

3. Now, in the top right corner, click the arrow under the "Video" button, or in PowerPoint 365, click the arrow beside the "Video" button.

4. Next, click "Video on My PC/Movie from File" and select the video you want to insert. Then, click the “Insert” button.

5. The video will now appear on your slide. You can resize it or move it around on the slide as you see fit.

And that’s it. You’re good to go! Don’t forget to preview your entire presentation to ensure your video plays exactly as you want it to. 

How to link a video in PowerPoint 

Another method for inserting video in PowerPoint is to link the media on your slide to an external source or file. It will keep your presentation file size small as it will launch the video from its location on your PC. However, the link may be broken if you move the source video to a different location on your computer.

Here’s how to do it:

1. In the top left corner, click the “Insert” tab.

2. then, click the arrow under the “video” button, 3. on the drop-down menu, click “video on my pc/movie from file.”, 4. now, click the drop-down arrow beside or under “insert” and select “link to file.” if you’re using powerpoint 365, click the “option” button, then select “link to file.”.

4. Choose your video, then click “Insert.” 

And voila! You’re all set! We suggest keeping your linked video and your PowerPoint presentation in the same folder so as not to lose either of them. 

How to put a YouTube video in a PowerPoint

You can also add an online video to your PowerPoint presentation . This is a much better approach because you won’t have to download a video and it won’t add anything to your PowerPoint’s file size. However, to play the video during your presentation, you must have an internet connection.

Embedding a video from YouTube depends on the version of your PowerPoint. I’ll walk you through the process for PowerPoint 365, but it’s not that different from the earlier PowerPoint versions.  

1. Copy the video’s URL from the address bar of your computer's web browser.

2. Choose the PowerPoint slide onto which you want to insert the video and click the "Insert" tab 

3. Now, click “Video,” then choose “Online Video/Movie…

4. Once the online dialog box appears, paste the YouTube video URL and click “Insert.”

5. Now, click Play Video to ensure the video was successfully added.

Best Practices for Video PowerPoint Presentations from Ben, VEED’s Head of Enterprise

Download your videos to avoid issues from a bad internet connection when making and presenting your video powerpoint.

While inserting online videos in PowerPoint is a convenient way to avoid increasing the file size, you'll need an internet connection to play them while presenting. And what if your internet connection goes down during your presentation? Will you find your way out of this mess? Most likely, but it’s better to prepare for this situation. 

Download video files from websites such as YouTube , Vimeo , or VEED, so you don't have to worry about retrieving them if your internet goes down. It's also a good idea to save your completed PowerPoint so you can present it if there are any connectivity issues during an in-person presentation.

Know when to upload a video vs. link to a video inside a PowerPoint

If you have lots of videos in your PowerPoint presentation, expect the file size to be huge. What you can do is to choose videos you can do without or whose content you can explain on your own, and then link to that video and let it stream over the internet. This is a great tip in case an internet connection issue arises. But, it’s always best to download the video as a backup just in case something happens.

Why should you embed a VEED video instead of a YouTube video for professional PowerPoint presentations?

Youtube videos play distracting off-topic advertisements, which we don’t want to see during a presentation. You’ll never have that problem with videos you create, edit, save, and share with VEED .

You can also use VEED to clean your audio, add subtitles to your video , and even translate it . This is useful when presenting to a global audience. 

VEED can also help you take your presentation to the next level. Use our teleprompter to avoid forgetting your lines. You can also use our screen recorder tool to record yourself talking through your PowerPoint slides. Turn on your camera to keep your video personalized.

How to link to a VEED video inside of PowerPoint

• Upload your video to VEED. You can even import a YouTube video from the video’s URL.
• (Optional) Edit the video if needed
• Click on export
• Click on ‘share’ to copy and paste the video share link to the text (or image) on your presentation that’ll be hyperlinked.

Keep videos between 30 to 90 seconds long

Use videos to enhance your presentation, not to replace it. People don't have long attention spans , so keep it short but sweet. You only have the first 2.7 seconds of your video to capture your audience’s attention before they tune out.

In general, 60 to 90 seconds is the video duration sweet spot for engagement. 

According to Forbes , the ideal video length for a presentation is only 30-60 seconds long because studies have shown that 75% of people will likely stick with a video if it’s only 60 seconds long.

Cover only one idea per video so the content is easy to digest. 

