powerpoint video does not play in presentation mode

PowerPoint Video Not Playing? Here’s How to Fix it Fast!

By: Author Shrot Katewa

It is annoying when you want to play a video during your presentation speech but PowerPoint just refuses to play the video! The video may either fail to work or display just the audio/video. There are actually several reasons why this could happen!

So, in this article, we will take a closer look at the various issues related to playing video in PowerPoint, and I will also provide you with a few quick solutions to each of the issues.

So, without further adieu, let’s get started!

1. Video Not Playing in Presentation Mode 

Although Microsoft PowerPoint is one of the powerful presentation tools out there, it is not perfect. There may be more than a few reasons why video is not playing in the presentation mode of your PowerPoint.

The most common problem that users face is that the format of the media file is either not supported by PowerPoint, or the media file might have missing fragments, or the file may have a syncing issue, or the media file may just be corrupted.

In the following subsection, I will explain the possible solutions to a corrupted media file in your PowerPoint presentation.

1a. PowerPoint Video Cannot Play Media Error 

There are two possible solutions to a corrupted file. You can either optimize the media compatibility or clear the temporary data on your Windows operating system. Both of the solutions are described below.

Optimizing media compatibility

Follow the simple steps given below to optimize the compatibility of the video file with your PowerPoint presentation. 

Step-1: Go to “Info”

The first step of the process is to go to the “Info” section located in the “ File ” tab, which is the first tab in the ribbon of your PowerPoint window.

Step-2: Click on ‘Check Compatibility’

The next step is to click on the “ Check for issues ” button and select the “ Check compatibility ” option from the drop-down menu.

Step-3: Click on the “Ok” button

After you have selected the “ Check compatibility ” option, Microsoft PowerPoint will automatically detect the media files, report to you the issue with your video file, and try to fix it.

To finish optimizing the media file, click on the “ Ok ” button and the issue should be resolved.

Clearing the temporary files

Microsoft PowerPoint may fail to play your video files if there are too many temporary files on your Windows operating system. To clear these temporary files, follow the easy steps described below.

Step-1: Launch the “Run Prompt”

To being, go to the “ Start ” menu of your computer and launch the “ Run Prompt ”

Step-2: Type in the “%temp%” command

After you have launched the “ Run Prompt ”, type “%temp%” in the search box and hit the “ Ok ” button.

Step-3: Delete all the files

Once you have clicked on the “ Ok ” button, a new folder will open on your screen. This folder contains all the temporary files that are present on your computer.

Select all the files and delete them. Skip the files that are still in use and the video should be good to go.

2. YouTube Video Not Playing in PowerPoint 

There are several reasons why a YouTube video may not play in your PowerPoint presentation. Some of the reasons why this may happen and possible solutions to them are given below.

1. The link used to embed the YouTube video was a shared link and not an embedded link. If you have entered the link that is used to share the video, then the video will not play in your PowerPoint presentation. To fix this issue, insert the embedded link of the YouTube video instead of the shared link.

2. The YouTube video that you embedded in your Presentation may not be available anymore. In order to avoid this issue, do not use videos that are in “ Private viewing only ” settings.

3. The embedded file may be in an unsupported format. Most versions of Microsoft PowerPoint supports “.wmv” files. Hence, videos that are in a different format may not play in your PowerPoint presentation. Make sure the video file is in the right format.   

3. Video Only Plays Audio in PowerPoint 

Sometimes, the video file only plays the audio of the video file in Microsoft PowerPoint.

This may happen either because the inserted video file is not supported by the PowerPoint software, or the file is too large. Another reason might be that the file is corrupted, or the Windows operating system is missing some necessary codecs.

Following are 3 possible solutions to these problems.

Solution 1 – Convert the video file

To convert the video file, follow the simple steps given below.

Step-1: Go to the “Info” section

The first step is to go to the “ Info ” section of the “ File ” tab which is located at the right-most corner of the ribbon of your PowerPoint presentation.

Step-2: Click on the “Media Size and Performance” option

The second step is to click on the “ Media Size and Performance ” option which is the first option in the “ Info ” section

Step-3: Click on the “HD (720)” button

After clicking on the “ Media size and performance ” option, a drop-down menu will appear. From that drop-down menu, click on the “ HD (720) ” option.

This will compress the size of the video and convert it to a supported format. 

Solution 2 – Clear temporary files

Like the previous issue, sometimes your computer may be working on too many temporary files, due to which the video file in your PowerPoint presentation may not be functioning properly.

Simply follow the steps described earlier in this article and delete all the temporary files operating in your Windows operating system.

Solution 3 – Install missing codecs

Right out of the box, Windows does not support every media codecs. It is possible that the video file in your PowerPoint presentation is only playing audio because some of the codecs in your Windows are missing.

