Depending on the version of PowerPoint that you're using, you can insert an embedded video (the default behavior) or link to a video file stored on your computer.
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Inserting an embedded video is convenient, but it increases the size of your presentation.
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A linked video keeps your presentation file smaller, but links can break. We recommend storing presentations and linked videos in the same folder.
Supported video formats
We recommend that you use .mp4 files encoded with H.264 video (a.k.a. MPEG-4 AVC) and AAC audio.
For more details, see Video and audio file formats supported in PowerPoint.
Embed a video stored on your PC
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In Normal view, click the slide that you want the video to be in.
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On the Insert tab, click the arrow under Video, and then select This Device (or Video on My PC).
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In the Insert Video box, click the video that you want, and then click Insert.
Link to a video stored on your PC
To help prevent broken links, we recommend copying the video into the same folder as your presentation and then linking to it there.
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In Normal view, click the slide where you want the link to the video to be in.
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On the Insert tab, click the arrow under Video, and then select This Device (or Video on My PC).
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In the Insert Video box, click the file that you want to link to, click the down arrow next to the Insert button, and then click Link to File.
Newer versions of PowerPoint support the playback of video with multiple audio tracks. They also support closed captions and subtitles that are embedded in video files. For more information, see Make your PowerPoint presentations accessible.
Find out where a linked video is stored
If there's already a video on a slide and you want to know where it's stored, go to File > Info. Under Optimize Media Compatibility, there will be information about all media files in the presentation—whether they are linked or embedded in the file. If there are any linked videos, PowerPoint gives you a View Links hyperlink. Click it to open a dialog box that shows the storage location of any linked files.
YouTube video
If you want to insert a video on YouTube, switch to Insert or link to a video on YouTube.
Preview a video
When a video is selected on a slide, a toolbar appears below the video that has a play/pause button, a progress bar, incremental forward/backward buttons, a timer, and a volume control. Click the Play button at the left of that toolbar to preview the video.
Play a video automatically or when clicked
By default, in Slide Show, the video plays as part of the click sequence. That means that when you click anywhere on the slide to advance to the next step (or when you press the Spacebar, Right arrow key, or other key that advances to the next step) the video plays. This Start option is called In Click Sequence.
But if you prefer, you can make the video start automatically as soon as it appears onscreen, or make it play when it is clicked:
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Select the video frame.
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On the ribbon, on the Playback tab, open the Start list and choose the option you prefer:
Option
Description
In Click Sequence
This is the default behavior, as described above. When you click anywhere on the slide to advance to the next step, the video plays.
Automatically
The video starts automatically.
(If there are animation steps before it, the animation steps will play first and then the video starts playing automatically. If there are no other animation steps before the video on the slide, the video begins playing immediately.)
When Clicked On
The video starts only when it has been clicked.
For more details about the options for playing the video in Slide Show, see Set the 'Play' options for a video.
We recommend that you use .mp4 files encoded with H.264 video (a.k.a. MPEG-4 AVC) and AAC audio.
For more details, see Video and audio file formats supported in PowerPoint.
To get the correct instructions, select the version of PowerPoint that you're using:
Insert a video stored on your computer
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In Normal view, select the slide you'd like to add a video to.
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On the Insert tab, click Video, then click Movie from File.
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In the Choose a Movie dialog box, select the file you want to insert.
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If you want to embed the video on the slide, simply click Insert.
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If you want to put a link to the video on the slide, click Options at the lower left corner of the dialog box, and then select the Link to file box, and then click Insert.
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Once you've added a video to your presentation, you can add effects and choose whether the video plays automatically or when it is clicked.
Tip: You can play back video that has multiple audio tracks. Closed captions and subtitles that are embedded in video files are also supported. For more information, see Make your PowerPoint presentations accessible.
Insert a video stored on your computer
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Open a new or existing presentation in PowerPoint for the web.
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Select Insert > Video > This Device.
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Select the video you want and select Open to insert it in your slide.
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After your video has been inserted and appears on the slide, you can move, resize, or apply shape effects to your video.
Tips:
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PowerPoint for the web supports insertion of video files up to 256 MB.
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We recommend using .mp4 video file format for best presentations quality and experience. We also support the following file types: .mov, .wmv, .avi, .m4v, .mkv, .asf, .ts.
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The speed at which videos from your computer or laptop are inserted is dependent on your network connection.
Want to insert an online video instead?
Go to Insert a YouTube video for all the details.
