How to Insert a YouTube Video into PowerPoint on Windows and Mac [2025 Guide]

How can I insert a YouTube video into PowerPoint to enrich my presentation? In short, you can embed a video URL to stream the video from YouTube directly, or download and insert the video file. This guide will show you details of both methods to insert a YouTube video into PowerPoint on Windows and Mac.

For your reference, this tutorial is using the latest PowerPoint 2024.

 Cisdem Video Converter

Download Video from YouTube to PowerPoint

• Download YouTube video, audio, subtitles, and live streams
• Download part of a YouTube video and private content that can’t be linked to PowerPoint
• Support all resolutions from 360P to 8K FHD
• Convert downloaded video to any format to improve compatibility
• Compress video file to reduce file size
• Easy video editing tools
• Rip DVD/Blu-ray discs
• Versatile yet simple to use

Free Download Windows 11/10/8/7 Free Download macOS 10.13 or later

Method 1. Insert Online YouTube Video in PowerPoint Via Link

Advantages:

• Quick and straightforward
• Keep the PPT file size small

Disadvantage:

• Require internet connection to play the video.
• Cannot trim the video if you only need a part of it
• Can’t embed private YouTube video

PowerPoint allows you to insert online videos from YouTube and Vimeo. If you have a stable internet connection when delivering your presentation, you can simply insert a YouTube video using the link. The steps are basically the same on PowerPoint Windows, Mac and the web version.

1. Open PowerPoint and select the slide that you want to add a YouTube video.
2. Click the Insert tab and click Video.
3. Select “Online Videos” option.
4. In the pop-up dialog, enter the URL of the YouTube video you want to insert. You need to copy the video URL from YouTube site first.
5. Click the Insert button.

For older versions such as PowerPoint 2016 and 2010, you need to use the video embed code instead of the direct link.

1. Find the YouTube video you want to insert.
2. Click the Share button and select Embed.
3. Copy the iframe embed code.
4. In PowerPoint, click Insert > Video > Online Video.
5. Select “From a Video Embed Code” and paste the embed code, and click the arrow icon. You can also search for the video title in the search box.

When the online YouTube video is inserted successfully, the video will appear as a playable frame on the slide. You can resize and move the video as you like.

Method 2. Download and Insert YouTube Video File into PowerPoint

Advantages:

• Ensure playback even without network
• Let you trim a long YouTube video
• Play with no YouTube ads

Disadvantages:

• Larger file size of the presentation

If you want to play the YouTube video in PowerPoint offline, without ads and recommended videos and so on, it’s a good idea to download the video from YouTube, then embed the file in PowerPoint from your device.

To safely download the YouTube video in high quality, it’s recommended to use a professional video downloader - Cisdem Video Converter. It can help you download any YouTube video you need, including YouTube clips and private/age-restricted videos that require a login. Besides YouTube, it also supports video downloads from 1000 other sites, such as Vimeo, Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, etc.

Note: The most recommended video format for PowerPoint is MP4 encoded with H.264 video (AVC) and AAC audio, which is the format of YouTube videos in 1080p and lower. For best compatibility and file size optimization, do not select quality level above 1080p.

Step 1. Download YouTube video

1. Download and install Cisdem Video Converter on your computer. Launch the software and go to the download tab (the third icon).
   Free Download Windows 11/10/8/7 Free Download macOS 10.13 or later
2. Copy the YouTube video link and paste it into the bottom field of Cisdem, and click + to parse the link.
3. Select a video format and subtitles from the drop-down lists.
4. Click the "Save to" box to select a target folder.
5. Click the "Start" button to start the download. When the download is complete, click the Check icon to quickly locate the video file in the folder.

Step 2. Insert YouTube video file from your device.

1. Click the slide where you want to embed a video.
2. Click Insert > Video > This Device.
3. In the Insert Video dialog, select the video you just downloaded, and click "Insert" button.

This way, the YouTube video file will be stored inside the presentation.

Alternatively, you can link to an external video file to greatly reduce the file size. In the insert dialog of the last step, click the down arrow of the Insert button, and select “Link to File”. This works like the first method but it’s linked to the local file instead of online site. If you need to transfer the PowerPoint file, do not forget to send the video file as well.

Tips:

1. If you can't insert YouTube video file due to codec problems, go to the first tab of Cisdem Video Converter, import the downloaded video file, and select “MP4” as the output format. Then, click the Start button to convert it to a compatible .mp4 file for PowerPoint.

2. Compress video file.

Switch to the fourth tab of Cisdem for media compression, add the downloaded video and compress the video to a smaller size without losing quality.

You can also compress the video with PowerPoint, but the video quality can drop severely.

3. Personalize video in PowerPoint.

• Insert Captions: You can add the downloaded YouTube subtitles into the video. To do this, select the video in PowerPoint, click the Playback tab and click Insert Captions. Select the subtitles file and click Insert.
• Trim Video: Click the Trim Video button in Playback tab.
• Add Poster Frame: In the Video Format tab, click Poster Frame to select a current frame or an image file to use as the video thumbnail.
• ...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a way to insert a YouTube video without ads?

You can’t block YouTube ads by embedding the video link. The only workaround is to download the video (Method 2) and insert the file to avoid ads.

How to make a YouTube video play automatically in PowerPoint?

1. Click the inserted YouTube video on the slide.
2. Click the Playback tab.
3. Click the down arrow next to Start, and select “Automatically” option. The video will play automatically when you arrive at the slide.

Can I insert a YouTube video with a specific start and end time?

If you choose to insert by linking, you can make a specific start time, but there’s no way to make it stop at a specified time unless you pause it manually.

Use a YouTube video URL like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNQGLeMkMhU?t=10 or use the embed URL like this: https://www.youtube.com/embed/TNQGLeMkMhU?start=10, then the video will start from the 10 second. I tried adding "&end=50" at the end but it doesn’t work.

If you choose to download the YouTube video, simply trim the video to set the start and end time in PowerPoint.

Is it legal to download YouTube videos for presentation?

It’s generally OK to do so if:

• It’s a royalty-free or public domain video
• You use the content for non-commercial personal use, such as education and offline viewing purposes
• You have permission from the content creator

Conclusion

This article has covered not only steps to add a YouTube video to your PowerPoint but also all the factors you need to consider for best play. YouTube links require internet and keeps your PowerPoint file light, and downloading is best for offline and ad-free presentation. Always test your video before you present, especially if you're switching devices.

Good luck with your presentation, and you may also like to check:

• Tips for improving audio/video playback and compatibility in PowerPoint
• Versions of PowerPoint that support online videos