The two ways to insert a video into a Google Slide

You can add a video to Google Slides in two ways: upload a video file directly from your computer, or link to a video already hosted on YouTube. The upload method works for MP4, WebM, and Ogg files up to 5 GB. The YouTube method is simpler if the video already exists online — you search for it by title or paste the URL, and Google Slides embeds it without taking up storage space.

Which method you choose depends on what video you have. If you recorded something yourself and it lives only on your computer, upload it. If you want to use a TED talk, a how-to video from YouTube, or anything else already published online, link to it instead. Linking is faster and doesn't count against your Google Drive storage.

Key Takeaways

  • You can upload video files (MP4, WebM, Ogg) up to 5 GB from your computer, or link to videos already on YouTube.
  • Uploading a video takes up storage space in your Google Drive account, while linking to YouTube does not.
  • The upload process takes a few minutes depending on file size, and the video must finish processing before you can play it in the slide.
  • Once added, you can resize the video, move it around the slide, and set it to play automatically when someone views that slide.

How to upload a video file from your computer

Open the Google Slide where you want the video. Click the Insert menu at the top, then select Video. A dialog box opens with two tabs: Upload and YouTube. The Upload tab is already selected. Click Choose a file from your computer, find the video file on your computer, and click Open.

Google Slides begins uploading and processing the file. A progress bar shows how much is done. Once the upload finishes, the video appears on your slide as a thumbnail. You can drag it to reposition it, or grab the corners to make it larger or smaller. The video is now part of that slide, and anyone with access to the presentation can watch it.

Processing time depends on the file size. A 100 MB video typically takes a few minutes. A 1 GB video can take 10 to 15 minutes. You can continue editing other slides while the video processes, but you cannot play it in the presentation until processing is complete. Google Slides shows a small loading indicator on the thumbnail until it is ready.

How to link to a YouTube video

Open the Google Slide where you want the video. Click Insert at the top, then Video. In the dialog that opens, click the YouTube tab. You can now search for the video by title or paste a YouTube URL.

If you search by title, type the name of the video and press Enter. Google Slides shows a list of results. Click the video you want, and it embeds into your slide. If you have the YouTube link already, paste it into the search box and click the video when it appears. Either way, the video shows as a thumbnail on your slide, ready to resize and reposition like an uploaded video.

Resizing and positioning your video

Once the video is on your slide, click it to select it. Four corner handles and four edge handles appear around the video. Drag a corner handle to resize the video while keeping its width-to-height ratio the same. Drag an edge handle to stretch it in one direction only. Drag the video itself to move it anywhere on the slide.

You can also right-click the video and choose Replace image to swap it for a different video without deleting and re-inserting. This is useful if you uploaded the wrong file or want to try a different YouTube video in the same spot.

Setting a video to play automatically

Click the video to select it. In the toolbar at the right side of the screen, click the three dots menu (or look for Video options). A panel opens with settings. Check the box next to Autoplay when presenting if you want the video to start playing as soon as someone navigates to that slide during a presentation.

You can also set the video to Mute audio on autoplay if you want it to play silently until the viewer clicks it. This is useful if you have background music or narration on your slide that you do not want interrupted by the video sound.

Troubleshooting videos that won't play or upload

If a video file will not upload, check that it is in one of the supported formats: MP4, WebM, or Ogg. If it is in a different format (like MOV or AVI), you will need to convert it first using a free tool like HandBrake or CloudConvert. Also check that the file is smaller than 5 GB. Files larger than that cannot be uploaded to Google Slides.

If a YouTube video will not embed, the video owner may have disabled embedding. Some creators turn off the ability to embed their videos on other websites. In that case, you can still link to the video in your slide notes or add a text box with the YouTube URL, but you cannot embed it directly.

If a video plays fine on your computer but not when you share the presentation, the person viewing it may not have permission to access the file. For uploaded videos, make sure you have shared the Google Slides presentation with them. For YouTube videos, make sure the video is not set to private — it must be public or unlisted for others to watch it in your presentation.

When to use video in a presentation

Video works best when it shows something that text or images cannot — a process in action, a person speaking, a location, or a demonstration. A 30-second clip of someone using your product is more convincing than a bullet point describing it. A video of a historical event is more engaging than a paragraph about it.

Keep videos short. A 2 to 3 minute video is usually the maximum before an audience loses focus. If you have a longer video, consider breaking it into clips and adding them to different slides, or linking to the full version in your notes instead of embedding it. Test the video before you present to make sure it plays smoothly and the audio is at the right volume.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a video from my phone or tablet?

Yes, but you must first upload the video file to Google Drive or YouTube from your phone. Once it is there, you can add it to your Google Slide using the same steps as a computer. You cannot directly upload from your phone's camera roll to Google Slides — the file must be in Google Drive or YouTube first.

What happens to my video if I move the Google Slide to a different folder?

Uploaded videos stay with the presentation. If you move the Google Slides file to a different folder in Google Drive, the video moves with it. YouTube videos are not affected by folder changes — they stay on YouTube and play from there no matter where your presentation is stored.

Can someone read the video from my presentation?

For uploaded videos, anyone with access to your presentation can read the video file. For YouTube videos, they can only watch it if the video is public or unlisted. If you want to prevent downloads of an uploaded video, you can restrict who has access to the entire presentation, but you cannot password-protect just the video itself.

How much storage does a video use in Google Drive?

An uploaded video uses the same amount of storage as the original file. A 500 MB video file uses 500 MB of your Google Drive storage. YouTube videos do not use any of your storage — they play from YouTube's servers. If storage is limited, linking to YouTube videos is the better choice.

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

No. Google Slides does not have built-in video editing tools. If you need to trim, cut, or add effects to a video, edit it in a separate program like iMovie, Windows Photos, or DaVinci Resolve before uploading it to Google Slides. Once it is in your presentation, you can only resize, reposition, and set autoplay options.