How to embed a video in Google Slides in 3 easy ways

Why embed videos in Google Slides?

Whether you’re teaching a class or sharing quarterly results with the board, static slides are a fast pass to losing your audience. Adding videos to your Google Slides brings your presentation to life—helping you craft a dynamic, polished experience that’s more likely to hold everyone’s attention from start to finish.

Here’s a closer look at what embedded videos can do for your Google Slides presentation:

Videos help make complex ideas click

With video, the sky’s the limit. It could be a tutorial walking viewers through software setup, a product demo highlighting a feature in action, or an animated explanation of a complex process like data migration. Motion and sound can be helpful when explaining abstract, complex, or intricate topics effectively.

Videos grab your audience’s attention—and keep it

Attention spans often fade during presentations, but the interplay of visual and audio stimulation helps keep viewers locked in by capturing multiple senses simultaneously. If anyone wants to review your slides for better understanding or wasn’t able to attend, you can also easily record your Google Slides presentation, giving everyone the option to watch and rewatch whenever they like, 24/7.

Videos help you present like a pro 

Embedding videos directly in your slides helps ensure your presentation looks polished and professional. It also streamlines your delivery by eliminating the need to switch between tabs or risk playback issues. 

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3 ways to embed videos in Google Slides

Embedding videos in Google Slides offers flexibility. It allows you to include content from multiple sources, including Vimeo, YouTube, and Google Drive.

With Google Slides, the video integration process makes it easy to create engaging and interactive presentations for any audience.

1. Embed using a video link – do this for Vimeo videos!

Embedding an external video link is a super easy option for high-quality videos hosted on platforms like Vimeo, especially those with customizable settings. This method supports seamless playback, works well with platforms offering advanced video tools, and allows you to customize video settings directly on your hosting platform. Just keep in mind that clicking the link will open the video in a browser tab.

Here’s how to embed an external video link:

1. Take a screenshot or download a video thumbnail for your video.
2. In Google Slides, go to Insert > Image > Upload and add the screenshot.
3. Click on the image and select Insert Link (Ctrl/Cmd + K).
4. Copy and paste your Vimeo video URL (or other video URL) into the link field.
5. Save and test the link to make sure it works.

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2. How to embed a YouTube video in Google Slides

Embedding YouTube videos in Google Slides offers several advantages, including direct integration, no need for downloading or uploading files, and playback options like autoplay and custom start times. However, it requires a stable internet connection and is subject to the video's privacy settings.

Knowing how to put a YouTube video on a Google slide is as simple as copy-pasting a URL:

1. Go to the Insert menu in Google Slides.
2. Select Video from the dropdown.
3. In the Search tab, type the video title or paste the YouTube URL.
4. Click Select and then Insert to add the video to your slide.
5. Adjust the video’s size and placement as needed.

3. How to embed a video on Google Slides from Google Drive

Adding a video to Google Slides works well for private or internal content that’s not on a platform like YouTube. It integrates smoothly with the Google Workspace Suite and lets you control sharing permissions. Just remember you’ll need to upload to the same Google account as your slides, and playback depends on the permissions set in Google Drive.

Here’s how to embed a video file from Google Drive:

1. Upload your video file to Google Drive.
2. In Google Slides, go to the Insert menu.
3. Select Video from the dropdown.
4. Select the Google Drive tab.
5. Choose your uploaded video.
6. Click Select and then Insert to embed it into your slide.
7. Adjust the video’s playback and placement settings as needed.

Embed a video with Google Drive →

How to customize playback settings and video design in Google Slides

Once you've added videos to Google Slides, the next step is playback customization. You can fine-tune how your video slides videos appear and play, ensuring they align perfectly with your presentation the way you want and achieve the desired impact.

Fine-tune playback settings

Google Slides offers flexible playback controls that let you decide how and when your video will play. These settings give you control over the timing, sound, and overall presentation flow.

To access playback settings:

1. Select the video on your slide.
2. Click Format Options from the Format toolbar.
3. Open the Video Playback panel on the right.

