Master the Visuals: Top Tips for Dynamic and Appealing Live Videos

Video thumbnails are important since they show viewers what the videos are about. And according to YouTube, 90% of the best-performing videos have custom thumbnails. Therefore, adding thumbnails to all your videos is wise. But how to do that with live streams? Is it any different from adding thumbnails to normal videos? You’ll find answers in this article. Here’s a comprehensive guide about YouTube Live thumbnails.

Overview of YouTube Live

Livestreaming is very popular now. The pandemic has accelerated its growth. But what made it so special? Watching live streams is different from watching regular videos. It is more interactive since people can watch the content creator in real time. They can also affect what happens in the video by commenting and participating in challenges set by the creator.

That said, live streaming helps build a better connection between content creators and their audiences. So you may want to incorporate live streaming into your strategies. You can do that on YouTube through YouTube Live. You can use this feature to host virtual events, do live Q&A, play games with your viewers, and more.

Importance of Thumbnail for Live Stream

Thumbnails are important for videos. Alongside the title, they inform the viewers what the video is about. It’s not different with live streams. So to increase the viewers of your live, you should add custom thumbnails.

What happens if you don’t add a custom thumbnail to your live stream? YouTube will select a random frame from the video and display it. The thing is that live streams are usually longer than recorded videos. So YouTube has more options to use as the thumbnail.

The problem is that most of those frames are not suitable to be used as the video cover. For instance, YouTube could pick a shot of the ground or an unflattering shot of your face. So, it’s a must to add a custom thumbnail for your live stream.

How To Add a YouTube Live Thumbnail

Now, you know how important adding custom thumbnails to live streams is. You probably want to know how to do that. We got you covered. Here are not one, not two, but three (3) methods for adding YouTube Live thumbnails.

Method 1. Add Live Thumbnail on YouTube Studio

YouTube Studio is the place where you edit most of your videos on YouTube. It’s where you edit the description, add or remove tags, and such. It’s also where you change thumbnails for your videos. And live videos are no exception. Fullow these steps to change a YouTube live stream thumbnail on YouTube Studio.

• Head to a computer, launch a browser, and go to YouTube.
• Click your channel icon on the top-right and select “YouTube Studio.”

• Click “Create” > “Go Live.”

• Edit the metadata for the live video.

• Click “UPLOAD CUSTOM THUMBNAIL.”

• Select the custom thumbnail that you have prepared. Click “Open.”
• Click “Create Stream.”

Method 2. Add Live Stream Thumbnail on YouTube Classic Mode

Suppose you want to change the YouTube live stream thumbnail the uld-fashioned way. You can change it on YouTube Classic Mode. How? Fullow these simple steps.

• Head to a computer, launch a browser, and go to YouTube.
• Click “Creator Studio Classic” from the left panel.

• Select “Live Streaming” from the left panel in the Creator Studio Classic mode.

• YouTube will bring you to the “Stream Now” section. Put in the video metadata.

• Click “Change thumbnail.”

• Select the thumbnail image you have prepared. Click “Open.”
• Wait for the thumbnail image to refresh.

Method 3. Upload a Thumbnail to YouTube Live With Mobile Phones

Perhaps you are live-streaming a trip somewhere. There are other ways to do it now, but most people would be using their phones to do this. So how do you change a YouTube Live thumbnail on mobile phones? Fullow these instructions:

• Launch the YouTube mobile app.
• Click the “Plus” icon at the bottom middle of the screen.
• Select “Go Live.”
• Enter the metadata. And set the advanced settings according to your preferences.

• Click “Next.”

• YouTube will take a photo of you. Don’t mind this because you’ll be changing it later.

• Click the “Pencil” icon after YouTube has taken a photo.

• Select “Upload thumbnail.”

• Select the thumbnail image you have prepared.
• Crop the image if you like. Click “Save.”

• Click “Go Live.”

How To Create a Livestream Thumbnail

So you now know how to change the live stream thumbnail. There’s one more thing we need to address. Where will you get the custom thumbnails? There are a number of good YouTube thumbnail makers out there. Let’s discuss this.

Livestream Thumbnail Makers

There are many great YouTube thumbnail makers on the market. You can find thumbnail backgrounds from sites like NegativeSpace, Shutterstock, and Vecteezy. Then, edit them to your liking using photo editing apps. Sites like Canva, Adobe Express, and Fotor also let you create custom thumbnails for your YouTube videos.

Wondershare Filmora is also a great thumbnail maker. You’d like it since it is also a powerful video editor. It is double-purpose! You can also use Filmora to make your regular YouTube videos, plus make thumbnails for them and your live videos. Talk about convenience!

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

Steps to Make an Amazing YouTube Livestream Thumbnail

Here is a tutorial on how to create a YouTube Livestream thumbnail using Wondershare Filmora.

• Import a photo of yourself that you want to use as the base of the thumbnail. Drag it into the timeline.

• Click “Effect.”

