How to Add a Video to Google Slides Step by Step (2026)

Embedding a video in your presentation takes just a few clicks through the Insert menu — but getting it to actually play for your audience requires knowing a few rules that most guides skip. The wrong sharing permission, an unsupported file format, or an unprocessed file will produce a blank screen at the worst possible moment.

Knowing how to add a video to Google Slides correctly — not just technically but in a way that works reliably for every viewer — is the difference between a polished presentation and an awkward one. This guide covers every method: YouTube, Google Drive, uploading from your computer, and adding video on mobile, including iPhone, Android, and iPad.

All steps have been verified against the current web version of Google Slides (April 2026).

Quick Answer: How to Add a Video to Google Slides

1. Go to Insert → Video.
2. Choose YouTube, By URL, or Google Drive.
3. Select your video and click Select.
4. Open Format Options to set autoplay, trim start/end times, or mute audio.

Why Add Videos to Your Google Slides Presentations?

Videos do three things static slides cannot: they show instead of tell, hold attention through sound and motion, and leave a lasting impression. According to TechSmith’s Value of Visuals report, two out of three employees do their work better when they learn through visuals instead of text alone — and absorb content 7% faster with video. A 90-second product demo, a customer testimonial, or a short explainer clip communicates what five text-heavy slides struggle to convey.

What You Need to Know Before You Start

There are a few non-obvious rules to know about how to add a video in Google Slides correctly. Skipping any of them is the most common reason videos fail live.

Google Slides Supports Two Primary Video Sources

• YouTube (public or unlisted videos only)
• Google Drive (files uploaded to your own Drive account)

You can also embed public Vimeo videos using the By URL method (Insert → Video → By URL). TikTok, Dropbox, and local drive files are not supported directly — route those through Google Drive first.

Supported File Formats for Google Drive Uploads

• MP4 — recommended, most universally compatible
• MOV — Apple QuickTime format
• WebM — open web format

WMV, MKV, and AVI are not supported. Convert to MP4 before uploading — and if you plan to pair your video with narration, check our guide on how to add audio to Google Slides.

File Size Limit

There is no official file size limit for videos embedded in Google Slides, since videos stream from YouTube or Google Drive rather than being stored inside the presentation file. However, keeping files under 100–200 MB is a practical recommendation — larger files take longer for Drive to process and are more likely to buffer on slower networks during your presentation. If your file exceeds that range, compress it before uploading.

An Active Internet Connection Is Required

Google Slides streams videos rather than storing them inside the file. A stable internet connection is required for playback, including during your presentation. There is no true offline video playback in Google Slides. If you need to present without internet, download and play the video separately using your device’s media player and switch to it manually during the presentation.

Google Drive Permissions — The Most Overlooked Step

Critical: If you embed a video from Google Drive, every viewer needs access to that Drive file. If the file is set to Restricted, your audience will see a blank video player even though it works when you test it. Always set Drive videos to “Anyone with the link” before embedding.

YouTube Video Restrictions

A YouTube video cannot be embedded in Google Slides if it is:

• Set to Private (must be Public or Unlisted)
• Age-restricted (may fail for part of your audience)
• Region-locked (may not play for viewers in certain countries)
• Deleted or removed after you embedded it

How to Add a YouTube Video to Google Slides Using Search

YouTube is the easiest way to add a video on Google Slides because videos stream directly and do not increase your file size. Use this method when you know the topic but do not have a URL ready.

1. Open your presentation and go to the slide where you want the video.
2. Click Insert → Video. The Insert Video dialog opens.
3. The dialog defaults to the Search tab. Type keywords or the video title and press Enter.
4. Browse the results and click the video you want.

5. Click Select (the blue button at the bottom right).
6. The video appears on your slide. Drag it to reposition; drag corner handles to resize.

Keyboard shortcut: Press Alt+I+V (Windows/ChromeOS) or Ctrl+Option+I+V (Mac) to open the Insert Video dialog instantly.

Pro Tip: Only Public and Unlisted YouTube videos appear in search results. If the video you need does not show up, it is likely set to Private. Use the URL method below instead.

How to Embed a YouTube Video in Google Slides by URL

This is the better option for unlisted company videos or when you already have the link.