Look into your camera’s lens and pace yourself

When recording, look directly into the camera lens. This is like looking your audience in the eyes.. They’ll feel as if you are speaking directly to them.

You can edit or re-record your lines using VEED's screen recording and teleprompter tool. You can also cut out the pauses before returning your gaze to the camera.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you link to a video in powerpoint .

1. Take a screenshot of the video. For Mac users, simply press command + shift + 3; for PC users, press the PrtScn (Printscreen) key on your keyboard.

2. Click the slide where you want to insert the image. 

3. Insert the screen-grabbed image onto the slide by clicking “Insert'' then clicking “Picture from file.” 

4. Resize your image

5. Click the image, then go to “Insert,” then toggle down to “Hyperlink.”

6. Copy and paste the video link into the hyperlink dialogue box, then click OK. Use a YouTube video link if you don’t mind ads running. Use a video share link from VEED for an ad-free PowerPoint presentation.

How do I embed a video in a PowerPoint without a link?

The best option is to download it to your computer, then follow the steps for uploading video to PowerPoint from your desktop or laptop. You can also use VEED to download videos. Just paste the video’s URL into the upload screen. Export the video, then click “Download MP4”.

Why can I not embed a video in PowerPoint?

If you cannot insert video in PowerPoint, it’s possible the video you’re trying to embed isn’t compatible with Microsoft Office PowerPoint, the file is missing, the file moved, or the file is corrupted. It could also be because the actual PowerPoint file is missing plugins needed to insert the video.

How do you embed Vimeo videos in PowerPoint

1. Go to your Vimeo video library and find the video you want to embed.

2. Click on the “Link” icon.

3. Then select “Copy Video Link” or “Copy Embed Video.” It doesn’t matter which one you choose, as you’ll need the internet to play the video anyway. 

4. Paste the URL or embed code into the PowerPoint, then proceed as if you were embedding a YouTube video.

How do you make a video on Powerpoint?1. Create slides- Structure your video with a title, body, and concluding slides by adding images, texts, and layer elements.

2. Add animations - Go to the animation ribbon and animate the key elements on your slide.

3. Insert video into PowerPoint - Navigate to the "Slideshow" tab and click "Record Slideshow" to insert an existing video or create screen recordings.Then hit the “Record” button.

4. Insert Audio- Go to the "Insert" tab and then click on the Audio in the top right corner of the PowerPoint. Then, from the drop-down menu, choose "Audio on My PC" or "Audio from file."

5. Export- Once you’re done adding animations, videos, and sound to your PowerPoint slides, it’s time to export the presentation as a video by clicking “File” and then “Export.” Then click on “Create a Video,” or for those using MS PowerPoint 365, choose where to save the video and change the file format to MP4. 

How do you put a YouTube video in PowerPoint without ads?

1. Copy the YouTube video's URL that you want to embed.

2. Go to VEED.IO and paste the URL in the upload screen.

3. Export the video.

4. Click and copy the share link to put the ad-free YouTube video in the PowerPoint.

Make video presentations people love to watch quickly and easily

Now that you know how to embed a video in PowerPoint it's time to go give it a shot! 

Make your presentation stand out by inserting videos in PowerPoint. Need to make a sales presentation at work? Make a screencast and use VEED’s screen recording and teleprompter tools. Harness the power of videos and make your PowerPoint more interesting.

Whether you’re an editing pro or a beginner, VEED can help you make and share videos people will love quickly and easily. No need to download any software! It’s an online video editor readily available to you! Try using it for your first or next PowerPoint presentation.

Vella Gonzaga

One-click video editing, online.

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How to Embed a YouTube Video in PowerPoint

We show you how to embed a YouTube video in PowerPoint so that you can spice up your presentations and impress colleagues.

Table of Contents:

It can be difficult to keep an audience’s attention during a lengthy presentation. In fact, 4 out of 5 professionals admit to shifting their focus away from the presenter during the last presentation they attended. One way to combat this is interactive elements. You can embed a YouTube video in PowerPoint to break up long stints of talking and create a more fun environment.   Though you can add a plain hyperlink to your presentation to open in the browser, that doesn’t look particularly professional. Instead, it makes sense to embed your video in PowerPoint so you can play it directly from the application. As an added benefit, the video’s thumbnail will appear for a more beautiful design.   In this guide we show you how to embed a YouTube video in PowerPoint using two methods: its embed code and a URL. Both will give more or less the same results, so we recommend the latter unless you have a specific reason.

