How to Insert a Video into PowerPoint
In PowerPoint presentations, videos can add vibrancy and visual interest to more effectively hook your viewers. Let’s take a look at how to insert/embed a video it’s not hard but it can make a big difference. We find that while you don’t want to overdo the number of videos, the use of one or two select videos can significantly boost the overall quality of your PowerPoint. So, this leaves us with a crucial question: How do you insert/embed a video in PowerPoint?
Thankfully, it doesn’t take a PowerPoint wizard to embed a video to your presentation – even a beginner can nail this helpful skill! Here, we’ll walk you through every aspect of embedding a video in your PowerPoint presentations, along with expert tricks and troubleshooting ideas.
The Pros and Cons of Video in PowerPoint
Before we dive into the process of how to embed code for a video in PowerPoint 2013 and up, let’s decide whether or not a video is right in the first place. There are pros and cons to adding a video to your PowerPoint presentation, and, as proud geeks, we recommend considering all of them for the best possible result.
Thankfully, it doesn’t take a PowerPoint wizard to embed a video to your presentation – even a beginner can nail this helpful skill! Here, we’ll walk you through every aspect of embedding a video in your PowerPoint presentations, along with expert tricks and troubleshooting ideas.
Pros of Video in PowerPoint:
- Make sure you include a variety of medium (creative ways) to engage your audience in your PowerPoint can help and hold their attention when you click from the first slide to the last. By using only one type of presentation aid, you need to make sure your presentation does not appear to become monotonous and predictable.
- A select video can portray a large volume of information without forcing your audience to read and become lost in a wall of text. The video can improve the flow of your PowerPoint to help your audience also retain more information.
- Using a video this way can be a more attention-grabbing medium than images. This is namely because a video coupled with visuals with movement and audio, making them more likely to captivate audience members than clicking through a version with still photos.
- Using an embedded youtube video that you have found online will keep the file size down – allowing you to send your file to clients without having issues sending and receiving.
Cons of Video in PowerPoint:
- If you embed too many video clips in your PowerPoint presentation, it can start to come across as a movie, rather than a presentation. The written content still needs to be a priority so that you can drive home a strong message.
- A video can significantly extend your presentation’s run-time. The longer it takes to finish your presentation, the higher the risk that your audience will lose interest in the video or after the video.
- When you embed local videos it can significantly increase the file size of your presentation. This can keep the video from loading properly and make it difficult to send via email.
- Using an embedded YouTube video that will be streamed online, can be deleted if it is not yours and you might find it difficult to find the video again or another one with similar messaging. You also will need to make sure you have a good internet connection to view the online video if you are presenting somewhere new.
How To Embed a Local or Online Video in PowerPoint
The process to embed code for your video into PowerPoint 2013, PowerPoint for Office 365, and PowerPoint for Mac is identical. Just follow these easy steps:
1. With your presentation open in PowerPoint, select the slide you would like to insert a video in. Then click the “INSERT” tab. It’s located to the right of the “HOME” tab.
3. From here, you will have some options, click video > “video from File” ( local video, you have stored on your computer) or “Online video” (Video stored online site eg: YouTube video)
If you select video >“Video from File”, click the video you want to add from your computer and click insert or upload, this will embed local presentation. Scroll down below in the article to view the pros and cons of embedding a local video.
4. If you have chosen to click “Online Video”, the window will pop up to add a video.
In your browser window go to the YouTube website and search for the video online that you want to embed. Once you have found the video on YouTube, click the video in YouTube that you want to select, then scroll down and click the share button. The “share” button will give you two different ways to add a video into PowerPoint. These are A) to copy YouTube video URL and B) to click on embed code.
A) To insert a video using a YouTube URL. Click Video > Click the “share” button and copy the YouTube video URL.
B) To insert a YouTube video using the embed method. Click the “share” button and click embed, on the right-hand side select and iframe copy the embed code.
A video screen capture will appear on the slide you wanted to insert it on. To preview the video click the play button.
From here you can use the playback options in PowerPoint, this will allow you to control how and when a video appears in your slides using the playback tab. You can play a video in full-screen format or resize it to dimensions that work for you. You can also control the volume, video click to play the video repeatedly (in a loop), and show the media controls.
YouTube Videos vs. Local Videos
Embedding a Local Video
Pros:
- It’s easy! With the video located right on your computer, you can select the video you want and insert to the PowerPoint in a snap.
- You don’t need to be connected to Wi-Fi to play a local video on your presentation. This can give you peace of mind when you’re presenting in a new location with a questionable or shaky Wi-Fi connection.
- The Video becomes a permanent part of the presentation, just like text and images.
- You also might want to add a video on the fly, so if the video is located on your computer that you are presenting on you can quickly select the video to insert.
Cons:
- Local videos typically take longer to load than online video or YouTube video, which can seriously slow down your presentation from playing. No one wants to be waiting in awkward, mid-presentation silence for a video to load – it can break your flow and lose the attention of your audience.
- When you insert a local video to your PowerPoint presentation may increase the file size to over 25MB. This can make it difficult to share with others, especially via email.
What If A Video Makes My PowerPoint Too Big To Send?
When you embed a video you want into your PowerPoint presentation, it may become too large to send over email. In this case, there are a few geek-approved platforms that you can use to send off your PowerPoint with ease.
How to Share PowerPoint in Dropbox
Dropbox is a popular and convenient cloud storage system. It’s unique from other cloud storage applications because it doesn’t automatically pull content from your devices – you get to handpick the files that you upload.
When you upload PowerPoint presentations to Dropbox, you can share them easily when you click Share > create link.
Dropbox will create a link to the PowerPoint selected. This will allow you can copy and share with others. By sending a Dropbox link, rather than the PowerPoint itself, you won’t have to worry about large file size.
How to Share PowerPoint in Microsoft OneDrive
Microsoft OneDrive is another cloud storage system that may be especially convenient for teams who exclusively use Microsoft devices. OneDrive is accessible through the Internet, so you can get to it from virtually any device, without the need to download an app.
With OneDrive, you can easily share your presentation with others. After uploading the PowerPoint, just select “Share”, choose the location for your presentation in the cloud, select a permission level, enter the names of the people that you want to share the presentation with, and click send.
