how to add video in presentation

• PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
• EDIT Edit this Article
• EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
• Browse Articles
• Learn Something New
• Quizzes Hot
• This Or That Game New
• Train Your Brain
• Explore More
• Support wikiHow
• About wikiHow
• Log in / Sign up
• Computers and Electronics
• Presentation Software
• PowerPoint Insertions

5 Ways to Embed a Video File in Microsoft PowerPoint

Last Updated: March 27, 2024 Fact Checked

Embedding a Web Video

Embedding a video file, embedding a stock video, using android, linking movie files (powerpoint 2007).

This article was co-authored by Mitch Harris and by wikiHow staff writer, Rain Kengly . Mitch Harris is a Consumer Technology Expert based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Mitch runs his own IT Consulting company called Mitch the Geek, helping individuals and businesses with home office technology, data security, remote support, and cybersecurity compliance. Mitch earned a BS in Psychology, English, and Physics and graduated Cum Laude from Northern Arizona University. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,129,098 times.

If you want to spruce up your PowerPoint presentations, you can add a video to your slides. If you have a video file on your computer, you can easily embed it into your presentation. You can also embed YouTube videos, use looping stock videos, or, on older versions of PowerPoint, link to the videos. This wikiHow will show you how to add a video to Microsoft PowerPoint using your Windows, Mac, or Android device.

Things You Should Know

• Copy a YouTube URL. In PowerPoint, click "Insert' → "Video" → "Online Videos/Movie". Paste the URL and click "Insert".
• To embed a video file, click "Insert" → "Video" → "This Device" → select a file → "Insert".
• To use a stock video, click "Insert" → "Video" → "Stock Videos" → select a video → "Insert".

• You must have a subscription to use Office 365 . [1] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source
• Adding a video to your PowerPoint can help you make a great presentation .

• You can insert a video from supported websites such as: YouTube, SlideShare, Vimeo, Microsoft Stream, and Flip.

• On Mac, this will look like Online Movie .

• You'll see a preview of the video.

• To adjust when the video plays, click the drop-down menu next to Start: . Select In Click Sequence , Automatically , or When Clicked On .
• Check the boxes to apply any of the following: Play Full Screen , Hide While Not Playing , Loop until Stopped , and/or Rewind after Playing .
• Click Volume to adjust the video's volume. Select Low , Medium , High , or Mute .

• Select the web video and click the Video Format tab.
• Click Poster Frame on the left of the toolbar.
• Click Image from File… .
• Select From a File , Stock Images , Online Pictures , or From Icons .
• Select the image source from the chosen method, and then click Insert .

• Stock videos work best as a background graphic to your PowerPoint text, since these videos loop seamlessly

• The stock video will be added to your slide. By default, it will cover the entire slide.

• PowerPoint is available for Android in the Google Play Store .

• The menu will open.

• If you want to take a video using your camera, tap Open Camera instead.
• The video file will be added to your PowerPoint.

• Videos can only be "embedded" (included in the presentation file itself) in PowerPoint 2010 or newer.

• Click the Office button and select "Publish."
• Select "Package for CD" and then select your presentation.
• Ensure that "Linked files" is selected in the "Options" menu.

Community Q&A

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/insert-a-video-from-youtube-or-another-site-8340ec69-4cee-4fe1-ab96-4849154bc6db#OfficeVersion=Windows
• ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/insert-audio-or-video-in-powerpoint-for-android-95e0a2af-35fb-405a-8536-cdcd934f659a
• ↑ https://support.office.com/en-us/article/My-movie-doesn-t-play-190cf574-183d-4b7f-b627-3783a14b7b07?ui=en-US&rs=en-US&ad=US
• ↑ https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Add-and-play-a-movie-in-a-presentation-f3fcbd3e-5f86-4320-8aea-31bff480ed02

About This Article

1. Open the slide. 2. Click Insert . 3. Click Movie . 4. Click Movie from File or Video on my PC . 5. Select the video and click OK . 6. Click Playback . 7. Choose how to play the video. 8. Save your presentation. Did this summary help you? Yes No

• Send fan mail to authors

Reader Success Stories

Rjan Berglund

May 26, 2017

Is this article up to date?

Jun 20, 2017

Nov 7, 2016

Jul 27, 2016

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Watch Articles

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Info
• Not Selling Info

wikiHow Tech Help Pro:

Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve

How to embed a video in PowerPoint for a more engaging presentation

What type of content do you primarily create?

Making an engaging PowerPoint presentation is no easy feat.

You have to figure out what to say, and what you want your audience to grasp. Then, decide how to bring the two together to deliver a compelling presentation.

One popular way to add flair is by embedding video into the content, like what Dr. Frans de Waal did in his TED Talk on inequity aversion . To emphasize his points, he included videos of animal experiments, turning a mind-numbingly boring topic into an engaging and viral presentation—which now has over 5 million views.

In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn how to embed a video in PowerPoint so you can create exceptional presentations that grab your audience’s attention and help them remember what you said.

How to embed a video in PowerPoint from your PC or Mac

First, of course, you’ll need a video, either one online or from your media library. The next step is to find a way to make it play during your PowerPoint presentation. You could do it manually by bringing up the video from another website or program while you’re speaking, but that process is clunky and you might end up facing technical challenges.

Luckily, there are simpler and easier methods of embedding videos in PowerPoint. You can link to your video file externally or embed it directly in your presentation. 

Use the tutorial below to insert videos in PowerPoint from a computer.

How to embed a video in PowerPoint in Windows

Step 1: select the powerpoint slide.

Launch Microsoft PowerPoint on a Windows computer and open a blank or existing PowerPoint file. 

Then, go to the slide you want to embed a video and select the Insert tab in the toolbar.

