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You can use the playback options in PowerPoint to control how and when a video appears in your presentation. You can play a video in full screen mode or resize it to dimensions that you specify. You can also control the volume, play the video repeatedly (in a loop), and show the media controls.

These Play options aren't available for online videos, such as YouTube videos. They are only available for videos inserted from your computer, network, or OneDrive.

To control how your video plays, use options on the Playback tab of the PowerPoint ribbon. This tab appears on the ribbon when a video is selected on a slide.

The Video Tools Playback tab on the PowerPoint 2016 ribbon

(These options for a video are available after you embed or link to a video file from your computer.)

Play a video in the click sequence, automatically, or when clicked

Important: Set this option before adding any animations or triggers to your video. By changing this option, you will remove any animations that are associated with your video.

  1. In Normal view, click the video frame on the slide.

  2. On the Playback tab, in the Video Options group, from the Start list, select an option:

    The Playback options for a video from your PC are: In Click Sequence, Automatically, or When Clicked On

    Option

    When the video plays during a slide show

    Automatically

    The video plays automatically when the slide appears.

    On Click or When Clicked On

    The video only plays when you click within the video frame.

    In Click Sequence

    The video plays in sequence with other actions you've programmed on the slide (such as animation effects). This option doesn't require a literal click. You can trigger the video to begin with a clicker or any other mechanism that activates the next action on the slide (such as pressing the right arrow key).

    (This option is available in PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 and PowerPoint 2019. It's also available in PowerPoint 2016 version 1709 or later.)

    Tip: While a video is playing, you can pause it by clicking it. To resume playing the video, click it again.

Play a video full screen

You can play a video so that it fills the entire slide (screen) when you deliver your presentation. Depending on the resolution of your original video file, it might appear distorted when you enlarge it. Always preview your video before you include it in your presentation so that if the video appears distorted or blurry, you can undo the full screen option.

If you set the video to be displayed full screen and it is also set to start automatically, you can drag the video frame off the slide into the gray area so that it will not be visible on the slide or flash briefly before the video goes to full screen.

  1. In Normal view, click the video frame on the slide that you want to play full screen.

  2. Under Video Tools, on the Playback tab, in the Video Options group, select the Play Full Screen check box.

Resize a video

If you don't want to play a movie full screen, you can resize it to the dimensions that you want.

  1. In Normal view, select the video that you want to resize.

  2. Do one of the following:

    To adjust the formatting:

    • Click a corner sizing handle until you see a two-headed arrow, and then drag to size the frame.

      A sizing handle is a two-headed arrow
      • To keep the center of the video in the same place, hold down Ctrl while dragging. By default, this maintains the proportions (locks the aspect ratio) of the video as you drag.

      • Typically, most videos with a 640 x 480 resolution have a 4:3 aspect ratio, which is also the default aspect ratio for PowerPoint 2010 presentations. The default aspect ratio for presentations in PowerPoint 2013 and newer versions is 16:9. If the aspect ratios of the presentation and the video differ, your video will look distorted when it plays.

    To specify precise height-to-width proportions of a video:

    1. Under Video Tools, on the Format tab (PowerPoint 2013 or newer versions) or Options tab (PowerPoint 2010), in the Size group, click the Dialog Box Launcher Icon image.

    2. Click Size, and then under Scale, select the Lock aspect ratio check box.

    3. Under Size and rotate, enter sizes in the Height and Width boxes, or under Scale, in the Scale Height and Scale Width boxes, enter the percentage of size that you want, relative to the video's original size.

      Tip: To prevent videos from skipping when they are played, under Scale, select the Best scale for slide show check box.

Preview a video

  • In Normal view, click the video frame.

  • Click Play.

    There is also a Play option in the Preview group, on both the Format and Playback tabs, under Video Tools.

Set the volume of a video

  • Under Video Tools, on the Playback tab, in the Video Options group, click Volume, and then choose one of the following:

    • Low

    • Medium

    • High

    • Mute

      Tip: You can also set the volume by using the volume slider on the play control bar.

Hide a video when not playing

While delivering your presentation, you can hide your video until you are ready to play it. However, you should create an automatic or triggered animation to initiate playback or you will never see the video play during the slideshow. For more information about creating an automatic or triggered animation, see Animate text or objects.

  • Under Video Tools, on the Playback tab, in the Video Options group, select the Hide While Not Playing check box.

Loop a video

To play your video repeatedly and continuously during your presentation, you can use the loop feature.

  • Under Video Tools, on the Playback tab, in the Video Options group, select the Loop until Stopped check box.