How to Embed a YouTube Video in PowerPoint Using Code

Embedding a YouTube video using its embed code is slightly more technical but offers additional customization options. This method is especially useful for those working with older versions of PowerPoint.

How to Insert a YouTube Video in PowerPoint Using a URL

You can speed up the process to embed video in PowerPoint from YouTube by using just its URL rather than the embed code. This should work so long as you have a modern version of PowerPoint.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions About Videos in PowerPoint

Will embedded youtube videos in powerpoint work without an internet connection.

Embedded YouTube videos require an active internet connection to stream content from YouTube’s servers. If you plan to present in a location without internet, consider downloading the video (if permitted by copyright) and embedding the file directly into your PowerPoint presentation.

Can I embed a private YouTube video into my PowerPoint presentation?

Private YouTube videos cannot be embedded directly. For a video to be embeddable in PowerPoint, it must be either public or unlisted. If you are the owner of the video, you can change its privacy settings on YouTube to ‘Unlisted’ , which allows embedding while not making the video publicly searchable.

How can I make an embedded video autoplay when its slide comes up during the presentation?

To make an embedded YouTube video autoplay in PowerPoint, first embed the video into your slide. Then, right-click on the video, select ‘Playback’ , and then choose ‘Automatically’ under ‘Start’ . This setting ensures the video begins playing as soon as the slide is displayed without requiring a manual play action.

Is there a way to loop an embedded YouTube video in PowerPoint?

Direct looping of embedded YouTube videos within PowerPoint is not supported. An alternative would be to set the video to loop on YouTube’s platform before embedding, but this requires the loop setting to be available and set on YouTube. Another approach is to edit your video to include the repeat content and upload it as a new video for embedding.

What versions of PowerPoint support embedding YouTube videos?

Embedding YouTube videos is supported from PowerPoint 2010 onwards. Newer versions, such as PowerPoint 2019 and PowerPoint for Microsoft 365, provide enhanced support and a more user-friendly experience for embedding videos from YouTube using both the URL and embed code methods.

How can I embed videos from Vimeo or other services into PowerPoint?

For services like Vimeo, you can use the embed code provided by the video platform. Go to ‘Insert’ > ‘Video’ > ‘Online Video…’ in PowerPoint and paste the embed code. Compatibility and support can vary, so it’s recommended to test the embedded video before the presentation.

Can I insert videos from sources other than YouTube using these methods?

The URL method described in the tutorial is tailored for YouTube. However, PowerPoint allows embedding videos from other services through their embed codes. Always check the specific platform’s guidelines for embedding content and test the video in PowerPoint to ensure compatibility.

If I embed a YouTube video, will viewers of the presentation need a YouTube account to watch it?

Viewers do not need a YouTube account to watch an embedded YouTube video within PowerPoint. The requirement is for the video to be publicly accessible or unlisted. Private videos cannot be viewed without logging into the account that has access.

Can I control the playback volume of an embedded YouTube video in PowerPoint?

The embedded YouTube video’s volume controls are managed through YouTube’s built-in player controls during playback. PowerPoint does not offer separate volume control for embedded YouTube videos, so adjustments must be made using the video player’s volume slider or the computer’s volume settings.

What should I do if the ‘Online Video’ option is not available in my PowerPoint?

If the ‘Online Video’ option is missing, it’s likely that you are using an older version of PowerPoint that doesn’t support this feature. Consider updating to a newer version. As an alternative, you can download the video and insert it into your presentation as a local file through ‘Insert’ > ‘Media’ > ‘Video’ > ‘This Device’ .

Is it possible to embed a YouTube video so it plays in fullscreen automatically in PowerPoint?

PowerPoint doesn’t support automatic fullscreen playback for embedded videos. You would have to set the video to fullscreen manually during presentation mode or adjust the video frame size to fill the slide as a workaround.

Can I customize the playback quality of an embedded YouTube video?

The playback quality of an embedded YouTube video in PowerPoint is determined automatically by YouTube based on factors like internet speed. It’s not possible to preset a specific playback quality within PowerPoint. Viewers can manually adjust the quality during playback using the YouTube player controls if needed.

What happens if the YouTube video I embedded is removed from YouTube?

