how to get a video into a powerpoint presentation

How to embed a video in PowerPoint for a more engaging presentation

What type of content do you primarily create?

Making an engaging PowerPoint presentation is no easy feat.

You have to figure out what to say, and what you want your audience to grasp. Then, decide how to bring the two together to deliver a compelling presentation.

One popular way to add flair is by embedding video into the content, like what Dr. Frans de Waal did in his TED Talk on inequity aversion . To emphasize his points, he included videos of animal experiments, turning a mind-numbingly boring topic into an engaging and viral presentation—which now has over 5 million views.

In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn how to embed a video in PowerPoint so you can create exceptional presentations that grab your audience’s attention and help them remember what you said.

How to embed a video in PowerPoint from your PC or Mac

First, of course, you’ll need a video, either one online or from your media library. The next step is to find a way to make it play during your PowerPoint presentation. You could do it manually by bringing up the video from another website or program while you’re speaking, but that process is clunky and you might end up facing technical challenges.

Luckily, there are simpler and easier methods of embedding videos in PowerPoint. You can link to your video file externally or embed it directly in your presentation. 

Use the tutorial below to insert videos in PowerPoint from a computer.

How to embed a video in PowerPoint in Windows

Step 1: select the powerpoint slide.

Launch Microsoft PowerPoint on a Windows computer and open a blank or existing PowerPoint file. 

Then, go to the slide you want to embed a video and select the Insert tab in the toolbar.

Step 2: Click Video > This Device

Select the Video option. Here, you can either embed a video from your computer or from an online source, like a website or YouTube and other supported platforms.

Click This Device from the drop-down menu to embed a video from a folder on your computer.  

PowerPoint supports MP4 files encoded with H.264 video and AAC audio. So, you can upload videos in file formats, such as M4V, MOV, ASF, AVI, MPG, MPEG, or WMV.

If you don't want to play a video full screen, resize it to your preferred dimensions.

For precise height-to-width proportions:

• Select Format (PowerPoint 2013 or newer) or Options (PowerPoint 2010) in the Size group
• Click the Dialog Box Launcher Icon image
• Click Size, then select the Lock aspect ratio checkbox under Scale 
• Enter your preferred height and width under Size and rotate or enter the percentage of size that you want in the Scale height and width boxes

Then, select Video Format to access formatting options like borders and effects or right-click the video for more options. You can also use the Designer tool to choose from professional slide templates. 

Then, click the Playback tab to trim your video, add captions, choose playback options, like In Click Sequence, Automatically, or When Clicked On.

Note: In PowerPoint for Microsoft Office 365 or PowerPoint 2016 version 1709 or later, you can use the In Click Sequence option. This way, your video can play in sequence with other actions you’ve programmed on the slide, like animations or transitions. 

To insert a web video, select Video > Online Videos . 

Note: PowerPoint supports YouTube, SlideShare, Vimeo, Stream, and Flip video providers.

Step 3: Click Insert

If you choose to embed an online video, copy the link to the video you want to embed and paste it in the blank field. A preview of your video will appear in the Insert video pop-up.

Click the Insert button to embed the video in your presentation. 

PowerPoint will download and insert the video on the selected slide. You can drag the edges of the video thumbnail to resize it, then use Video Format options, like shape, border, and effects to enhance the video. 

Select the Playback tab to insert captions or choose how your video plays (automatically or when clicked). 

Note: You can’t change when an online video starts. But if you’re embedding a YouTube video, you can copy the video URL at the current time to link from a specific start time. 

Click the Slide Show tab to preview the video with all the formatting changes you made. Then, save your presentation to your computer or click the Share button to move or copy it to the cloud.

How to embed a video in PowerPoint on a Mac

To embed a video in PowerPoint for Mac, you’ll need to save the video file in the same folder as your presentation.

Launch PowerPoint and open a blank or existing presentation, then select the slide you’d like to add a video to. 

Select Insert .

Step 2: Click Video > From File

Click Video to access video embed options from the drop-down menu:

• Video browser
• Video from file
• Stock videos
• Online film

Select Video from file to insert a video file from your Mac.

In the Choose a Video dialog box, select the video file you want to insert, then click the Insert button to embed the video on the slide.

If you want to put a link to the video on the slide, click Show Options in the lower left corner of the dialog box. 

Then, select the Link to file box, and click Insert .

Select the Video Format tab to add effects and choose whether your video will play automatically or when clicked.

Tip: If you’re using the 2016 version of PowerPoint (or newer), you can play back videos with multiple audio tracks. These versions also support closed captions and subtitles embedded in video files.

Select the Playback tab to do the following:

• Trim your video
• Add fade in and fade out effects
• Play the video on full screen or hide during the show
• Insert captions
• Select start time options (in click sequence, automatically, or when clicked)
• Loop the video to play repeatedly and continuously during the presentation
• Rewind your video

How to embed a video in PowerPoint from YouTube

Embedding a YouTube video to a PowerPoint presentation is simple. You can use the video URL or integrated search function to embed a video you uploaded to YouTube or someone else’s video (with permission).

To add a video to your PowerPoint presentation, you’ll copy the video embed code and paste it into the slide you want. The code will load the video at the source and play it on the platform you’re using. 

You won’t need to download and upload the video from YouTube and the video will load and play faster regardless of the file size. Plus, you can share video content that’s covered under copyright, so you’re not in danger of crossing any legal lines. 

Follow these steps to embed a video in PowerPoint from YouTube on a Windows PC or Mac. 

How to embed a video in PowerPoint from YouTube in Windows

Step 1: click “insert video”.

Open a PowerPoint presentation and select the slide you want to embed your video.

Click Insert > Video .

Step 2: Choose “Online video”

Select the Online Videos option.

Step 3: Insert the URL from YouTube

Right-click the video to copy the video link or embed code, or click Share to get the embed code. Then, paste the URL or embed code in the link field. 

A preview of your video will appear in the Insert video dialog box.

Click Insert to embed the video in your presentation. 

Resize the video thumbnail, then use the video formatting options to enhance it. 

Click Playback play the video automatically or when clicked or add captions. Then, preview the video with all the edits you made and save or share your presentation.

Note: YouTube’s video file formats are similar to those PowerPoint supports, so your video will likely play without issues. However, YouTube supports some formats that PowerPoint doesn’t, including FLV, 3GPP, WebM, DNxHR, ProRes, HEVC (h265), and CineForm. If your video isn’t playing, check to make sure it’s a supported file format.

How to embed a video in PowerPoint from YouTube on a Mac

Step 2: choose “online film”.