To fix this issue, you can download a codec pack from the internet. Some of the best Codec packs are,

1. K-Lite Codec Pack

2. Media Player Codec Pack

3. X- Codec pack

4. Audio of the Video Doesn’t Work in PowerPoint  

If the audio of the video in your PowerPoint presentation is not working, try all the solutions mentioned in the above section. If it still doesn’t work, then maybe the PowerPoint software is muted in your computer.

To make sure the audio of your PowerPoint is not muted, turn on the video in your presentation and follow the simple steps described below.

Step-1: “Right-click” on the “speaker/headphone” button

At first, you have to “ Right-click ” on the “ Speaker/Headphone ” volume button in the taskbar of your computer. It is the right-most button on the taskbar and its icon looks like a handheld speakerphone (as showcased in the image below)

Step-2: Select the “Open Volume Mixer” option

After you have opened the “ Speaker/Headphone ” menu from your taskbar, click on the “ Open Volume Mixer ” option which is the second option in the menu.

Step-3: Click on the volume icon under the PowerPoint section

Once you have selected the “ Open Volume Mixer ” option, a pop-up window will appear on the bottom right corner of your screen.

Click on the small volume icon with a red cross over it, which will unmute the PowerPoint software on your computer.

5. Video Doesn’t Play Automatically 

To play a video file in your PowerPoint presentation automatically, you have to change the playback settings of the video file.

This might sound a little difficult but the whole process is described in 2 simple steps below.

Step-1: Go to the “Playback” tab

At first, turn on the video in your PowerPoint presentation. This will allow you to access the “ Playback ” tab which appears on the ribbon when a media file is played.

Step-2: Select the “Automatically” option

Now, select the “ Automatically ” option which is located in the “ Start ” drop-down menu of the “ Video Options ” section in the “ Playback ” tab.

The video should now play automatically when the slide is opened.

6. PowerPoint Export to Video Not Working 

To fix videos not exporting in your PowerPoint presentation, you may have to optimize the media file using the method mentioned earlier in this article.

You might also have to update your PowerPoint software if it is outdated or repair it if needed. To learn more on how to update Microsoft PowerPoint, you can read one of our articles on this topic by clicking here .

I will discuss the process of repairing PowerPoint below:

Step-1: Go to “Add or remove programs”

The first step is to go to the “ Start ” menu of your computer and launch the “ Add or remove programs ” tool.

Step-2: Click on the “Advanced Options” button

The second step is to find your Microsoft Office program and select the “ Advanced options ” button.

Step-3: Select the “Repair” option

After you click on the “ Advanced Options ” button, you will be taken to a new window. From that window, under “ Reset ” select the “ Repair ” option.

Once the scanning and repairing are complete a tick mark will appear beside the “ Repair ” option, which will indicate that the repairing is complete.

7. How to Change Video Source in PowerPoint?

Unfortunately, there is no direct way to change the path of the source of a video in your PowerPoint presentation.

You can use a macro to fix this problem but honestly, it is easiest to simply re-attach the video to your PowerPoint presentation.

To change the video source in your PowerPoint presentation, delete the initial video, move the video file to the same folder as the PowerPoint presentation and insert the video again and the source of the video will change accordingly.

Credit to Benzoix (on Freepik) for the featured image of this article (further edited)

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Top 7 Ways to Fix Videos in PowerPoint Not Playing

Microsoft PowerPoint, which is now a part of Microsoft 365 , is one popular software for making presentations. Despite packing several features like creating animations and collaborating with your colleagues , it is simple to use. Also, you can add videos to your presentations in PowerPoint.

While inserting videos in PowerPoint is a seamless process, playing them back when presenting may not be as smooth. You may face issues where the video isn’t playing at all or is playing with errors like no audio or is stuttering. If you are facing these issues, here’s how you can fix videos not playing on PowerPoint by following a few simple steps.

1. Check if the Video Is Playing Outside of Powerpoint

This is a basic troubleshooting step to start and can save hours if the fault is at the source. You want to make sure the video file  isn’t corrupt. Open the video in the VLC media player and check if it plays fine. If you’re embedding an online video, open the URL in your web browser and make sure it’s plays as intended.

2. Change Playback Setting

By default, PowerPoint will set your playback preference as ‘In Click Sequence.’ That means, the video will play automatically when you click the next slide button. Change the playback setting to play the video manually to see if it makes a difference. Here’s how you can do it.

Step 1:  Open the PowerPoint presentation and add your video to a slide.

Step 2:  Click on the video to select it. You will now see additional formatting options for the video at the top.

Step 3:  Select the Playback tab next to Video Format.

Step 4:  Click on the drop-down menu next to start to change the preference.

Step 5: Select When Clicked On.

3.  Unhide Videos During Slide Show

PowerPoint has this option where you can hide videos during a slideshow. If you’ve selected this option by mistake, your videos won’t appear during a presentation. Here’s how you can uncheck the hide option.

Step 4:  Deselect the checkbox next to Hide During Show.

Your videos should now show up and play in the slideshow.

