How to Embed a YouTube Video in PowerPoint

Inserting a YouTube Video in PowerPoint Using a Link or Embed Code

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated May 1, 2021

Applies to: Microsoft^® PowerPoint^® 2013, 2016, 2019 and 365 (Windows)

You can embed a YouTube video in a PowerPoint presentation and run it during a slide show. Essentially, you are linking to the YouTube video but it will play seamlessly in PowerPoint. In order to play a linked or embedded YouTube video, you will need to copy the link or embed code first from YouTube and then paste it into PowerPoint. Because you are connecting to YouTube using this method, you will also need a solid internet connection to play the video.

As YouTube is constantly being updated, options in YouTube may change.

Although there are programs that enable users to download a YouTube video, you can run into copyright issues if you download (or screen record) a YouTube video so linking or embedding can help avoid those types of problems.

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Copying a link or embed code in YouTube

The first step in the process is to get the link or embed code from YouTube:

Go to youtube.com using your browser.
In YouTube, use the Search box to find the video you want to use in your presentation. The URL (uniform resource locator) of the video will appear in the address bar of the browser.
Below the video, click Share. A dialog box appears. You can copy this link and paste it into PowerPoint later.
If you prefer to include player controls and set a starting point, click Embed. A dialog box will appear with the embed code for the video. Select the desired options by checking them (such as including the player controls).
Select the code.
Press Ctrl + C to copy (or click COPY).

The following dialog box appears if you click Share below a video in YouTube:

If you click Embed, another dialog box appears and you will have the option of selecting the Embed code:

Pasting the link or embed code into PowerPoint

The second step is to paste the link or embed code into your PowerPoint presentation:

Open the PowerPoint presentation in which you want to insert the video.
Navigate to the desired slide.
Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
In the Media group, click Video and then choose Video from Web Site (2010) or Online Video (2013 and later versions). A dialog box appears.
In 2013, click From a Video Embed Code and press Cntrl + V to copy the code. In 2016, 2019 and 365, paste the code in the URL area of the dialog box by pressing Ctrl + V.
Click Insert.

The following dialog box appears in PowerPoint 2016, 2019 and 365:

PowerPoint 2013 displays the following dialog box:

Issues and limitations

There are limited playback options on the Playback tab for YouTube videos. For example, you won't have the option of playing full screen or looping using the Playback tab.

For PowerPoint 2013 and 2016 users, if the embed code method does not work, run PowerPoint updates and this may solve the problem.

Note: You can no longer embed and play YouTube videos in PowerPoint 2010. In 2017, Google retired the Flash Player that PowerPoint 2010 used to play YouTube videos.

Resizing the video placeholder

The YouTube video may appear as a black box on the slide in Normal View depending on your version of PowerPoint. Double-click the video in Normal View if the video appears as a black box.

To resize the placeholder:

In Normal View, click the video placeholder.
Drag one of the corner handles to resize the video and maintain proportions.

Setting a YouTube video to play on click in a slide show

To set a video to play on click vs in click sequence (where you would click anywhere on the slide):

In Normal View, click the video.
Click the Playback tab in the Ribbon.
Select When Clicked on from the Start drop-down menu in the Video Options group.
Click Slide Show on the bottom right of the screen to run the show.
Position your pointer on the video and click to play it.
Press ESC to exit the show.

Since YouTube videos depend on a working internet connection, it's a also good idea to have a backup plan in case the connection is weak or dropped.

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