5 Ways to Embed a Video File in Microsoft PowerPoint

If you want to spruce up your PowerPoint presentationsyou can add a video to your slides. If you have a video file on your computeryou can easily embed it into your presentation. You can also embed YouTube videosuse looping stock videosoron older versions of PowerPointlink to the videos. This wikiHow will show you how to add a video to Microsoft PowerPoint using your WindowsMacor Android device.

Best Ways to Add a Video in PowerPoint

Copy a YouTube URL. In PowerPointclick Insert → Video → Online Videos/Movie. Paste the URL and click Insert.
To embed a video fileclick Insert → Video → This Device → select a file → Insert.
To use a stock videoclick Insert → Video → Stock Videos → select a video → Insert.

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Embedding a Web Video

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Open a project in Microsoft PowerPoint. This looks like a P on top of an orange circle. Microsoft PowerPoint is available to install for Windows and Mac.
- You must have a subscription to use Office 365. ^{[1]
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  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.
2
Find a web video you want to insert. You'll need the URL for the video.
- You can insert a video from supported websites such as: YouTubeSlideShareVimeoMicrosoft Streamand Flip.
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Copy the URL of the video. Highlight the entire URLand then press CTRL + C (Windows) or CMD + C (Mac) on your keyboard to copy. You can also right-click the URL and click Copy.
This will be at the top toolbarbetween Home and Draw.^{[2]
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Click Videothen Online Videos. A new window will open.^{[3]
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- On Macthis will look like Online Movie.
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Paste the URL into the field. Press CTRL + V (Windows) or CMD + V (Mac) to paste. The field will have a magnifying glass icon on the left side.
- You'll see a preview of the video.
This will be at the bottom-right corner.
Click and drag any of the circles on the perimeter of the video to increase or decrease its size. If you want to change the position on the slideclick and drag the video to a new position.
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Adjust the playback settings. Select the video and click the Playback tab. You'll be able to edit how your video plays on the slide.
- To adjust when the video playsclick the drop-down menu next to Start:. Select In Click SequenceAutomaticallyor When Clicked On.
- Check the boxes to apply any of the following: Play Full ScreenHide While Not PlayingLoop until Stoppedand/or Rewind after Playing.
- Click Volume to adjust the video's volume. Select LowMediumHighor Mute.
10
Edit the video image (optional). By defaultthe video will have the creator's thumbnail as the image when the video isn't playing. If you want to change ityou can insert a new picture using a file from your computera stock image from the libraryfrom online sourcesor from Microsoft's icon collection.
- To change the picture:
  - 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 FileStock ImagesOnline Picturesor From Icons.
  - Select the image source from the chosen methodand then click Insert.

Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Embedding a Video File

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This looks like a P on top of an orange circle.
This will be at the top toolbarbetween Home and Draw.^{[4]
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A new window will open.^{[5]
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Use the File Explorer or Finder to find your file. If neededyou can transfer videos from your camera.^{[6]
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Click and drag any of the circles on the perimeter of the video to increase or decrease its size. If you want to change the position on the slideclick and drag the video to a new position.
6
Adjust the playback settings. Select the video and click the Playback tab. You'll be able to edit how your video plays on the slide.
- To adjust when the video playsclick the drop-down menu next to Start:. Select In Click SequenceAutomaticallyor When Clicked On.
- Check the boxes to apply any of the following: Play Full ScreenHide While Not PlayingLoop until Stoppedand/or Rewind after Playing.
- Click Volume to adjust the video's volume. Select LowMediumHighor Mute.
7
Edit the video image (optional). By defaultthe video will have the creator's thumbnail as the image when the video isn't playing. If you want to change ityou can insert a new picture using a file from your computera stock image from the libraryfrom online sourcesor from Microsoft's icon collection.^{[7]
X
Research source}
- To change the picture:
  - 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 FileStock ImagesOnline Picturesor From Icons.
  - Select the image source from the chosen methodand then click Insert.

Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Embedding a Stock Video

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1
Open a project in Microsoft PowerPoint. This looks like a P on top of an orange circle.
- Stock videos work best as a background graphic to your PowerPoint textsince these videos loop seamlessly
This will be at the top toolbarbetween Home and Draw.
A new window will open.
4
Select a stock video and click Insert. You can freely browse the selection belowor you can enter a specific keyword to narrow your search.
- The stock video will be added to your slide. By defaultit will cover the entire slide.
5
Adjust the playback settings. Select the video and click the Playback tab. You'll be able to edit how your video plays on the slide.
- To adjust when the video playsclick the drop-down menu next to Start:. Select In Click SequenceAutomaticallyor When Clicked On.
- Check the boxes to apply any of the following: Play Full ScreenHide While Not PlayingLoop until Stoppedand/or Rewind after Playing.
- Click Volume to adjust the video's volume. Select LowMediumHighor Mute.

Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Using Android

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Open a project in the PowerPoint app. This looks like a P on top of an orange circle.^{[8]
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Microsoft Support
Technical support and product information from Microsoft.

Go to source}
- PowerPoint is available for Android in the Google Play Store.
2
Tap the menu icon. This looks like a pencil icon in front of an A at the top.
- The menu will open.
This will expand the other selections.
This will be underneath Home.
You may need to scroll down to find this option.
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Select a video file from your device. You can use an .mp4 or .mkv file.
- If you want to take a video using your cameratap Open Camera instead.
- The video file will be added to your PowerPoint.

Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Linking Movie Files (PowerPoint 2007)

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Place the movie file in the same directory as the PowerPoint file. If you're using PowerPoint 2007 or earliermovie files are not embeddedthey're "linked." This means that the video is not actually included in the PowerPoint presentation file. The video file exists separately from the presentation fileand the presentation loads the video file from the specified location. You won't see a literal hyperlinkbut PowerPoint will need to have an accurate location of the video on the computer to play it.
- Videos can only be "embedded" (included in the presentation file itself) in PowerPoint 2010 or newer.
You can add videos to any slide in your PowerPoint presentation.
This will display various options for inserting objects into your presentation.
This will open your file browser so that you can select your movie file.
PowerPoint 2007 only supports a handful of video formatsincluding AVIMPGand WMV. If you're using AVI filesyou may want to convert them to MPG or WMV first to avoid codec issues when trying to play the video.^{[9]
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Go to source}
Once you've selected the videoyou'll be prompted to select how you want it to start playing. If you select "Automatically," the video will begin playing as soon as the slide opens. If you select "When Clicked," you'll need to click the video to begin playing it.^{[10]
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Microsoft Support
Technical support and product information from Microsoft.

Go to source}
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Use the "Package for CD" feature if sending the presentation. Since your video plays from a specific locationrecipients won't be able to watch it if you send them the presentation unless you send the video too. Using the "Package for CD" feature allows you to send the presentation and any associated media as one package.
- 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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Question

I edited a clip using Movie Maker but I cannot figure out how to insert the edited version into Powerpoint. How do I do this?

Community Answer

Save the file as an mp4then insert it into PowerPoint.

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Question

Will this work with a PowerPoint slideshow that is rotating slides automatically?

Community Answer

Yesit should still work.

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Question

When I insert an mp4 video file into a PowerPoint 2010 file slide using the first method outlined herethe video does not play smoothly. The audio of the video playsbut the image either stays black or moves very slowly. Is there another way to insert an mp4 video file?

Community Answer

Try using a lower quality video or closing other programsit may be that your computer is struggling to play the file.

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