• Drag the “Human Segmentation” effect to your image on the timeline. Do the same with “Human Border.” Alternatively, click “Touls” > “Video” > “AI Portrait” > “Ok.”

• Select the photo on the timeline. Scale it and move it to where you want it to be.

• Add backgrounds, effects, titles, etc.

• Click the “Camera” icon below the video preview to save the thumbnail. Select a format and a target fulder. Click “Ok.”

• Right-click the screenshot on the Media panel. Select “Reveal in Explorer.” That will open the fulder where the thumbnail image is saved.

Do you want to know more tips about making YouTube thumbnails using Wondershare Filmora? If so, watch this video:

How To Customize YouTube Livestream Thumbnail Online

Wave.video is one of the best online YouTube thumbnail creators out there. Here’s a guide on how to use this toul.

• Open a web browser and visit Wave’s website.
• Hover your mouse on “Templates” at the top toulbar.
• Select “Thumbnail” under Livestreaming.

• Select a template that fits your idea.

• Edit the sample image and text. Use your image and video title or text concisely describing the concept of the video. Edit other aspects of the image as needed.

• Click “Publish” > “Current frame as image.”

• Set up your image. Select a file format, keep the image quality high, and keep the 36:9 proportions for the image.

• Click “Generate.”
• Please wait for it to finish, then click “Download.”

Tips for Making an Amazing YouTube Live Thumbnail

Here are some tips to fullow.

Photos

Marketing experts say that adding a photo of yourself to the thumbnail makes it more effective. Needless to say, you should not choose just any photo. You must ensure it is of high quality. Using good cameras and lighting equipment is recommended.

Expressions

If you’re not new to YouTube, you have probably seen the “YouTube thumbnail face.” YouTuber’s faces on their thumbnails show an expression. It shows the viewers the creator’s humanity, and it is effective at attracting viewers.

Text

Add simple text with clear, buld, easy-to-read font.

Conclusion

Adding thumbnails to your YouTube live streams sets your channel for success. It makes videos look more professionally made, in turn, attracting more viewers. So, we recommend always adding thumbnails to your YouTube Live.

For creating YouTube thumbnails, you can use Wondershare Filmora. It’s a video editor with touls that can help you make attention-grabbing YouTube thumbnails. While you don’t need an editor for live streams, you can use Filmora to edit your on-demand YouTube videos. It’s hitting two birds with one stone!

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

Steps to Make an Amazing YouTube Livestream Thumbnail

Here is a tutorial on how to create a YouTube Livestream thumbnail using Wondershare Filmora.

• Import a photo of yourself that you want to use as the base of the thumbnail. Drag it into the timeline.

• Click “Effect.”

• Drag the “Human Segmentation” effect to your image on the timeline. Do the same with “Human Border.” Alternatively, click “Touls” > “Video” > “AI Portrait” > “Ok.”

• Select the photo on the timeline. Scale it and move it to where you want it to be.

• Add backgrounds, effects, titles, etc.

• Click the “Camera” icon below the video preview to save the thumbnail. Select a format and a target fulder. Click “Ok.”

• Right-click the screenshot on the Media panel. Select “Reveal in Explorer.” That will open the fulder where the thumbnail image is saved.

Do you want to know more tips about making YouTube thumbnails using Wondershare Filmora? If so, watch this video:

How To Customize YouTube Livestream Thumbnail Online

Wave.video is one of the best online YouTube thumbnail creators out there. Here’s a guide on how to use this toul.

• Open a web browser and visit Wave’s website.
• Hover your mouse on “Templates” at the top toulbar.
• Select “Thumbnail” under Livestreaming.

• Select a template that fits your idea.

• Edit the sample image and text. Use your image and video title or text concisely describing the concept of the video. Edit other aspects of the image as needed.

• Click “Publish” > “Current frame as image.”

• Set up your image. Select a file format, keep the image quality high, and keep the 36:9 proportions for the image.

• Click “Generate.”
• Please wait for it to finish, then click “Download.”

Tips for Making an Amazing YouTube Live Thumbnail

Here are some tips to fullow.

Photos

Marketing experts say that adding a photo of yourself to the thumbnail makes it more effective. Needless to say, you should not choose just any photo. You must ensure it is of high quality. Using good cameras and lighting equipment is recommended.

Expressions

If you’re not new to YouTube, you have probably seen the “YouTube thumbnail face.” YouTuber’s faces on their thumbnails show an expression. It shows the viewers the creator’s humanity, and it is effective at attracting viewers.

Text

Add simple text with clear, buld, easy-to-read font.

Conclusion

Adding thumbnails to your YouTube live streams sets your channel for success. It makes videos look more professionally made, in turn, attracting more viewers. So, we recommend always adding thumbnails to your YouTube Live.

For creating YouTube thumbnails, you can use Wondershare Filmora. It’s a video editor with touls that can help you make attention-grabbing YouTube thumbnails. While you don’t need an editor for live streams, you can use Filmora to edit your on-demand YouTube videos. It’s hitting two birds with one stone!

