You have a YouTube video ready, but need it to play inside your PowerPoint slide. Here's where to paste its link on Windows, Mac, and the web, plus how to add a file for offline desktop playback. The catch with online videos: they stay on YouTube, so you'll need internet access when you present.
Embed a YouTube video on Windows
Copy the YouTube video's page URL from your browser's address bar.
In PowerPoint for Microsoft 365, PowerPoint 2024, or PowerPoint 2021 for Windows, select the slide where you want the video.
Choose Insert > Video > Online Video.
Paste the YouTube URL into the dialog.
Select Insert to add the video to your slide.
Tip: Use the video's page URL for this method; there's no need to copy YouTube's HTML embed code.
If you're using PowerPoint on a Mac
On a Mac, look for Online Movie. This method works in PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 for Mac, PowerPoint 2024 for Mac, and PowerPoint 2021 for Mac.
Copy the YouTube video's page URL from your browser.
Select the destination slide in your presentation.
Choose Insert > Video > Online Movie.
Paste the URL into the dialog.
Click Insert to place the video on the slide.
Add the video in PowerPoint for the web
Editing in a browser? You can insert the YouTube link there, too.
- 1.Copy the YouTube video's page URL from another browser tab.
- 2.Select the destination slide in PowerPoint.
- 3.Choose Insert > Online Video in the Media group.
- 4.Paste the URL into the dialog.
- 5.Select Insert.
Save a video inside the presentation for offline playback
For offline desktop playback, start with your own YouTube upload or a video file supplied by its owner.
To download your own upload, sign in to YouTube Studio.
Choose Content.
Locate your video.
Open that video's Menu.
Select Download to get an MP4 file, subject to YouTube's download restrictions.
Select the destination slide in PowerPoint.
On Windows, choose Insert > Video > This Device; the file option is also labeled Video on My PC in Microsoft's instructions.
On Mac, choose Insert > Video > Movie from File.
Select your video file in the file picker.
Click Insert to embed it in the presentation.
Tip: Choose Insert to store the video inside the presentation; Link to File keeps it as an external file.
When the YouTube video won't play
Start with internet access. Your presentation device needs a connection to YouTube because inserting a URL doesn't download the video.
The uploader also controls whether the video allows embedding. You can't override another creator's restriction, but you can change the setting for your own upload.
For your own video, open YouTube Studio.
Go to Content > Details > SHOW MORE for that video.
Check Allow embedding.
Select SAVE.
If your work or school account blocks online-video insertion, ask your administrator to review Office's connected-experience policies.
If network filtering blocks the player, ask your network administrator to allow youtube.com through the firewall.
If the embedded player still fails, try a basic hyperlink. Type the video's YouTube URL on the slide.
Press Enter to turn it into a clickable link.
If the hyperlink also fails, use an embedded video file for offline desktop playback as described above; a hyperlink opens YouTube externally and still needs internet access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I embed a YouTube video in PowerPoint on my phone or iPad?
PowerPoint for Android and iOS does not support native YouTube insertion. To add a link, tap the slide location. Choose Insert > Link > Insert Link. Enter the YouTube URL in Address. Add Text to display. Finish with Done on iOS or Insert on Android.
Can I trim an embedded YouTube video in PowerPoint?
No. PowerPoint's online-video editing options do not include trimming.
Can I use a YouTube offline download as a PowerPoint video file?
No. YouTube's offline downloads are encrypted and confined to its playback environment. They aren't ordinary MP4 files you can import into PowerPoint. Use a download of your own upload from YouTube Studio or a file supplied by the video's owner.
Can PowerPoint for the web embed a video file from my computer?
Yes. Choose Insert > Video > This Device. Select the file. Select Open. PowerPoint for the web has a 256 MB video upload limit.