It can be difficult to keep an audience's attention during a lengthy presentation. In fact, 4 out of 5 professionals admit to shifting their focus away from the presenter during the last presentation they attended. One way to combat this is interactive elements. You can embed a YouTube video in PowerPoint to break up long stints of talking and create a more fun environment.
Though you can add a plain hyperlink to your presentation to open in the browser, that doesn't look particularly professional. Instead, it makes sense to embed your video in PowerPoint so you can play it directly from the application. As an added benefit, the video's thumbnail will appear for a more beautiful design.
In this guide we show you how to embed a YouTube video in PowerPoint using two methods: its embed code and a URL. Both will give more or less the same results, so we recommend the latter unless you have a specific reason.
How to Embed a YouTube Video in PowerPoint Using Code
Embedding a YouTube video using its embed code is slightly more technical but offers additional customization options. This method is especially useful for those working with older versions of PowerPoint.
- Click the “Share” Button
Navigate to the YouTube video you wish to embed in your PowerPoint presentation and click on the “Share” button below the video. This is the initial step to access the embed code.
- Select “Embed”
After clicking “Share“, select the “Embed” option. This action will open a new window where you can view and copy the embed code.
- Copy Embed Code
In the “Embed Video” window, you'll find the embed code starting with