Select Online Film . 

A URL pop-up will appear prompting you to enter the link to the YouTube video.

Go to YouTube and copy the link or embed code of the video you want to embed in your presentation. You can right-click the video and select copy video URL or copy embed code, or click Share and copy the video link or embed code.

Paste the video link or embed code in the URL pop-up in your PowerPoint presentation, then click Insert .

Resize your video and polish your slides before saving the presentation to your computer.

How to insert a video file link in PowerPoint

Embedding a video in PowerPoint may be convenient, but it increases the size of your presentation. 

To reduce your presentation file size, insert a video file link to create a linked video. The downside with linked videos is that links can break, but you can prevent this by copying and storing your presentation and linked videos in the same folder, then linking to the video there.

Ensure you have a stable internet connection, then use the steps below to insert a video file link in PowerPoint on a PC or Mac.

Insert a video file link in PowerPoint on a PC or Mac

Step 1: take a screenshot of the video.

Find the video you want to link to in PowerPoint and take a screenshot of the clip. 

To take a screenshot in Windows, you can either use the Snipping tool, press the PrtScn (print screen) key and Windows Logo key on your keyboard. 

If you’re using a Mac computer, you can take a screenshot by pressing and holding SHIFT + COMMAND + 3 keys together (for full screenshot) or SHIFT + COMMAND + 4 keys to screenshot a specific area. 

Step 2: Insert the screenshot in your presentation

Alternatively, navigate to the slide you want to add your screenshot to, select Insert > Pictures > Picture from File . Then, find the screenshot you took, select Insert to add it to the slide, then crop, resize, and position it to your liking.

Step 3: Hyperlink the image to your video

Right-click the image and select Link . 

If your video is in Descript, copy the video link from your dashboard.

 Insert the video link in the address field then click OK .

The hyperlink will be connected to the image itself, not other elements on the slide or the entire slide.

Click Slide Show to test your video and ensure it links to the right video. When you click on the image, it will open in a web browser, ready for you to play.

Why can’t I embed a video in PowerPoint?

Embedding videos to a PowerPoint presentation is a straightforward process, but sometimes the video may fail to play. Let’s review some reasons for playback failure and how to resolve them.

Video playback issues

Video playback may fail in PowerPoint if:

• The storage folder is corrupt
• The video’s audio is out of sync
• The video file is corrupt, damaged, in an unsupported file format, or missing certain files

How to fix: Convert your video into a supported file format, check PowerPoint playback settings, or make the video visible by unchecking the Hide while not playing option in the playback tab. You can also save your presentation using the PPT or PPTX extension, so it’s easier to open the file in older or modern Office versions. 

File size and compatibility

Your video might not play if the file is too big. To resolve this issue, compress the media file by going to File > Info > Compress Media. Then, select one of these options: 

• Presentation quality/full HD: Adjusts the video size while maintaining its quality.
• Internet quality/HD: Saves on space and video quality.
• Low quality/Standard: Saves more space but doesn’t keep overall video and audio quality. This option is ideal if you want to share the presentation with others and ensure your videos will still play.  

If your video file is incompatible with PowerPoint, it may be in an unsupported file format or missing a codec. 

How to fix: Convert the video to a supported format or add a missing codec to your computer for smooth playback.

Broken links

When adding an online video, you might accidentally enter an incorrect link or the video link may be broken at the source. This means it won’t embed correctly and won’t play when you’re presenting. 

How to fix: Before inserting or embedding an online video, install the required updates for your version of PowerPoint and check that you’ve copied the right link. Then, test your video to ensure it plays on any device.

Make the best videos to embed in PowerPoint with Descript

Embedding a video in PowerPoint is a pretty simple process with several benefits for you and your audience. To prevent yawns and glazed-over eyes, you’ll need professional-quality videos that will draw your audience in, keep them engaged, and improve message recall.

Descript’s audio and video editing software lets you record, edit, and publish studio-grade videos to YouTube, then embed them in your PowerPoint presentations in a few clicks. 

Plus, Descript’s AI-powered automatic transcription generates high-quality transcripts from your video’s audio, which you can use as notes while making your presentation. You can also use Descript’s AI features to get text summaries, auto-generate copy for social media posts, and enhance your audio with Studio Sound .

Take Descript for a spin today to make quality videos that will help you deliver exceptional PowerPoint presentations.

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How to Put a Video on PowerPoint

Last Updated: April 12, 2024

This article was co-authored by Mitch Harris . Mitch Harris is a Consumer Technology Expert based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Mitch runs his own IT Consulting company called Mitch the Geek, helping individuals and businesses with home office technology, data security, remote support, and cybersecurity compliance. Mitch earned a BS in Psychology, English, and Physics and graduated Cum Laude from Northern Arizona University. This article has been viewed 122,031 times.

Videos can help make your presentations looks more professional, and can liven up a dull report. They can also add a lot of content that you otherwise wouldn't be able to share. You can add videos from your computer and from the internet.

• You can place a video in any slide, but it is generally easier to learn in blank slide.

• In older versions of PowerPoint this will not bring up a menu, but a drop-down list. Search for "Video," or "Media Selection" to continue.

• Online Videos can be pulled from sites like YouTube or Vimeo. However, these videos will only work if your computer is hooked up to the internet whenever you show the presentation. If you aren't sure you'll have WiFi later, you could be without a video.
• Video on my PC takes a video you have already saved to your computer. If you save the PowerPoint on another hard drive (like a USB), you need to be sure you transfer a copy of the video to the drive as well. Once you have clicked the "Video" tool and selected "Online Video", there opens a smaller window that gives three options.

• Personal drive: You have the video on a cloud drive, like Dropbox or Google Drive.
• YouTube: you use the YouTube address, or URL.
• Embed Code: Click on the "Share" button on the video page, then copy and paste the "Embed" code for the video. [1] X Research source

• Again, if you plan on moving the presentation, like using a USB drive to carry it or move it, make sure you copy and paste the video you attached into the USB as well. PowerPoint needs to find the video to play it, and if you're on another computer that doesn't have the video you inserted, there will be no video for PowerPoint to play.