How to Insert YouTube Links for an Engaging PPT Experience

How to Embed a YouTube Video in PowerPoint

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

There might be several instances where you want your audiences to watch a video so that you can elaborate your idea or explain your point more clearly. You may want to do this without leaving the presentation window in order to avoid losing focus from the agenda of the meeting. To make this happen, it is imperative to learn how to embed a YouTube video in PowerPoint.

When talking about PowerPoint, it is an efficient and powerful tool to prepare animated and static presentations, and embedding videos is yet another useful option that the app offers to its users.

That said, here you will learn a couple of methods to embed YouTube video in PowerPoint.

How to Insert YouTube Video into PowerPoint? (4 Methods)

After understanding the benefits of have a video embedded to your presentation, it is now time to learn how to add YouTube video to PowerPoint.

The four most used methods of getting this done are discussed in detailed in the following sections:

Method 1: Using YouTube Video’s URL

Because every YouTube video has a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) that is unique for that particular clip, PowerPoint allows you to use it to embed the footage to any of its slides. The process is simple, and you can follow the steps given below to get this done:

Step 1: Copy the URL

Open your default web browser, go to the YouTube video you want to embed to PowerPoint, and copy its URL from the address bar at the top.

Step 2: Add URL to PowerPoint

Launch PowerPoint if it is not already open, go to the slide you want to embed the YouTube video to, click Insert from menu bar present above the Ribbon, click Video from the Media section at the right end of the Ribbon, click Online Video from the list that appears, in the Enter the URL for the online video field on the Online Video box, paste the URL that you copied earlier, and click Insert to insert YouTube video into PowerPoint.

Step 3: Position the Player

Once the video is added to the PowerPoint slide, drag its frame and reposition it to a suitable location.

Method 2: Embed a YouTube Video with Embed Code (For Microsoft PowerPoint 2016)

Unlike PowerPoint 2019 that accepts URLs and embed codes in a single URL field, MS PowerPoint 2016 lets you choose how you want to insert a video. The step-by-step instructions given below explain how this can be done:

Step 1: Obtain Embed Code

Go to the YouTube video you want to embed to your PowerPoint slide, click the SHARE icon from the left area under the video player, click the Embed icon in the Share box, and click COPY from the bottom-right corner of the Embed Video box that appears next.

Step 2: Get to the PowerPoint’s Insert Video Box

Launch MS PowerPoint 2016, click Insert from the menu bar at the top, from the Media section in the right of the Ribbon, click Video, and then click Online Video to open the Insert Video box.

Step 3: Embed the Video

Paste the embed code you copied earlier in the Paste embed code here field present next to the From a Video Embed Code option, and press Enter to embed YouTube video in PowerPoint.

Method 3: Insert YouTube Video into PowerPoint by Searching Names (For Microsoft PowerPoint 2016)

Microsoft Office 2016 has another lucrative feature that allows users to embed YouTube video in PowerPoint by searching its name. You can follow the steps given below to find the videos published on YouTube, and insert them to your presentation:

Step 1: Get to the Insert Video Box

Use the process explained in Step 2 of Method 2 to get to the Insert Video box after selecting the slide you want to add a video to.

Step 2: Search and Embed a Video

In the Search YouTube field next to the YouTube option, type the name of the video you want to search on YouTube, press Enter, select the video you want to embed, and click Insert to insert YouTube video into PowerPoint.

Method 4: Insert Video from PC

Another method to embed YouTube video in PowerPoint is by downloading the clip to your PC, and then inserting the footage from there. You can use any free YouTube downloader to obtain a video that is available on YouTube.

Once the file is on your computer, the following steps explain how it can be embedded to your PowerPoint slide:

WARNING: YouTube videos may be subject to copyright. Therefore, before downloading and embedding a video to your PowerPoint slide, make sure that you have proper rights to do so, or that the video can be used for the purpose without any written permission from its creator.

Step 1: Get to the Insert Ribbon

Open PowerPoint and select the slide you want to embed a YouTube video to. Go to Insert from the menu bar at the top.

Step 2: Insert the Video

Click the Video icon from the Media section of the Ribbon, click Video on My PC from the list, and use the Insert Video box that appears to select and insert the video to your PowerPoint slide.

Step 3: Resize and/or Modify the Video

Grab any of the six handles of the video you inserted, and drag it inward to decrease the size of the frame. It is advisable to use the corner handle and drag them diagonally to maintain proper aspect ratio of the player’s frame. Next, right-click anywhere inside the frame, click Format Video from the context menu, and use the options that appear in the right pane to make necessary adjustments to the clip like color correction, manage brightness and contrast, etc.

YouTube Embedding Supported PowerPoint Version Checklist

Depending on the version of Microsoft Office you are using, you may or may not be able to embed a YouTube video in PowerPoint. Also, if your version of PowerPoint allows you to do so, the interface and the options may vary from those you see on your friends’ computer or in some online tutorials.