4. Add Videos in Compatible Formats

PowerPoint works seamlessly with select video file formats, mostly the one that Windows supports by default. Microsoft recommends adding videos in a .MP4 format with H.264 encoding and AAC audio.

If you are trying to add a video in a different format, we recommend you convert the video to MP4 before adding it to the presentation.

5. Don’t Use Save as Powerpoint 97-2003 Presentation

PowerPoint gives you the option to save the presentation in an older template to make it compatible with older versions of Office suites. While this works well for regular presentations, it is bound to mess up the ones with video files.

So, while saving your presentation, save it as a .PPTX file, meant for modern versions of PowerPoint, instead of .PPT which is meant for older versions.

6. Paste Embed Code for YouTube Videos

If you’re adding a YouTube video to your presentation instead of one that’s stored on your computer, you need to add the embed code for the video instead of the standard link in PowerPoint. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1:  Open the PowerPoint presentation and navigate to the slide on which you want to embed the video.

Step 2: Open the YouTube video you want to embed in a browser.

Step 3:  Click on the Share button under the YouTube video.

Step 4:  Select the Embed option.

Step 5:  YouTube will show you the embed code. Select Copy at the bottom.

Step 6:  Head back into PowerPoint and navigate to the Insert tab. Select the Video option at the right.

Step 7: In the drop-down menu, select Online Film.

Step 8: PowerPoint will ask you to enter the URL of the video. Enter the code you copied earlier and click on Insert.

Your video will now be added to the slide. Click on it to start playing.

7. Ensure You’re Connected to the Internet to Play Online Videos

Embedding an online video from a platform like YouTube would still require you to stay connected to the internet to play it. While presenting, ensure that your computer is connected to an active internet connection, and then try playing the video.

Play Videos in Your Presentations Seamlessly

Following these steps should allow you to add and play videos in your PowerPoint presentations without any issues. Videos add a personalized touch to presentations, so don’t skip out on adding one if you face issues. Follow these simple methods mentioned above and you should be good to go.

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Last updated on 02 May, 2022

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Sumukh has been simplifying tech for the masses and helping consumers pick the right gadgets with his in-depth insights and reviews. He decided to hide his engineering degree in the closet to pursue his passion for writing. Over the past 5 years, he has contributed with guides, reviews, and detailed opinions to notable publications like TechPP and XDA-Developers. When not jamming his fingers on thoccy mechanical keyboards, Sumukh is busy convincing people how VR Gaming is the next best thing after sliced bread.

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Video Not Playing in PowerPoint: Why and What to Do To Fix

Although PowerPoint is an efficient and practical application, you can still encounter occasional issues, like videos not playing during your presentations. Even though various media files can be integrated into PPTs, problems may still arise when inserted or embedded videos fail to play in your chosen presentation mode. Technically, the issue is caused by criteria governing video embeds, like the accessibility from the original source and activation in the presentation. Thus, this post will provide solutions to the “ PowerPoint video not playing ” issue and offer reasons to resolve the problem and prevent its recurrence quickly.

PAGE CONTENT

Part 1. Why PowerPoint Video Not Playing

Part 2. how to fix powerpoint video not playing [general ways], part 3. faqs about powerpoint video.

There are various reasons why PowerPoint videos may not play. The first common issue is the incompatible file formats or the absence of necessary video codecs. This is why ensuring the video file is in a supported format, like MP4 or WMV, is crucial. Another reason why PowerPoint videos do not play in presentation mode is if the video relies on external links or is not correctly embedded. It may not play if the linked content is unavailable or if your computer lacks internet connectivity.

Additionally, outdated software poses another challenge. If the essential codecs are not present or conflicts with third-party applications arise, embedded videos in PowerPoint might not function properly. To ensure seamless video playback and to address such issues in PowerPoint presentations, it is essential to keep software up to date, verify file compatibility, and assess internet connectivity for linked videos.

Why PowerPoint Video is Not Playing After Export

If, after you export the video, you find it unplayable, then there may be an issue with the use of incompatible codecs during the export process. This also leads to a format that external players may not support. For this reason, ensuring that the video file is appropriately embedded within the PowerPoint presentation and that the chosen export settings align with widely supported formats is essential.

Why PowerPoint Video Does Not Play Automatically

There are also several factors that could be contributing to the issue of why PowerPoint videos do not play automatically. It may stem from the specific settings of the presentation, the version of PowerPoint being used, or the format of the video file. Acknowledging and troubleshooting these factors can help you know the root cause of the automatic playback problem, and you will be able to address it effectively.

1. Check For the Video and PPT Compatibility

This is the fundamental troubleshooting or fixing measure that you must initially check, and it can save a lot of time if the problem comes from the video source. It is important to verify the integrity of the video file. Therefore, you must check the video to see if it plays with the other media players. If the embedded video in PowerPoint does not play, access the video’s URL through your web browser to see if it plays as intended.