Community Q&A

• You can also insert a URL as a hyperlink on text. This means you can click on the link to bring up the video, allowing you to skip the video easily if the presentation needs to speed up. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

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• ↑ http://www.labnol.org/software/insert-youtube-video-in-powerpoint-presentations/5393/

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1. Open a slide. 2. Click Insert . 3. Click Audio . 4. Click Video . 5. Select Online Video or Video from my PC . 6. Select a video. Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to Insert a Video in PowerPoint (from a File on Your PC or Shared Drive)

Insert or Embed a Video in a PowerPoint Presentation from a File and Set Playback Options

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated October 9, 2021

Applies to: Microsoft ® PowerPoint ® 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 365 (Windows)

You can insert a video into a PowerPoint  presentation from a file on your PC or from a shared drive. Video can help to engage your audience and focus attention. In 2010 and later versions, video files are embedded or copied into PowerPoint by default so video files can increase file size significantly.

Recommended article : How to Compress Video and Audio Media in PowerPoint to Reduce File Size

Do you want to learn more about PowerPoint?  Check out our virtual classroom or live classroom  PowerPoint courses >

When inserting video in PowerPoint, consider the following:

• PowerPoint 2010 and later versions support common video formats such as WMV (Windows Media Video file), ASF (Windows Media file), MP3 and MP4 (Movie files) and AVI (Windows Video File).
• The default format for PowerPoint 2013 and later versions is MP4.
• In 2010 and later versions, video is embedded by default not linked as in previous versions.
• If you choose to link to a video, it's good practice to copy the video file to the same folder as your presentation before you link. You will not be able to apply certain types of formatting to linked videos.

Note: Buttons and Ribbon tabs may display in a different way (with or without text) depending on your version of PowerPoint, the size of your screen and your Control Panel settings. For PowerPoint 365 users, Ribbon tabs may appear with different names. For example, the Video Tools Playback tab may appear as Video Playback.

Although you can insert a video in Slide Master View, we'll assume here that most of your videos will be inserted on slides in Normal View.

Inserting a video from a file

To insert a video from a file and embed it on a slide:

• In Normal View, navigate to the slide where you want to insert a video.
• Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
• Click Video. A drop-down menu appears.
• Depending on your PowerPoint version, choose Video on My Computer, Video on My PC or This Device. A dialog box appears.
• Navigate to the folder where your video is saved and click the video to select it.
• On the bottom right of the dialog box, click Insert to embed the video. You can also double-click it. If you click the drop-down menu beside Insert, you can choose Link to File. If you decide to link rather than embed, you may want to copy your video or movie clip to the same folder as your presentation before you insert it on your slide. PowerPoint will place the video in the center of the slide.
• In Normal View, click the video and then Play on the media controls to play the video.

After you insert a video, two tabs will appear in the Ribbon when you click the video (Video Tools Playback and Format or Video Playback and Format) in Normal View.

Below is the Video Tools Playback tab in the Ribbon with a video selected (this may appear as Video Playback):

Below is the Video Tools Format tab in the Ribbon with a video selected (this may appear as Video Format):

Playing a video automatically or when clicked

You can change the way a video plays when you run a slide show.

To control the way a video plays during a slide show:

• In Normal View, click the video on the slide.
• Click the Video Tools Playback or Video Playback tab in the Ribbon.
• In the Video Options group, beside Start, choose In Click Sequence, When Clicked On or Automatically from the drop-down menu.

If you select When Clicked On, you must click directly on the video when running a slide show.

Playing a video full screen

You can play a video so that it fills the entire screen when you run a slide show. However, depending on the resolution of the original video file, it might appear distorted if the video is lower quality.

Be sure to preview your video so that if the video appears distorted or blurry, you can turn off the full screen option. If you set a video to be displayed full screen and it is also set to start automatically, you can drag the video frame off the slide into the gray work area so that it will not be visible on the slide or flash briefly before the video goes to full screen.

To set a video to play full screen during a slide show:

• In the Video Options group, select the Play Full Screen check box.

Controlling video volume

To control video volume:

• In the Video Options group, click Volume and then choose Low, Medium, High or Mute.
• You can also set the volume of a video by using the volume slider on media controls that appear below the video.

Be sure that volume is turned on through your Control Panel settings on your computer.

Hiding a video when not playing

During a presentation, you can hide a video until you are ready to play it. However, you should create an automatic or triggered animation to start the video or you won't see it play during the slide show.

To hide a video when not playing:

• In the Video Options group, select the Hide While Not Playing check box.

Looping a video

To play a video continuously during a presentation, you can loop the video:

• In the Video Options group, select the Loop until Stopped check box.

Rewinding a video after playing

To rewind a video after playing during your presentation:

• In the Video Options group, select the Rewind after Playing check box.

Showing media controls during a slide show

To show the media controls during your presentation when running a slide show:

• In Normal View, click the Slide Show tab in the Ribbon.
• In the Set up group, select the Show Media Controls check box.

Fading a video in or out

You can start or end your video with a fade effect for a certain number of seconds.

To start or end a video with a fade effect:

• In the Editing group, under Fade Duration, choose or enter a duration for Fade In or Fade Out. To add a timed fade to the beginning of your video, in the Fade In box, click the up and down arrows to increase or decrease the fade in time. To add a timed fade to the end of your video, in the Fade Out box, click the up or down arrows to increase or decrease the fade out time.

Cropping a video

You can also crop a video in PowerPoint to remove specific areas in the video.

To crop a video:

• Click the Video Tools Format or Video Format tab in the Ribbon.
• Click Crop in the Size group.
• Position the pointer over a black cropping handle and drag the handle.
• Click Crop again to finish cropping.

Trimming a video

You can trim video at the beginning and end of each clip so you can start at any point and end the clip earlier. Trimming is different from cropping.

To trim a video clip:

• In the Editing group, click Trim Video. A dialog box appears.
• To trim the beginning of the clip, click the start point (a green marker on the far left). When the pointer becomes a two-headed arrow, drag the arrow to the desired starting position.
• To trim the end of the clip, click the end point (a red marker on the right). When the pointer becomes a two-headed arrow, drag the arrow to the desired ending position.

In this article, we've reviewed inserting video files in PowerPoint presentations from a PC or shared drive, controlling playback during a slide show as well as cropping and trimming. In future articles, we'll look at video formatting techniques and how to export a PowerPoint presentation as a video.

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More resources

How to Embed a YouTube Video in PowerPoint

How to Highlight Text in PowerPoint (5 Ways)

How to Add Audio in PowerPoint Presentations

A Beginner's Guide to Video Formats in PowerPoint

PowerPoint Keyboard Shortcuts to Play and Control Video During a Slide Show

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You can insert or type e with an accent mark in PowerPoint using built-in tools or keyboard shortcuts (including Alt code shortcuts). The letter e can be inserted with an accent in both upper or lower case in text boxes or placeholders on slides, the slide master or layouts. The following are common accents in upper or lower case – È, É, Ê, Ë, è, é, ê, or ë.