If an embedded YouTube video is removed from the platform or if the video’s URL changes, it will no longer be accessible in your PowerPoint presentation. You’ll see a blank frame or an error message in place of the video. It’s advised to regularly check embedded videos for availability, especially before important presentations.

How can I add annotations or comments to an embedded video in PowerPoint?

PowerPoint doesn’t support adding annotations directly to embedded online videos. As a workaround, you can overlay shapes, text boxes, or comments on or around the video frame on your slide. These can serve as annotations and are helpful for providing additional context or notes related to the video content.

Can an embedded video in PowerPoint be used as a clickable link to open a webpage?

While the video itself cannot be directly used as a hyperlink in PowerPoint, you can overlay a transparent shape or icon over the video frame and add a hyperlink to that shape. This setup can then direct users to a webpage or another slide within the presentation when clicked, effectively making the video or its part act as a clickable link.

Related: How to Insert an Animated GIF in PowerPoint

Related: How to Add Music / Audio to PowerPoint Slides

Related: How to Add Speaker Notes in PowerPoint

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How to make a microsoft powerpoint presentation into a video.

Share your presentations with anyone, even if they don't have PowerPoint!

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Why convert a powerpoint to video, convert a powerpoint presentation to a video.

Microsoft PowerPoint presentations are great, but they are not as easily accessible as videos. Luckily, you can convert your presentations to videos with a built-in option. We'll show you how.

There are many reasons to turn a presentation into a video. Maybe you want to send someone a presentation but they don't have PowerPoint installed. Or, maybe you want to upload your presentation to a site that only accepts videos.

PowerPoint has a built-in option to convert presentations to videos. When you perform this conversion, all your original animations, transitions, and media items are preserved. Your resulting video also includes all recorded timings , narrations , ink strokes, and laser pointer gestures (though you can choose not to include these if you want).

Related: How to Burn Your PowerPoint to DVD

To turn a PowerPoint presentation into a video, first, open your presentation with the PowerPoint app on your Windows or Mac computer.

In the top-left corner of PowerPoint, click the "File" option.

From the sidebar that opens after clicking the "File" option, select "Export."

In the "Export" menu, click "Create a Video."

To the right of the "Export" menu, you will now see a "Create a Video" section. In this section, you will define the options for your video file.

First, choose the quality for your video by clicking the "Full HD" option.

You will see multiple video quality options. Select the one that you think works the best for you. Know that the higher the quality you select, the larger the file size of your video will be.

To include the recorded timings and narrations in your video, then beneath the video quality menu, click the "Don't Use Recorded Timings and Narrations" option.

Select the "Use Recorded Timings and Narrations" option. If this option is grayed out, that's because you don't have any recorded timings or narrations in your presentation.

You will now specify how long each slide appears in the video. Click the "Seconds Spent on Each Slide" box and enter the duration in seconds. By default, this duration is set to 5 seconds.

Finally, at the bottom of the "Create a Video" section, click "Create Video" to start making your video.

Your computer's standard "save" window will open. Here, select the folder to save your video in, type a name for your video, and click "Save."

PowerPoint will take you back to the main interface. At the bottom of this interface, you will see the progress of the conversion.

When your video is made, you will find it in the specified folder on your computer.

And that's how you make your presentations available to a wider audience by converting them to a video format!

Need your video in another format? Use VLC to convert your video to other formats.

Related: How to Convert a Video or Audio File Using VLC

Mar 29, 2023

Add your own videos to PowerPoint for the web presentations

Monojeet Sinha

Rishabh Singh

• Add our blog to your RSS feed reader" href="/rss/blog.xml" data-bi-name="RSS Subscription" data-bi-id="rss_feed" data-bi-bhvr="120" data-bi-socchn="RSSSubscription" title="Microsoft 365 Insider Blog RSS" target="blank" class="d-inline-block">

Hi, Microsoft 365 Insiders! We are  Monojeet Sinha, a Senior Product Manager, and Rishabh Singh, a Product Designer, on the PowerPoint team. We are excited to share that you can now insert your own videos, from your computer, in your PowerPoint for the web presentations. We heard from many of you that this is something you wanted to do. We’re happy to deliver and give you the ability to better express your passions using your own videos.

Videos are an important part of storytelling. They help hold your audience’s attention so you can better teach, persuade, or entertain. While PowerPoint users have inserted millions of videos from online platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, Stream, or others, sometimes the right video is one you created. Anything from your child scoring the winning goal to your team celebrating the latest of your new product.