2. Set the Playback to Manual

PowerPoint configures the playback preference to 'In Click Sequence' as its default setting. This implies that the video will automatically play when you click the next slide button. Set the playback setting from automatic to manual video playback to estimate any potential collision. You can follow the steps that illustrate how to make this adjustment.

Step 1. Launch the PPT and add the video to your slide. Then, select the video to see the additional formatting options at the top.

Step 2. Click the Playback tab menu, hover over to the Start section, and click the drop-down button.

Step 3. Choose the When Clicked On option from the options to set it on a manual.

3. Clear The Temporary Files

If your Windows operating system contains excess temporary files, Microsoft PowerPoint videos may not be playing in the slideshow. You can quickly clear these temporary files by following the steps outlined below to resolve this issue and play the video in PowerPoint .

Step 1. Open your Run app by pressing the Windows and R keys.

Step 2. Type the %temp% when you reach the search box and click OK .

Step 3. After that, start deleting all the temporary files.

4. Check the Video’s Fidelity

Consider checking the video file to see if it is really working well. Try to open it first, and then if it is unplayable, then it might be damaged, corrupted, etc. For that reason, you may use a third-party video repair tool such as the Vidmore Video Fix . It is a tool equipped with a user-friendly interface that works to cater to video challenges such as video playback errors, truncation, freezes, and other anomalies caused by file corruption. Moreover, it efficiently examines and reconstructs the corrupted video data to restore them and turn them into a playable condition. Another good reason to choose it is that it provides a preview function that you can use to assess the repair process's effectiveness before saving the file. This is why Vidmore Video Fix is the recommended software for handling your inserted video in PowerPoint that is not playing.

Free Download

Step 1. Launch the video repair tool, and begin importing the corrupted video by clicking the red Add button.

Step 2. Also, click the blue Plus button on the right to upload a sample video you want to copy. Then, click the Repair button.

Step 3. After the swift process, you can click the Save button to export the file or the Preview button to check.

Is PowerPoint video not playing in Teams?

Yes. The possible reason why POwerPoint may not play video Teams is because Teams may not support certain video formats, or there may be compatibility issues.

Why Can MP4 not be played in PowerPoint?

This is because PowerPoint may lack the necessary codec to play MP4 video files. It may also be because the MP4 file is corrupted. Thus, knowing if the file is in good condition is important. Otherwise, use the Vidmore Video Fix to fix the MP4 video.

How do I enable video playback in PowerPoint?

It would help if you made sure that the version of your PowerPoint is up-to-date. If so, go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Multimedia Settings and enable the video playback.

So, those are the reasons and fixations to perform when PowerPoint video is not playing . Users must know the root of the issue, as it may vary depending on the settings we have on our PowerPoint. If the problem is on the video, then seeking the assistance of the Vidmore Video Fix is your go-to solution.

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How to Fix Microsoft PowerPoint Not Playing Videos: 10 Tips

Unable to play videos in your presentation in PowerPoint? Here are some quick fixes for this problem.

You’ve put together an impressive PowerPoint presentation, and you press F5 to test it out right before showing it to your audience. Everything looks great, but PowerPoint can’t play the video.

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. Have PowerPoint Show the Video

Depending on your PowerPoint settings, the video might not be visible until it starts playing. But if you’ve set its playback mode to “Until clicked on”, you might be aimlessly clicking to get the video playing.

To make the video visible, click it, and open the Playback tab. Then, go to the Video options section and uncheck Hide While not Playing .

5. 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.
• Copy the embed code.
• In PowerPoint, open the Insert tab and click Media > Video .
• 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.

6. 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.

7. Compress PowerPoint Media

If you want to use a large video file, PowerPoint might have a difficult time trying to manage it. To make PowerPoint's job easier and have it play videos any time you need, you should compress the media files you’ve added to your presentation.

Start by opening the problematic presentation and go to File > Info . There, open the Compress Media menu. There are three available options:

• Presentation quality/ Full HD (1080p) . It will adjust the video size while keeping its overall video and audio quality. Try this option if the inserted videos are an essential part of your presentation.
• Internet quality/ HD (720p) . This is the option that helps you to compromise between space and quality.
• Low quality/ Standard (480p) . This will save the most space. You should use it if you have to send the presentation to someone else, and you want to make sure the videos will play.

You can experiment with all the options and see which one gives you the best results.

8. 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.

9. Start PowerPoint in Safe Mode

Videos might not be playing in PowerPoint due to a faulty add-in. To test it, you should launch PowerPoint in Safe Mode. Unfortunately, this solution is available only for Windows.

Press Windows key + R to bring up a Run dialog. Then, type in powerpnt /safe and press Enter . If PowerPoint can play the videos, you should take a look at the list of installed add-ins.

Open the Insert tab and go to Add-ins > My add-ins > See all . To remove an add-in, click the three-dot menu next to it and select Remove .

