Top 7 Ways to Fix Videos in PowerPoint Not Playing

Adding videos to PowerPoint presentations can make them more engaging and impactful. However, sometimes users run into issues of embedded videos not playing properly in PowerPoint. This can be frustrating when trying to deliver an important presentation.

In this article, we will explore the top 7 ways to fix videos in PowerPoint not playing. Following these troubleshooting tips should help resolve playback issues and get your presentation videos working again.

1. Check Video Format Compatibility

The first thing to check is whether the video file format is supported by PowerPoint. The recommended formats include:

  • MP4
  • MOV
  • AVI
  • WMV
  • MPEG

Older formats like Flash FLV are no longer supported. If your video is in an incompatible format, you’ll need to convert it to a PowerPoint-friendly format using a video converter tool.

After converting, re-insert the video into the PowerPoint slide and check if it plays properly.

2. Optimize Media Compatibility

If format compatibility is not the issue, try optimizing the media in PowerPoint:

  1. Go to File > Info
  2. Click Optimize Compatibility
  3. Let PowerPoint analyze and optimize embedded videos

This automatically fixes issues with unsupported codecs and formats.

3. Re-embed the Video

Sometimes re-inserting the video fixes playback issues:

  1. Delete the non-working video from the slide
  2. Re-insert the video using Insert > Video
  3. Select the video from its folder location
  4. Check if it plays properly now

Re-embedding refreshes the video link between PowerPoint and the file.

4. Install Missing Codecs

Codecs encode/decode videos for playback. If a needed codec is missing, PowerPoint cannot play the video.

You can [download and install codec packs][2] like K-Lite to add missing codecs. This will expand PowerPoint’s video playback capabilities.

5. Update Graphics Drivers

Outdated graphics drivers can also cause PowerPoint video playback issues.

Go to the graphics card manufacturer’s website to download the latest drivers. Once updated, restart your PC and try playing the videos again.

6. Compress Large Videos

Large, high-resolution video files can overload PowerPoint, causing laggy or choppy playback.

Use a video compressor tool to reduce the size and resolution of overly large videos. This makes them easier for PowerPoint to process and play smoothly.

Aim for videos under 50MB at 720p resolution.

7. Repair Corrupt Videos

If videos play fine outside PowerPoint but not when embedded, they may have gotten corrupted.

Use professional video repair software like [Wondershare Repairit][3] to fix corrupt videos. Then re-insert the repaired videos into PowerPoint.

Conclusion

Following these 7 troubleshooting tips should help resolve most cases of PowerPoint not playing embedded videos properly.

The key things to check are video format/codec compatibility, graphics drivers, video file size, and corruption issues. Optimizing compatibility and re-inserting videos can also help get rid of playback errors.

By taking the right troubleshooting steps, you can get PowerPoint presentations playing videos flawlessly again. This ensures your audience has the best viewing experience.