How it works

• Open a new or existing presentation in PowerPoint for the web. 

• After your video has been inserted and appears on the slide, you can move, resize, or apply shape effects to your video.

Tips and tricks

• You can include video files up to 256 MB, but shorter (and hence smaller in size!) videos are more effective in holding your audience’s attention.
• We recommend using .mp4 video file format for best presentations quality and experience. We also support the following file types: .mov, .wmv, .avi, .m4v, .mkv, .asf, .ts. 
• The speed at which videos from your computer or laptop are inserted is dependent on your network connection. 

Availability

This feature is available to all PowerPoint for the web users.

Don’t have it yet? It’s probably us, not you. 

Features are released over some time to ensure things are working smoothly. We highlight features that you may not have because they’re slowly releasing to larger numbers of Insiders. Sometimes we remove elements to further improve them based on your feedback. Though this is rare, we also reserve the option to pull a feature entirely out of the product, even if you, as an Insider, have had the opportunity to try it.

Please click Help > Feedback to submit your thoughts about this feature. 

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Contribute to the Microsoft 365 and Office forum! Click  here  to learn more  💡

April 9, 2024

Contribute to the Microsoft 365 and Office forum!

Click  here  to learn more  💡

PowerPoint Top Forum Contributors: Steve Rindsberg  -  John Korchok   👍✅

April 17, 2024

PowerPoint Top Forum Contributors:

Steve Rindsberg  -  John Korchok   👍✅

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Inserting YouTube video download file into PowerPoint - slide page is blank or black

I'm using Windows10 OS and making a Powerpoint presentation with inserted YouTube pieces inserted in it. I down load the YT via URL into Aqua Clip and save as MP4 file on my PC. When I add the MP4 file into a PP slide it saves and plays, but the initial front page is black or sometimes blank ie: it doesnt display the initial video front page frame? How can I correct this?

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Martyn Scott

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Dear Martyn Scott

Welcome to Microsoft Community.

We understand that you are adding videos in PowerPoint, but not showing the initial home page.

To help you identify the cause of the problem in detail, you can share more information with us:

1. What version of office program are you using?

You can open any office component, click on File, click on Accounts below, and view the product information on the right side of the page to see exactly what products are shown

2. Do you have this problem if you insert other video files in PowerPoint?

If you don't mind, you can share your MP4 video file with us via private message and we try to operate to confirm whether the file is corrupted or not.

Since you said that the home page is black and sometimes even blank, you are worried that it is because the video decoder in your system has not fully detected the information of the video and cannot display it, you can try the following operations to see if they are effective:

1. Run the command to help fix it:

In the taskbar search box, type "cmd", right-click on the command prompt, select "Run as administrator", in the administrator: Command Prompt window to execute the following commands: sfc /scannow  Enter, and then restart the computer. Then restart the computer.

2. Cancel add-ons

Click on the document in the upper left corner of the file - Options - Add-ons - Management of the place to change to COM add-ons, and then select "Go to", uncheck all the add-ons, click OK, restart the word document, look at the effect.

3. Registry reset office

Press Windows + R , type in: regedit in the run box that opens and press enter.

Rename the Office folder by locating the following key (right-click on it and select Rename, e.g. rename Office to Officeold)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office

Then reopen the word document to try the effect.

Disclaimer: Generally, modifying registry subkeys or work group is intended for advanced users, administrators, and IT Professionals. It can help fix some problems, however, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For further protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click  How to back up and restore the registry in Windows - Microsoft Support  to view the article.  

If the above does not work, you can share more information with us and again we will help you further identify the cause of the problem.

Thanks for your patience and understanding.

Best Regards,

Zenobia-MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

• Volunteer Moderator

Don't bother with Zenobia's steps.

Instead, create a picture that you want see as the static image. You can grab a frame from the video to do this. Then, in PowerPoint, select the video and choose Video Format>Poster Frame>Image from file>Image from file . Select the picture your created, then click on Open .

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How to Record Customized Camera Feeds With Cameo in PowerPoint

T he widespread adoption of remote work and virtual meetings has led many people and organizations to realize they don't have to be physically present in the same conference room to make presentations. In fact, you don't even need to conduct them live.

