How to Embed Videos in PowerPoint Slides: Take Your PowerPoint to the Next Level with Video

Want to make your PowerPoint presentation more engaging? Instead of using text-heavy slides that might bore your audience, try adding videos! It’s easier than you think and can instantly capture attention.

With just a few steps you can embed videos in PowerPoint slides to make your content more dynamic. Whether it’s a short clip, a tutorial, or a product demo, videos help explain ideas better and keep your audience interested.

Next time you create a presentation, don’t just rely on text—add a video and make your slides come to life!

Insert Videos from Your PC into PowerPoint

Insert a Video from Your PC into PowerPoint

If you have a video stored on your PC, you can add it to your PowerPoint presentation in two ways: inserting it directly or linking to the file.

1. Insert the Video Directly

A video becomes a part of the PowerPoint file when it is embedded. This means that original file is not required for the video to play on any device. It enhances your presentation as well.

2. Link to the Video File

If you choose to link the video, PowerPoint plays it from its original location on your PC. This keeps your presentation smaller in size but you must ensure the video file stays in the same place.

How to Insert or Link a Video in PowerPoint:

1. Open PowerPoint and go to the slide where you want the video.
2. Click the Insert tab at the top.
3. In the Media section click Video > This Device.
4. Select the video file you want to add.
5. Click the arrow next to Insert and choose:
   • Insert – to embed the video.
   • Link to File – to create a shortcut to the video.

By adding videos, you can make your PowerPoint presentations more engaging and visually appealing.

Embed Online Videos in PowerPoint

You can easily enhance your PowerPoint presentation by adding videos from YouTube, Vimeo or other online sources—without downloading them. Modern versions of PowerPoint (Microsoft 365, PowerPoint 2021 & PowerPoint 2019) allow you to embed videos directly from web.

How to Insert an Online Video in PowerPoint:

1. Find the video on YouTube, Vimeo or another platform and copy its URL.
2. Open PowerPoint and select slide where you want to insert the video.
3. Click Insert tab then select Video > Online Video.
4. In the Online Video box paste URL you copied earlier.
5. Click Insert to add video to your slide.

Once inserted, video will stream directly from its source when played during your presentation. You’ll need an active internet connection and the video will include standard playback controls like play, pause, and volume.

Using Microsoft’s Stock Video Library

If you don’t have a specific video in mind, PowerPoint also provides high-quality stock videos:

1. Go to Insert > Video > Stock Video.
2. Browse through the library and select a video.
3. Click Insert to add it to your slide.

Stock videos, as compared to Internet videos, are embedded and downloaded to function offline without an internet connection.

By embedding videos you can make your PowerPoint slides more engaging and visually appealing!

Helpful Tips to Embed Videos in PowerPoint Slides

Improve Your Embedded Videos in PowerPoint

Once you’ve added videos to your presentation you can enhance their appearance and functionality with a few simple adjustments.

1. Change the Video Thumbnail

PowerPoint uses the first frame of the movie as its thumbnail by default but you can change it out for a more eye-catching image.

• Select the video.
• Go to Video Format > Poster Frame > Image from File.
• Choose an image from your PC, stock library or use an icon for a unique touch.

2. Apply Effects

Make your video blend into your slide design or stand out by adding effects.

• Click on the video and go to the Video Format tab.
• Add a border, shadow or apply video styles to enhance its appearance.

3. Adjust Playback Settings

For more control over how the video plays:

• Open the Playback tab.
• Use the Trim Video option to remove unwanted parts.
• Add fade-in & fade-out effects for a smooth transition.
• Adjust volume as needed.
• Choose whether video plays automatically when slide appears or if you want to start it manually.

Your videos will play smoothly during your presentation and appear professional with these easy changes!

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Adding Videos to PowerPoint

1. Can I add any video format to PowerPoint?

Common video formats supported by PowerPoint are MP4, WMV & AVI. Use MP4 with H.264 encoding for best compatibility to guarantee fluid playback on various devices.

2. Do embedded videos work on all devices?

In order to play on any device, embedded movies do really become a part of PowerPoint file. However, for linked videos to function correctly, original file must stay in the same place.

3. Do I need an internet connection to play an online video in PowerPoint?

Yes, in order for online movies from Vimeo, YouTube and other platforms to play during your presentation, you must have a working internet connection. Consider downloading & embedding the video if you require offline playback.

4. How can I make my video start automatically in PowerPoint?

Once video has been inserted, proceed to Playback tab & choose “Start Automatically” from video options. This guarantees that video will start as soon as slide is displayed.

5. How do I reduce the PowerPoint file size when adding videos?

To keep the file size small you can link to the video instead of embedding it. If embedding is necessary, you can also compress the video by going to File > Info > Compress Media to reduce its size without losing quality.