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How to Embed a Video in PowerPoint (Step-by-Step)

• PowerPoint Tutorials
• Shortcuts & Hacks
• September 27, 2019

In this article, you’ll learn how to embed a video in PowerPoint directly from your hard drive as pictured below.

On top of that, you’ll learn what you can and can’t do when embedding videos into PowerPoint, including:

• How to trim a video (including how to trim a YouTube video)
• Getting your video to play full screen
• Creating a video thumbnail or Poster Frame
• How to compress your videos

If you want to grab the latest version of Microsoft Office (Microsoft 365) like I’m using in this tutorial, you can check it out here .

But before you get carried away adding videos to PowerPoint, it’s important to first understand what your options are.

Table of Contents

Embedding online videos vs. desktop videos.

• Videos from your computer
• Videos from online sources like YouTube

1. Video size

2. Internet connection

Online videos require a good – STRONG – internet connection to play properly.

That means that if you embed a YouTube video in your PowerPoint and the conference room you are presenting in has a weak internet connection, you are in trouble.

So I highly recommend spot checking the internet quality of the room you will be presenting in before working with any online video in your presentation.

If your internet connection is weak, be prepared to skip the video in your presentation.

3. Playback options

How to embed a video in PowerPoint

To embed a video in PowerPoint from your computer, simply:

• Navigate to the  Insert  tab
• Open the  Video  drop down (within the Media group)
• Choose  Video on my PC
• Navigate to where the video resides on your PC
• Select the  Video
• Click  Insert

Clicking  Insert , the video is added to your PowerPoint slide as an editable PowerPoint object, as you can see below.

With the video now inserted on your slide, you can use the features found in the  Video Playback  and  Formatting  tabs. These tabs will be discussed below.

If you convert your presentation into a video, your embedded video will play within your video (if that makes sense). To learn how to convert PowerPoint to video,  read our guide here .

How to trim an embedded video in PowerPoint

• Select  your video
• Navigate to the  Playback  tab
• Select the  Trim Video  command
• Adjust the  Green Start Time ​ cursor
• Adjust the  Red End Time  cursor

How to add a Video thumbnail

Adding a video thumbnail (or what PowerPoint calls a  Poster Frame ) is super easy.

But this is only applicable to videos you add to your presentation from your computer. That’s because online videos will automatically populate with whatever thumbnail their creator gave it (you cannot edit it or change it in PowerPoint).

There are two types of thumbnails you can add to your videos in PowerPoint:

• Use a frame from your video as the thumbnail (easiest)
• Import your own custom thumbnail image (most flexible)

Neither is better or worse (your video will still play the same either way), it’s just a personal preference.

What is a video thumbnail and why is it important?

A video thumbnail is simply an image that is displayed before you play your video. You will see these on YouTube videos all the time before you click to play them.

In PowerPoint, the thumbnail image can become an important part of your overall slide design theme.

If you don’t add your own thumbnail, the first frame of your video will automatically be used as the video’s  Poster Frame .

Adding a  Poster Frame  is an optional step, but can go a long way to improving the overall design of your PowerPoint slides.

Here are the different ways to add a thumbnail or Poster Frame to your embedded video:

1. Using a video frame as the thumbnail (or Poster Frame)

• Scrub to the video frame you want to use as your thumbnail
• Navigate to the  Video Format  tab
• Open the  Poster Frame  drop down
• Select  Current Frame

2. Importing a video thumbnail (or Poster Frame)

• Choose  Image from file…
• Select  From a File
• Navigate  to the image on your computer
• Select the image you wan to use

​For help creating your own video thumbnail, you can see how to crop photos in PowerPoint  and how to remove an image background .​​

How to reset a thumbnail (or Poster Frame)

• Select  Reset

How to make a video play full screen

• Select  the video on your slide
• Navigate to the  Playback  tab
• Click  Play Full Screen

Getting an online video to play full screen

How to compress a video in PowerPoint

• Navigate to  File
• Select the  Info  tab (selected by default)
• Open the  Compress Media  drop down
• Choose between  1080p ,  720p  and  480p ​

• ​ Full HD (1080p) : Save space while maintaining overall audio and video quality.
• HD (720p):  Quality will be comparable to media which is streamed over the Internet.
• Standard (480p):  Use when space is limited, such as when sending presentations via e-mail.

So that’s how to embed a video in PowerPoint, including how to embed a YouTube video in PowerPoint.

You also learned about the different formatting options available to you, which can determine which type of video you want to embed in your PowerPoint presentations in the first place.

When used well, videos are a great way to back up your main points and improve the overall quality of your presentation as they are more engaging than static images.

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How to Embed a Video in Powerpoint (From Drive & YouTube)

Written by sam parker.

Last updated on 21st February 2022

Imagine this: you’re giving a presentation to your boss, a potential new client, or an important customer. You’re in a groove, and things are going well. Best of all, you’ve got a killer video coming up in your presentation that’s sure to get them excited. But suddenly, you get to your video in your PowerPoint and it wont play.

You lose focus, stumble around to find the video elsewhere (or forego playing it at all), and lose the attention of your once captive audience.

We’ve all been there, and unfortunately, technical difficulties with video can be a huge buzz kill for presenters and audiences alike.

But, when it’s done right, video has the ability to amp up a presentation, get a crowd excited, and share a powerful message with your viewers.

So how do you prevent this all-too-common mishap from ruining your next presentation? Here’s a step-by-step guide to how to embed a video in PowerPoint three different ways.

How to embed a video from your hard drive

Embedding a video into your PowerPoint directly from your hard drive is a great way to ensure your video plays seamlessly, even without an internet connection. When you store a video on your hard drive, it’s accessible to PowerPoint even if you can’t connect to wi-fi, which is an important consideration for people presenting to groups in new environments.

But watch out for a few common stumbling blocks. If you move the video from one folder to another on your hard drive, your PowerPoint presentation may have trouble locating it, leaving you with a blank screen. Also, if you share your PowerPoint with someone via email or USB, and you don’t also share the video with them and re-embed it into the presentation, you’ll be stuck stumbling in front of a confused audience with no playable video content in your PowerPoint.

If you decide to embed a video file from your hard drive into a PowerPoint presentation, here are six simple steps you can take to ensure success.

1. Navigate to the right slide

First, open your PowerPoint file and navigate to the slide that you want to put the video on.

2. Select Insert > Video > From File

Next, navigate to the top PowerPoint menu and select Insert. Then toggle down to Video, and select Movie from File. Be sure you know where your video is saved to make this step quick and easy.

