How to Insert a Video in PowerPoint 2016

Edited 5 months ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Inserting videos into your PowerPoint presentation can be a great way to engage your audience and make your presentation more dynamic and informative. PowerPoint 2016 offers several simple ways to add video content, and mastering them can help take your presentation to a whole new level. In this guide, we'll take an in-depth look at the different ways to insert videos into PowerPoint 2016. We'll cover everything from understanding video formats, embedding videos from your computer, and inserting videos from online sources to making sure your presentations are both engaging and professional.

Understanding video formats

Before we begin, it's essential to understand the various video formats that are compatible with PowerPoint 2016. PowerPoint supports a wide variety of video file formats. However, the most commonly used formats are MP4, WMV, AVI, and MOV. Of these, MP4 is generally recommended as it offers a good balance between video quality and file size, making it widely supported across various platforms and devices. It's important to make sure your video is in a supported format before you attempt to insert it into your presentation to avoid any playback issues.

Preparing to upload a video

Before you begin the process of inserting a video into your presentation, make sure you have the video saved on your computer or ready from an online source. If you plan to use a video from the Internet, verify that you have a stable Internet connection as online videos rely on streaming from the source.

Inserting videos from your computer

The easiest way to add a video to your presentation is to use a video file stored on your computer. Follow these steps:

1. Open your presentation: Launch PowerPoint 2016 and open the presentation where you want to insert the video. Go to the specific slide where the video should be inserted, or create a new slide if necessary.
2. Go to the Insert tab: Once you have the correct slide open, go to the "Insert" tab located on the PowerPoint ribbon at the top of the screen.
3. Insert a video: In the "Insert" tab, you will find a section called "Media." Click the "Video" button in this section. A drop-down menu will appear.
4. Select Videos on My PC: From the drop-down menu, select "Videos on My PC." This option will open a dialog box that allows you to browse your files.
5. Select video file: In the dialog box, navigate to the location on your computer where the video is saved. Select the video file you want to insert, and click the "Insert" button.
6. Adjust video placement: After you insert a video, you can move it to a suitable location on the slide by clicking and dragging it. You can also resize it by clicking one of the corners and dragging it to the size you want.

Once you've inserted a video, you can further customize its display and playback settings, which we'll discuss in later sections.

Inserting online videos

If the video you want to use is hosted online, you can easily insert it into your presentation by following these steps:

1. Open your presentation: Start by opening your PowerPoint presentation and going to the relevant slide or creating a new slide.
2. Access the Insert tab: Go to the "Insert" tab in the PowerPoint ribbon.
3. Select an online video: In the "Insert" tab in the "Media" section, click "Video" and then select "Online Video" from the drop-down menu. This option allows you to search for and insert videos from online platforms such as YouTube.
4. Find and select the video: This will open a dialog box with options for searching videos online. You can either enter the URL of the video or search for the video directly using the built-in search feature.
5. Insert the video: Once you find the video you want to use, select it and click the "Insert" button. The video will be embedded in the slide.
6. Adjust the video's location: Move and resize the video as needed, just as you would with a video inserted from your computer.

Remember that putting videos online requires a constant Internet connection during the presentation for the video to play smoothly.

Customize video playback settings

After you insert a video, you may want to customize its playback properties to suit the flow of your presentation. PowerPoint 2016 provides several options for controlling video playback, including trimming, setting the video to play automatically, or defining playback loop settings.

1. Select the video: Select the inserted video by clicking on it and activate the "Video Tools" section in the ribbon, where you will see two tabs: "Format" and "Playback."
2. Trim the video: Under the "Playback" tab, you'll find the "Trim Video" option. Clicking it opens a dialog box with trimming controls that allow you to choose specific start and end points for the video, allowing you to focus on the most relevant parts.
3. Set playback options: Decide whether the video starts automatically when you reach the slide or plays on a mouse click. The "Playback" tab offers options for both under the "Video Options" group.
4. Looping and rewind options: If you want your video to loop during the presentation, you can select the "Loop until stopped" option. To automatically rewind the video after it ends, select the "Rewind after playing" checkbox.

These settings help you better blend the video playback with the narrative of your presentation.

Testing video playback

It's always good practice to test video playback before presenting to your audience. This ensures that everything works as expected and allows you to make any necessary adjustments before the live presentation. To test the video:

1. Switch to Slide Show view: Click the "Slide Show" tab in the ribbon and select "From Current Slide" to start the slide show from the slide that contains the video.
2. Test the video: Watch the video play and check that it starts and ends as expected. Also, check that it plays smoothly without any lag.
3. Make adjustments: If any problems are found during testing, leave Slide Show view and return to the regular Editing view to make necessary adjustments to settings or troubleshoot problems.

Advanced video optimization

In addition to basic playback settings, PowerPoint 2016 also offers advanced customization for video formatting and effects. Here's a brief overview of what you can do:

• Video Styles: Apply different frames, shapes, and effects to your video under the “Format” tab to make it visually appealing.
• Color adjustment: Use the “Color” and “Correction” options under the “Format” tab to adjust the brightness, contrast, and color balance of the video, ensuring the video is visible and fits well with your presentation theme.
• Apply animations: Under the “Animations” tab, you can add entrance and exit animations to the video, making the transitions smoother and more attractive.

Tips for using video effectively

While videos can greatly enhance a presentation, it's also important to use them effectively. Here are some tips to help you do that:

• Keep videos short and relevant: Long videos can be distracting. To retain the audience's attention, use only relevant clips that add value to your story.
• Ensure quality: Use high-quality video to enhance the overall professionalism of your presentation and prevent any negative impact from poor visuals.
• Check the sound: If your video includes audio, make sure it's clear and the volume is set to the appropriate level for the presentation setting.

Troubleshooting common problems

Sometimes, you may encounter problems while playing videos in PowerPoint. Let's discuss some common problems and their solutions:

• Codec issues: If your video doesn't play, it may be because of an unsupported codec. To solve this problem, convert your video to a compatible format like MP4.
• Internet connection: For online videos, make sure your Internet connection is stable during the presentation to avoid buffering or playback failure.
• Missing files: Always keep the video files and presentation in the same folder when transferring to another computer to prevent missing file errors.

Conclusion

Adding videos to your PowerPoint 2016 presentations can greatly increase their impact, making them more engaging and informative. Whether you use videos stored on your computer or from online sources, PowerPoint provides easy-to-follow steps for seamless integration. By understanding video formats, using the right insertion methods, customizing settings, and testing playback, you can ensure a smooth and professional presentation. Remember to follow best practices when using videos, focus on quality and relevance, and troubleshoot common issues to deliver an impressive presentation experience.

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