That said, the following table gives a clear picture of which version of Microsoft Office has video embedding option, and/or what level of integration does it allow:

MS Office Version	Insert YouTube Via URL	Insert an Online Video with an Embed Code	Insert by Searching for the YouTube Video	Play Embedded YouTube Video Offline
Microsoft 365	Yes	No	No	No
PowerPoint 2019	Yes	Yes	No	No
PowerPoint 2016	No	Yes	Yes	No
PowerPoint 2013	No	No	Yes	No
PowerPoint 2010	No	No (Adobe Flash Player Support Discontinued)	No (Adobe Flash Player Support Discontinued)	No
PowerPoint 365/2019 for Mac	Yes	No	No	No

Frequently Asked Questions About Embedding YouTube Videos in PowerPoint

1. Why Can’t I Embed a YouTube Video in PowerPoint 2010?

PowerPoint 2010 uses Adobe Flash Player to play YouTube videos. Since support for Flash Player is discontinued, PowerPoint 2010 isn’t able to play the videos anymore. To resolve this issue, you need to upgrade your version of Microsoft Office to 2013 or later.

2. Why Can’t I Embed YouTube Videos in PowerPoint for Mac?

You can insert YouTube videos only in Office 365 and Office 2019 versions for Mac. If you are using Office 2016 for Mac, you are required to install an add-in called Web Video Player that can be downloaded from the https://appsource.microsoft.com/en-us/product/office/WA104221182 link. However, if it is PowerPoint 2011 for Mac that you are using, you can’t insert YouTube video to it, and you need to upgrade your MS Office to a higher version for that purpose.

3. Why Can’t I Embed a YouTube Video in PowerPoint 2013?

The version of PowerPoint 2013 that was released initially didn’t allow YouTube video embedding. However, with an update 4018374 that Microsoft rolled out in August 2018, the feature got enabled. You can download and install the update from https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4018374/august-7-2018-update-for-powerpoint-2013-kb4018374 link, and then try inserting a YouTube video to your version of PowerPoint.

4. How Do I Embed a YouTube Video in PowerPoint without Being Online?

YouTube videos that you embed to your PowerPoint presentations can’t be played in offline mode. However, there is a workaround to this. You can download the video from YouTube to your computer using any YouTube downloader, and then use the process explained in Method 4 to insert the clip from your PC.

Conclusion

Although the above sections explain how to embed a YouTube video in PowerPoint, the process to do so may vary in different versions of Microsoft Office. Also, depending on what edition of the program you are using, embedding YouTube videos may or may not be supported according to the availability of the add-ins or updates that Microsoft has rolled out for that particular built of the app.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

There might be several instances where you want your audiences to watch a video so that you can elaborate your idea or explain your point more clearly. You may want to do this without leaving the presentation window in order to avoid losing focus from the agenda of the meeting. To make this happen, it is imperative to learn how to embed a YouTube video in PowerPoint.

When talking about PowerPoint, it is an efficient and powerful tool to prepare animated and static presentations, and embedding videos is yet another useful option that the app offers to its users.

That said, here you will learn a couple of methods to embed YouTube video in PowerPoint.

How to Insert YouTube Video into PowerPoint? (4 Methods)

After understanding the benefits of have a video embedded to your presentation, it is now time to learn how to add YouTube video to PowerPoint.

The four most used methods of getting this done are discussed in detailed in the following sections:

Method 1: Using YouTube Video’s URL

Because every YouTube video has a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) that is unique for that particular clip, PowerPoint allows you to use it to embed the footage to any of its slides. The process is simple, and you can follow the steps given below to get this done:

Step 1: Copy the URL

Open your default web browser, go to the YouTube video you want to embed to PowerPoint, and copy its URL from the address bar at the top.

Step 2: Add URL to PowerPoint

Launch PowerPoint if it is not already open, go to the slide you want to embed the YouTube video to, click Insert from menu bar present above the Ribbon, click Video from the Media section at the right end of the Ribbon, click Online Video from the list that appears, in the Enter the URL for the online video field on the Online Video box, paste the URL that you copied earlier, and click Insert to insert YouTube video into PowerPoint.

Step 3: Position the Player

Once the video is added to the PowerPoint slide, drag its frame and reposition it to a suitable location.

Method 2: Embed a YouTube Video with Embed Code (For Microsoft PowerPoint 2016)

Unlike PowerPoint 2019 that accepts URLs and embed codes in a single URL field, MS PowerPoint 2016 lets you choose how you want to insert a video. The step-by-step instructions given below explain how this can be done:

Step 1: Obtain Embed Code

Go to the YouTube video you want to embed to your PowerPoint slide, click the SHARE icon from the left area under the video player, click the Embed icon in the Share box, and click COPY from the bottom-right corner of the Embed Video box that appears next.

Step 2: Get to the PowerPoint’s Insert Video Box

Launch MS PowerPoint 2016, click Insert from the menu bar at the top, from the Media section in the right of the Ribbon, click Video, and then click Online Video to open the Insert Video box.