3. Find the video file on your hard drive

From here, find the video on your hard drive. If you have your hard drive synced to a cloud storage system like Dropbox or Google Drive, you could also use a video stored in one of those locations.

4. Resize the video

Once the video is inserted onto your slide, you’ll want to resize it to fit the slide. PowerPoint may insert the video as a full-screen video – which could be exactly how you want to display it. But if you’re looking to feature a headline or other graphics on your slide, simply resize the video and position it on the slide the same way you would an image or other element.

5. Play the video

Testing is critical to ensuring your video embed was successful. The first test you’ll perform is at this step, right after you’ve resized the video. Play the video in the PowerPoint to be sure it fully embedded and that you selected the right file. Be sure you watch from start to finish to ensure the full video embedded successfully.

6. Test in Play mode

As the final step in the process and your second test, play the PowerPoint like you will be during your presentation. You should see the video move at normal speed and hear any audio you have in your video as well. Again, be sure to watch the entire video to identify any potential embedding issues.

While you will have tested your video twice at this point, it’s also a good idea to give it a final test on the day of your presentation. This will not only ensure you’re set up for success, but give you confidence knowing your video will play seamlessly.

How to embed a YouTube video in PowerPoint

PowerPoint has come a long way with regards to displaying video into presentations, and this method is proof of that. PowerPoint offers the option to embed a YouTube (or other video platform) video directly from the website in just a few clicks.

This option is the fastest solution and doesn’t involve downloading or storing any video files on your computer, but it does come with a few limitations. First, with this option, YouTube automatically selects the image that appears on the slide, giving you a less customisable look. If image customisation is important to you, check out the next section on how to link to a video from PowerPoint. Second, if you’re not connected to the internet, your video won’t play – an important consideration for people presenting in environments where they don’t have reliable internet access.

While this method comes with a few technical limitations, it’s super easy to implement. If you decide to use this method, here’s how to embed a YouTube video in PowerPoint in just five steps.

First, open your PowerPoint file and find the slide you want to embed your YouTube video onto.

2. Insert an Online Movie

Next, navigate to the Insert tab within PowerPoint’s main menu, and select Video. Then from the dropdown, opt to insert an Online Video.

3. Paste your video URL

Selecting insert an Online Video will activate a pop-up to insert a URL. Paste your YouTube link directly into this form field, and select Insert.

4. Resize and position your video

With this method, PowerPoint does all the work. The playable video will appear right on the slide, complete with an image from your video (note that this is the non-customisable part we mentioned). Now all you need to do is resize the video and position it on the slide where you’d like it.

5. Test your video in Play mode

As a final step, hop into Play mode and test the video playback. You’ll even see the YouTube window, along with play and pause buttons, giving your slide an official, buttoned-up feel reminiscent of a website more than a PowerPoint.

How to link to a video from PowerPoint

Linking to a video within your PowerPoint is a great option that’s very customisable. You can link any image or text to a YouTube, Wistia , Vimeo or website link in just a few minutes. But, readers beware: while you don’t have to worry about hosting large files on your computer with this option, web connectivity is critical. You need to have a reliable internet connection for this option to work.

If you’re unsure about your connectivity, we recommend opting to embed a video into your presentation from your hard drive. But if you’re cruising through the digital age at warp internet speed, check out how to link to a video from a PowerPoint in just six steps.

1. Screengrab an image of the video

To link to a video, you’re going to turn an image in your presentation into a hyperlink. The first step in the process is to find the right image – which in this case is a screenshot of your video. Note that you could use any image as your link, but we’re going to focus on the screenshot approach.

To capture a screenshot on a Mac, simply select command + shift + 3. You can also control the parameters of your screen grab by using command + shift + 4 (as seen in the image below). We suggest you play around with both options to determine which works best for you. This action will automatically save the image to your desktop.

To capture a screenshot on a PC, you’ll want to locate the key labeled PrtScn, also known as the print screen key. When you press this key along with the Windows icon key, your computer will take a screenshot of the screen and save it to your Pictures folder. Since this function captures an image of the entire screen, you’ll want to use a photo editor, like Windows Photo Gallery, to crop the image to include only the video thumbnail.

2. Find your PowerPoint slide

After you’ve captured a screenshot of your video, navigate to the slide in the PowerPoint that you want to use to link to your video.

3. Insert your image onto the slide

Next, put the image onto your slide. Select Insert, and toggle down to Picture and select Picture from File.

Then find the image you’d like to use to preview your video, and select Insert.

4. Resize your image

Once your image appears on your slide, resize it and position it just like you would any other image.

5. Add a hyperlink to the image

The same way you inserted your video file, you’re going to insert a hyperlink. Navigate to Insert, and toggle down to Hyperlink. Be sure you have the image selected while you’re doing this so the hyperlink connects to the image itself, not the entire slide or another element on the slide.

Then copy-and-paste the link to your web video into the hyperlink form field, and select OK.

6. Test the video in Play mode

You guessed it. The final step in the process is to test your video in Play mode to be sure you linked to the right video. You should be able to click on the image in your PowerPoint when you’re in Play mode. And when you click it…

…you should be taken to a web browser where your video appears, ready for you to play!

Now that you know how to embed a video in PowerPoint, it’s time to take the final steps to preparing for a phenomenal presentation.

• Test your audio and visuals before you present. If you’re giving a presentation in a new location, you should anticipate issues with their A/V set-up and assume you’ll have wi-fi connectivity issues. Be sure to run through the presentation once before you formally present to ensure the video appears and your audio is both working and loud enough. Also consider taking a wi-fi hot spot in case you encounter internet issues.
• Keep it short. When presenting in front of an audience, sometimes less is more. No one wants to watch a 10-minute long video in the middle of a presentation. The best PowerPoint videos get an audience excited but don’t drag on to the point of boredom.
• Get creative. PowerPoints can be boring – but when you add video, you add a whole new dynamic element and energy to your presentation. Let your mind run wild with ideas as you think of ways to spice up your PowerPoint.

For more awesome tips on how to create the most awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping videos your audience has ever seen, head over to the Wyzowl blog . Peruse posts on the best motion graphics videos around, how to convert a video to a GIF , and everything in between.

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Blog > How to add a YouTube Video in PowerPoint

How to add a YouTube Video in PowerPoint

07.08.20   •  #powerpointtips.

Sometimes, you want to show your audience a YouTube video during a presentation. Some people do so by opening the browser, going to YouTube and then typing the video title into the search bar, when in fact there is a much easier and more convenient way. In the this post, you'll learn how you can directly insert a YouTube Video into PowerPoint that plays automatically on your slide. Also, we have got some great suggestions about videos you could show your audience.