Step 2: Click Video > This Device

Select the Video option. Here, you can either embed a video from your computer or from an online source, like a website or YouTube and other supported platforms.

Click This Device from the drop-down menu to embed a video from a folder on your computer.  

PowerPoint supports MP4 files encoded with H.264 video and AAC audio. So, you can upload videos in file formats, such as M4V, MOV, ASF, AVI, MPG, MPEG, or WMV.

If you don't want to play a video full screen, resize it to your preferred dimensions.

For precise height-to-width proportions:

• Select Format (PowerPoint 2013 or newer) or Options (PowerPoint 2010) in the Size group
• Click the Dialog Box Launcher Icon image
• Click Size, then select the Lock aspect ratio checkbox under Scale 
• Enter your preferred height and width under Size and rotate or enter the percentage of size that you want in the Scale height and width boxes

Then, select Video Format to access formatting options like borders and effects or right-click the video for more options. You can also use the Designer tool to choose from professional slide templates. 

Then, click the Playback tab to trim your video, add captions, choose playback options, like In Click Sequence, Automatically, or When Clicked On.

Note: In PowerPoint for Microsoft Office 365 or PowerPoint 2016 version 1709 or later, you can use the In Click Sequence option. This way, your video can play in sequence with other actions you’ve programmed on the slide, like animations or transitions. 

To insert a web video, select Video > Online Videos . 

Note: PowerPoint supports YouTube, SlideShare, Vimeo, Stream, and Flip video providers.

Step 3: Click Insert

If you choose to embed an online video, copy the link to the video you want to embed and paste it in the blank field. A preview of your video will appear in the Insert video pop-up.

Click the Insert button to embed the video in your presentation. 

PowerPoint will download and insert the video on the selected slide. You can drag the edges of the video thumbnail to resize it, then use Video Format options, like shape, border, and effects to enhance the video. 

Select the Playback tab to insert captions or choose how your video plays (automatically or when clicked). 

Note: You can’t change when an online video starts. But if you’re embedding a YouTube video, you can copy the video URL at the current time to link from a specific start time. 

Click the Slide Show tab to preview the video with all the formatting changes you made. Then, save your presentation to your computer or click the Share button to move or copy it to the cloud.

How to embed a video in PowerPoint on a Mac

To embed a video in PowerPoint for Mac, you’ll need to save the video file in the same folder as your presentation.

Launch PowerPoint and open a blank or existing presentation, then select the slide you’d like to add a video to. 

Select Insert .

Step 2: Click Video > From File

Click Video to access video embed options from the drop-down menu:

• Video browser
• Video from file
• Stock videos
• Online film

Select Video from file to insert a video file from your Mac.

In the Choose a Video dialog box, select the video file you want to insert, then click the Insert button to embed the video on the slide.

If you want to put a link to the video on the slide, click Show Options in the lower left corner of the dialog box. 

Then, select the Link to file box, and click Insert .

Select the Video Format tab to add effects and choose whether your video will play automatically or when clicked.

Tip: If you’re using the 2016 version of PowerPoint (or newer), you can play back videos with multiple audio tracks. These versions also support closed captions and subtitles embedded in video files.

Select the Playback tab to do the following:

• Trim your video
• Add fade in and fade out effects
• Play the video on full screen or hide during the show
• Insert captions
• Select start time options (in click sequence, automatically, or when clicked)
• Loop the video to play repeatedly and continuously during the presentation
• Rewind your video

How to embed a video in PowerPoint from YouTube

Embedding a YouTube video to a PowerPoint presentation is simple. You can use the video URL or integrated search function to embed a video you uploaded to YouTube or someone else’s video (with permission).

To add a video to your PowerPoint presentation, you’ll copy the video embed code and paste it into the slide you want. The code will load the video at the source and play it on the platform you’re using. 

You won’t need to download and upload the video from YouTube and the video will load and play faster regardless of the file size. Plus, you can share video content that’s covered under copyright, so you’re not in danger of crossing any legal lines. 

Follow these steps to embed a video in PowerPoint from YouTube on a Windows PC or Mac. 

How to embed a video in PowerPoint from YouTube in Windows

Step 1: click “insert video”.

Open a PowerPoint presentation and select the slide you want to embed your video.

Click Insert > Video .

Step 2: Choose “Online video”

Select the Online Videos option.

Step 3: Insert the URL from YouTube

Right-click the video to copy the video link or embed code, or click Share to get the embed code. Then, paste the URL or embed code in the link field. 

A preview of your video will appear in the Insert video dialog box.

Click Insert to embed the video in your presentation. 

Resize the video thumbnail, then use the video formatting options to enhance it. 

Click Playback play the video automatically or when clicked or add captions. Then, preview the video with all the edits you made and save or share your presentation.

Note: YouTube’s video file formats are similar to those PowerPoint supports, so your video will likely play without issues. However, YouTube supports some formats that PowerPoint doesn’t, including FLV, 3GPP, WebM, DNxHR, ProRes, HEVC (h265), and CineForm. If your video isn’t playing, check to make sure it’s a supported file format.

How to embed a video in PowerPoint from YouTube on a Mac

Step 2: choose “online film”.

Select Online Film . 

A URL pop-up will appear prompting you to enter the link to the YouTube video.

Go to YouTube and copy the link or embed code of the video you want to embed in your presentation. You can right-click the video and select copy video URL or copy embed code, or click Share and copy the video link or embed code.

Paste the video link or embed code in the URL pop-up in your PowerPoint presentation, then click Insert .

Resize your video and polish your slides before saving the presentation to your computer.

How to insert a video file link in PowerPoint

Embedding a video in PowerPoint may be convenient, but it increases the size of your presentation. 

