The two ways to put a video into a Google Slides presentation

You can add a video to Google Slides in two ways: upload a video file from your computer, or insert a video from YouTube or Google Drive. The upload method works for MP4, WebM, and Ogg files up to 5 GB. If your video is larger than that, or if you want to avoid storing it in your presentation file, linking to a YouTube or Drive video keeps your file size down and makes it easier to update the video later without re-uploading.

Both methods put a playable video right into your slide — your audience can watch it without leaving the presentation. The choice between them depends on where your video lives now and how much storage space you want to use.

Key Takeaways

  • You can upload video files directly to Google Slides if they are MP4, WebM, or Ogg format and under 5 GB.
  • Linking to a YouTube or Google Drive video keeps your presentation file smaller and lets you swap out videos without re-uploading.
  • Videos play directly inside your slide during the presentation — your audience does not need to open a separate window.
  • You control the video size and placement on the slide, and can set whether it starts playing automatically or only when clicked.

How to upload a video file from your computer

Open your Google Slides presentation and click on the slide where you want the video. Go to the menu bar and click Insert, then select Video. A dialog box will open with three tabs: Upload, YouTube, and Google Drive. Click the Upload tab.

Click Select a video from your computer and choose the file. Google Slides will upload it — this can take a few minutes depending on file size. Once the upload finishes, the video appears on your slide as a thumbnail. You can drag the corners to resize it or drag the whole video to move it around the slide. Click the video once to select it, then right-click to see options for autoplay, muting, or replacing it with a different video.

How to link to a YouTube video

Open your presentation and click on the slide where you want the video. Go to Insert and select Video. Click the YouTube tab. Paste the YouTube URL into the search box or search by title. Click the video you want from the results, and it will appear on your slide.

YouTube videos stay on YouTube's servers, so they do not add to your presentation file size. If you update the video on YouTube — change the title, description, or even replace it with a different video at the same URL — the change shows up in your presentation automatically. This is useful if you are sharing a presentation that will be used multiple times and you want to update the video without editing the slides.

How to link to a video in Google Drive

If you have already uploaded a video to your Google Drive, you can link to it from Google Slides without uploading it again. Open your presentation, click on the slide, go to Insert and select Video. Click the Google Drive tab. Search for the video by name or scroll through your Drive files. Click the video you want, and it will appear on your slide.

This method works well if you are working with a team and want everyone to see the same video — as long as they have access to your Google Drive folder, they can watch it in the presentation. If you move or delete the video from Drive, the link breaks and the video will not play.

Resizing, positioning, and autoplay settings

Once a video is on your slide, click it once to select it. You will see small squares at the corners and edges. Drag a corner square to resize the video while keeping its proportions. Drag the video itself to move it to a different spot on the slide.

Right-click the video to see more options. You can set it to Autoplay on full screen, which starts the video playing automatically when someone opens the presentation in full-screen mode. You can also Mute audio if you want the video to play silently by default. These settings are useful if you are using a video as background or decoration rather than as the main focus of a slide.

What happens when you share or read the presentation

If you uploaded the video file directly, it becomes part of your presentation file. When you share the presentation with others, they can watch the video without needing a separate link. If you read the presentation as a PowerPoint file (.pptx), the video goes with it.

If you linked to a YouTube or Google Drive video, the link travels with the presentation, but the video itself stays on YouTube or Drive. Anyone who watches your presentation needs internet access to see the video. If you share the presentation with someone who does not have access to your Google Drive folder, they will see a broken link instead of the video.

Troubleshooting videos that will not play

If a video is not playing during your presentation, check the file format first. Google Slides accepts MP4, WebM, and Ogg files. If your video is in a different format (like MOV or AVI), you will need to convert it using free tools like HandBrake or VLC before uploading.

If you linked to a YouTube video and it is not playing, the video may have been deleted or made private. Check that the URL is still valid by opening it in a new tab. If you linked to a Google Drive video, make sure you have sharing turned on and that the people watching the presentation have permission to access the file. Videos larger than 5 GB cannot be uploaded directly — use YouTube or Drive instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a video from my phone or tablet?

Yes, if you are using Google Slides on a phone or tablet, you can upload a video from your device's camera roll or files. Tap Insert, then Video, then Upload, and select the video from your device. The upload process is the same as on a computer.

What if my video file is too large to upload?

If your file is larger than 5 GB, upload it to YouTube or Google Drive first, then link to it from Google Slides. This keeps your presentation file manageable and lets you share the video without storing it twice.

Can I trim or edit a video after I add it to Google Slides?

Google Slides does not have built-in video editing tools. You will need to edit the video in a separate program before uploading it. Once it is in your presentation, you can only resize it, move it, or replace it with a different video.

Will the video play if I present offline?

Videos you uploaded directly will play offline. Videos linked from YouTube or Google Drive will not play without an internet connection — the presentation will show a broken link instead.

Can I add captions or subtitles to a video in Google Slides?

Google Slides does not add captions directly. If your video already has captions (burned in or embedded), they will play with the video. If you need to add captions, edit the video file before uploading it, or use YouTube's automatic captioning if you link to a YouTube video.