You can watch our video (which is by the way inserted from YouTube as well) down below and learn how to add a video to your slides in just one minute! If you don't feel like watching the video, you can also follow the step-by-step guide down below.

Step-by-Step Tutorial

• Go to Insert in the PowerPoint task line on the top.
• Click on Video on the top right corner. Then choose the option Online Video .

• A window will open which will ask you to insert the video’s URL.

• Open the YouTube video you would like to embed in your browser. You can simply right click on the address bar in the browser and copy the URL. Alternatively, perform a right mouse click on the video, and then click on Copy Video URL .

• Go back to PowerPoint and insert the URL by either pressing CTRL+V or right click and then Paste . Then click on Insert .

• Your video will then be inserted on your current slide. Just like any element, you can change its size or move it around now.
• To start the video (either while editing or in presentation mode), simply click on the play button.

YouTube video with offline playback

With the previously described option, it is necessary to have a stable internet connection while presenting. As that can not always be guaranteed, there is also a way of inserting YouTube videos that work offline. Follow these steps:

• Open the YouTube Video in your Browser. Copy the URL by clicking the address bar and then Right Click > Copy.
• Open the website y2mate.com . Paste your copied URL into the text field, then click Start .

• Choose one of the options for download (and click the Download button. We recommend 1080p or 720p.

• A window will open, and your video will convert. When it's ready, click Download .mp4" .
• After your file has downloaded, you should see it in your Downloads folder in the browser. By clicking "Show in folder", you'll see where it's saved on your device.

• Right click on the file in your folder and click Copy .
• Go to the PowerPoint slide where you want your video to be placed. Right click and Paste . Your video should now appear and play if you click on it.

What kinds of videos can I use in a presentation?

Videos are an amazing way to liven up your presentation. Especially when you're talking for a long time, the audience tends to get tired. That's where a variation of multimedia elements, such as videos, can be helpful. We recommend putting videos in the main part of a presentation, but of course you may also start or finish by presenting a video to your audience. There is no limit for the type of video, the only guideline you should follow is relevance. Before mindlessly pasting a video to your slide, ask yourself: "What purpose does this video fulfill within my presentation?" Is it supposed to inform and teach the audience, is it something you really want everybody to see, or is it just a funny little clip to lighten the mood? All of those purposes are fine. With this tip, you're one step closer to a wonderful presentation! If you want to learn more about successful presentations and Audience Engagement, check out our blogpost Top 10 Tools for increasing Audience Engagement .

Set the start of your video

After you've added a video from YouTube, it starts to play by default when you click anywhere on the slide during the presentation. That's usually fine, but can sometimes be annoying, e.g. when you have more than one video on one slide. In that case, it is helpful to set the Start to When clicked on . The video then won't start until you click directly on it. You can do that by first clicking on your video, going to the Playback tab on the right and then select When clicked on in the Start-selection. By choosing Automatically here, your video will start automatically, without having to click on it.

Add a video from your device

If you want to add a video that is saved on your computer, you can do so by following the tutorial in our article Insert a local Video .

Useful Keyboard Shortcuts

How can I insert a YouTube video to PowerPoint?

Go to Insert > Video > Online Video. Copy the video URL from the address bar and paste it to the window that opens. Click Insert and your video should appear instantly.

Can I play a video directly on my PowerPoint slides?

Yes. You can insert a video from YouTube by using the URL, and it will be played directly on your slide. In our tutorial , you'll learn how to do so.

Can I play an offline video from YouTube in PowerPoint?

Yes, it is possible to play an offline YouTube video on your PowerPoint slides. We show you how it is done in our tutorial .

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Pia Lehner-Mittermaier

Pia works in Marketing as a graphic designer and writer at SlideLizard. She uses her vivid imagination and creativity to produce good content.

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Set the 'play' options for a video in your presentation

You can use the playback options in PowerPoint to control how and when a video appears in your presentation. You can play a video in full screen mode or resize it to dimensions that you specify. You can also control the volume, play the video repeatedly (in a loop), and show the media controls.

These Play options aren't available for online videos, such as YouTube videos. They are only available for videos inserted from your computer, network, or OneDrive.

To control how your video plays, use options on the Playback tab of the PowerPoint ribbon. This tab appears on the ribbon when a video is selected on a slide.

(These options for a video are available after you embed or link to a video file from your computer .)

Play a video in the click sequence, automatically, or when clicked

Important:  Set this option before adding any animations or triggers to your video. By changing this option, you will remove any animations that are associated with your video.

In Normal view, click the video frame on the slide.

On the Playback tab, in the Video Options group, from the Start list, select an option:

Tip:  While a video is playing, you can pause it by clicking it. To resume playing the video, click it again.

Play a video full screen

You can play a video so that it fills the entire slide (screen) when you deliver your presentation. Depending on the resolution of your original video file, it might appear distorted when you enlarge it. Always preview your video before you include it in your presentation so that if the video appears distorted or blurry, you can undo the full screen option.

If you set the video to be displayed full screen and it is also set to start automatically, you can drag the video frame off the slide into the gray area so that it will not be visible on the slide or flash briefly before the video goes to full screen.

In Normal view, click the video frame on the slide that you want to play full screen.

Under Video Tools , on the Playback tab, in the Video Options group, select the Play Full Screen check box.

Resize a video

If you don't want to play a movie full screen, you can resize it to the dimensions that you want.

In Normal view, select the video that you want to resize.

Do one of the following:

To adjust the formatting:

Click a corner sizing handle until you see a two-headed arrow, and then drag to size the frame.

To keep the center of the video in the same place, hold down Ctrl while dragging. By default, this maintains the proportions (locks the aspect ratio) of the video as you drag.

The default aspect ratio for presentations in PowerPoint is 16:9. If the aspect ratios of the presentation and the video differ, your video will look distorted when it plays.

To specify precise height-to-width proportions of a video:

Click Size , and then under Scale , select the Lock aspect ratio check box.

Under Size and rotate , enter sizes in the Height and Width boxes, or under Scale , in the Scale Height and Scale Width boxes, enter the percentage of size that you want, relative to the video's original size.

Tip:  To prevent videos from skipping when they are played, under Scale , select the Best scale for slide show check box.

Preview a video

In Normal view, click the video frame.

Click Play .

There is also a Play option in the Preview group, on both the Format and Playback tabs, under Video Tools .