1. Go to YouTube and open the video you want.
2. Copy the URL from the address bar, or click Share → Copy Link.
3. Return to your Google Slides presentation and open the target slide.
4. Click Insert → Video.
5. Click the By URL tab.
6. Paste the YouTube URL and click Select.
7. Resize and reposition the video on your slide.

Use a standard youtube.com/watch?v=… link or a short youtu.be link. Playlist URLs may not embed correctly, so always use the individual video URL.

Note: The video must be Public or Unlisted, whether it is yours or someone else’s. Private and age-restricted videos will not embed regardless of the method used.

How to Embed a Video in Google Slides from Google Drive

Google Drive is ideal for any video you have created yourself — product demos, training recordings, or anything not publicly on YouTube. This is also the most reliable way to insert a video in Google Slides when you need to control who can view it.

Step 1 — Set Permissions Before Embedding (Do Not Skip This)

Open Google Drive, right-click your video file, and click Share → Get link. Change access from Restricted to “Anyone with the link.” If you skip this step, your audience will see a blank player during the presentation.

Step 2 — Insert the Video into Your Slides

1. Open your Google Slides presentation and go to the desired slide.
2. Click Insert → Video.
3. Click the Google Drive tab.
4. Browse your Drive or search for your video file.
5. Click the video to select it, then click Select.
6. The video appears on your slide. Reposition and resize as needed.

Keyboard shortcut: Press Alt+I+V (Windows/ChromeOS) or Ctrl+Option+I+V (Mac) to open the Insert Video dialog directly.

Google Workspace note: If you are on a school or work Google account, your organisation’s admin may have restricted external sharing. If the video still does not play after setting permissions correctly, contact your IT administrator.

How to Add a Video to Google Slides from Your Computer

To insert a video from your computer, you must first upload it to Google Drive — direct uploads from your desktop are not supported.

Step 1 — Upload Your Video to Google Drive

1. Go to drive.google.com and click New → File Upload.
2. Select your video file (MP4 recommended) and click Open.
3. Wait for the upload to complete — a progress bar appears at the bottom right.
4. Wait for the drive to finish processing. Large files can take several minutes.
5. Right-click the file → Share → Get link → set access to “Anyone with the link.”

Step 2 — Insert into Google Slides

Follow the Google Drive insertion steps above: Insert → Video → Google Drive tab → select your file → Select.

Best practice: Upload Drive videos the day before your presentation. Large files can take extra time to process, and a file that shows as uploaded is not always immediately ready for smooth streaming.

Google Vids Integration

If you create videos using Google Vids (Google’s video creation tool within Workspace), you can bring them into Google Slides directly. In Google Vids, go to File → Export to Drive. Once exported, insert the video into your presentation using the Insert → Video → Google Drive tab as described above. This is the officially recommended workflow for Google Workspace users working across both tools.

Adding Videos on Mobile: Android, iPhone, and iPad

On Android

The Google Slides Android app supports full video insertion from both YouTube and Google Drive.

1. Upload your video to Google Drive if it is not already on YouTube.
2. Open the Google Slides app and open your presentation.
3. Tap the slide where you want the video.
4. Tap + → Insert → Video.
5. Choose YouTube (search or paste URL) or Google Drive.
6. Select your video and tap Insert.

On iPhone

The iOS app does not support full video embedding. The reliable workaround:

1. Upload your video to Google Drive and set sharing to “Anyone with the link.”
2. Copy the Google Drive link (or the YouTube URL if the video is on YouTube).
3. Take a screenshot of an engaging frame from the video and crop it as a thumbnail.
4. In the Google Slides app, open the target slide.
5. Tap + → Image → From Photos. Insert the cropped screenshot.
6. Tap + → Link. Paste the video URL and tap ✓.

Tapping the thumbnail during your presentation opens the video. It is not an embedded player, but it is the most reliable option on iOS.

On iPad

The best method is to use Desktop Mode in Safari, which gives you the full web version of Google Slides:

1. Open Safari on your iPad.
2. Tap the aA icon in the address bar → Request Desktop Website.
3. Go to slides.google.com and open your presentation.
4. Use Insert → Video exactly as you would on a computer.

