The simplest way to add video to a PowerPoint slide
Open the slide where you want the video to appear. Go to the Insert tab at the top of PowerPoint, then click Video. You will see two options: This Device (for a video file already on your computer) or Online Video (for a video from the web). Choose the one that matches where your video lives, select the file or paste the link, and PowerPoint embeds it directly into that slide.
The video appears as a clickable thumbnail on your slide. During the presentation, click it to play. The video plays inside PowerPoint itself — you do not need to open another program or switch windows. When you are done presenting, click outside the video or press Escape to return to your slides.
This method works on both Windows and Mac versions of PowerPoint. The steps are identical. If you are using PowerPoint Online (the free web version), the process is slightly different and covered in its own section below.
Key Takeaways
- Insert a video by going to the Insert tab, clicking Video, and choosing either a file from your computer or a link from the web.
- Videos embedded from your computer are packaged inside the PowerPoint file itself, making the file larger but playable anywhere without internet.
- Videos from YouTube, Vimeo, or other websites require an internet connection to play during your presentation.
- You can resize, move, and trim the video directly on the slide using the tools that appear when you click it.
- Test your video before presenting to make sure it plays smoothly and the audio works at the volume you need.
Adding a video file from your computer
Click the slide where you want the video. Go to Insert > Video > This Device. A file browser opens. Navigate to the folder where your video is saved, click the video file, and click Insert. PowerPoint adds the video to your slide as a thumbnail image with a play button in the center.
The video file is now embedded inside your PowerPoint file. This means the PowerPoint file becomes larger — a typical video can add 50 to 500 megabytes depending on length and quality. The advantage is that you can move the PowerPoint file to another computer or email it, and the video travels with it. You do not need the original video file anymore.
If your video file is very large (over 100 megabytes), PowerPoint may take a moment to embed it. This is normal. Once it finishes, you can use the video when ready.
Inserting a video from YouTube, Vimeo, or other websites
Go to Insert > Video > Online Video. A dialog box appears asking for a link. Copy the full URL from the website where the video lives (YouTube, Vimeo, or another site), paste it into the box, and click Insert. PowerPoint embeds a player that connects to that website.
When you play the video during your presentation, PowerPoint streams it from the website in real time. This keeps your PowerPoint file small, but you must have a working internet connection during your presentation. If the internet drops, the video will not play. Test your connection before presenting, especially if you are presenting in a location with unreliable WiFi.
Not all websites allow embedding. YouTube and Vimeo work reliably. Some other video sites block embedding or require you to be logged in. If PowerPoint rejects a link, try downloading the video file instead and use the "This Device" method above.
Resizing, moving, and positioning your video
Click the video thumbnail on your slide. Small squares appear around the edges — these are resize handles. Drag any corner handle to make the video larger or smaller while keeping its shape. Drag the center of the video to move it to a different spot on the slide.
To make the video fill most of the slide, drag a corner handle outward. To make it smaller and leave room for text or other content, drag inward. If you make a mistake, press Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Command+Z (Mac) to undo.
You can also right-click the video and choose Size and Position to enter exact measurements in inches or centimeters. This is useful if you want multiple videos on the same slide to be exactly the same size.
Trimming video length and adjusting playback
Click the video, then look for the Playback tab that appears at the top of PowerPoint. Click Trim Video. A timeline appears showing the full length of the video. Drag the left handle to set where the video starts playing, and drag the right handle to set where it stops. Click outside the trim window to save your changes.
Trimming is useful if your video has a long intro you want to skip, or if you only need a portion of a longer clip. The trimmed section is hidden during playback, but the original video file is not deleted — you can undo the trim anytime by opening the trim window again.
In the same Playback tab, you can also set the video to start automatically when the slide appears (instead of requiring a click), or to loop continuously. These options are in the Start dropdown and the Loop checkbox.
Adding a poster image and adjusting volume
By default, PowerPoint shows a still frame from the video as the thumbnail. If you want a different image to appear before the video plays, right-click the video and choose Change Poster Frame. You can pick a different frame from the video itself, or upload a custom image from your computer.
To adjust volume, click the video and look for the speaker icon on the video player itself (visible when you hover over the video). Drag the volume slider left to lower the sound or right to raise it. You can also mute the video entirely by clicking the speaker icon.
Test the volume in the room where you will present. What sounds right at your desk may be too quiet or too loud in a larger space. If you are presenting in a noisy environment, consider using subtitles or a microphone to reinforce what the video is saying.
Using PowerPoint Online (the free web version)
PowerPoint Online does not support embedding video files from your computer. You can only insert videos from the web. Go to Insert > Video, then choose Search Online or Paste Embed Code. Search Online lets you find a video directly from YouTube or Bing. Paste Embed Code requires you to copy the embed code from the website first, then paste it into PowerPoint.
If you need to embed a video file on your computer, read the desktop version of PowerPoint (part of Microsoft 365 or a one-time purchase) instead. The desktop version has full video support. PowerPoint Online is free but has fewer features.
Troubleshooting video playback problems
If a video does not play during your presentation, the most common cause is a missing or moved video file. If you embedded a video from your computer and then moved or deleted the original file, PowerPoint loses the connection. Always keep the original video file in the same folder, or embed it into PowerPoint and delete the original only after confirming the video plays in the presentation.
If an online video (YouTube, Vimeo) does not play, check your internet connection. Open a web browser and visit the video's website directly to confirm it loads. If the website is down or the video has been removed, you will need to find a different video or read a copy to embed locally.
If the video plays but the audio is missing or very quiet, check the volume slider on the video player and also check your computer's system volume. Some presentation rooms have separate audio systems — ask the venue if you need to connect to their speakers or microphone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I embed a video from my phone or tablet?
Not directly. Transfer the video file to your computer first using a USB cable, cloud storage (OneDrive, Google Drive), or email. Once the file is on your computer, use the "This Device" method to embed it into PowerPoint.
What video file types does PowerPoint accept?
PowerPoint accepts MP4, MOV, WMV, and MPEG formats on both Windows and Mac. MP4 is the most reliable and widely compatible. If your video is in a different format, use free software like HandBrake or VLC to convert it to MP4 first.
Will the video play if I email the PowerPoint file to someone else?
Yes, if you embedded the video from your computer. The video is packaged inside the PowerPoint file. If you linked to an online video (YouTube, Vimeo), the other person needs an internet connection to watch it, and the video must still exist on that website.
How do I make a video play automatically when a slide appears?
Click the video, go to the Playback tab, and change the Start dropdown from "On Click" to "Automatically". The video will begin playing as soon as you navigate to that slide during your presentation.
Can I add captions or subtitles to a video in PowerPoint?
PowerPoint does not add captions directly. If your video already has captions embedded in the file, they will play. Otherwise, add captions using video editing software before embedding, or use a separate caption file if the video format supports it. YouTube videos often have auto-generated captions you can enable before copying the link.