To reduce your presentation file size, insert a video file link to create a linked video. The downside with linked videos is that links can break, but you can prevent this by copying and storing your presentation and linked videos in the same folder, then linking to the video there.

Ensure you have a stable internet connection, then use the steps below to insert a video file link in PowerPoint on a PC or Mac.

Insert a video file link in PowerPoint on a PC or Mac

Step 1: take a screenshot of the video.

Find the video you want to link to in PowerPoint and take a screenshot of the clip. 

To take a screenshot in Windows, you can either use the Snipping tool, press the PrtScn (print screen) key and Windows Logo key on your keyboard. 

If you’re using a Mac computer, you can take a screenshot by pressing and holding SHIFT + COMMAND + 3 keys together (for full screenshot) or SHIFT + COMMAND + 4 keys to screenshot a specific area. 

Step 2: Insert the screenshot in your presentation

Alternatively, navigate to the slide you want to add your screenshot to, select Insert > Pictures > Picture from File . Then, find the screenshot you took, select Insert to add it to the slide, then crop, resize, and position it to your liking.

Step 3: Hyperlink the image to your video

Right-click the image and select Link . 

If your video is in Descript, copy the video link from your dashboard.

 Insert the video link in the address field then click OK .

The hyperlink will be connected to the image itself, not other elements on the slide or the entire slide.

Click Slide Show to test your video and ensure it links to the right video. When you click on the image, it will open in a web browser, ready for you to play.

Why can’t I embed a video in PowerPoint?

Embedding videos to a PowerPoint presentation is a straightforward process, but sometimes the video may fail to play. Let’s review some reasons for playback failure and how to resolve them.

Video playback issues

Video playback may fail in PowerPoint if:

• The storage folder is corrupt
• The video’s audio is out of sync
• The video file is corrupt, damaged, in an unsupported file format, or missing certain files

How to fix: Convert your video into a supported file format, check PowerPoint playback settings, or make the video visible by unchecking the Hide while not playing option in the playback tab. You can also save your presentation using the PPT or PPTX extension, so it’s easier to open the file in older or modern Office versions. 

File size and compatibility

Your video might not play if the file is too big. To resolve this issue, compress the media file by going to File > Info > Compress Media. Then, select one of these options: 

• Presentation quality/full HD: Adjusts the video size while maintaining its quality.
• Internet quality/HD: Saves on space and video quality.
• Low quality/Standard: Saves more space but doesn’t keep overall video and audio quality. This option is ideal if you want to share the presentation with others and ensure your videos will still play.  

If your video file is incompatible with PowerPoint, it may be in an unsupported file format or missing a codec. 

How to fix: Convert the video to a supported format or add a missing codec to your computer for smooth playback.

Broken links

When adding an online video, you might accidentally enter an incorrect link or the video link may be broken at the source. This means it won’t embed correctly and won’t play when you’re presenting. 

How to fix: Before inserting or embedding an online video, install the required updates for your version of PowerPoint and check that you’ve copied the right link. Then, test your video to ensure it plays on any device.

Make the best videos to embed in PowerPoint with Descript

Embedding a video in PowerPoint is a pretty simple process with several benefits for you and your audience. To prevent yawns and glazed-over eyes, you’ll need professional-quality videos that will draw your audience in, keep them engaged, and improve message recall.

Descript’s audio and video editing software lets you record, edit, and publish studio-grade videos to YouTube, then embed them in your PowerPoint presentations in a few clicks. 

Plus, Descript’s AI-powered automatic transcription generates high-quality transcripts from your video’s audio, which you can use as notes while making your presentation. You can also use Descript’s AI features to get text summaries, auto-generate copy for social media posts, and enhance your audio with Studio Sound .

Take Descript for a spin today to make quality videos that will help you deliver exceptional PowerPoint presentations.

Related articles

Featured articles:

The 9 best green screen software tools for video creators

Want to change up your background? Discover the best green screen software for seamless video editing.

The 9 best auto subtitle generators for creators

Discover the best auto subtitle generators for effortless video captioning.

The 8 best apps for making Reels on Instagram

Discover the best apps for making Instagram Reels in this complete guide!

AI for Creators

8 best AI copywriting tools to save time

Discover the best AI copywriting tools for effortless content creation.

How to clip and trim YouTube videos: A beginner’s guide

Want to save a piece of that video? Discover how to clip a YouTube video in just a few steps.

How to start a podcast on Spotify: 7 easy steps

Find everything you need to launch a successful podcast on Spotify, from setup to publishing.

Articles you might find interesting

Product Updates

New in Descript: Share your Overdub Voice, choose filler words to remove, and more

How to sync audio and video: 3 options with tips

It’s frustrating when your video sound lags behind what people see on screen. Here’s how to sync both the audio and video footage.

It ain't over yet: 6 podcast marketing tips for a show that's ended

Just because your show is already out in the world doesn’t mean you can’t work your marketing skills! Here are six ways to get more listens to the podcast you've worked so hard on.

How to edit crosstalk in video

You don’t want to cut out crosstalk willy-nilly — there’s an art to editing this conversational collision.

How to record with OBS: A beginner’s guide

Learn how to record with OBS like a pro! Our step-by-step guide covers everything you need for high-quality recordings!

The ultimate guide on how to get more views on TikTok

Learn how to get more views on TikTok and create engaging content with these 11 tips.

Join millions of creators who already have a head start.

Get free recording and editing tips, and resources delivered to your inbox.

Related articles:

Share this article

Home Blog PowerPoint Tutorials How to Insert a Video into PowerPoint

How to Insert a Video into PowerPoint

Adding videos to slides can save a lot of time explaining different concepts. A short video can help make even complex ideas easy to grasp with visual aids and assist the presenter in avoiding making several slides explaining the topic. You can add videos to your custom slides or PowerPoint templates from your device or online sources by following a few easy steps.

