Google Slides: Insert a Video

With just a few clicks, you can insert a video from YouTube or from your Google Drive into a Google Slides presentation.

1. Open up a Google Slides presentation.
2. Click on the "Insert" menu and choose "Video" from the list.
3. Choose where the video comes from.  Are you going to run a YouTube search, paste in a YouTube URL, or search for the video in your Google Drive?  Choose the correct tab for your choice.  
4. Click on the video you wish to use and click on the "Select" button.

If you use a video from your Google Drive, remember to adjust the sharing settings on the video file itself so that others who view your presentation can also view the video.

Google Docs: Insert a Video into a Google Doc

When it comes to being creative with using Google Docs in the classroom, like when I make Hyperdocs, I was always bummed that I couldn't insert a video right into my Google Doc. Then I learned this little hack to make it work.  It is a little bit of a workaround, but it gets the job done.


Step 1:  Get Your Video URL

• Find the YouTube video you'd like to insert.
• Click on the "Share" button below the video.
• Copy the URL for the video by clicking on the "Copy" link. 

Step 2:  Insert Your Video into a Google Slides Presentation

• Open a new Google Slides presentation.
• Click on the "Insert" menu and choose "Video".
• Select "By URL" and paste in your link.
• Click "Select" and it will insert your video on the slide.

Step 3: Copy Your Video

• On the Google Slide, click on the inserted video to select it.
• Press command+C on a Mac, or Ctrl+C on a PC or Chromebook, to copy the video.  DON'T use right click and copy. 

Step 4: Insert Your Video in the Google Doc

• Place your cursor into the Google Doc wherever you'd like the video to be.  
• Click on the "Insert" menu and choose "Drawing" and "New".

• Click in the Google Drawing window that opens up and press Command+V on a Mac, or Ctrl+V on a PC or Chromebook, to paste the video.  Right click and paste will not work.
• You can resize and position the video however you'd like it.  Normally I make it a little larger by dragging on one of the corner arrows and then I right click and center it horizontally and vertically.  You could even add some credit line text under the video if needed.

• Click "Save and Close" and the video will now be in your Google Doc.  You can adjust the size and positioning of the video in the same way you would an image.

I always give the instructions for viewing the video right in my document.  They will need to either double click on the video to open it up or click it once and then click on the "Edit" link that pops up.  Then they can click the video to start play.  I have had the double click not work for me in the past, so I always double check before I enter the instructions.

Reminder: Because they have to open up the little drawing in order to watch the video, they must have edit access to the document in order to watch.  People with view-only access will not be able to view the video.  

Hopefully, this tip is helpful for you! I know I use it all the time when making HyperDocs.