How to Add a YouTube Video to Google Slides

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Adding a YouTube video to your Google Slides presentations can make them more dynamic, engaging, and informative. Videos allow you to demonstrate concepts visually, provide extra context, and break up long stretches of text or bullet points.

Embedding a video into Google Slides only takes a few minutes. Follow this simple, step-by-step guide to learn how.

Step 1: Copy the YouTube Video URL

First, open a new browser tab and navigate to the YouTube video you want to embed.

Once the video is playing, copy the video URL from the address bar. It should look something like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ

Be sure to copy the entire URL. This is the link you’ll paste into Google Slides in order to embed the video.

Step 2: Open Your Presentation and Select a Slide

Next, open the Google Slides presentation you want to add the video to. You can open an existing presentation or start a new one.

In the left sidebar, click the slide where you want the video to be placed. Make sure to choose a slide with enough blank space to accommodate the size of the video.

Step 3: Click “Insert” then “Video”

With the slide selected, click the “Insert” menu at the top of Google Slides. Hover over it, then click “Video” in the dropdown menu.

Step 4: Paste the YouTube URL

In the “Insert Video” popup, make sure the “By URL” tab is selected at the top.

Paste the YouTube URL you copied earlier into the text field. Then click the “Select” button.

Step 5: Position and Resize the YouTube Video

Your video should now be inserted into the slide. But it’s probably too small and in the wrong spot.

Click and drag the video to move it to the desired position on the slide. Use the blue handles around the edge to resize the video by clicking and dragging.

Customize Video Playback Options

Right click on the video and select “Format options” to customize how the video plays:

  • Start time: Choose when the video starts playing
  • End time: Choose when the video stops playing
  • Autoplay: Set the video to play automatically
  • Loop: Make the video play on a continuous loop
  • Mute: Mute the video’s audio

Tweak these options until you’re happy with the video settings.

Add a Play Icon Overlay (Optional)

To make it obvious viewers need to click to play the video, add a play icon overlay on top of the video thumbnail:

Click “Insert” > “Shapes” and select the triangle shape. Color it white and size/position it centered on top of the video thumbnail. This signals to viewers they need to click to start the video.

Tips for Embedding YouTube Videos in Google Slides

Here are some additional tips when embedding YouTube videos in Google Slides:

  • Preview the slideshow before presenting. Ensure videos play properly and audio levels are audible.
  • Check video formats. Google Slides supports .MP4, .MOV, and .AVI formats. Other formats may not embed correctly.
  • Link to videos for backup. If embedding fails, add a hyperlink as a backup method for viewers to access the video.
  • Add captions to make videos more accessible. Click “Insert” > “Captions” while a video is selected.
  • Compress large videos before uploading to Google Drive. Videos over 100MB may load slowly.
  • Use high quality videos. Pixelated or blurry videos will look unprofessional.
  • Keep videos short and concise. Long videos can lose viewers’ interest quickly. 30 to 90 seconds is ideal.

Embed Videos from Other Sources

You’re not limited to YouTube when adding videos to Google Slides:

  • Google Drive: Select videos already uploaded to your Google Drive.
  • Facebook: Copy and paste a video’s URL from Facebook into the “By URL” tab.
  • Vimeo: Likewise, copy and paste Vimeo video URLs to embed them.
  • Upload videos: Add .MP4, .MOV, and .AVI files from your computer.

As long as you have the video URL or file, the embedding process is the same as embedding a YouTube video into your presentations.

So give your next Google Slides presentation more visual appeal and keep your audience engaged by seamlessly integrating YouTube videos and other multimedia.

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