How to Add a Video to PowerPoint (YouTube or Your Own File)
A short video clip lifts a presentation — as long as it plays. Here's how to insert one from a file or from YouTube, trim it to the good bit, and set it to start exactly when you want.
Quick reference
| What you want | How |
|---|---|
| Video from your computer | Insert → Video → This Device |
| YouTube video | Insert → Video → Online Videos → paste the link |
| Trim it | Playback → Trim Video |
| Play automatically | Playback → Start → Automatically |
| Full screen | Playback → Play Full Screen |
1. Insert a video file
1. Go to Insert → Video → This Device.
2. Pick the file (MP4 is the safest format).
3. Click Insert.
2. Pick the file (MP4 is the safest format).
3. Click Insert.
The video is embedded — it becomes part of the PowerPoint file, so it travels with the presentation. The file gets bigger, but it will play on any computer.
2. Insert a YouTube video
1. Copy the video's address from your browser.
2. Go to Insert → Video → Online Videos.
3. Paste the link and click Insert.
2. Go to Insert → Video → Online Videos.
3. Paste the link and click Insert.
Online videos need an internet connection when you present. If the venue's Wi-Fi is doubtful, use a file instead.
3. Trim the start and end
Select the video, go to Playback → Trim Video, and drag the green (start) and red (end) handles. Only the part between them plays. The original file isn't changed.
4. Choose how it starts
On the Playback tab, the Start drop-down gives you:
• In Click Sequence — plays when you press Space or click, like an animation.
• Automatically — plays as soon as the slide appears.
• When Clicked On — plays only when you click the video itself.
• Automatically — plays as soon as the slide appears.
• When Clicked On — plays only when you click the video itself.
Tick Play Full Screen to fill the display, and Hide While Not Playing if you don't want a black box on the slide.
5. Pick a poster frame
The still image shown before the video plays is the first frame, which is often black. Play to a better moment, pause, then click Video Format → Poster Frame → Current Frame.
6. Add a fade
Playback → Fade In / Fade Out — a half-second fade at each end makes a clip feel far more polished.
Troubleshooting
The video won't play on another computer. It was probably linked rather than embedded, or it's in an unusual format. Convert it to MP4 and re-insert, then run File → Info → Compress Media to keep the file size sensible.
No sound. Check the little speaker icon on the video's own control bar, and the computer's volume. Some venues' HDMI cables carry sound and some don't.
The YouTube video shows a blank box. No internet, or the video owner has disabled embedding. Download your own copy if you have the rights, or pick a different clip.
Wrapping up
Insert → Video, trim it, set Start → Automatically, and choose a poster frame. Test it on the actual laptop you'll present from — that one step avoids nearly every video disaster.