10. 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 in Windows . After you have deleted them, restart your computer and check if PowerPoint can now play videos.

Play Any Video in PowerPoint

Adding a video to your PowerPoint presentation is a nice touch that will make your presentation look more professional. Before doing so, play it outside PowerPoint to make sure you’re not dealing with a corrupted or incomplete file. Now, if you want to better interact with the audience, there are a few PowerPoint add-ins that you could give a try.

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PowerPoint 365 - Video will not replay when slideshow access it second time

I'm putting together a PowerPoint slide show that will include some video and some static slides. I'm building a "control slide" so I can have a "home" place to start from and then go to different parts of the deck, return back "home," go somewhere else, go back, etc. I realize I can also use the PowerPoint Zoom feature for this and I will, but that doesn't help with the problem I'll describe below.

Most of the time I want a linked video to run in a continuous loop, in a window on one of the slides. When I hit a "Home" button I want it to stop and for the show to go to the control slide. Then I select the next place I want to go. When I'm done there, I press a Home button on that slide and am returned. Then I click the video-slide link and it is supposed to start playing again, but it doesn't.

I put together a test deck to illustrate but cannot find an "attach files" button here ... if someone will tell me how to do that I will attach it.

I start the show and the control slide displays. All good.

I click the link to the slide containing the video. The show jumps to that slide and the video plays in a loop, like I've set it up to do. All good.

Then I click a Home button at top right of the slide and that returns me to the control slide. All good.

Here's the problem. If I click the video a second time, its slide displays but the video will not play automatically. I have to click the video to get it to play again.

Is this a PowerPoint limitation, or have I not yet figured out how to make the video play the second and subsequent times I tell the show to go to its slide?

• microsoft-powerpoint

• review this: [ support.microsoft.com/en-gb/office/… { support.microsoft.com/en-gb/office/… } –  Brian Jul 13, 2023 at 21:28
• That page doesn't address behavior if one returns to a slide after playing the video on it a first time. They control whether the video auto-rewinds after playing and whether you can make it play continuously. I've already set both of those, and neither addresses the behavior I'm describing. The video plays automatically the first time through; from then on I have to click the video itself if I return to the slide. PowerPoint seems to think, "he's already auto-played the video on this slide, so it's obvious that he wouldn't want to auto-play it again if he returns to it." Except I do. –  Karl Perry Jul 13, 2023 at 23:11
• The page however does state the conditions under which the video should play and you should be able to determine where you video falls based on the setting you configured it. Unfortunately, short of absently guessing things, further troubleshooting really requires access to the PPTX that is problematic (or if you don't want to post the original, create a second one that behaves the same way and post it). –  Brian Jul 13, 2023 at 23:16
• From my original post: "I put together a test deck to illustrate but cannot find an 'attach files' button here ... if someone will tell me how to do that I will attach it." How do I attach a file to this question? I still don't see a way to do that. And ... the video does play automatically the first time I click to the slide where it is linked. It does NOT play automatically on successive clicks to that slide. That's the problem I can't figure out how to solve, and the URL you pointed me to doesn't speak to returning again to a video that is set to play automatically. –  Karl Perry Jul 14, 2023 at 16:12
• This site does not have a built-in file attachment. You need to upload to to a host and then share the file and provide us with the shared link. There are many options out there including box, onedrive, google, ... –  Brian Jul 14, 2023 at 16:17

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How to Fix Videos Not Playing in PowerPoint Presentation?

In this guide, let us fix the issue of videos not playing in PowerPoint presentations. I have explained a few tips that will help you to troubleshoot this problem. Microsoft PowerPoint is always a user favorite when it comes to preparing interactive presentations.

A presentation on PowerPoint is usually made up of images, clipart, charts, and videos. Users report that when they prepare a project and use a video in the PowerPoint slides, that video clip is not playing. Sometimes it would start playing and would get stuck thereafter. The audio playback will not sync with the video.

Page Contents

Reasons Why Videos Are Not Playing in PowerPoint Presentations

Here are a few reasons why the video clips used in PowerPoint presentations may not be playing.

If you have sourced the video clip from some other device by copying it, then maybe it was not copied properly. This may lead to the video clip getting corrupted. Otherwise, if the video clip from the source is already corrupted, then there is no way it is going to play wherever you use it.

Sometimes, there is an option that may have been enabled mistakenly. This one hides the video clips used in PowerPoint presentations. You need to disable this feature. Another reason for videos not playing on Powerpoint can be due to incompatible formats. Microsoft PowerPoint supports not all video formats.

Often saving the presentation, you created in the PPT 97-2003 has been reported to affect the video clips used in it. Though saving with this option makes it easier for the project to run without any hiccups on older versions of the MS Office suite.

Ways to Fix Videos Not Playing in PowerPoint Presentations

Check these troubleshooting methods out to fix the video clips in your PowerPoint project.