How to Add Video to PowerPoint

Just as we explained in a previous tutorial about how to add a video to Google Slides , adding a video to PowerPoint is quite similar. To get started, click the Insert tab and select Media -> Video . Now, select the source for your video.

Add Video from Device

You can add a video from your device by browsing to the location where the video is located to select it.

Add a Stock Video

To add a stock video, select the Stock Videos option from the Video dropdown menu, search for a video, and select to insert it.

Add Videos from Online Sources

Videos can also be added from online sources by adding the URL for a video from different sources such as YouTube, SlideShare, Vimeo, Stream, and Flip. For more details regarding this process, see our tutorial about how to embed a YouTube video in PowerPoint .

Format Video Added to PowerPoint

Once you have added a video in PowerPoint, you can format the video to adjust it according to need. The video size can be adjusted either from the Video Format tab or via drag and drop. The same tab also provides options to crop, rotate, and adjust the colors of the added video. Cropping and resizing options are available in the Video Format tab from the Size menu.

To add a video frame or change the look of the video outline, go to the Video Styles menu from the Video Format tab.

The video rotation and other adjustment options can be found in the Arrange menu in the Video Format tab.

The Adjust menu in the Video Format tab provides options for color correction, adding a poster frame, and resetting the video design.

Adjust Playback Settings for Video in PowerPoint

There are a number of playback settings that you can adjust from the Playback tab in PowerPoint. You can add closed captions, select the video to play in the loop, and rewind automatically once it’s played, as well as edit the video.

From the Video options menu in the Playback tab, select the Start dropdown menu to decide if the video will be played automatically when clicked or in a click sequence. From this menu, you can also select whether the video is to be played in full screen and hidden when not played.

Insert Captions is another option in the Playback tab that enables importing closed captions to be added to the video. The closed captions format supported by PowerPoint is WebVTT.

To edit a video in PowerPoint, the Playback tab provides the Editing menu. From this menu, you can trim the video and add a Fade (in and out) effect.

Final Words

Videos added to PowerPoint can be of immense help in explaining something important to an audience. Many YouTube videos make it easy to quickly provide the necessary information instead of using multiple slides or creating a custom video to get your point across. 

By effectively using videos in your PowerPoint slides, you can make your slides easier to grasp and work smart to present ideas and concepts quickly. However, it is worth testing out the slides once the videos are added by running them as a slideshow. If it’s an online video, ensure you have a stable Internet connection when presenting your slides; if it’s an offline video added to your slides, make sure the slides don’t lag on the system you are using. Do you know you can also convert slides to videos? See our tutorials on how to convert a PowerPoint presentation to an HD video and how to convert a Google Slides presentation to a video to learn about turning your slides into video presentations .

Like this article? Please share

Microsoft PowerPoint, PowerPoint Tools Filed under PowerPoint Tutorials

Related Articles

Filed under Google Slides Tutorials , PowerPoint Tutorials • April 17th, 2024

Google Slides vs. PowerPoint: A Detailed Comparison

Contrast and pick with presentation software suits your best. Check our guide on how the Google Slides vs. PowerPoint eternal debate.

Filed under PowerPoint Tutorials • April 16th, 2024

How to Insert an Equation in PowerPoint

Learn how to create easy-to-understand science slides by mastering how to insert an equation in PowerPoint. Step-by-step guide.

Filed under PowerPoint Tutorials • April 9th, 2024

How to Remove Notes from PowerPoint

Make alternative versions of your presentation files by learning how to remove notes from PowerPoint. Step-by-step guide with screeshots.

Leave a Reply

• Slidesgo School
• Google Slides Tutorials

How to Add a Video in Google Slides

In this new Slidesgo School tutorial, you’ll learn how to add a video to your presentations , be it from YouTube or from your own computer . You’ll also find out what format options Google Slides has to offer regarding videos.

How to Embed a YouTube Video

How to insert a video, how to cut and edit a video.

• Open your presentation in Google Slides and select the slide where you want to add the video.
• Click Insert → Video. A new window will open.
• On the first tab, Search, you can look for the YouTube video you want to add to the presentation. Once located, click Select to add it to the slide. You can now adjust its size to your liking.
• If you have the URL of the video, click the By URL tab and paste it in the text field. You’ll see a preview of the video. If it’s correct, click Select to add the video to the slide. Place it whenever you like and adapt it according to your needs.
• Please note that you can’t crop a video in Google Slides, so you’ll need to play around with the rest of the graphic elements to have a coherent design.
• To insert a video that isn’t from YouTube, it must be stored in your Google Drive account.
• Access Google Drive.
• Drag the video to Google Drive or click New → Upload files. Locate the file in your computer and upload it to Google Drive.
• Click Insert → Video. A new window will open. On the Google Drive tab you’ll see all your videos stored in or shared with your Google Drive account. Choose the video you want to upload and click Select. The video will be added to the slide, and now you can adjust it to your liking.
• Select the video that you’ve added to the presentation.
• Go to the toolbar and click Format options. As an alternative, right-click the video → Format options. You can also click Format → Format options. A new panel will open on the right side of the screen.
• Click the Video playback drop-down arrow to see the options. You can set the start and the end time, trimming the video accordingly. There are two boxes below. Check the first one to enable autoplay when presenting, and the second one to mute the audio.
• The rest of the tabs on the Format options panel contain settings to adjust the size and position of the video, and you can also add a drop shadow to it.
• Within the Size and rotation tab, you can modify the width and height values for the video. There’s also an option to lock the aspect ratio in case you want to keep the video proportions.
• Within the Position tab, you can set exactly where you want to place the video, taking the top-left corner or the center of the video as reference. To move the video, you’ll need to modify the values of the X and Y axes.
• The last tab, Drop shadow, contains a box, which you can check to add a drop shadow. If you click the drop-down arrow, you’ll find options to modify the color and the behavior of the shadow (angle, transparency, distance and blur).

