Most of the time, this happens because of an incompatible video format or wrong PowerPoint settings. If you’ve run into the same problem, go through the solutions below to have PowerPoint smoothly play any embedded video.
1. Check the Video Format
If PowerPoint doesn’t support the video format, the video may not play at all or have no audio. For example, if your file extension is .SWF, PowerPoint can’t play the video. In this case, you should search for a different video version or use an online video converter.
2. Redownload the Video
If PowerPoint supports the video file format, but still can’t play it, there might be something wrong with the video. To test it, play the video outside of PowerPoint. There are multiple reasons why you can’t play the video in your PowerPoint slide show:
The storage location is corrupt. The video’s audio is out of sync. The video might be missing certain files. The video itself is damaged or corrupted.
In this case, the easiest fix is to redownload the video from a different source. Also, if you’re using a YouTube video, check if it’s still available.
3. Check PowerPoint Playback Settings
If you couldn’t find anything wrong with the video, it’s time to move on and check PowerPoint playback settings. You can have PowerPoint play the video automatically, or wait for you to click the video before it starts playing. So let’s make sure PowerPoint is set to play the video according to your expectations.
In PowerPoint, click the video. From the toolbar, open the Playback tab. Head to the Video options menu and open the Start dropdown menu. There, choose your preferred option.
This is a good opportunity to make sure the audio isn’t muted in PowerPoint. In the Playback tab, click the Volume icon and make sure you haven’t accidentally selected the Mute option.
4. Embed the Code for YouTube Videos
If you want to include in your presentation a video from YouTube, simply copying and pasting the link isn’t enough. Instead, you’ll have to embed the video’s code in your presentation. Here’s how you can do it:
Navigate to the YouTube video that you want to insert into your slideshow. Below the video, click Share and select Embed. Copy the embed code. In PowerPoint, open the Insert tab and click Media > Video. Select Online Videos and paste the embed code from YouTube. Click Insert.
If you’ve inserted an online video, make sure to test your internet connection before your presentation. A faulty connection will make the video buffer or affect its quality.
5. Optimize PowerPoint Media Compatibility
If PowerPoint supports the video format but still has trouble playing it, you should optimize PowerPoint media compatibility. Open the File menu and select Info. Then, extend the Check for Issues menu and click Check Compatibility.
PowerPoint will search for any incompatibility concerns and automatically fix them.
6. Save Your Presentation as .PPTX
Everyone knows the file extension for PowerPoint presentations is .PPT. This comes with the advantage that you can open a .PPT file with older Office versions. However, older versions have problems when it comes to playing PowerPoint videos.
So when saving your presentation, select the .PPTX option, which is designed for modern Office versions.
7. Delete Temporary Files
If your computer has accumulated too much temporary data, you may encounter all sorts of problems, including PowerPoint not playing videos.
Even if your system should automatically remove these files, you can manually delete temporary files. After you have deleted them, restart your computer and check if PowerPoint can now play videos.
Play Any Video in PowerPoint
PowerPoint is a great tool for creating a presentation from scratch or using a template. And adding a video is a nice touch that will make your presentation look more professional. If you don’t succeed at first, our guide will help you sort it out.
With PowerPoint playing videos again, you can think about how you can make your presentation more engaging.
