How to Add a Video to Google Slides: A Complete Guide

Adding videos to your presentation can make it more engaging and interactive. Not only does it help break the monotony of slides, but it also offers visual aids that can help drive your point home. That’s why it’s no surprise that many people are looking for ways to add videos to their presentations.

If you’re one of them, you’ve come to the right place! In this guide, we’ll take you step-by-step through the process of adding a video to Google Slides. This easy-to-follow guide will show you how to embed videos from YouTube and Google Drive, as well as how to upload videos from your computer. Whether you’re a student or a professional, these tips can help enhance your presentation and captivate your audience.

So, whether you’re presenting your new business plan, pitching a product or service, or simply sharing your latest research, adding a video to your Google Slides can be a game-changer. Let’s get started!

Why Add Videos to Your Google Slides?

There are several compelling reasons to add videos to your Google Slides presentations. First and foremost, videos can make presentations more engaging. A well-placed video can capture the audience’s attention and break up the monotony of a slide deck full of text.

Not only do videos make presentations more engaging, but they also serve as powerful visual aids. Videos can help illustrate complex concepts in a way that static images or text cannot. For example, if you’re giving a presentation on the inner workings of an engine, a video showing the parts moving and interacting with each other can be much more effective than a series of static diagrams.

Finally, videos can turn your Google Slides into interactive slides. By adding videos that prompt viewers to take action, you can transform passive listeners into active participants. For example, you could include a video in your presentation that asks viewers to answer a question or complete a task, which can help keep them engaged and invested in the presentation.

In short, adding videos to your Google Slides presentations is a simple but effective way to enhance the overall experience for your audience. It helps to keep them engaged, provides valuable visual aids and turns what would have been just another presentation into an interactive learning experience.

Step 1: Open Your Google Slides Presentation

The first step to adding a video to your Google Slides presentation is to access your presentation and open a new slide. To do this, you’ll need to sign in to your Google account and navigate to Google Slides.

Once you’re on the Google Slides homepage, you can either create a new presentation or open an existing one. To create a new presentation, click on the “+ Blank” button located at the top left of the page. This will bring up a new presentation with a blank slide.

If you already have an existing presentation that you want to add a video to, click on the presentation from the list of presentations displayed on the homepage. This will open the selected presentation, allowing you to add a new slide where you can embed the video.

It’s important to note that Google Slides is a cloud-based application, so all your slides are saved automatically to your Google Drive. This means that you can access your presentations from anywhere, as long as you have a reliable internet connection.

In summary, accessing Google Slides and opening a new presentation is a straightforward process. Simply sign in to your Google account, navigate to Google Slides, and create a new presentation or open an existing one. With your presentation open, you can proceed to add a video to your slides and create engaging and interactive presentations for your audience.

Step 2: Insert a Video in Google Slides

Option 1: Insert Video from YouTube

Adding videos to your Google Slides presentation is an excellent way to make it more engaging and interactive. And what better way to source these videos than by searching on YouTube? In this section, we’ll guide you through the process of inserting a video from YouTube into your Google Slides presentation.

Searching YouTube Videos

The first step is to find the video that you want to insert into your presentation. You can do this by going to YouTube.com and using the search bar to look for the video. Alternatively, if you already know the URL of the video, you can skip this step and jump straight to copying the URL.

When searching for videos, keep in mind that shorter videos tend to work better in presentations since they are less likely to lose the viewer’s attention. Also, be sure to use keywords that are relevant to your topic to narrow down your search results.

Copying Video URL

Once you have found the video you want to use, click on it to open the video player. Underneath the video, you will see a “Share” button. Click on this button to reveal the share options.

From here, you can copy the video URL by clicking on the “Copy” button. Note that you can also customize the start and end times of the video if you only want to show a specific part of the video in your presentation.

Adding the Video to Your Presentation

Now that you have copied the video URL, it’s time to add the video to your Google Slides presentation. Go back to your presentation and navigate to the slide where you want to insert the video.

Next, click on the “Insert” tab in the top menu and select “Video.” From the dropdown menu, select “YouTube.” In the dialog box that appears, paste the URL of the video you want to insert.

Google Slides will automatically embed the video into your slide. You can use the resize and reposition tools to adjust the video’s size and position on the slide.

Final Thoughts

Inserting a YouTube video into your Google Slides presentation is a simple process that can greatly enhance your audience’s engagement with your content. By following the steps outlined above, you can easily find and insert relevant videos from YouTube directly into your presentation.

Option 2: Insert Video from Google Drive

To insert a video from Google Drive into your Google Slides presentation, follow these simple steps:

Open the Slide where you want to embed the video and click on ‘Insert’ in the top toolbar.
Select ‘Video’ from the dropdown menu and click on ‘Google Drive’.
In the new window that opens, search for the video file you want to upload by typing the name of the file in the search bar or by browsing through your folders.
Once you have found the file, click on it to select it and then click on ‘Select’ in the bottom right corner of the screen.

Your selected video file will now be uploaded to your Google Slides presentation. You can resize and reposition the video as desired by clicking on it and dragging the edges or corners.

Uploading videos from Google Drive is particularly useful if the video file is too large to upload directly to your Google Slides presentation. By uploading the video file to your Google Drive first, you can avoid size restrictions and ensure that your video plays smoothly during your presentation.