Do you find this article useful?

Related tutorials.

How to print PowerPoint notes

Crafting an impactful PowerPoint slideshow and delivering a captivating presentation are distinct skills. The first focuses on designing appealing visuals to convey a clear message, while the second involves employing effective presentation techniques to ensure the audience grasps the idea. The content of this article will help you with the latter part of this process, guiding future presenters on how to print PowerPoint with speaker notes to enhance your presentations success and effectiveness.

Discover Our Online Presentation Software for Free

We have great news for you today! If you’ve been a Slidesgo fan for years (or months, or weeks, or days, or mere hours, we welcome everyone!), you’ll probably know for now that our templates are available mostly in two formats: for use in Google Slides and PowerPoint.Google Slides is a free tool, since you only need a Google account in order to use it. PowerPoint, on the other hand, is part of the Microsoft Office suite, so it’s not a free program, but that didn’t stop it from being one of the most popular options in the world!What if we...

Webinar: Presentation Audit

With more than 15,000 templates released on Slidesgo and a user base composed of millions of people, we estimate that the total number of presentations created adds up to… um, a lot! Our team of professional designers work very hard to provide you with editable slides so that the only thing you need to do is, well, customize the elements to your liking. Starting from any given template, the results may vary a lot depending on the person who edited the contents.Have you ever wondered “Is my presentation good enough?” and wished that an expert on presentations looked at your template...

How to Change Slides Orientation in Google Slides

A change of perspective is always good! Do you want your public to look at your slides in a new way? Changing slides orientation will do the work. In this tutorial you’re going to learn how to go from horizontal slides, to vertical ones (and vice versa!). 

Find the images you need to make standout work. If it’s in your head, it’s on our site.

• Images home
• Curated collections
• AI image generator
• Offset images
• Backgrounds/Textures
• Business/Finance
• Sports/Recreation
• Animals/Wildlife
• Beauty/Fashion
• Celebrities
• Food and Drink
• Illustrations/Clip-Art
• Miscellaneous
• Parks/Outdoor
• Buildings/Landmarks
• Healthcare/Medical
• Signs/Symbols
• Transportation
• All categories
• Editorial video
• Shutterstock Select
• Shutterstock Elements
• Health Care
• PremiumBeat
• Templates Home
• Instagram all
• Highlight covers
• Facebook all
• Carousel ads
• Cover photos
• Event covers
• Youtube all
• Channel Art
• Etsy big banner
• Etsy mini banner
• Etsy shop icon
• Pinterest all
• Pinterest pins
• Twitter all
• Twitter Banner
• Infographics
• Zoom backgrounds
• Announcements
• Certificates
• Gift Certificates
• Real Estate Flyer
• Travel Brochures
• Anniversary
• Baby Shower
• Mother’s Day
• Thanksgiving
• All Invitations
• Party invitations
• Wedding invitations
• Book Covers
• Editorial home
• Entertainment
• About Creative Flow
• Create editor
• Content calendar
• Photo editor
• Background remover
• Collage maker
• Resize image
• Color palettes
• Color palette generator
• Image converter
• Contributors
• PremiumBeat blog
• Invitations
• Design Inspiration
• Design Resources
• Design Elements & Principles
• Contributor Support
• Marketing Assets
• Cards and Invitations
• Social Media Designs
• Print Projects
• Organizational Tools
• Case Studies
• Platform Solutions
• Generative AI
• Computer Vision
• Free Downloads
• Create Fund

How to Add Video to Your Presentations and Slideshows

It feels like PowerPoint presentations have been around since the dawn of the computer age. While PowerPoint is still effective, crafting digital presentations has become easier than ever.

Whether through Google Slides, Adobe Presenter, Shutterstock Create , or another tool, presentations remain the most popular (and engaging) way to share information—for meetings, events, school projects, etc.

As the digital age continually reshapes the way we communicate, we’re here to help you crush the game going forward. Learn how to navigate the newest version of PowerPoint, Google Slides, and Create to continue to impress your coworkers with videos and GIFs.

Adding Videos Using PowerPoint

There are several reasons you might include a video in your presentation , especially as it becomes a more popular format in every industry. Videos help the presenter explain information further, enhance visuals, and excite an audience more effectively. They add interest to what might otherwise be a more muted presentation.

Follow these step-by-step instructions on how to embed a video in PowerPoint:

• Choose a slide or create a new slide for your video
• Select Insert and choose Video
• Choose Online Movie  or Movie from File

The screenshot below shows the steps in Office 365 PowerPoint, but the process is identical in newer versions of PowerPoint.

For online videos, you can select a video from YouTube and copy the URL. This will add a video from the internet to your PowerPoint presentation. This is a convenient way to share your favorite videos that you’ve discovered, or ones that you’ve uploaded to YouTube yourself.

Otherwise, you can select a file from your PC and add your own personal video file to your presentation.

Using Locally Hosted Video Files

When you choose to insert a video from your PC, you are selecting a locally hosted video.

Self-hosting allows you to choose a video that you don’t wish to upload to YouTube, or another online hosting service.

This is the right option if you want to share a video that you have saved on your computer.

The process of inserting a locally hosted video is easy, but you may experience slower load times and your local videos may not be compatible with playback on mobile devices.

A YouTube video is a more dynamic and accessible way to share your videos during a presentation.

Consider uploading your video to YouTube before inserting it into your presentation. This not only offers a more dynamic viewing experience, it also makes it easier to share your PowerPoint with other users.

Adding GIFs to PowerPoint

A GIF, or Graphic Interchange Format, is a popular way to share information and create interest—often using humor. These short videos can be added to your PowerPoint presentation to introduce a more human moment.

