Are you looking to make a video appear and play automatically in your PowerPoint presentation using animation? Adding video to PowerPoint slides is a great way to engage your audience and convey information in a dynamic, visual way.
In this article, we’ll walk through step-by-step how to embed a video in PowerPoint, make it appear on click using an animation effect, and configure it to play automatically. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to seamlessly integrate auto-playing video into your PowerPoint animations.
Why Use Video in PowerPoint Presentations?
Before we dive into the technical steps, let’s consider why you might want to use video in your PowerPoint presentations:
- Engagement – Video is inherently engaging and can help capture and maintain your audience’s attention
- Emotional Impact – Video can evoke emotions and create a deeper connection to your message
- Demonstrations – Video is perfect for demonstrating products, processes, or concepts
- Testimonials – Embedding customer testimonial videos can powerfully enhance your credibility
- Variety – Mixing video into your presentation adds welcome variety and breaks up text-heavy slides
When used strategically, video can significantly level-up your PowerPoint presentations.
What You Need to Embed and Autoplay Video in PowerPoint
Before we get started, make sure you have:
- Microsoft PowerPoint (version 2010 or later)
- The video file you want to embed (in MP4, WMV, or MOV format)
- Basic familiarity with PowerPoint
Got those ready? Let’s dive in and learn how to add video to a PowerPoint animation.
Step 1: Insert the Video on Your PowerPoint Slide
The first step is to embed your video file onto the slide where you want it to appear. Here’s how:
- Go to the Insert tab in PowerPoint
- Click on the Video button
- Choose Movie from File
- Locate and select your video file
- Click Insert
Your video will now be embedded on the slide, represented by a video frame. You can click and drag to reposition or resize the video as needed.
Supported Video File Formats
PowerPoint supports the following video file formats for embedding:
- MP4
- WMV
- MOV
If your video is in a different format, you’ll need to convert it first. There are many free online video converters available, such as CloudConvert, Convertio, or Online-Convert.
Step 2: Add Animation to Make the Video Appear
Next, we’ll use PowerPoint’s animation tools to make the embedded video appear on click:
- Select the embedded video on your slide
- Go to the Animations tab
- Choose an entrance animation effect, such as Appear, Fade, or Fly In
- If desired, click Effect Options to customize the direction or intensity of the animation
Now your video is set to appear on the slide with your chosen animation when you click to advance.
Choosing the Right Animation Effect
PowerPoint offers a variety of animation effects for making elements appear on a slide. For videos, some good options include:
- Appear – The video instantly appears on the slide
- Fade – The video gradually fades into view
- Fly In – The video zooms in from the edge of the slide
The animation effect you choose should match the style and tone of your presentation. For example, a soft Fade might suit a more serious topic, while an energetic Fly In could punctuate an exciting reveal.
Step 3: Configure the Video to Play Automatically
The final step is to set the video to play automatically after it animates onto the slide:
- Make sure your video is still selected
- Click the Playback tab in the PowerPoint ribbon
- Tick the box for Play Full Screen
- Open the Start menu and choose Automatically
That’s it! Your video will now automatically begin playing as soon as it appears on the slide.
Fine-Tuning Video Playback
In addition to setting the video to play automatically, the Playback tab offers options to:
- Loop until Stopped – Continuously replay the video until you click to the next slide
- Rewind after Playing – Return to the start of the video once it finishes
- Hide While Not Playing – Only show the first frame of the video until it begins playing
Use these options to control exactly how your embedded video behaves during your presentation.
Additional Video Playback Options
PowerPoint offers additional options to control how your video plays:
Option | Description |
---|---|
Trim Video | Cut parts from the beginning or end of the video |
Fade In / Fade Out | Add gradual fades to the start and/or end of the video |
Poster Frame | Choose a still frame to display before the video plays |
Play Across Slides | Continue playing the video as you advance slides |
Experiment with these to fine-tune your embedded video’s playback to your needs.
Tips for Using Video Effectively in PowerPoint
Simply adding video to your presentation isn’t enough – make sure you’re using it effectively:
- Keep videos short and focused – Aim for videos under 60 seconds to maintain engagement
- Ensure videos are relevant – Each video should have a clear purpose and connection to your content
- Maintain design consistency – Style the video frame to match your presentation’s aesthetic
- Compress video files – Large videos can make your PowerPoint file bloated; compress videos first when possible
- Have a backup plan – Download video files locally in case of internet issues, and be prepared to present without video if needed
- Provide accessible alternatives – Include captions or transcripts for video content to maximize accessibility
Engage Your Audience with PowerPoint Video Animation
Video is a powerful tool for capturing your audience’s attention and supplementing your message in PowerPoint presentations. By embedding video on a slide, using animations to make it appear, and setting it to play automatically, you can create dynamic, engaging presentations that deliver your content effectively.
The steps covered in this article – inserting a video, adding an entrance animation, and configuring it to autoplay – provide a foundation for making the most of PowerPoint’s video capabilities. The additional playback options and usage tips empower you to strategically integrate video to maximum effect.
FAQs
Can I embed videos in PowerPoint from online sources like YouTube?
How do I make a video start playing automatically in PowerPoint?
How can I make a video appear on click in PowerPoint?
What video file formats can I embed in PowerPoint?
How long should videos in PowerPoint presentations be?
How can I make my PowerPoint video play in fullscreen?
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