Rewind a video after playing

To rewind your video after playing during your presentation, do the following:

  • Under Video Tools, on the Playback tab, in the Video Options group, select the Rewind after Playing check box.

Show the media controls

To show the media controls during your presentation, do the following:

  • On the Slide Show tab, in the Set up group, select the Show Media Controls check box.

To control how your video plays, use options on the Playback tab of the PowerPoint ribbon. This tab appears on the ribbon when a video is selected on a slide.

Playback controls for a video file inserted from a computer

(These options for a video are available after you embed or link to a video file from your computer.)

Play a video automatically or when clicked

Tip: Set this option before adding any animations or triggers to your video. Changing this option removes any animations that are associated with your video.

  1. In Normal view, click the video frame on the slide.

    Video Options

    Figure: Specify how you want your video to start during your presentation

  2. Under Video Tools, on the Playback tab, in the Video Options group, in the Start list, do one of the following:

    • To play your video when the slide containing the video appears in Slide Show view, select Automatically.

    • To control when you want to start the video by clicking the mouse, select On Click. (Then, when you're presenting in Slide Show view, you'll simply click the video frame when you're ready to play the video.)

      Tip: While a video is playing, you can pause it by clicking it. To resume playing the video, click it again.

Play a video full screen

You can play a video so that it fills the entire slide (screen) when you deliver your presentation. Depending on the resolution of your original video file, it might appear distorted when you enlarge it. Always preview your video before you include it in your presentation so that if the video appears distorted or blurry, you can undo the full screen option.

If you set the video to be displayed full screen and it is also set to start automatically, you can drag the video frame off the slide into the gray area so that it will not be visible on the slide or flash briefly before the video goes to full screen.

  1. In Normal view, click the video frame on the slide that you want to play full screen.

  2. Under Video Tools, on the Playback tab, in the Video Options group, select the Play Full Screen check box.

Resize a video

If you don't want to play a movie full screen, you can resize it to the dimensions that you want.

  1. In Normal view, select the video that you want to resize.

  2. Do one of the following:

    To adjust the formatting:

    • Click a corner sizing handle until you see a two-headed arrow, and then drag to size the frame.

      A sizing handle is a two-headed arrow
      • To keep the center of the video in the same place, hold down Ctrl while dragging. By default, this maintains the proportions (locks the aspect ratio) of the video as you drag.

      • Typically, most videos with a 640 x 480 resolution have a 4:3 aspect ratio, which is also the default aspect ratio for PowerPoint 2010 presentations. The default aspect ratio for presentations in PowerPoint 2013 and newer versions is 16:9. If the aspect ratios of the presentation and the video differ, your video will look distorted when it plays.

    To specify precise height-to-width proportions of a video:

    1. Under Video Tools, on the Format tab (PowerPoint 2013 or newer versions) or Options tab (PowerPoint 2010), in the Size group, click the Dialog Box Launcher Icon image.

    2. Click Size, and then under Scale, select the Lock aspect ratio check box.

    3. Under Size and rotate, enter sizes in the Height and Width boxes, or under Scale, in the Scale Height and Scale Width boxes, enter the percentage of size that you want, relative to the video's original size.

      Tip: To prevent videos from skipping when they are played, under Scale, select the Best scale for slide show check box.

Preview a video

  • In Normal view, click the video frame.

  • Click Play.

    There is also a Play option in the Preview group, on both the Format and Playback tabs, under Video Tools.

Set the volume of a video

  • Under Video Tools, on the Playback tab, in the Video Options group, click Volume, and then choose one of the following:

    • Low

    • Medium

    • High

    • Mute

      Tip: You can also set the volume by using the volume slider on the play control bar.

Hide a video when not playing

While delivering your presentation, you can hide your video until you are ready to play it. However, you should create an automatic or triggered animation to initiate playback or you will never see the video play during the slideshow. For more information about creating an automatic or triggered animation, see Animate text or objects.

  • Under Video Tools, on the Playback tab, in the Video Options group, select the Hide While Not Playing check box.

Loop a video

To play your video repeatedly and continuously during your presentation, you can use the loop feature.

  • Under Video Tools, on the Playback tab, in the Video Options group, select the Loop until Stopped check box.

Rewind a video after playing

To rewind your video after playing during your presentation, do the following:

  • Under Video Tools, on the Playback tab, in the Video Options group, select the Rewind after Playing check box.

Show the media controls

To show the media controls during your presentation, do the following:

  • On the Slide Show tab, in the Set up group, select the Show Media Controls check box.

See Also

Create a self-running presentation

Turn your presentation into a video

Add and play sounds in a presentation

Set the timing and speed of a transition

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