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Text-heavy slides can put your audience to sleep. Want to wake them up? Adding videos to PowerPoint is easier than you think, and it instantly makes your presentation more engaging.
Add Videos From Your PC to PowerPoint
If the video you want to include in your PowerPoint presentation is already stored on your PC, you can either insert it directly into the presentation or link to the file.
When you insert the video directly, the video file becomes part of the PowerPoint presentation itself. This is an excellent option if you want to ensure the video plays regardless of the device you’re using to present, as it travels with the presentation. However, keep in mind that this can significantly increase the file size of your presentation.
Alternatively, you can link the video, which will play in the presentation, but you must ensure the video file remains in the same location and is accessible during the presentation. This option is handy if you want tokeep the presentation file size smaller.
To insert or link to the video stored on your PC in your PowerPoint presentation:
Embedding Online Videos in PowerPoint
If you want to enhance your PowerPoint presentation with videos from platforms like YouTube or Vimeo, there’s no need todownload the video to your PC. Modern versions of PowerPoint (PowerPoint for Microsoft 365, PowerPoint 2021, or PowerPoint 2019) make it easy to embed videos directly from the web. Here’s how to do it:
you may play the video in your presentation as long as you’re connected to the internet. The video will stream directly from its original source, so you’ll see the website’s controls for actions such as play, pause, and volume adjustment.
If you’re looking forhigh-quality royalty-free visualsbut don’t have a specific video in mind, you can add videos from Microsoft 365’s content library. To do this, simply go toInsert > Video > Stock Video. Then, browse through the library, select the video you like, and clickInsert.
The stock video will be downloaded and embedded in the presentation, so you won’t need an internet connection during your presentation.
Tips for Video Embeds in PowerPoint
Once you’ve inserted your preferred videos in the presentation, there are a few things you can do to make it look even better.
1. Change the Video Thumbnail
By default, PowerPoint uses the first frame of the video as the thumbnail, but you can easily change this to something more visually appealing. Simply select the video, go toVideo Format > Poster Frame > Image from File, and choose an image from your PC, a stock library, or even use an icon for a unique touch.
2. Apply Effects
PowerPoint offers a variety of effects to help your videos either blend seamlessly into the design or stand out as a focal point.
Select your video and go to theVideo Formattab to customize it. From there, you can use the options at the top to add a border or subtle shadow for a polished look. Additionally, you can apply one of the available video styles to enhance its appearance.
3. Adjust Playback Settings
If you’ve embedded a video in your presentation—whether from your PC or a stock library—you may go to thePlaybacktab to trim it. From this tab, you can also apply fade-in and fade-out effects and adjust the volume.
you may also specify whether the video should play automatically when the slide appears or if you want to trigger it manually.