Set the volume of a video

Under Video Tools , on the Playback tab, in the Video Options group, click Volume , and then choose one of the following:

Tip:  You can also set the volume by using the volume slider on the play control bar.

Hide a video when not playing

While delivering your presentation, you can hide your video until you are ready to play it. However, you should create an automatic or triggered animation to initiate playback or you will never see the video play during the slideshow. For more information about creating an automatic or triggered animation, see Animate text or objects .

Under Video Tools , on the Playback tab, in the Video Options group, select the Hide While Not Playing check box.

Loop a video

To play your video repeatedly and continuously during your presentation, you can use the loop feature.

Under Video Tools , on the Playback tab, in the Video Options group, select the Loop until Stopped check box.

Rewind a video after playing

To rewind your video after playing during your presentation, do the following:

Under Video Tools , on the Playback tab, in the Video Options group, select the Rewind after Playing check box.

Show the media controls

To show the media controls during your presentation, do the following:

On the Slide Show tab, in the Set up group, select the Show Media Controls check box.

Create a self-running presentation

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In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through the process of transforming your PowerPoint presentations into dynamic videos and you will get to know how to create a video with powerpoint. Converting your slides to videos offers numerous benefits, including expanding your reach beyond traditional audiences, boosting viewer engagement with multimedia content, and simplifying content sharing across various platforms. Whether you're a business professional looking to create impactful presentations or an educator aiming to make learning more interactive, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and tools to create compelling videos using PowerPoint.

In this article

Part 1: how to plan and create a video with powerpoint, part 2: [quicker & easier] try virbo ai to make powerpoint presentations with real-time avatars (300 words), step 1: choose template and slides, step 2: add animations, step 3: export your powerpoint presentation as a video, part 4: benefits of turning your presentation into a video.

Before diving into the creation process, it's essential to plan your video meticulously to ensure it resonates with your target audience. Start by outlining the key messages and objectives you want to convey through your video. Consider the visual elements, such as images, charts, and animations, that will enhance your content and engage viewers effectively.

Once you have a clear plan in place, creating a video with PowerPoint becomes a straightforward process. Utilize PowerPoint's extensive features to design visually appealing slides, incorporate relevant transitions and animations, and add background music or narration to elevate the overall viewing experience.

Remember, a well-planned video not only captures attention but also delivers your message succinctly and persuasively. So, invest time in planning and crafting your PowerPoint presentation to create a compelling video that resonates with your audience and achieves your objectives.

Virbo AI is a cutting-edge platform designed to revolutionize the way you create PowerPoint presentations by incorporating real-time avatars. With Virbo AI, you can effortlessly transform your static slides into dynamic and engaging presentations that captivate your audience.

One of the standout features of Virbo is its seamless importing capability, allowing you to integrate your existing PowerPoint presentations directly into the platform. This feature enables you to leverage Virbo’s innovative avatars to create more personalized and interactive content, enhancing viewer engagement and retention.

The Virbo AI platform boasts a user-friendly interface and a diverse range of customizable templates featuring animated avatars. Whether you're looking to create a professional business presentation, an educational tutorial, or a creative storytelling video, Virbo offers a variety of templates to suit your needs.

Here's how to use Virbo to convert your animated PPT to a video in just a few clicks, before starting to turn your powerpoint into a video, it'll be better to download the Virbo app beforehand:

Free Download

• Select the prominent "Create Video" button. Within the displayed window, locate the "Import PPT" feature situated in the bottom left corner. This option serves as your entry point to integrate your animated PowerPoint presentation into the Virbo platform.

Part 3: [Traditional way] Step-by-Step Process to Create A Video with PowerPoint

Begin by selecting a template that aligns with the theme and tone of your presentation. PowerPoint offers a variety of customizable templates that cater to different presentation styles. Once you've chosen a template, use “Animations” customize it by adding relevant text, images, and graphics to create engaging slides that convey your message effectively.

Enhance the visual appeal of your presentation by incorporating animations and multimedia elements. Use PowerPoint's animation and transition features to add movement and flow to your slides. You can also insert video and audio files to provide additional context or emphasize key points. Consider recording your presentation using PowerPoint's built-in recording feature to add a personal touch. Additionally, adding captions to videos can make your content more accessible and engaging for viewers.

Once you've finalized your presentation, it's time to export it as a video file. In PowerPoint, navigate to the 'File' menu and select 'Export' or 'Save As.' Choose the 'Create a Video' option and select the desired video quality and format. Alternatively, you can save your presentation as a PowerPoint show (.ppsx) to retain all the interactive features and animations, allowing viewers to watch the presentation at their own pace.

Transforming your PowerPoint presentation into a video offers several compelling benefits that can significantly enhance the impact and reach of your content.

• Easy to Share and Distribute: Videos are easily shareable across various platforms, including social media, email, and websites. This enables you to reach a broader audience and maximize the exposure of your message with minimal effort.
• Enhanced Visual Appeal: Videos allow you to incorporate dynamic elements such as animations, transitions, and multimedia content, making your presentation more visually engaging and memorable for viewers.
• Captures Attention: Videos are inherently more engaging than static slides, capturing the attention of viewers and encouraging them to stay engaged with your content for a longer duration.
• Improved Accessibility: Adding captions and subtitles to your video ensures that your content is accessible to a wider audience, including individuals with hearing impairments or those viewing your video in a noisy environment.
• Versatility: Videos can be repurposed for various purposes, such as marketing campaigns, training sessions, or educational materials, providing you with a versatile and cost-effective content creation tool.
• Increased Engagement and Retention: Videos have the ability to evoke emotions and tell a compelling story, making your message more relatable and memorable for viewers. The combination of visual and auditory elements in videos can significantly increase viewer engagement and retention rates

In this guide, we've explored the step-by-step process of how to create a video with powerpoint presentations, highlighting the numerous benefits such as enhanced visual appeal, increased engagement, and easy sharing. By applying these techniques and exploring options like Virbo AI, you can significantly elevate the impact and reach of your presentations. We highly recommend Virbo AI for its innovative features, including real-time avatars, which can further enhance your video content and captivate your audience.

Elevate your presentations today with Virbo AI and transform your ideas into engaging and memorable videos!

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How-To Geek

6 ways to create more interactive powerpoint presentations.

Engage your audience with cool, actionable features.

Quick Links

• Add a QR code
• Embed Microsoft Forms (Education or Business Only)
• Embed a Live Web Page
• Add Links and Menus
• Add Clickable Images to Give More Info
• Add a Countdown Timer

We've all been to a presentation where the speaker bores you to death with a mundane PowerPoint presentation. Actually, the speaker could have kept you much more engaged by adding some interactive features to their slideshow. Let's look into some of these options.