If you’re presenting a very informational slideshow, a GIF helps you pause and re-engage the audience.

The process is similar to adding a video. Here’s how to insert a GIF in PowerPoint:

• Select the slide or create a new slide
• Choose Insert and click Pictures
• Find your GIF in the Insert Picture box
• Click Insert

Note that the GIF animation will only appear when you use the Slide Show presentation option.

Adding Videos Using Google Slides

Onto Google Slides, a quick and all-in-one design tool for Google-lovers everywhere. If you have a Gmail account, you have access to Google Slides.

Click the icon with the nine circles and select Slides .

From here, you’ll have an option to select a blank canvas or a pre-made template. If you’re not super design savvy or don’t have a specific design need, consider a template for ease. If not, go for a blank canvas!

We chose the Consulting Proposal template.

From here, begin to personalize the cover details with name, subject line, date, or whatever else suits your needs. Make sure your background themes are all cohesive for the content and take your time going slide by slide.

To insert your video in Google Slides, simply click Insert > Video . You’ll be prompted to upload your video from YouTube or Google Drive.

From here, decide which video works best. Since it’s a consulting presentation, we chose a witty clip from Steve Jobs. Copy and paste the URL from YouTube (or search directly here by typing in keywords).

Once you have it, click the video or paste the URL.

Click Insert to drop the video onto the slide!

Once the video is on the canvas, use the blue squares to drag-and-drop as you please. You can customize how and when the video is played using the right-hand tab.

When you’re ready to test everything out, click Slideshow in the top-right corner or click the small right-arrow next to the Slideshow button to choose Presenter View .

Adding GIFs to Google Slides

Adding GIFs to Google Slides is similar to adding videos.

Note that before anything, the GIF will have to be downloaded onto your computer or easily accessible through YouTube to get that URL. If it’s not, you’ll want to make a GIF or find one that’s downloadable as an MP4.

We used a GIF that was easily made in Create , then downloaded it in MP4 video format. Email the MP4 video to yourself. When you open the email, find the Google Drive button on the attachment and click it so that it lands in your Google Drive.

Now, head back to Google Slides. Click Insert > Video again to find the video uploaded into your Google Drive.

Click and Insert.

Same deal here, the video will insert onto the canvas for you to customize your GIF options. Well done!

As you can see, for projects like this, it’s handy to have Shutterstock Create at your side in the event you need to edit, adjust, or make an asset!

You can animate elements inside Create for a quick GIF or select a meme template to offer some laughs.

Using Create as a Design Ally

To make a GIF as we did, simply follow these quick steps:

1. Open a Blank Canvas or Template

Click either File > Create new > Blank Canvas or Template to start. For a quick GIF, we’ll start with templates.

Use keywords based on the type of post or canvas size you like. For simplicity, we’ll type Instagram into the search bar.

From here, select a template.

2. Customize Text, Images, and Graphics

Use the Text , Images , and Graphics tabs to customize the design for your field. Feel free to insert logos and brand colors, too.

To change the background colors, select that color, then click Change color . Insert custom colors, pre-set colors, or use the Eyedropper tool to sample a color that’s already on the canvas.

We typed “family” into the Image search bar to demonstrate swapping the images. As a Creative Flow+ premium user, you have access to the one-click Background Remover for any image.

3. Animate It

When you’re ready, click an asset to animate. We’ll chose the fake company name we created, “Origin.” You’ll see the top font toolbar pops right up.

Click the Star button (if you hover over it, it’ll say Animate ).

4. Customize Animation

From here, the animation toolbar will reveal itself on the left-hand side. Choose your pace, entrance, and looped patterns.

You can animate one or multiple elements.

6. Download as MP4

When you’re set, click Download in the top-right corner and select the MP4 video option. Download again.

Now, the file will be on your computer!

Then, follow the above steps to drop it into your presentation! Easy as pie.

Now, it’s your turn.

Need more articles on crafting awesome presentations? Be sure to check these out:

• 6 Tips to Make Your Presentation Stand Out
• 9 Tips for Making Beautiful PowerPoint Presentations
• Visual Dos and Don’ts for Powerful and Effective Presentations
• How to Make a Professional Video Presentation
• 10 Fun “Presentation Night” Ideas

License this cover image mockup via Mix and Match Studio , Bondan Gail , and Ales Munt .

Recently viewed

Related Posts

Why Monochromatic Color Palettes Are a Hack for Elegant Designs

A monochromatic color palette is a simple yet sophisticated way to create your next design. Here’s what you need to know.

How to Make a Flyer for Free, Even with No Design Experience

Wondering how to make a flyer? This guide explains the whole process in 4 easy steps, with 10 designer-made templates to help you get started.

The Best Fonts for YouTube Thumbnails

Boost your YouTube channel branding with these free fonts for…

10 Creative & Inspiring Earth Day Poster Ideas

Celebrate our planet and encourage others to conserve and protect with these 10 Earth Day poster ideas. Customize any design for free!

© 2023 Shutterstock Inc. All rights reserved.

• Terms of use
• License agreement
• Privacy policy
• Social media guidelines

How-To Geek

6 ways to create more interactive powerpoint presentations.

Engage your audience with cool, actionable features.

Quick Links

• Add a QR code
• Embed Microsoft Forms (Education or Business Only)
• Embed a Live Web Page
• Add Links and Menus
• Add Clickable Images to Give More Info
• Add a Countdown Timer

We've all been to a presentation where the speaker bores you to death with a mundane PowerPoint presentation. Actually, the speaker could have kept you much more engaged by adding some interactive features to their slideshow. Let's look into some of these options.

1. Add a QR code

Adding a QR code can be particularly useful if you want to direct your audience to an online form, website, or video.

