Embedding videos in Google Slides can significantly enhance your presentations, making them more engaging and informative. Whether you’re incorporating a YouTube video, a video from your Google Drive, or a local file, the process is straightforward. This tutorial will guide you step-by-step on how to embed a video in Google Slides, whether it’s from YouTube, Google Drive, or your device, and how to customize the playback options to suit your presentation needs.
Google Slides is a powerful tool for creating presentations, but many users are unaware of the various ways they can integrate multimedia elements like videos. Adding a video to your slides can help convey your message more effectively, whether it’s a tutorial, a product demo, or any visual content that supports your narrative.
This guide will cover three key methods: embedding a YouTube video, embedding a video from Google Drive or your local device, and customizing the playback settings of the embedded video. By the end of this tutorial, you’ll have a well-rounded understanding of how to enhance your Google Slides presentations with video content.
How to Embed a YouTube Video in Google Slides
This method allows you to embed videos directly from YouTube into your Google Slides presentation. This is particularly useful if the video is publicly available on YouTube and you want to add it without downloading the file.
- Copy the YouTube Video URL
Navigate to the YouTube video you want to embed. Copy the video URL directly from the browser’s address bar or by right-clicking the video and selecting “Copy“.
- Open Google Slides and Insert Video
In your Google Slides presentation, click on “Insert” in the top menu, then select “Video” from the dropdown. This will open a new window.
- Paste the YouTube URL
In the “Insert Video” window, you will see a field to paste the YouTube URL. Paste the copied URL into this field.
- Press ENTER to Retrieve the Video Information
- Confirm the Video Selection
After pasting the URL, the video preview will appear. Click on the preview snippet to confirm your video choice and then on “Insert“.
- Position the Video on Your Google Slide
Once the video is inserted, drag it to the desired location on the slide. You can also resize it using the corners of the video box.
- Adjust Video Format Options
With the video selected, click on “Format options” in the toolbar. Here, you can adjust settings such as start and end time, autoplay, and mute options.
How to Embed a Local or Google Drive Video in Google Slides
If your video is stored locally on your device or in Google Drive, you can still embed it in your Google Slides presentation. This method is ideal for internal videos or content not available on YouTube.
- Open Google Slides and Choose to Insert Video
Begin by opening your Google Slides presentation. Go to the “Insert” menu and select “Video“.
- Select the Source of Your Video
In the “Insert Video” window, choose “Google Drive“. If it´s on your local drive, upload the video to Google Drive first.
- Choose the Video File
Navigate to the video file, select it, and click “Insert“.
- Position the Video on Your Google Slide
Position the video as needed on your slide. Like with YouTube videos (see above), you can use the “Format options” to customize the playback settings, including trimming the video, autoplaying, and more.
How to Customize Playback of an Embedded Video in Google Slides
Customizing the playback of your embedded video can enhance how your audience interacts with your content. You can set videos to autoplay, loop, or start at a specific point, among other options.
1. Select the Embedded Video
Click on the video in your slide to select it. Click on “Format options” in the toolbar to open the customization panel on the right side of the screen.
3. Video Playback
The “Video playback” section allows you to control how the video behaves when the slide is presented:
- Start at and End at: Specify the exact start and end times for the video. This is particularly useful if you only want to show a specific segment of the video.
- Autoplay when presenting: Enable this option to have the video automatically play as soon as the slide appears during your presentation.
- Mute audio: This option will mute the video’s audio if you prefer to have it play silently.
4. Size & Rotation
The “Size & Rotation” section allows you to adjust the dimensions and orientation of your video:
- Width and Height: Manually input the width and height, or adjust them by dragging the corners of the video.
- Lock aspect ratio: Maintain the video’s original aspect ratio while resizing, ensuring that the video does not become distorted.
- Rotation: Rotate the video by a specified number of degrees, allowing you to align it with other elements in your slide.
5. Position
In the “Position” section, you can precisely place the video on your slide:
- X and Y coordinates: Set the exact position of the video on the slide using X (horizontal) and Y (vertical) coordinates.
- Move with arrow keys: Fine-tune the video’s position using your keyboard’s arrow keys for precise placement.
6. Drop Shadow
The “Drop shadow” section adds a shadow effect behind the video, which can give it a floating appearance and make it stand out on the slide:
- Enable drop shadow: Toggle this option on to apply a shadow behind the video.
- Color: Choose the color of the shadow to match your slide’s design.
- Transparency: Adjust how transparent the shadow is, from solid to barely visible.
- Angle: Set the angle of the shadow relative to the video.
- Distance: Determine how far the shadow appears from the video.
- Blur radius: Control the sharpness of the shadow edges, making it either crisp or diffused.
7. Alt Text
The “Alt Text” section is essential for accessibility, providing a text description of the video for those using screen readers:
- Title: Enter a brief title that describes the content or purpose of the video.
- Description: Provide a detailed description of the video’s content, which will be read aloud by screen readers.
8. Final Adjustments and Review
After configuring these options, review your slide to ensure the video appears and behaves as intended. You can always return to the “Format options” panel to make further adjustments if needed.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions About Videos in Google Slides
Can you embed a video in Google Slides without internet access?