However, recording your PowerPoint slides with your face on them requires technical know-how and third-party apps like OBS. This makes recording presentations a bit difficult and discourages people from doing it.

Thankfully, Microsoft has addressed this issue in PowerPoint 365 with the Cameo feature. Here's what it is and how to use it.

What Is Cameo in PowerPoint?

Cameo is a PowerPoint feature that lets you add your webcam or any other camera feed into your presentation. This makes it easier to present virtually, as your audience can see you from within your slides.

Previously, you needed a third-party app like OBS to overlay yourself on your presentation. You can also use a green screen overlay in Capcut or other similar apps to achieve the same effect. However, this takes a lot of effort and know-how.

But with this feature, you can do it from inside PowerPoint with just a few clicks. Here's how to insert a cameo into your slides.

• Go to Insert > Cameo .
• After clicking on Cameo, PowerPoint will insert a placeholder object on your current slide and open the Camera Format tab.
• You can edit the object as you wish, much like any other shape on PowerPoint. You can also click on the options in the Designer pane on the right side of the screen to help you work faster.
• Once you're happy with its placement on your slide, click on the Preview button to see your live video.

With that, you can start presenting your PowerPoint slides via screen sharing while still keeping yourself on the screen.

How to Record Your PowerPoint Presentation With Cameo

You can also insert a cameo from Record > Cameo . Clicking on this will bring you to the same menu tab and insert a placeholder object for your video. However, even if you didn't set up Cameo beforehand, you can insert it directly while recording your presentation. Here's how:

• Go to Record > From Beginning or Record > From Current Slide .
• In the recording screen, click on the Camera icon at the top. This will insert a round object containing your video in your slides' lower-right-hand section.
• Click on the Red icon to start recording your presentation.
• Go through your presentation as usual. For more information, check out our guide on turning your presentations into videos .
• Once you've finished, click the Red icon again to stop recording.
• Click Export to go to the Export to video screen .
• Change the File Name as needed, then click Browse to select the location where you will save your recorded video.
• Once done, click Export Video .

With that, you don't have to spend much effort to add your video feed to your PowerPoint presentation recording. However, the app only places your video at one location across every slide; it might cover some of your content. That's why it's better to use the Cameo feature when you're building or editing your PowerPoint presentation.

If you're unhappy with your recording, press the Retake Video on the left of the record icon. You can pick between On Current Slide or On All Slides .

What You Need to Record Customized Camera Feeds

You need a webcam and a Microsoft 365 account to record your customized camera feed. Furthermore, you cannot use Cameo or record presentations in the PowerPoint web app. You need to download and install it on your computer to use these features.

The Cameo feature is already available on Microsoft PowerPoint 365 in Windows and Mac. However, recording your presentation with Cameo is only available on Windows. As of the time of writing, this feature isn't available for the main PowerPoint 365 for Mac version.

If you're running macOS, you must be a Microsoft 365 Insider to get this feature. However, since the Cameo recording feature is already announced in the Microsoft 365 Insider blog , we hope it will be available in the mainstream PowerPoint for Mac version in a few months.

Recording Your Presentations Is Now Much Easier

The Cameo feature has made presenting PowerPoint slides in video calls easier. And with the recording function, you no longer need a third-party app to put your video over your presentation.

You can integrate it into each slide, allowing you to control where you are on your screen. And you also save a lot of time and effort, as you can record and save your presentation as a video from within Microsoft PowerPoint.

Turn your presentation into a video

When you make a recording of a presentation, all its elements (narration, animation, pointer movements, timings, and so on) are saved in the presentation itself. In essence, the presentation becomes a video that your audience can watch in PowerPoint.

So you have two options for turning your presentation into a video that's ready to view:

Save/export your presentation to a video file format (.mp4 or .wmv).

Save your presentation as a PowerPoint Show (.ppsx) file. (A PowerPoint Show appears full-screen in Slide Show, ready to view immediately.)

Save as a video file

After you've created your slides and recorded any timing and narrations and laser pointer gestures that you want to include, you're ready to create a video file.

On the File menu, select Save to ensure all your recent work has been saved in PowerPoint presentation format (.pptx).

Select  File > Export > Create a Video . (Or, on the Recording tab of the ribbon, select  Export to Video .)

In the first drop-down box under the Create a Video heading, select the video quality you want, which pertains to the resolution of the finished video. The higher the video quality, the larger the file size. (You may want to test them to determine which one meets your needs.)