Some websites have in-built ways to create a QR code. For example, on Microsoft Forms , when you click "Collect Responses," you'll see the QR code option via the icon highlighted in the screenshot below. You can either right-click the QR code to copy and paste it into your presentation, or click "Download" to add it to your device gallery to insert the QR code as a picture.

In fact, you can easily add a QR code to take your viewer to any website. On Microsoft Edge, right-click anywhere on a web page where there isn't already a link, and left-click "Create QR Code For This Page."

You can also create QR codes in other browsers, such as Chrome.

You can then copy or download the QR code to use wherever you like in your presentation.

2. Embed Microsoft Forms (Education or Business Only)

If you plan to send your PPT presentation to others—for example, if you're a trainer sending step-by-step instruction presentation, a teacher sending an independent learning task to your students, or a campaigner for your local councilor sending a persuasive PPT to constituents—you might want to embed a quiz, questionnaire, pole, or feedback survey in your presentation.

In PowerPoint, open the "Insert" tab on the ribbon, and in the Forms group, click "Forms". If you cannot see this option, you can add new buttons to the ribbon .

As at April 2024, this feature is only available for those using their work or school account. We're using a Microsoft 365 Personal account in the screenshot below, which is why the Forms icon is grayed out.

Then, a sidebar will appear on the right-hand side of your screen, where you can either choose a form you have already created or opt to craft a new form.

Now, you can share your PPT presentation with others , who can click the fields and submit their responses when they view the presentation.

3. Embed a Live Web Page

You could always screenshot a web page and paste that into your PPT, but that's not a very interactive addition to your presentation. Instead, you can embed a live web page into your PPT so that people with access to your presentation can interact actively with its contents.

To do this, we will need to add an add-in to our PPT account .

Add-ins are not always reliable or secure. Before installing an add-in to your Microsoft account, check that the author is a reputable company, and type the add-in's name into a search engine to read reviews and other users' experiences.

To embed a web page, add the Web Viewer add-in ( this is an add-in created by Microsoft ).

Go to the relevant slide and open the Web Viewer add-in. Then, copy and paste the secure URL into the field box, and remove https:// from the start of the address. In our example, we will add a selector wheel to our slide. Click "Preview" to see a sample of the web page's appearance in your presentation.

This is how ours will look.

When you or someone with access to your presentation views the slideshow, this web page will be live and interactive.

4. Add Links and Menus

As well as moving from one slide to the next through a keyboard action or mouse click, you can create links within your presentation to direct the audience to specific locations.

To create a link, right-click the outline of the clickable object, and click "Link."

In the Insert Hyperlink dialog box, click "Place In This Document," choose the landing destination, and click "OK."

What's more, to make it clear that an object is clickable, you can use action buttons. Open the "Insert" tab on the ribbon, click "Shape," and then choose an appropriate action button. Usefully, PPT will automatically prompt you to add a link to these shapes.

You might also want a menu that displays on every slide. Once you have created the menu, add the links using the method outlined above. Then, select all the items, press Ctrl+C (copy), and then use Ctrl+V to paste them in your other slides.

5. Add Clickable Images to Give More Info

Through PowerPoint's animations, you can give your viewer the power to choose what they see and when they see it. This works nicely whether you're planning to send your presentation to others to run through independently or whether you're presenting in front of a group and want your audience to decide which action they want to take.

Start by creating the objects that will be clickable (trigger) and the items that will appear (pop-up).

Then, select all the pop-ups together. When you click "Animations" on the ribbon and choose an appropriate animation for the effect you want to achieve, this will be applied to all objects you have selected.

The next step is to rename the triggers in your presentation. To do this, open the "Home" tab, and in the Editing group, click "Select", and then "Selection Pane."

With the Selection Pane open, select each trigger on your slide individually, and rename them in the Selection Pane, so that they can be easily linked to in the next step.

Finally, go back to the first pop-up. Open the "Animations" tab, and in the Advanced Animation group, click the "Trigger" drop-down arrow. Then, you can set the item to appear when a trigger is clicked in your presentation.

If you want your item to disappear when the trigger is clicked again, select the pop-up, click "Add Animation" in the Advanced Animation group, choose an Exit animation, and follow the same step to link that animation to the trigger button.

6. Add a Countdown Timer

A great way to get your audience to engage with your PPT presentation is to keep them on edge by adding a countdown timer. Whether you're leading a presentation and want to let your audience stop to discuss a topic, or running an online quiz with time-limit questions, having a countdown timer means your audience will keep their eye on your slide throughout.

To do this, you need to animate text boxes or shapes containing your countdown numbers. Choose and format a shape and type the highest number that your countdown clock will need. In our case, we're creating a 10-second timer.

Now, with your shape selected, open the "Animations" tab on the ribbon and click the animation drop-down arrow. Then, in the Exit menu, click "Disappear."

Open the Animation Pane, and click the drop-down arrow next to the animation you've just added. From there, choose "Timing."

Make sure "On Click" is selected in the Start menu, and change the Delay option to "1 second," before clicking "OK."

Then, with this shape still selected, press Ctrl+C (copy), and then Ctrl+V (paste). In the second box, type 9 . With the Animation Pane still open and this second shape selected, click the drop-down arrow and choose "Timing" again. Change the Start option to "After Previous," and make sure the Delay option is 1 second. Then, click "OK."

We can now use this second shape as our template, as when we copy and paste it again, the animations will also duplicate. With this second shape selected, press Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V, type 8 into the box, and continue to do the same until you get to 0 .

Next, remove the animations from the "0" box, as you don't want this to disappear. To do this, click the shape, and in the Animation Pane drop-down, click "Remove."

