How to Use Your Own Videos in PowerPoint for the Web

Adding your own videos to PowerPoint presentations can make them more engaging and impactful. With the latest updates to PowerPoint for the web, you can now easily insert videos from your own device into online presentations.

Benefits of Using Your Own Videos

Using your own videos in PowerPoint presentations has several advantages:

  • Relevance – You can pick videos that are directly relevant to your presentation content instead of being limited to stock video libraries.
  • Customization – You can edit and customize videos to perfectly fit your narrative before adding them to slides.
  • File sizes – Videos created for your presentation can be optimized for small file sizes which load faster online.
  • Offline access – Your own videos embedded in PowerPoint will play properly without requiring a live internet connection.

Inserting Videos into PowerPoint for the Web

Adding videos stored on your computer to PowerPoint for the web presentations is simple:

  1. Open an existing or new PowerPoint presentation in your web browser.
  2. Select the Insert tab and click on Video.
  3. Choose Video from Device from the dropdown menu.
  4. Browse and select the video file you want to add from your computer.
  5. Click Open to insert the video onto the current slide.

The video will now be embedded into the slide. You can resize, move or apply effects to it like any other graphic element.

Video Format Recommendations

For optimal quality and compatibility, MP4 video files encoded with H.264 codec are recommended. Some other supported formats are MOV and AVI files.

To ensure smooth playback, video files should be less than 256 MB in size. For online presentations, smaller videos are better as they will load faster when you share your screen.

If you need to convert video files into PowerPoint-friendly MP4 format, free tools like HandBrake can automate the process quickly.

Extra Features for Added Impact

Once your videos are inserted, you can use PowerPoint’s tools to further enhance their effect:

  • Trimming – Cut your videos to only the most relevant parts using the Video Tools > Edit Video > Trim Video option.
  • Poster frames – Set a representative thumbnail image for the video that displays before playback.
  • Transitions – Add dynamic transitions like fades and wipes as the video starts and ends.
  • Captions – Increase accessibility by adding closed captions and subtitles.

Presenting Videos in Slideshows

During actual presentations, your own videos will play back directly within the slides.

Internet connectivity is not required as the videos are embedded into the PPT file. Playback may buffer briefly on slower connections before starting.

You can choose to play videos automatically or only when manually clicked. This setting is controlled in Video Tools > Playback > Start menu.

The familiar media controls allow you to pause, resume, adjust volume or seek within videos during presentations.

Use Your Own Videos for Better Slideshows!

The option to add your own videos from your device finally makes PowerPoint for the web much more versatile.

Relevant videos seamlessly woven into your narrative using the techniques above help capture attention and drive your message home. Give it a try for your next web-based presentation!