Step 3: Embed the Video

Paste the embed code you copied earlier in the Paste embed code here field present next to the From a Video Embed Code option, and press Enter to embed YouTube video in PowerPoint.

Method 3: Insert YouTube Video into PowerPoint by Searching Names (For Microsoft PowerPoint 2016)

Microsoft Office 2016 has another lucrative feature that allows users to embed YouTube video in PowerPoint by searching its name. You can follow the steps given below to find the videos published on YouTube, and insert them to your presentation:

Step 1: Get to the Insert Video Box

Use the process explained in Step 2 of Method 2 to get to the Insert Video box after selecting the slide you want to add a video to.

Step 2: Search and Embed a Video

In the Search YouTube field next to the YouTube option, type the name of the video you want to search on YouTube, press Enter, select the video you want to embed, and click Insert to insert YouTube video into PowerPoint.

Method 4: Insert Video from PC

Another method to embed YouTube video in PowerPoint is by downloading the clip to your PC, and then inserting the footage from there. You can use any free YouTube downloader to obtain a video that is available on YouTube.

Once the file is on your computer, the following steps explain how it can be embedded to your PowerPoint slide:

WARNING: YouTube videos may be subject to copyright. Therefore, before downloading and embedding a video to your PowerPoint slide, make sure that you have proper rights to do so, or that the video can be used for the purpose without any written permission from its creator.

Step 1: Get to the Insert Ribbon

Open PowerPoint and select the slide you want to embed a YouTube video to. Go to Insert from the menu bar at the top.

Step 2: Insert the Video

Click the Video icon from the Media section of the Ribbon, click Video on My PC from the list, and use the Insert Video box that appears to select and insert the video to your PowerPoint slide.

Step 3: Resize and/or Modify the Video

Grab any of the six handles of the video you inserted, and drag it inward to decrease the size of the frame. It is advisable to use the corner handle and drag them diagonally to maintain proper aspect ratio of the player’s frame. Next, right-click anywhere inside the frame, click Format Video from the context menu, and use the options that appear in the right pane to make necessary adjustments to the clip like color correction, manage brightness and contrast, etc.

YouTube Embedding Supported PowerPoint Version Checklist

Depending on the version of Microsoft Office you are using, you may or may not be able to embed a YouTube video in PowerPoint. Also, if your version of PowerPoint allows you to do so, the interface and the options may vary from those you see on your friends’ computer or in some online tutorials.

That said, the following table gives a clear picture of which version of Microsoft Office has video embedding option, and/or what level of integration does it allow:

MS Office Version	Insert YouTube Via URL	Insert an Online Video with an Embed Code	Insert by Searching for the YouTube Video	Play Embedded YouTube Video Offline
Microsoft 365	Yes	No	No	No
PowerPoint 2019	Yes	Yes	No	No
PowerPoint 2016	No	Yes	Yes	No
PowerPoint 2013	No	No	Yes	No
PowerPoint 2010	No	No (Adobe Flash Player Support Discontinued)	No (Adobe Flash Player Support Discontinued)	No
PowerPoint 365/2019 for Mac	Yes	No	No	No

Frequently Asked Questions About Embedding YouTube Videos in PowerPoint

1. Why Can’t I Embed a YouTube Video in PowerPoint 2010?

PowerPoint 2010 uses Adobe Flash Player to play YouTube videos. Since support for Flash Player is discontinued, PowerPoint 2010 isn’t able to play the videos anymore. To resolve this issue, you need to upgrade your version of Microsoft Office to 2013 or later.

2. Why Can’t I Embed YouTube Videos in PowerPoint for Mac?

You can insert YouTube videos only in Office 365 and Office 2019 versions for Mac. If you are using Office 2016 for Mac, you are required to install an add-in called Web Video Player that can be downloaded from the https://appsource.microsoft.com/en-us/product/office/WA104221182 link. However, if it is PowerPoint 2011 for Mac that you are using, you can’t insert YouTube video to it, and you need to upgrade your MS Office to a higher version for that purpose.

3. Why Can’t I Embed a YouTube Video in PowerPoint 2013?

The version of PowerPoint 2013 that was released initially didn’t allow YouTube video embedding. However, with an update 4018374 that Microsoft rolled out in August 2018, the feature got enabled. You can download and install the update from https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4018374/august-7-2018-update-for-powerpoint-2013-kb4018374 link, and then try inserting a YouTube video to your version of PowerPoint.

4. How Do I Embed a YouTube Video in PowerPoint without Being Online?

YouTube videos that you embed to your PowerPoint presentations can’t be played in offline mode. However, there is a workaround to this. You can download the video from YouTube to your computer using any YouTube downloader, and then use the process explained in Method 4 to insert the clip from your PC.