Desktop Mode in Safari bypasses the limitations of the iPad app and gives you full access to every embedding and customisation feature.

How to Customise Your Embedded Video in Google Slides

Once your video is on the slide, the Format Options panel gives you precise control over playback, timing, and appearance. To open it: click the video, then click Format Options in the top toolbar (or right-click → Format options).

Setting Playback Options

Under Format Options → Video Playback, choose from three settings:

• Play (on click): Default. The video plays when you click it during the presentation. Best when the video is supplementary to your narration.
• Play (automatically): Video starts as soon as you arrive at that slide. Best when the video is the sole focus of the slide.
• Play (manually): You must click the play button on the video frame itself. Useful for full presenter control.

If you need the same video to play across multiple slides, that works differently in PowerPoint — check our guide on video playback settings in PowerPoint.

Tip: Avoid autoplay for supplementary videos. If you are still talking when the slide loads, autoplay creates an audio conflict that disrupts your delivery.

Trimming Start and End Times

If you have a 5-minute video but only need a 45-second segment:

• Click the video → Format Options → Video Playback.
• Set the Start time and End time fields (format: minutes:seconds).

Google Slides will play only that segment — no external editing tool required. For example, if the key moment runs from 1:20 to 2:05, set Start = 1:20 and End = 2:05.

Muting Audio

In Format Options → Video Playback, check the Mute audio box. Use this when you want the visual context of a video but plan to narrate over it yourself. For a full narration walkthrough, see our guide on how to add a voiceover to Google Slides.

Resizing and Repositioning the Video

• Resize: Drag the corner handles — not the side handles. Side handles distort the aspect ratio.
• Lock aspect ratio: Hold Shift while dragging a corner to maintain proportions.
• Reposition: Click and drag the video anywhere on the slide. Red alignment guides appear to help you centre it.
• Precise dimensions: Right-click → Format options → Size & Rotation to enter exact pixel values.

Adding a Drop Shadow or Border

To add a drop shadow: click the video → Format Options → toggle on Drop Shadow. Adjust blur radius, distance, and angle to match your slide design. To add a border: with the video selected, use the border colour and border weight dropdowns in the top toolbar.

Troubleshooting: Why Is My Video Not Playing in Google Slides?

When something goes wrong, the table below covers every common scenario with a specific fix.

Tips for Using Videos Effectively in Google Slides

1. Always trim before you present

Even for a highly relevant video, play only the most impactful segment. Audience attention drops sharply for embedded videos longer than two minutes. Use the Start/End time fields in Format Options to trim without any external tool.

2. Test on the actual presentation network

A video that streams perfectly on your home Wi-Fi may buffer on a conference room or classroom network. Always run through your slides on the same internet connection your audience will use.

3. Upload Drive videos the day before

When you embed a video from Drive, the file must be fully processed before it streams reliably. Large files can take extra time to encode. Uploading the day before avoids last-minute surprises.

4. One video per slide

Multiple videos on one slide create a cluttered layout and make playback management awkward. If you need several videos, give each one its own dedicated slide.

5. Reserve autoplay for standalone video slides

If you are still talking when the slide loads, autoplay will play audio over your voice. Use on-click playback for any video that supports your narration, and autoplay only when the video is the sole focus.

Now that you know how to add a video to Google Slides, take your presentation a step further with professionally designed Google Slides templates that make your slides more engaging and visually appealing.

Conclusion

Embedding videos in Google Slides becomes straightforward once you know the two core rules: only YouTube and Google Drive are the primary supported sources, and Drive videos must have the correct sharing permissions before your audience can see them. Everything else — trimming, autoplay, resizing — is handled inside Format Options.

Whether you are learning how to insert a video in Google Slides for the first time or troubleshooting a video that refuses to play, the methods above cover every scenario: desktop, YouTube, Drive, and mobile. If you also work in PowerPoint, the process is slightly different — see our step-by-step guide on how to embed a video in PowerPoint to get the same results across both tools.

The three habits that make the biggest practical difference are: convert your files to MP4 before uploading, set Drive sharing permissions before embedding, and always test on the same network where you will present. Do those three things, and your videos will work every single time.

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