Overall, inserting a video from Google Drive is an easy and convenient way to add visual interest and engagement to your Google Slides presentation.

Option 3: Insert Video from Your Computer

Adding videos to your Google Slides presentation can greatly enhance its effectiveness and make it more engaging for your audience. Luckily, it’s easy to insert videos directly from your computer using Google Slides.

To get started, simply click on the slide where you want to add the video and then select “Insert” from the top menu. From there, choose the “Video” option and then select “Upload from computer.”

This will allow you to browse through the files on your computer and find the video file you want to insert. Once you’ve found the right file, simply drag and drop it into the slide or click on “Open” to upload it.

One important thing to note is that the size of the video file can affect the loading time and overall performance of your presentation. For this reason, it’s always a good idea to compress your videos before adding them to Google Slides. You can use various online tools or video editing software to compress the file size without losing too much quality.

In addition, you should also consider the length of the video and how it fits into your overall presentation. Make sure the video is relevant to the topic and doesn’t distract from the main message you’re trying to convey.

By following these simple steps, you can easily add videos from your computer to Google Slides and create more dynamic and impactful presentations.

Step 3: Adjust the Video Settings

Now that you’ve added a video to your Google Slides presentation, it’s time to adjust the settings to make sure it fits in seamlessly with your overall message. Here are some key settings you can tweak:

Resizing Videos

When you first insert a video into your slide, it may be too big or too small for your needs. To resize your video, click on it and drag the corner handles until the video is the size you want.

Repositioning Videos

You may also want to move the video to a different location on your slide. To do this, simply click on the video and drag it to your desired location.

Autoplay Settings

By default, videos won’t play automatically during your presentation. However, you can change this setting if you’d like your video to start playing as soon as you reach the slide it’s on. To enable autoplay, click on the video and then click on the “Video options” tab that appears. From there, check the box next to “Autoplay when presenting.”

Adjusting these settings will help ensure that your video fits in perfectly with the rest of your presentation and enhances your message. Remember to preview your entire presentation to ensure everything runs smoothly before delivering it to your audience.

Step 4: Play the Video During Your Presentation

Playing Videos During Your Presentation

Once you’ve added a video to your Google Slides presentation, the next step is to play it during your actual presentation. Here’s how.

Previewing Videos

Before playing your video in front of an audience, it’s important to preview it to make sure everything is working correctly. To preview your video, simply click on the video thumbnail on your slide. This will open up the video playback controls, allowing you to see how the video looks and sounds.

Playing Videos During Your Presentation

When you’re ready to play your video during your presentation, simply navigate to the slide on which the video is located and click on the “Play” button. The video will then start playing automatically.

You can also choose to play the video manually by clicking on the video thumbnail and then clicking on the “Play” button in the video playback controls. This can be useful if you want to pause the video or rewind it to a specific point.

Tips for Playing Videos During Your Presentation

Here are some tips to keep in mind when playing videos during your Google Slides presentation:

Make sure you have a good internet connection if you’re playing a video from YouTube or another online source.
Consider using a remote presenter tool or Bluetooth remote to control the video playback from a distance.
Double-check the volume level before playing the video to ensure that it’s audible to everyone in the room.
If possible, test your video playback in the actual presentation venue ahead of time to avoid any technical difficulties.

By following these tips, you can seamlessly incorporate videos into your Google Slides presentations and engage your audience in new and exciting ways.

## Final Thoughts

When it comes to creating engaging presentations, incorporating videos into your Google Slides can make a huge difference. By adding videos, you can provide your audience with effective visual aids that not only enhance their understanding but also keep them engaged throughout the presentation.

But why stop there? You can take your presentations to the next level by using videos to tell stories or provide real-life examples that support your points. This not only makes your presentation more interesting but also helps build an emotional connection with your audience.

Another way to use videos to enhance your presentations is by using them as transitions between different sections of your presentation. Not only does this break up the monotony of the presentation, but it can also help guide your audience’s attention to key points and ideas.

Moreover, videos can be used to showcase your product or service in action. By providing your audience with a demonstration via video, you can give them a better understanding of what you offer and how it works.

When using videos in your Google Slides presentation, it’s important to remember to keep things concise and relevant. Use videos sparingly and make sure they add value to your presentation. Additionally, ensure that the videos you use are of high quality, as low-quality videos can have the opposite effect and distract from your presentation.

All in all, videos can be a powerful tool to enhance your presentations and engage your audience. By incorporating them into your Google Slides, you can take your presentations to the next level and leave a lasting impression on your audience.

Adding videos to your Google Slides presentations can significantly enhance engagement and keep your audience interested throughout your presentation. Now that you know how to add a video to your Google Slides, you can create more interactive and visually appealing presentations. Whether you choose to insert a video from YouTube, Google Drive, or your computer, be sure to adjust the settings to suit your needs. Remember to preview the video before your presentation to ensure that everything runs smoothly.

Incorporating videos into your presentations is an effective way of making a lasting impression on your audience and conveying complex information in an easily digestible manner. By following these simple steps, you can take your presentations to the next level and engage your viewers like never before. So go ahead and add some videos to your Google Slides, and see the difference it makes!