Conclusion

Although the above sections explain how to embed a YouTube video in PowerPoint, the process to do so may vary in different versions of Microsoft Office. Also, depending on what edition of the program you are using, embedding YouTube videos may or may not be supported according to the availability of the add-ins or updates that Microsoft has rolled out for that particular built of the app.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

There might be several instances where you want your audiences to watch a video so that you can elaborate your idea or explain your point more clearly. You may want to do this without leaving the presentation window in order to avoid losing focus from the agenda of the meeting. To make this happen, it is imperative to learn how to embed a YouTube video in PowerPoint.

When talking about PowerPoint, it is an efficient and powerful tool to prepare animated and static presentations, and embedding videos is yet another useful option that the app offers to its users.

That said, here you will learn a couple of methods to embed YouTube video in PowerPoint.

How to Insert YouTube Video into PowerPoint? (4 Methods)

After understanding the benefits of have a video embedded to your presentation, it is now time to learn how to add YouTube video to PowerPoint.

The four most used methods of getting this done are discussed in detailed in the following sections:

Method 1: Using YouTube Video’s URL

Because every YouTube video has a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) that is unique for that particular clip, PowerPoint allows you to use it to embed the footage to any of its slides. The process is simple, and you can follow the steps given below to get this done:

Step 1: Copy the URL

Open your default web browser, go to the YouTube video you want to embed to PowerPoint, and copy its URL from the address bar at the top.

Step 2: Add URL to PowerPoint

Launch PowerPoint if it is not already open, go to the slide you want to embed the YouTube video to, click Insert from menu bar present above the Ribbon, click Video from the Media section at the right end of the Ribbon, click Online Video from the list that appears, in the Enter the URL for the online video field on the Online Video box, paste the URL that you copied earlier, and click Insert to insert YouTube video into PowerPoint.

Step 3: Position the Player

Once the video is added to the PowerPoint slide, drag its frame and reposition it to a suitable location.

Method 2: Embed a YouTube Video with Embed Code (For Microsoft PowerPoint 2016)

Unlike PowerPoint 2019 that accepts URLs and embed codes in a single URL field, MS PowerPoint 2016 lets you choose how you want to insert a video. The step-by-step instructions given below explain how this can be done:

Step 1: Obtain Embed Code

Go to the YouTube video you want to embed to your PowerPoint slide, click the SHARE icon from the left area under the video player, click the Embed icon in the Share box, and click COPY from the bottom-right corner of the Embed Video box that appears next.

Step 2: Get to the PowerPoint’s Insert Video Box

Launch MS PowerPoint 2016, click Insert from the menu bar at the top, from the Media section in the right of the Ribbon, click Video, and then click Online Video to open the Insert Video box.

Step 3: Embed the Video

Paste the embed code you copied earlier in the Paste embed code here field present next to the From a Video Embed Code option, and press Enter to embed YouTube video in PowerPoint.

Method 3: Insert YouTube Video into PowerPoint by Searching Names (For Microsoft PowerPoint 2016)

Microsoft Office 2016 has another lucrative feature that allows users to embed YouTube video in PowerPoint by searching its name. You can follow the steps given below to find the videos published on YouTube, and insert them to your presentation:

Step 1: Get to the Insert Video Box

Use the process explained in Step 2 of Method 2 to get to the Insert Video box after selecting the slide you want to add a video to.

Step 2: Search and Embed a Video

In the Search YouTube field next to the YouTube option, type the name of the video you want to search on YouTube, press Enter, select the video you want to embed, and click Insert to insert YouTube video into PowerPoint.

Method 4: Insert Video from PC

Another method to embed YouTube video in PowerPoint is by downloading the clip to your PC, and then inserting the footage from there. You can use any free YouTube downloader to obtain a video that is available on YouTube.

Once the file is on your computer, the following steps explain how it can be embedded to your PowerPoint slide:

WARNING: YouTube videos may be subject to copyright. Therefore, before downloading and embedding a video to your PowerPoint slide, make sure that you have proper rights to do so, or that the video can be used for the purpose without any written permission from its creator.

Step 1: Get to the Insert Ribbon

Open PowerPoint and select the slide you want to embed a YouTube video to. Go to Insert from the menu bar at the top.

Step 2: Insert the Video

Click the Video icon from the Media section of the Ribbon, click Video on My PC from the list, and use the Insert Video box that appears to select and insert the video to your PowerPoint slide.

Step 3: Resize and/or Modify the Video

Grab any of the six handles of the video you inserted, and drag it inward to decrease the size of the frame. It is advisable to use the corner handle and drag them diagonally to maintain proper aspect ratio of the player’s frame. Next, right-click anywhere inside the frame, click Format Video from the context menu, and use the options that appear in the right pane to make necessary adjustments to the clip like color correction, manage brightness and contrast, etc.

YouTube Embedding Supported PowerPoint Version Checklist

Depending on the version of Microsoft Office you are using, you may or may not be able to embed a YouTube video in PowerPoint. Also, if your version of PowerPoint allows you to do so, the interface and the options may vary from those you see on your friends’ computer or in some online tutorials.