1. Add a QR code

Adding a QR code can be particularly useful if you want to direct your audience to an online form, website, or video.

Some websites have in-built ways to create a QR code. For example, on Microsoft Forms , when you click "Collect Responses," you'll see the QR code option via the icon highlighted in the screenshot below. You can either right-click the QR code to copy and paste it into your presentation, or click "Download" to add it to your device gallery to insert the QR code as a picture.

In fact, you can easily add a QR code to take your viewer to any website. On Microsoft Edge, right-click anywhere on a web page where there isn't already a link, and left-click "Create QR Code For This Page."

You can also create QR codes in other browsers, such as Chrome.

You can then copy or download the QR code to use wherever you like in your presentation.

2. Embed Microsoft Forms (Education or Business Only)

If you plan to send your PPT presentation to others—for example, if you're a trainer sending step-by-step instruction presentation, a teacher sending an independent learning task to your students, or a campaigner for your local councilor sending a persuasive PPT to constituents—you might want to embed a quiz, questionnaire, pole, or feedback survey in your presentation.

In PowerPoint, open the "Insert" tab on the ribbon, and in the Forms group, click "Forms". If you cannot see this option, you can add new buttons to the ribbon .

As at April 2024, this feature is only available for those using their work or school account. We're using a Microsoft 365 Personal account in the screenshot below, which is why the Forms icon is grayed out.

Then, a sidebar will appear on the right-hand side of your screen, where you can either choose a form you have already created or opt to craft a new form.

Now, you can share your PPT presentation with others , who can click the fields and submit their responses when they view the presentation.

3. Embed a Live Web Page

You could always screenshot a web page and paste that into your PPT, but that's not a very interactive addition to your presentation. Instead, you can embed a live web page into your PPT so that people with access to your presentation can interact actively with its contents.

To do this, we will need to add an add-in to our PPT account .

Add-ins are not always reliable or secure. Before installing an add-in to your Microsoft account, check that the author is a reputable company, and type the add-in's name into a search engine to read reviews and other users' experiences.

To embed a web page, add the Web Viewer add-in ( this is an add-in created by Microsoft ).

Go to the relevant slide and open the Web Viewer add-in. Then, copy and paste the secure URL into the field box, and remove https:// from the start of the address. In our example, we will add a selector wheel to our slide. Click "Preview" to see a sample of the web page's appearance in your presentation.

This is how ours will look.

When you or someone with access to your presentation views the slideshow, this web page will be live and interactive.

4. Add Links and Menus

As well as moving from one slide to the next through a keyboard action or mouse click, you can create links within your presentation to direct the audience to specific locations.

To create a link, right-click the outline of the clickable object, and click "Link."

In the Insert Hyperlink dialog box, click "Place In This Document," choose the landing destination, and click "OK."

What's more, to make it clear that an object is clickable, you can use action buttons. Open the "Insert" tab on the ribbon, click "Shape," and then choose an appropriate action button. Usefully, PPT will automatically prompt you to add a link to these shapes.

You might also want a menu that displays on every slide. Once you have created the menu, add the links using the method outlined above. Then, select all the items, press Ctrl+C (copy), and then use Ctrl+V to paste them in your other slides.

5. Add Clickable Images to Give More Info

Through PowerPoint's animations, you can give your viewer the power to choose what they see and when they see it. This works nicely whether you're planning to send your presentation to others to run through independently or whether you're presenting in front of a group and want your audience to decide which action they want to take.

Start by creating the objects that will be clickable (trigger) and the items that will appear (pop-up).

Then, select all the pop-ups together. When you click "Animations" on the ribbon and choose an appropriate animation for the effect you want to achieve, this will be applied to all objects you have selected.

The next step is to rename the triggers in your presentation. To do this, open the "Home" tab, and in the Editing group, click "Select", and then "Selection Pane."

With the Selection Pane open, select each trigger on your slide individually, and rename them in the Selection Pane, so that they can be easily linked to in the next step.

Finally, go back to the first pop-up. Open the "Animations" tab, and in the Advanced Animation group, click the "Trigger" drop-down arrow. Then, you can set the item to appear when a trigger is clicked in your presentation.

If you want your item to disappear when the trigger is clicked again, select the pop-up, click "Add Animation" in the Advanced Animation group, choose an Exit animation, and follow the same step to link that animation to the trigger button.

6. Add a Countdown Timer

A great way to get your audience to engage with your PPT presentation is to keep them on edge by adding a countdown timer. Whether you're leading a presentation and want to let your audience stop to discuss a topic, or running an online quiz with time-limit questions, having a countdown timer means your audience will keep their eye on your slide throughout.

To do this, you need to animate text boxes or shapes containing your countdown numbers. Choose and format a shape and type the highest number that your countdown clock will need. In our case, we're creating a 10-second timer.

Now, with your shape selected, open the "Animations" tab on the ribbon and click the animation drop-down arrow. Then, in the Exit menu, click "Disappear."

Open the Animation Pane, and click the drop-down arrow next to the animation you've just added. From there, choose "Timing."

Make sure "On Click" is selected in the Start menu, and change the Delay option to "1 second," before clicking "OK."

Then, with this shape still selected, press Ctrl+C (copy), and then Ctrl+V (paste). In the second box, type 9 . With the Animation Pane still open and this second shape selected, click the drop-down arrow and choose "Timing" again. Change the Start option to "After Previous," and make sure the Delay option is 1 second. Then, click "OK."

We can now use this second shape as our template, as when we copy and paste it again, the animations will also duplicate. With this second shape selected, press Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V, type 8 into the box, and continue to do the same until you get to 0 .

Next, remove the animations from the "0" box, as you don't want this to disappear. To do this, click the shape, and in the Animation Pane drop-down, click "Remove."

You now need to layer them in order. Right-click the box containing number 1, and click "Bring To Front." You will now see that box on the top. Do the same with the other numbers in ascending order.

Finally, you need to align the objects together. Click anywhere on your slide and press Ctrl+A. Then, in the Home tab on the ribbon, click "Arrange." First click "Align Center," and then bring the menu up again, so that you can click "Align Middle."

Press Ctrl+A again to select your timer, and you can then move your timer or copy and paste it elsewhere.

Press F5 to see the presentation in action, and when you get to the slide containing the timer, click anywhere on the slide to see your countdown timer in action!

Now that your PPT presentation is more interactive, make sure you've avoided these eight common presentational mistakes before you present your slides.