Here are the key playback options:

• Play (on click): The video starts when you click on it during your presentation.
• Play (automatically): The video starts after the slide appears without interaction. 
• Play (manual): The video only plays when you manually start it. 
• Start and End Times: Play only specific sections of the video by setting custom timestamps.
• Mute Audio: The video will start according to your other playback settings.

Each setting serves a different purpose, so consider your presentation style and audience engagement when selecting the right option.

Enhance video design for easy integration

After embedding your video, the next step is to fine-tune its appearance to ensure it fits perfectly in your slide layout. Whether working with a single video or creating a dynamic slideshow video, Google Slides has plenty of customization tools in the Format Options panel. You can access this panel in a few ways:

1. From the toolbar: Click Format, then Format Options.
2. Right-click the video: Select Format Options from the menu.
3. Toolbar shortcut: Click the Format Options icon directly.

Here’s a closer look at the tools available in Google Slides:

Size and Rotation

Adjust the size and rotation of your video to ensure it fits naturally within your slide layout.

• Resize Precisely: Manually set the width and height values for pixel-perfect dimensions.
• Scale Proportionally: Adjust the Width Scale and Height Scale for consistent resizing.
• Lock Aspect Ratio: Maintain the video’s original proportions to prevent distortion. Tip: Locking the aspect ratio ensures your video doesn’t stretch or appear irregular.
• Rotate or Flip: Rotate to custom angles or flip vertically or horizontally for creative layout.

Position

Positioning aligns your video with other elements on your slide. For even more precise placement, you can use Google Slides' alignment guides and snap-to-grid features.

• Alignment Options: Choose the video’s reference point when adjusting X and Y coordinates:
• Top Left: Select this to use the top-left corner as the reference point.
• Center: Centers the video as the reference point.
• Fine-Tune Placement: Adjust X (horizontal) and Y (vertical) axis values for precise pixel-level control.

Drop Shadow

Drop shadows add subtle depth and make your video stand out without overpowering other slide elements. A slight shadow with low opacity and minimal blur often looks the most polished.

• Color: Match the shadow color to your slide’s theme.
• Opacity: Control transparency levels for a natural look.
• Angle: Adjust the shadow’s direction for emphasis.
• Distance: Set how far the shadow appears from the video.
• Blur Radius: Soften or sharpen the shadow’s edges for the perfect effect.

Alt Text

Alt text enhances accessibility by describing the video content for blind and low-vision users and helps give context to everyone.

• Description: Provide a concise summary of the video’s content and purpose.
• Title: Add a clear title for extra context to help viewers access the presentation online.

Easily embed into Google Slides with Vimeo

Vimeo’s video player makes embedding videos into Google Slides effortless, delivering smooth playback and a polished presentation every time. Say goodbye to buffering issues and playback hiccups—Vimeo keeps your videos running seamlessly, keeping your audience focused on the content.

Vimeo also offers powerful video editing tools, like trimming, merging, and customizing settings, so you can fine-tune your content before embedding it. Whether showcasing a product, delivering a pitch, or teaching a class, Vimeo ensures your videos look sharp and align perfectly with your presentation goals.

Take your Google Slides presentations to the next level with a video player designed for clarity, performance, and flexibility. Explore Vimeo's Video Player here.

FAQs

How do you embed a video in Google Slides?

Embedding a video in Google Slides is simple:

1. Open your presentation and go to the slide where you want the video.
2. Click Insert > Video in the toolbar.
3. Choose from YouTube, Google Drive, or a video URL.
4. Select your video and click Insert.
5. Adjust playback settings and design to ensure a polished presentation.

Can you add a video to Google Slides?

Yes, Google Slides allows you to add videos in three ways:

• YouTube videos: Search directly on YouTube or paste a video URL.
• Google Drive videos: Upload your video to Google Drive and select it in Slides.
• External video links: Add a screenshot or thumbnail that links to a video hosted on platforms like Vimeo.

What video formats does Google Slides support?

Google Slides supports these video formats when you upload files via Google Drive:

• MP4: The recommended format for its balance of quality and compatibility, MP4 works effectively across devices and platforms.
• MOV: Ideal for iOS users, this format integrates well with Google Slides.
• WebM: Designed for web delivery, WebM provides excellent compression and quality without requiring excessive storage space.

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