1. Make Sure to Use Videos of Compatible Format

For PowerPoint, always use video that is in the MP4 format and has an H.264 encoding with AAC audio. If you have videos in other formats, then convert them to the MP4 format. Then integrate them into the PowerPoint slides.

You can use any of the free online video format converters to change the file format. Go for the free converters that don’t ask you to sign up or ask for your detail.

2. Disable Hide Video During Slideshow

Here are the steps to disable this feature that blocks videos during a slideshow.

• Open the PowerPoint presentation.
• Go to the slide where you have inserted the video.
• Click on the video to select it.
• On the toolbar at the top, you should see various formatting options for the video.
• Now click on the tab Playback .

3. Check if the Video Clip is Corrupt

If a video clip is not playing, then try to play that video clip on other platforms such as VLC Media player. You may even try playing on any other media players. Do play the video on other devices. The video clip is corrupt if it is not playing on any other devices or media players.

Secondly, if the video is playing everywhere else but not on the PowerPoint slide, then maybe the video format is not compatible.

4. Embed the YouTube Video

Are you trying to use a YouTube video in your PowerPoint presentation? Then instead of directly pasting the video link, embed the video code of that concerned video. Let me show you the steps to grab the video code.

• Open an existing PowerPoint presentation.
• Go to the slide where you wish to integrate the YouTube video.
• Now open YouTube using your PC browser and play a video that you wish to use in your slides.

• Now, open the presentation and click on Insert in the menu bar.
• Next, click on the Video button in the toolbar.

• When asked to enter the URL of the video, paste the embed code of that YouTube video you copied earlier.

5. Make Changes in the Video Playback Settings

Instead of letting the video in a slide play automatically, try to play it manually. There is a setting you need to change to make that happen.

• Launch PowerPoint on your PC.
• Go to the slide that consists of the video clip.
• Click on the video, and at the top of the screen, you will see various video formatting options.
• Next, click on the PlayBack tab.
• Now, right under it, you will see the option Start . It will be set to In Click Sequence .

Now, only when you navigate through the slides and click on a video clip within a slide, the video will play.

6. Do Not Save Project as Powerpoint 97-2003

As most PCs are of modern build, they use the latest Windows OS and related MS Office suite. So, it is wise to save the PowerPoint presentation in PPTX format. If you save it in PPT format, it makes the project compatible to run on older versions of MS Office. Saving in Powerpoint 97-2003 may affect the video clips within the slides, and they may get stuck while playing.

To save in the PPTX format,

• Click on File > Save As
• In the Save As dialog box, click on Save As Type .

• Avoid saving it to Powerpoint 97-2003 Template.
• If a slide has been saved in this format, you can change it to PPTX format using the steps above.

After changing the Save As a type, check if the video in the presentation is playing or not.

A good PowerPoint presentation should consist of interactive video clips. It helps explain the content of the slides easily to the audience, along with other images and charts. If one or more videos on your PowerPoint project are not playing, then follow the above steps and fix them before you go live with your presentation.

If you've any thoughts on How to Fix Videos Not Playing in PowerPoint Presentation? , then feel free to drop in below comment box . Also, please subscribe to our DigitBin YouTube channel for videos tutorials. Cheers!

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How to Fix "Video Not Playing in PowerPoint"? [6 Ways]

Eleanor Reed

Although PowerPoint is a very resourceful and efficient application, sometimes its users will encounter unexpected problems. When you embed various media files like videos, audios in PowerPoint documents, you may find that these media videos or audios can't be played in PowerPoint. To help you solve this problem, I came up with this detailed guide, in which various solutions can help you solve the " PowerPoint video not playing " problem.

Part 1: How to Fix Embedded Videos Not Playing in PowerPoint? (5 Solutions)

Let's get to know different ways to fix the PowerPoint embedded video not playing issue.

Solution 1: Check the Link for YouTube Video Not Playing in PowerPoint

Apart from inserting videos from your computer, PowerPoint also lets us embed YouTube videos in a presentation. If the YouTube video is not playing in PowerPoint, then make sure the video is still there and that your system is connected to a stable network. You can also follow these suggestions to further diagnose the problem.

Step 1. Most people make the rookie mistake of copying the YouTube URL and not the embedded link. Please note that if you are adding the video URL only, then it will not load on PowerPoint.

Step 2. Once the video is loaded on YouTube, just click on the "Share" button from the bottom of the video player and choose to get its embedding code. Later, you copy this embedding link and paste it on PowerPoint.

Solution 2: Embed the YouTube Video Code

If you want to embed a YouTube video in your presentation, you need more than just copy and past the link. Instead, you have to embed the video's code in your presentation. Here's how you can do it:

Step 1. Navigate to the YouTube video that you want to insert into Powerpoint, click Share and select Embed below the video.

Step 2. Copy the embed code, open the Insert tab, and click Media > Video in PowerPoint.

Step 3. Select Online Videos and paste the embed code from YouTube, then click Insert.

