Adding video to Notability works differently on iPad and Mac, and the method depends on whether you want to record a new video or insert one you already have

Notability lets you embed video files directly into your notes, which is useful if you're recording lectures, tutorials, or reference material you want to keep alongside your written notes. On iPad, you can record video within Notability itself or insert a video from your Files app or photo library. On Mac, you can only insert videos you've already recorded — there's no built-in recording tool. In both cases, the video stays embedded in your note and plays right there without opening a separate app.

The process takes just a few taps or clicks, but the exact steps differ between devices. This guide covers both iPad and Mac, plus what to do if something goes wrong.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPad, tap the plus icon in the toolbar, select Media, then choose Record Video or choose from your library.
  • On Mac, use the Insert menu, select Media, then pick a video file from your computer.
  • Video files must be in a format your device supports — MP4, MOV, and M4V usually work on both iPad and Mac.
  • Embedded videos increase your note file size, so keep video length reasonable if you plan to back up or share notes.
  • You can tap or click a video in your note to play it, pause it, or delete it without affecting the rest of your note.

Recording video directly in Notability on iPad

If you want to record video while taking notes on iPad, Notability has a built-in camera tool. Open your note and look at the toolbar at the bottom of the screen. Tap the plus icon (it looks like a + in a circle) on the left side of the toolbar.

A menu appears with several options. Tap Media. Another menu opens showing Record Video and Choose from Library. If you want to record right now, tap Record Video. Notability opens your iPad's camera. Record your video, then tap the red stop button when you're done. The video embeds into your note at the spot where you tapped the plus icon.

If you want to use a video you've already recorded, tap Choose from Library instead. This opens your Photos app or Files app depending on where your video is stored. Find the video, tap it, and it inserts into your note. You can record multiple videos in the same note — just repeat the process each time.

Inserting video on Mac

Notability on Mac doesn't have a record-video feature, so you'll need a video file already saved on your computer. Open your note in Notability and look at the menu bar at the top. Click Insert. A dropdown menu appears.

Click Media from the dropdown. A file browser opens. Navigate to the video file you want to add — it can be in your Downloads folder, Documents, or anywhere else on your Mac. Click the video file to select it, then click Insert or Open (the button name varies by macOS version). The video embeds into your note at the cursor position.

You can insert multiple videos into the same note. Each one appears as a separate embedded player that you can click to play, pause, or scrub through.

Video formats that work in Notability

Notability supports most common video formats, but not all. The formats most likely to work without problems are MP4, MOV, and M4V. These are the formats your iPhone or iPad camera creates by default, so if you recorded the video on an Apple device, it should work.

If you're using a video from another source — a downloaded file, a screen recording from another app, or a video from an Android device — check the file extension (the letters after the dot in the filename). If it ends in .avi, .wmv, .flv, or .webm, Notability may not play it. In that case, you can convert the video using free tools like HandBrake (on Mac or Windows) or CloudConvert (online) to change it to MP4 format first.

Video file size matters too. A 10-minute video can be 100 MB or larger depending on quality. If you're adding many videos to one note, your note file grows quickly, which can slow down Notability or make backing up and sharing difficult. Keep videos as short as you need them to be.

Playing, pausing, and managing embedded videos

Once a video is in your note, tap or click it to see playback controls. On iPad, a play button appears in the center of the video thumbnail. Tap it to start playing. While the video plays, you can tap the screen to show or hide the playback bar at the bottom, which lets you pause, scrub to a different point, or adjust volume.

On Mac, click the video to select it, then click the play button that appears. The same playback controls work — you can pause, skip forward or backward, and adjust volume. You can also hover over the video to see a timeline scrubber so you can jump to a specific moment without playing from the start.

To delete a video from your note without deleting the whole note, tap or click the video to select it, then press Delete or Backspace. The video disappears but your written notes stay intact. You can undo this action immediately if you delete by mistake — use Ctrl+Z on Mac or shake your iPad to undo.

Troubleshooting video problems in Notability

If you try to insert a video and nothing happens, the file format is usually the problem. Check the filename extension and try converting to MP4 if it's not already. Another common issue is that the video file is corrupted or incomplete — if you downloaded it and it won't play in Notability, try downloading it again or playing it in another app first to confirm it works.

If a video plays in other apps but not in Notability, the video codec (the compression method used) may not be supported. This is rare with MP4 and MOV files, but it can happen with older or unusual video formats. Converting to MP4 usually fixes this.

On iPad, if the Record Video option is grayed out or doesn't work, check that Notability has permission to access your camera. Go to Settings, scroll down to Notability, tap it, and make sure Camera is toggled on. On Mac, Notability may ask for permission the first time you try to insert media — click Allow if a permission dialog appears.

If your note with embedded video becomes very slow to open or edit, it's likely because the video file is large. Try removing the video, recording or exporting a shorter version, and re-adding it. Notability compresses videos when you embed them, but very long or high-resolution videos can still impact performance.

Keeping video notes organized and backed up

Notes with embedded video take up more storage space than text-only notes, so think about your backup strategy. If you use iCloud to back up Notability, large notes with video may take longer to sync. Make sure you have enough iCloud storage — go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage to check how much space you have left.

If you plan to share a note with video, keep in mind that the video goes with it. When you export a note as PDF, the video doesn't embed in the PDF — only the first frame appears as an image. If you need to share the video separately, export it from your note first or send the original video file alongside the note.

On Mac, Notability stores notes in your Documents folder by default. If you want to back up notes with video to an external drive or cloud service, copy the entire Notability folder. On iPad, notes are stored in iCloud or locally depending on your settings — check Notability's settings to see where your notes are saved.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record video and write notes at the same time in Notability?

No. When you tap Record Video on iPad, the camera takes over the screen. You can write notes before or after recording, but not simultaneously. If you want to annotate while recording, you'd need to record in a separate app first, then insert the finished video into Notability.

What happens to my video if I move or delete the original file?

The video is embedded in your Notability note, so it stays there even if you delete the original file from your device. Moving the original file doesn't affect the embedded video either. The video is now part of the note itself.

Can I edit or trim a video after I add it to Notability?

Notability doesn't have built-in video editing tools. You can play, pause, and scrub through the video, but you can't cut, trim, or add effects. If you need to edit the video, do that in a video app first, then insert the edited version into Notability.

Is there a limit to how many videos I can add to one note?

Technically no, but practically yes. Each video increases file size and can slow down Notability. Most users find that 3 to 5 videos per note is reasonable. If you need more, consider splitting them across multiple notes.

Why does my video play in other apps but not in Notability?

The video codec or container format may not be supported. Try converting the file to MP4 using a free tool like HandBrake or CloudConvert, then insert the converted version into Notability.