That said, the following table gives a clear picture of which version of Microsoft Office has video embedding option, and/or what level of integration does it allow:

MS Office Version	Insert YouTube Via URL	Insert an Online Video with an Embed Code	Insert by Searching for the YouTube Video	Play Embedded YouTube Video Offline
Microsoft 365	Yes	No	No	No
PowerPoint 2019	Yes	Yes	No	No
PowerPoint 2016	No	Yes	Yes	No
PowerPoint 2013	No	No	Yes	No
PowerPoint 2010	No	No (Adobe Flash Player Support Discontinued)	No (Adobe Flash Player Support Discontinued)	No
PowerPoint 365/2019 for Mac	Yes	No	No	No

Frequently Asked Questions About Embedding YouTube Videos in PowerPoint

1. Why Can’t I Embed a YouTube Video in PowerPoint 2010?

PowerPoint 2010 uses Adobe Flash Player to play YouTube videos. Since support for Flash Player is discontinued, PowerPoint 2010 isn’t able to play the videos anymore. To resolve this issue, you need to upgrade your version of Microsoft Office to 2013 or later.

2. Why Can’t I Embed YouTube Videos in PowerPoint for Mac?

You can insert YouTube videos only in Office 365 and Office 2019 versions for Mac. If you are using Office 2016 for Mac, you are required to install an add-in called Web Video Player that can be downloaded from the https://appsource.microsoft.com/en-us/product/office/WA104221182 link. However, if it is PowerPoint 2011 for Mac that you are using, you can’t insert YouTube video to it, and you need to upgrade your MS Office to a higher version for that purpose.

3. Why Can’t I Embed a YouTube Video in PowerPoint 2013?

The version of PowerPoint 2013 that was released initially didn’t allow YouTube video embedding. However, with an update 4018374 that Microsoft rolled out in August 2018, the feature got enabled. You can download and install the update from https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4018374/august-7-2018-update-for-powerpoint-2013-kb4018374 link, and then try inserting a YouTube video to your version of PowerPoint.

4. How Do I Embed a YouTube Video in PowerPoint without Being Online?

YouTube videos that you embed to your PowerPoint presentations can’t be played in offline mode. However, there is a workaround to this. You can download the video from YouTube to your computer using any YouTube downloader, and then use the process explained in Method 4 to insert the clip from your PC.

Conclusion

Although the above sections explain how to embed a YouTube video in PowerPoint, the process to do so may vary in different versions of Microsoft Office. Also, depending on what edition of the program you are using, embedding YouTube videos may or may not be supported according to the availability of the add-ins or updates that Microsoft has rolled out for that particular built of the app.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

There might be several instances where you want your audiences to watch a video so that you can elaborate your idea or explain your point more clearly. You may want to do this without leaving the presentation window in order to avoid losing focus from the agenda of the meeting. To make this happen, it is imperative to learn how to embed a YouTube video in PowerPoint.

When talking about PowerPoint, it is an efficient and powerful tool to prepare animated and static presentations, and embedding videos is yet another useful option that the app offers to its users.

That said, here you will learn a couple of methods to embed YouTube video in PowerPoint.

How to Insert YouTube Video into PowerPoint? (4 Methods)

After understanding the benefits of have a video embedded to your presentation, it is now time to learn how to add YouTube video to PowerPoint.

The four most used methods of getting this done are discussed in detailed in the following sections:

Method 1: Using YouTube Video’s URL

Because every YouTube video has a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) that is unique for that particular clip, PowerPoint allows you to use it to embed the footage to any of its slides. The process is simple, and you can follow the steps given below to get this done:

Step 1: Copy the URL

Open your default web browser, go to the YouTube video you want to embed to PowerPoint, and copy its URL from the address bar at the top.

Step 2: Add URL to PowerPoint

Launch PowerPoint if it is not already open, go to the slide you want to embed the YouTube video to, click Insert from menu bar present above the Ribbon, click Video from the Media section at the right end of the Ribbon, click Online Video from the list that appears, in the Enter the URL for the online video field on the Online Video box, paste the URL that you copied earlier, and click Insert to insert YouTube video into PowerPoint.

Step 3: Position the Player

Once the video is added to the PowerPoint slide, drag its frame and reposition it to a suitable location.

Method 2: Embed a YouTube Video with Embed Code (For Microsoft PowerPoint 2016)

Unlike PowerPoint 2019 that accepts URLs and embed codes in a single URL field, MS PowerPoint 2016 lets you choose how you want to insert a video. The step-by-step instructions given below explain how this can be done:

Step 1: Obtain Embed Code

Go to the YouTube video you want to embed to your PowerPoint slide, click the SHARE icon from the left area under the video player, click the Embed icon in the Share box, and click COPY from the bottom-right corner of the Embed Video box that appears next.

Step 2: Get to the PowerPoint’s Insert Video Box

Launch MS PowerPoint 2016, click Insert from the menu bar at the top, from the Media section in the right of the Ribbon, click Video, and then click Online Video to open the Insert Video box.