Solution 3: Reset the Playback Options for the Video

You might already know that PowerPoint gives us different options to play the video in the presentation. If the PowerPoint video is not playing automatically, then chances are that you could have set some other playback option for it. In this case, you can go to its Playback settings and change the autoplay feature.

Step 1. Just open the file in PowerPoint and click on the video that is not playing automatically.

Step 2. This will enable various Video Tools in the ribbon (navigation bar) that you can browse and select the "Playback" feature.

Step 3. From the displayed options to play the video, go to the "Start" feature to select how you wish to load the video. You can choose to play it automatically, after a click, or after a click sequence.

Step 4. Make the needed changes for the video playback and check if it fixes the video cannot play in PowerPoint error or not.

Solution 4: Optimize Media Compatibility in PowerPoint

Although PowerPoint supports all the major video formats like MP4, MPEG, and AVI, chances are that some videos might encounter compatibility issues. If you are getting the PowerPoint embedded video not playing due to any compatibility issue, then this would fix the problem.

Step 1. In case the video is not playing in PowerPoint, then first launch the application, and open your presentation in it.

Step 2. Now, go to its main menu and navigate to its File > Info section and select the Optimize Compatibility feature.

Step 3. The application will automatically detect the inserted video files and will optimize them to make sure you won't encounter any compatibility issues.

Solution 5: Clear All the Unwanted Temporary Content

If your Windows system has accumulated a lot of temporary data, then it can cause unwanted issues on your computer. Though, this simple drill would be able to fix the PowerPoint video not playing automatically issue.

Step 1. Firstly, go to the Start menu on your system and launch the Run prompt from here.

Step 2. As the Run prompt will open, type the %temp% command and press enter.

Step 3. This will open the TEMP folder on your system, letting you select the temporary data on your system and delete it.

Step 4. Besides that, you can also go to the Windows drive and search for the ".tmp" string. This will let you search for temporary files on your computer and delete them.

After deleting the temporary data, restart your system, and load the presentation on PowerPoint again to check it.

Part 2: What to Do When Video Cannot Play in PowerPoint Due to the Video Itself Corrupted?

Now that you know how to fix the embedded video in PowerPoint not playing issue, let's move to the second scenario. If the PowerPoint video is not playing automatically, then chances are that the video itself could be corrupt. In this case, you need to first repair the video and then embed the functioning file on your presentation again. For this, you can use Wondershare Repairit Video Repair, which is an exceptional video repairing application. It provides a user-friendly DIY solution that you can implement if your PowerPoint video does not play.

• Wondershare Repairit can fix almost all kinds of errors and issues in a video file, like error code 224002 . This includes corrupt video, missing header, a metadata problem, and more.
• You can also fix all kinds of playback issues in the video like missing fragments, blurry images, sound not syncing, distorted pictures, etc.
• Presently, the application supports all the leading video formats like MP4, MOV, MPEG, FLV, AVI, MKV, and more.
• There is a provision to load multiple videos at the same time and preview the results before saving the repaired video.
• If the standard video repairing algorithm won't meet your requirements, then you can try its advanced repairing as well. It will take more time, but the video repairing results would be far better.

Once you have downloaded Wondershare Repairit Video Repair on your system, you can follow these steps to fix the video not playing in PowerPoint 2010/2012/2016/2020 issue.

Step 1 Load the corrupt videos to the application

Firstly, just launch the Wondershare Repairit on your system and add the corrupt videos to it. You can just drag and drop the corrupt video or click on the add icon so that you can browse the files and load them here.

Step 2 Start the video repairing process

Once the corrupt videos are added, you can view their details like their name, size, path, etc. If you want, you can add more videos here to delete anything from the list. Once you are ready, click on the "Repair" button to start the process.

Step 3 Preview and save the repaired videos

Since it might take a while for the tool to repair your videos, you can wait for the process to be completed. In the end, you can preview your videos in the native interface of Wondershare Video Repair and save them to a trusted location.

Step 4 Perform an advanced video repair (optional)

If your video has been severely corrupted, then a standard scan might not fix it. In this case, click on the "Advanced Video Repair" option to add a sample video here. Please make sure that the sample video must be shot on the same device as the corrupt file. Also, it should be of the same format so that the application can keep it as a reference.

Although the tool will take more time to perform advanced video repair, the results would also be better. Similarly, you can preview the results of the advanced repair and go to a trusted location to save your repaired video file.

That's it! Once the video is fixed, you can try to insert it into your document again and fix the PowerPoint embedded video not playing issue.

Note: Wondershare Repairit is a desktop application, so you need to repair the files on your Windows PC or MacBook. If you just want to repair videos online and the corrupted video is smaller than 3GB, you can try the online version of Wondershare Repairit - Online Video Repair . The online version of Repairit supports to repair your corrupted videos freely within seconds and also provide a nice video repair experience for you.

