PowerPoint can play audio and video inside a presentation. The key is setting playback so background music continues across slides and videos play from the slide without an awkward switch to another app.
Does this affect you?
Use this for PowerPoint for Microsoft 365, PowerPoint 2021, and PowerPoint 2019 on Windows or Mac. Online video playback still needs internet access during the presentation.
Add background music that plays across slides
Audio normally belongs to one slide until you change the playback options.
- Click the slide where the music should start.
- Open Insert > Audio > Audio on My PC.
- Choose the audio file and insert it.
- Select the speaker icon on the slide.
- Open the Playback tab.
- Set Start to Automatically.
- Check Play Across Slides.
- Check Hide During Show if the icon should not appear.
- Check Loop until Stopped if the track is shorter than the presentation.
Embed a video on a slide
Use a local file for the most reliable playback.
- Click the slide where the video should appear.
- Open Insert > Video.
- Choose This Device for a saved video file, or Online Videos for a supported web video.
- Insert the file or paste the online video link.
- Resize and position the video frame using corner handles.
- Select the video, open Playback, and set Start to Automatically or On Click.
A local embedded video plays from the presentation file. An online video streams from the web, so it can fail on networks that block the site.
More control
Trim audio or video inside PowerPoint
Select the media, open Playback, and choose Trim Audio or Trim Video. Move the green and red markers to set the start and end. The original file is not changed.
Compress large media
Embedded video can make a .pptx huge. Open File > Info > Compress Media and choose a quality level to reduce file size.
Avoid missing linked videos
If a video was linked instead of embedded, another computer may not find it. Check File > Info for media warnings, use Compress Media, or send the video file in the same folder as the deck.
Test online videos on the presentation network
Schools and companies sometimes block YouTube or embedded web playback. Rehearse on the same network, or embed a local copy when you have rights to use one.
Sources
- Microsoft Support – Add or delete audio in your PowerPoint presentation (2025)
- Microsoft Support – Insert or link to a video from a file on your PC (2025)
- Microsoft Support – Insert a video from YouTube or another website (2025)