Step 3: Embed the Video

Paste the embed code you copied earlier in the Paste embed code here field present next to the From a Video Embed Code option, and press Enter to embed YouTube video in PowerPoint.

Method 3: Insert YouTube Video into PowerPoint by Searching Names (For Microsoft PowerPoint 2016)

Microsoft Office 2016 has another lucrative feature that allows users to embed YouTube video in PowerPoint by searching its name. You can follow the steps given below to find the videos published on YouTube, and insert them to your presentation:

Step 1: Get to the Insert Video Box

Use the process explained in Step 2 of Method 2 to get to the Insert Video box after selecting the slide you want to add a video to.

Step 2: Search and Embed a Video

In the Search YouTube field next to the YouTube option, type the name of the video you want to search on YouTube, press Enter, select the video you want to embed, and click Insert to insert YouTube video into PowerPoint.

Method 4: Insert Video from PC

Another method to embed YouTube video in PowerPoint is by downloading the clip to your PC, and then inserting the footage from there. You can use any free YouTube downloader to obtain a video that is available on YouTube.

Once the file is on your computer, the following steps explain how it can be embedded to your PowerPoint slide:

WARNING: YouTube videos may be subject to copyright. Therefore, before downloading and embedding a video to your PowerPoint slide, make sure that you have proper rights to do so, or that the video can be used for the purpose without any written permission from its creator.

Step 1: Get to the Insert Ribbon

Open PowerPoint and select the slide you want to embed a YouTube video to. Go to Insert from the menu bar at the top.

Step 2: Insert the Video

Click the Video icon from the Media section of the Ribbon, click Video on My PC from the list, and use the Insert Video box that appears to select and insert the video to your PowerPoint slide.

Step 3: Resize and/or Modify the Video

Grab any of the six handles of the video you inserted, and drag it inward to decrease the size of the frame. It is advisable to use the corner handle and drag them diagonally to maintain proper aspect ratio of the player’s frame. Next, right-click anywhere inside the frame, click Format Video from the context menu, and use the options that appear in the right pane to make necessary adjustments to the clip like color correction, manage brightness and contrast, etc.

YouTube Embedding Supported PowerPoint Version Checklist

Depending on the version of Microsoft Office you are using, you may or may not be able to embed a YouTube video in PowerPoint. Also, if your version of PowerPoint allows you to do so, the interface and the options may vary from those you see on your friends’ computer or in some online tutorials.

That said, the following table gives a clear picture of which version of Microsoft Office has video embedding option, and/or what level of integration does it allow:

MS Office Version	Insert YouTube Via URL	Insert an Online Video with an Embed Code	Insert by Searching for the YouTube Video	Play Embedded YouTube Video Offline
Microsoft 365	Yes	No	No	No
PowerPoint 2019	Yes	Yes	No	No
PowerPoint 2016	No	Yes	Yes	No
PowerPoint 2013	No	No	Yes	No
PowerPoint 2010	No	No (Adobe Flash Player Support Discontinued)	No (Adobe Flash Player Support Discontinued)	No
PowerPoint 365/2019 for Mac	Yes	No	No	No

Frequently Asked Questions About Embedding YouTube Videos in PowerPoint

1. Why Can’t I Embed a YouTube Video in PowerPoint 2010?

PowerPoint 2010 uses Adobe Flash Player to play YouTube videos. Since support for Flash Player is discontinued, PowerPoint 2010 isn’t able to play the videos anymore. To resolve this issue, you need to upgrade your version of Microsoft Office to 2013 or later.

2. Why Can’t I Embed YouTube Videos in PowerPoint for Mac?

You can insert YouTube videos only in Office 365 and Office 2019 versions for Mac. If you are using Office 2016 for Mac, you are required to install an add-in called Web Video Player that can be downloaded from the https://appsource.microsoft.com/en-us/product/office/WA104221182 link. However, if it is PowerPoint 2011 for Mac that you are using, you can’t insert YouTube video to it, and you need to upgrade your MS Office to a higher version for that purpose.

3. Why Can’t I Embed a YouTube Video in PowerPoint 2013?

The version of PowerPoint 2013 that was released initially didn’t allow YouTube video embedding. However, with an update 4018374 that Microsoft rolled out in August 2018, the feature got enabled. You can download and install the update from https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4018374/august-7-2018-update-for-powerpoint-2013-kb4018374 link, and then try inserting a YouTube video to your version of PowerPoint.

4. How Do I Embed a YouTube Video in PowerPoint without Being Online?

YouTube videos that you embed to your PowerPoint presentations can’t be played in offline mode. However, there is a workaround to this. You can download the video from YouTube to your computer using any YouTube downloader, and then use the process explained in Method 4 to insert the clip from your PC.

Conclusion

Although the above sections explain how to embed a YouTube video in PowerPoint, the process to do so may vary in different versions of Microsoft Office. Also, depending on what edition of the program you are using, embedding YouTube videos may or may not be supported according to the availability of the add-ins or updates that Microsoft has rolled out for that particular built of the app.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

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