Further Reading: 1. Repair damaged presentation in Powerpoint 2. The best MS PowerPoint file repair tools

Part 3: Video Cannot Play in PowerPoint: The Possible Scenarios

We have discussed the solutions for video not playing in PowerPoint 2019/2018/2016/2013/2010/2007, let's know more about the reasons that lead to this problem so as to avoid the problem happening again.

Case 1: Inserted Videos Not Playing in PowerPoint

This is a more common issue, in which an embedded or inserted video in the presentation doesn't play. In this, we often get a dedicated error prompt stating that the embedded video in PowerPoint is not playing.

• It can cause if the video is not embedded correctly in the presentation.
• If you are trying to embed a YouTube video that is no longer available, then you can encounter this issue.
• You could have entered the URL of the video instead of its embedded link.
• The playback option for the video could be disabled in PowerPoint.
• There might be any other issue related to the PowerPoint application, its temp data, and so on.
• The video format might not be supported by PowerPoint, causing the error.

Case 2: Original Video Is Not Playing

Apart from the embedded media file, chances are that the original video might not be playing in PowerPoint too.

• The video that you have inserted in the presentation could be corrupt or damaged.
• The file might have some missing fragments.
• The video can have syncing issues between its audio and picture components.
• The meta or the header of the video file could be compromised.
• The location where the video is stored could be corrupt as well.

Part 4: Tips to Play and Embed Videos in PowerPoint

If you cannot play video in PowerPoint, then the above-listed five solutions would be able to fix it. Besides that, you can consider implementing the following suggestions to avoid the video not playing in the PowerPoint issue.

How Do You Embed A Video?

To avoid the video cannot play in the PowerPoint scenario, make sure that you embed the file correctly. For this, launch PowerPoint and load your document on the application. Now, go to the Insert tab from its navigation menu and click on the "Video" feature. From here, you can choose to insert a video from your computer or just insert its embedded link.

What Video Formats Work with PowerPoint?

Presently, PowerPoint supports all the leading video formats like MP4, MPEG, AVI, ASF, and SWF. Although, Microsoft recommends adding MP4 files in the documents. You can also include files with AAC encoding.

How to Prevent Videos from Not Playing in PowerPoint Issues?

Lastly, I would recommend these steps to make sure you won't encounter the PowerPoint presentation video not playing problem.

• Make sure that you only insert videos in PowerPoint that are compatible with the tool.
• Try to play the video in advance to ensure the file is not corrupted.
• Avoid adding FLV or any other flash content in PowerPoint as it can often lag or cause compatibility issues.
• Also, check the size of the embedded video and go to your PowerPoint's Tools section to ensure the application can accommodate the file.
• While inserting a YouTube video, make sure that the video is not private and that it will be available on the server in the future.

This brings us to the end of this extensive guide on how to fix the video not playing in PowerPoint issue. As you can see, I have listed two major scenarios for PowerPoint video not playing automatically with 5 different solutions. You can try the listed methods if the embedded video in PowerPoint is not playing. Though, if the video is itself corrupted, then you can try Wondershare Repairit. It is an exceptional video repairing application that can fix all kinds of corrupt and damaged videos in no time.

* Some of the above codec formats may need to be supported by system.

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Set a video to play full screen

Instead of playing a video as part of a slide in your presentation, you can play it so that it fills the entire screen.

Depending on the resolution of your original video file, the video might appear distorted when played full screen, so it's a good idea to preview it before giving your presentation to an audience.

In Normal view, select the video that you want to play full screen.

On the ribbon, on the Playback tab, in the Video Options group, select Play Full Screen .

(If you inserted a video file from YouTube or another web site, the full screen option may be unavailable. To work around this limitation, you would first have to download the file and then insert it from your computer .)

Note:  If you position the video frame off the slide or hide the video frame, you must set the video to play automatically or by some other kind of control, such as a trigger . A trigger is something on a slide, such as a picture, shape, or button, that you can click to initiate an action. See Trigger an animation effect for details.

Preview the video

In Normal view, go to the slide that contains the video.

To preview the full-screen experience, on the ribbon, select Slide Show >  From Current Slide . (This action opens your slide in Slide Show view.)

If necessary, select the "play" button on the video. It expands to full-screen size at that point. 

On the ribbon, on the Playback tab, select Play Full Screen .

(If you inserted a video file from YouTube or another web site, the full-screen option may be unavailable. To work around this limitation, you would have to first download the file and then insert it from your computer .)

To preview the full-screen experience, on the ribbon, select Slide Show >  Play From Current Slide . (This action opens your slide in Slide Show view.)

Insert and play a video file from your PC

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.mp4 audio will not play in presentation mode PPT 16

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Team , having the same issue .. Video Embedded in powerpoint '16 , does not play audio . Tested the same Ppt on another windows 10 system it works fine .. Reinstalled O365 . still have the same issue . Followed all the instructions from the forum.

Please advise .....

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