The fastest way to add a video

Open your Google Slides presentation, click on the slide where you want the video, then go to Insert in the menu bar and select Video. A search box will appear. You can search YouTube directly, paste a video URL from YouTube or Google Drive, or upload a video file from your computer. Once you find the video you want, click it and it will embed into your slide.

The video appears as a thumbnail on your slide that viewers can click to play. You can resize it by dragging the corners, move it anywhere on the slide, and adjust its position just like any other object. The video doesn't actually live inside your presentation file — Google Slides links to it instead, so the file size stays small.

Key Takeaways

  • Use Insert > Video to search YouTube, paste a URL, or upload a file from your computer.
  • YouTube videos and Google Drive videos embed as clickable thumbnails that play when a viewer clicks them during a presentation.
  • You can resize and move videos on your slide, but they must stay within the slide boundaries to play correctly.
  • Videos from your computer are uploaded to Google Drive automatically, and you need view or edit access to the original file for the video to play.

Searching YouTube directly from Slides

When you click Insert > Video, the search box defaults to YouTube. Type what you're looking for — a song, a tutorial, a news clip — and Google Slides will show you results. Click the video you want and it embeds immediately. This is the simplest route if you don't already have a specific video link.

YouTube videos play with YouTube's standard player, which means viewers see the full YouTube interface including related videos at the end. If you're presenting live, this can be distracting. You can't remove the YouTube branding or suggested videos, so keep that in mind if you're showing something that needs to stay focused.

Pasting a video URL from YouTube or Google Drive

If you already have a link to a YouTube video or a video stored in Google Drive, you can paste it directly. Click Insert > Video, then select the URL tab. Paste the full link and click Select. The video will embed into your slide.

Google Drive videos work the same way — paste the shareable link from the file. The person viewing your presentation needs permission to access the Google Drive file, so if you're sharing the presentation with others, make sure they have view access to the video file too. If they don't, they'll see a permission error instead of the video.

Uploading a video file from your computer

Click Insert > Video, then select the Upload tab. Choose a video file from your computer — Google Slides accepts MP4, WebM, Ogg, and MOV formats. The upload can take a few minutes depending on file size. Once it finishes, the video automatically saves to your Google Drive and embeds into your slide.

Uploaded videos stay in a folder called "Uploads from Google Slides" in your Google Drive. You own these files, so you can delete them later if you want to free up storage space. Anyone you share the presentation with will need access to the video file in your Drive, just like with pasted Google Drive links.

Resizing and positioning videos on your slide

Click the video thumbnail on your slide to select it. Drag the corner handles to resize it — drag a corner diagonally to keep the video's proportions correct, or drag the side handles to stretch it. Drag the video itself to move it anywhere on the slide. Videos must fit entirely within the slide boundaries or they won't play during a presentation.

You can also right-click the video to access more options. You can replace it with a different video, delete it, or adjust its position and size using exact measurements if you need precise placement. These options are useful if you're building a presentation with multiple videos and want them aligned consistently.

What happens when you present

When you start a slideshow, the video appears as a clickable thumbnail. Click it to play — the video will expand and play in full screen or within the slide depending on your presentation mode. If you're presenting to others, they see the same thing: a thumbnail they can click to watch.

Videos don't auto-play in Google Slides presentations, so you control when they start. This gives you time to introduce the video or answer questions before playing it. If the video is hosted on YouTube, viewers will see YouTube's player controls and can pause, rewind, or adjust volume just like on YouTube itself.

Troubleshooting videos that won't play

If a video isn't playing, the most common reason is a permission issue. Check that anyone viewing the presentation has access to the video file. For YouTube videos, make sure the video isn't private or restricted by region. For Google Drive videos, open the file's share settings and confirm viewers have at least view access.

File format problems can also prevent playback. If you uploaded a video from your computer, Google Slides converts it to a format it can use, but very large files or unusual formats sometimes fail. Try uploading a smaller version or converting the file to MP4 before uploading. If a video keeps failing, try searching for it on YouTube instead and embedding that version.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make a video play automatically when a slide appears?

No, Google Slides doesn't have an auto-play feature for videos. Videos always require a click to start. This is actually useful during presentations because it gives you control over when the video plays and lets you pause to discuss it.

What video formats can I upload from my computer?

Google Slides accepts MP4, WebM, Ogg, and MOV files. MP4 is the most common and usually works best. If you have a video in a different format, you can convert it using free tools like HandBrake or CloudConvert before uploading.

Will the video still play if I share the presentation with someone else?

YouTube videos will play for anyone. Google Drive videos and uploaded videos only play if the person has view access to the file. When you share the presentation, make sure to also share the video file or give them access to your Drive folder.

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

No, Google Slides doesn't have built-in video editing. If you need to trim a video or cut out sections, edit it in a video editor before uploading. YouTube videos play in full, so you can't skip parts unless you pause and resume manually during your presentation.

What's the file size limit for uploading videos?

Google Drive has a 5 TB storage limit per account, but individual video uploads through Slides work best under 1 GB. Very large files can take a long time to upload and may cause playback issues. If your video is larger, consider uploading it to YouTube first and embedding that instead.