You now need to layer them in order. Right-click the box containing number 1, and click "Bring To Front." You will now see that box on the top. Do the same with the other numbers in ascending order.

Finally, you need to align the objects together. Click anywhere on your slide and press Ctrl+A. Then, in the Home tab on the ribbon, click "Arrange." First click "Align Center," and then bring the menu up again, so that you can click "Align Middle."

Press Ctrl+A again to select your timer, and you can then move your timer or copy and paste it elsewhere.

Press F5 to see the presentation in action, and when you get to the slide containing the timer, click anywhere on the slide to see your countdown timer in action!

Now that your PPT presentation is more interactive, make sure you've avoided these eight common presentational mistakes before you present your slides.

• Create an email message
• Suggested recipients
• Use @mentions
• Create a signature
• Add attachments
• Check spelling
• Add a reaction
• Out of office replies
• Delay or schedule
• Recall a message
• Automatic forwarding
• Read receipt
• Save a file or draft
• Change display name
• Create a folder
• Use inbox rules
• Conditional formatting
• Use Favorites
• Custom views
• Message font size
• Message list view
• Focused Inbox
• View as conversations
• Filter and sort messages
• Number of messages
• Chat with recipients
• Share an email
• Status in Outlook
• Phishing and suspicious behavior
• Blocked senders
• Protected messages
• Open a protected message
• More to explore

Create and add an email signature in Outlook

In Outlook, you can create one or more personalized signatures for your email messages. Your signature can include text, links, pictures, and images (such as your handwritten signature or a logo).

Note:  If the steps under this New Outlook tab don't work, you may not be using new Outlook for Windows yet. Select Classic Outlook  and follow those steps instead.

Create and add an email signature

On the View tab, select   View Settings . 

Select Accounts > Signatures .

Select    New signature , then give it a distinct name.

In the editing box below the new name, type your signature, then format it with the font, color, and styles to get the appearance you want.

Select Save when you're done.

With your new signature selected from the list above the editing box, go to  Select default signatures and choose whether to apply the signature to new messages and to replies and forwards.

Select Save again.

Note:  If you have a Microsoft account, and you use Outlook and Outlook on the web or Outlook on the web for business, you need to create a signature in both products.

Create your signature and choose when Outlook adds a signature to your messages

If you want to watch how it's done, you can go directly to  the video below .

Open a new email message.

Under Select signature to edit , choose New , and in the New Signature dialog box, type a name for the signature.

Under Edit signature , compose your signature. You can change fonts, font colors, and sizes, as well as text alignment. If you want to create a more robust signature with bullets, tables, or borders, use Word to create and format your signature text, then copy and paste it into the Edit signature box. You can also use a pre-designed template  to create your signature. Download the templates in Word, customize with your personal information, and then copy and paste into the Edit signature box. 

You can add links and images to your email signature, change fonts and colors, and justify the text using the mini formatting bar under Edit signature .

You can also add social media icons and links in your signature or customize one of our pre-designed temlates. For more information, see Create a signature from a template .

To add images to your signature, see Add a logo or image to your signature .

Under Choose default signature , set the following options. 

In the E-mail account drop-down box, choose an email account to associate with the signature. You can have different signatures for each email account.

You can have a signature automatically added to all new messages. Go to in the New messages drop-down box and select one of your signatures. If you don't want to automatically add a signature to new messages, choose (none). This option does not add a signature to any messages you reply to or forward. 

You can select to have your signature automatically appear in reply and forward messages. In the  Replies/forwards drop-down, select one of your signatures. Otherwise, accept the default option of (none). 

Choose OK to save your new signature and return to your message. Outlook doesn't add your new signature to the message you opened in Step 1, even if you chose to apply the signature to all new messages. You'll have to add the signature manually to this one message. All future messages will have the signature added automatically. To add the signature manually, select Signature from the Message menu and then pick the signature you just created.

Add a logo or image to your signature

If you have a company logo or an image to add to your signature, use the following steps.

Open a new message and then select Signature > Signatures .

In the Select signature to edit box, choose the signature you want to add a logo or image to.

To resize your image, right-click the image, then choose Picture . Select the Size tab and use the options to resize your image. To keep the image proportions, make sure to keep the Lock aspect ratio checkbox checked.

When you're done, select OK , then select OK again to save the changes to your signature.

Insert a signature manually

If you don't choose to insert a signature for all new messages or replies and forwards, you can still insert a signature manually.

In your email message, on the Message tab, select Signature .

Choose your signature from the fly-out menu that appears. If you have more than one signature, you can select any of the signatures you've created.

See how it's done

Top of page

Note:  Outlook on the web is the web version of Outlook for business users with a work or school account.

Automatically add a signature to a message

You can create an email signature that you can add automatically to all outgoing messages or add manually to specific ones.

Select Settings   at the top of the page.

Select Mail >  Compose and reply .

Under Email signature , type your signature and use the available formatting options to change its appearance.

Select the default signature for new messages and replies.

Manually add your signature to a new message

If you've created a signature but didn't choose to automatically add it to all outgoing messages, you can add it later when you write an email message.

In a new message or reply, type your message.

If you created multiple signatures, choose the signature you want to use for your new message or reply.

When your email message is ready, choose Send .

Note:  Outlook.com is the web version of Outlook for users signing in with a personal Microsoft account such as an Outlook.com or Hotmail.com account.

Related articles

Create and add an email signature in Outlook for Mac

Create an email signature from a template

Need more help?

Want more options.

Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.

Microsoft 365 subscription benefits

Microsoft 365 training

Microsoft security

Accessibility center

Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge.

Ask the Microsoft Community

Microsoft Tech Community

Windows Insiders

Microsoft 365 Insiders

Find solutions to common problems or get help from a support agent.

Online support

Was this information helpful?

Thank you for your feedback.