Internet access is essential when first embedding a video from YouTube or Google Drive into Google Slides since this process involves streaming. For presentations without internet access, consider using videos stored locally on your device, though you must first upload these videos to Google Drive while connected to the internet.
How do you embed a video from YouTube without advertisements in Google Slides?
Direct control over YouTube’s advertisement settings is not possible within Google Slides. To avoid interruptions from ads, a practical solution is to use videos hosted on platforms that do not feature advertisements, or upload a clean version of the video to Google Drive and embed from there, ensuring a smoother presentation without interruptions.
Is it possible to embed a video directly from Dropbox to Google Slides?
Direct embedding from Dropbox into Google Slides isn’t supported due to compatibility restrictions. Instead, download the video from Dropbox, upload it to Google Drive, and then insert it into your Slides presentation. This extra step ensures your video is stored in a compatible cloud service for easy access during your presentation.
Can you set up a video in Google Slides to play across multiple slides?
Currently, Google Slides doesn’t support continuous video play across different slides. To create a semblance of continuous play, clip the video into parts and embed each segment on subsequent slides, adjusting their start and end times to maintain continuity.
Can the video in Google Slides have clickable links?
While embedded videos in Google Slides cannot directly contain clickable links, you can overlay text boxes or shapes with hyperlinks over the video or around it. This method will allow viewers to click on links while the video is either paused or playing, directing them to additional resources or related content effectively.
How can you add subtitles or captions to a video in Google Slides?
Google Slides doesn’t support adding subtitles directly to videos. To include subtitles, use video editing software to hardcode them into the video file before uploading to Google Drive. Alternatively, if using YouTube videos, activate YouTube’s captioning features, ensuring they are visible when played in your presentation.
What are the steps to replace an embedded video with another in Google Slides?
To replace an embedded video, click on the video in your presentation and press the delete key. Then, go to the “Insert” menu, select “Video,” and upload or choose the new video file from YouTube or Google Drive. Insert it into the slide and adjust its placement and format options as required.
Can you lock the position of a video in Google Slides to prevent accidental moving?
Google Slides does not offer a lock feature for video elements at this time. To mitigate accidental placement changes, carefully place your video and avoid selecting it unnecessarily. Regularly save your presentation to preserve the intended layout.
What privacy settings should be checked if embedding a video from Google Drive?
Before embedding a video from Google Drive into Google Slides, adjust its sharing settings to either “Anyone with the link can view” or ensure all specific viewers or groups have been granted access. This ensures all participants in your presentation can view the video without restrictions.
How does one ensure accessibility for video content in Google Slides?
To enhance accessibility, utilize the ‘Alt Text’ feature to provide a descriptive title and detailed description of the video for screen reader users. Additionally, ensure embedded videos have embedded subtitles or captions for the deaf and hard of hearing. These practices help make your presentations inclusive.
How can you ensure videos play smoothly in Google Slides on different devices?
For optimal playback across various devices, use widely compatible video formats like MP4. Maintain a balance between video quality and file size to facilitate smoother streaming, especially if Internet speeds vary among viewers. Check playback in different network settings to ensure consistency.
How do you fix a video that isn’t playing in a Google Slides presentation?
Verify the internet connection and ensure browser compatibility. Double-check that the video URL is valid and hasn’t been moved or deleted. Test the video’s accessibility permissions in its host service (YouTube, Google Drive) and make sure it aligns with the privacy settings needed for your audience.
How does embedding videos in Google Slides impact the file size and loading times of the presentation?
While videos are streamed and don’t add to the physical file size of your Google Slides presentation, consider the internet bandwidth and loading times, especially for viewers with slower internet connections. Opt for lower-resolution videos if playback smoothness is a concern.
How do you extract a video from a Google Slides presentation?
Videos embedded within Google Slides cannot be extracted directly from the presentation as they merely link to their source files on YouTube or Google Drive. To access the original video, visit the particular platform where the video is hosted and download it from there, provided you have the necessary permissions.
What video file formats are supported for embedding into Google Slides from a local device?
Google Slides supports major video file formats like MP4 and MOV. Ensure you first upload these files to Google Drive, adhering to supported formats for seamless integration and playback within your Slides presentation.
Related: How to Add Music to Google Slides
Plain presentations have their place in serious business settings, but in any other case, holding your audience’s attention is key. In our other guide, we show you how to insert audio in Google Slides and customize them to act as background music.
Related: How to Get a YouTube Link with Timestamp on Mobile or Desktop
Sharing a specific moment from a YouTube video can be incredibly useful, whether you’re highlighting an important part of a tutorial, a funny scene, or any other noteworthy content. By using timestamps, you can direct viewers exactly where you want them to start watching. In our other guide, we show you various methods to get and share YouTube links with timestamps on mobile devices with Android, iOS and on PCs.
Related: How to Embed a YouTube Video in PowerPoint
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. In our other guide, we show you how to embed a YouTube video in PowerPoint so that you can spice up your presentations and impress colleagues.