* The Ultra HD (4K) option is only available if you're using Windows 10 or later.

The second drop-down box under the Create a Video heading tells whether your presentation includes narration and timings. (You may switch this setting if you like.)

If you haven't recorded timed narration, by default the value is Don't Use Recorded Timings and Narrations .

The default time spent on each slide is 5 seconds. You can change that timing in the Seconds to spend on each slide box. To the right of the box, select the up arrow to increase the duration, or select the down arrow to decrease the duration.

If you have recorded a timed narration, by default the value is Use Recorded Timings and Narrations .

Select  Create Video .

In the File name box, enter a file name for the video, browse for the folder that will contain this file, and then select  Save .

In the Save as type box, choose either MPEG-4 Video or Windows Media Video .

You can track the progress of the video creation by looking at the status bar at the bottom of your screen. The video creation process can take up to several hours depending on the length of the video and the complexity of the presentation.

Tip:    For a long video, you can set it up to be created overnight. That way, it’ll be ready for you the following morning.

To play your newly-created video, go to the designated folder location, and then double-click the file.

Save as a PowerPoint Show

When someone opens a PowerPoint Show file, it appears full-screen in Slide Show, rather than in edit mode. The viewer begins watching the presentation immediately.

On the File menu, select Save As .

Choose the folder location where you want to store your PowerPoint Show file.

In the Save as type box, choose PowerPoint Show (*.ppsx) .

Select Save .

Why turn your presentation into a video?

When you want to give a high-fidelity version of your presentation to colleagues or customers (either as an e-mail attachment, published to the web, on a CD or DVD), save it and let it play as a video.

You can save your presentation as either an MPEG-4 video file (.mp4) or a .wmv file. Both formats are widely supported and can be streamed over the internet.

Some tips to remember when recording your presentation as a video:

You can record and time voice narration and laser pointer movements in your video.

You can control the size of the multimedia file and the quality of your video.

You can include animations and transitions in your movie.

Viewers do not need to have PowerPoint installed on their computers to watch it.

If your presentation contains an embedded video, the video will play correctly without your needing to control it.

Depending on the content of your presentation, creating a video may take some time. Lengthy presentations and presentations with animations, transitions, and media content will likely take longer to create. Fortunately, you can continue to use PowerPoint while the video is being created

What parts of a presentation won't be included in a video?

The following items won't be included in a video that you create using PowerPoint:

Media inserted in previous versions of PowerPoint. To include these, you can convert or upgrade the media object.

For example, if you inserted the media using PowerPoint 2007, it will be linked and it will play in the presentation.  However, when you export the file as a video, the linked media will be dropped.  You can convert the file to the new file format (select the File tab, and under Info , select  Convert ), or you can right-click the media object and then select it to upgrade; it will embed the file and export it correctly.

QuickTime media (unless you have a third-party QuickTime codec named ffdShow installed and you have optimized for compatibility)

OLE/ActiveX controls

What to do with your video after creating it

After you create a video, you can share it with others by using the following methods:

Email your presentation to others

Save to a file share or other location

Upload it to your organization's Microsoft Stream video-sharing site , as described in the next section, "Save to a video-sharing site."

Save to the Microsoft video-sharing site

After you've created the video file, you can upload it to a video-sharing site. Microsoft Stream is an enterprise video service where people in an organization can upload, view, and share videos. Microsoft 365 business or education subscribers have access to this service from within PowerPoint for Microsoft 365. 

Select File > Export , and then select Publish to Microsoft Stream .

Type a title and a description for the video.

Set other options, including whether you want others in your organization to have permission to see the video:

Select the Publish button.

The upload process can take several minutes, depending on the length of the video. A status bar at the bottom of the PowerPoint window tracks the progress, and PowerPoint shows a message when the upload is finished:

Select the message to go directly to the video playback page on Microsoft Stream.

For more information about this service, begin reading with What is Microsoft Stream? It includes information about Office 365 Video vs. Microsoft Stream.

1 The Ultra HD (4K) option is only available if you're using Windows 10 or later. 2 In PowerPoint 2016, the Ultra HD (4K) option isn't available in the Volume License edition.

When someone opens a PowerPoint Show file, it appears full-screen in Slide Show, rather than in edit mode. The viewer begins watching the presentation immediately.

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