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How To Add a Video to Google Slides on a Phone: A Visual Storyteller’s Guide

So, you’re crafting a killer Google Slides presentation on your phone, but you need to inject some dynamism with video? Fear not, mobile maestro! While the process differs slightly from the desktop experience, adding video on your phone is entirely achievable. This guide will walk you through the process with ease, transforming your slides into visually compelling narratives.

The straightforward answer? You can add a video to Google Slides on your phone by linking to a YouTube video or a video stored in your Google Drive. Unfortunately, you can’t directly upload a video file from your phone’s local storage. Here’s how:

Open Your Google Slides Presentation: Launch the Google Slides app on your phone and open the presentation you’re working on.
Select the Slide: Navigate to the slide where you want to embed the video.
Insert Menu: Tap the plus (+) icon at the top of your screen. This will open the “Insert” menu.
Choose “Video”: From the menu, select the “Video” option.
Choose Your Source: You’ll be presented with two options:
- YouTube: Select this if your video is hosted on YouTube.
- Google Drive: Select this if your video is stored in your Google Drive.
Search or Select:
- YouTube: A search bar will appear. Type in keywords related to your video or paste the full YouTube URL. Once you find the video, tap on it to select.
- Google Drive: You’ll be presented with a view of your Google Drive. Navigate to the folder where your video is stored and select the video.
Adjust Size and Position: Once the video is inserted, a placeholder box will appear on your slide. Tap and drag the corners of the box to resize the video and position it where you want it on the slide.
Formatting Options (Important!): Tap on the video placeholder. A menu will appear at the bottom. The most crucial option is the “Format” button (it looks like a paint palette). Tapping this provides the following critical settings:
- Start and End Time: You can specify the exact starting and ending points for video playback. This is extremely useful for trimming unwanted intros or outros.
- Autoplay: Choose whether the video should start playing automatically when the slide is presented.
- Mute Audio: Decide if the video’s audio should be muted by default.
Presentation Mode: To test how the video looks and functions, tap the “Present” icon (looks like a play button) at the top of your screen.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Below are 12 FAQs that address common questions.

1. Can I upload a video directly from my phone’s storage to Google Slides?

Unfortunately, no. The Google Slides app on your phone doesn’t directly support uploading video files from your phone’s local storage. You must use YouTube or Google Drive as the intermediary. This is a significant limitation compared to the desktop version. Consider uploading the video to either platform first.

2. What video formats are supported in Google Slides on mobile?

Google Slides, when using YouTube, supports any video format that YouTube supports (which is vast). When using Google Drive, supported formats typically include MP4, MOV, AVI, and WMV. However, MP4 is the most universally compatible format and is highly recommended for best results across different devices and browsers.

3. How do I ensure my video plays smoothly during a presentation?

Stable Internet Connection: A strong and stable internet connection is essential, especially for YouTube videos.
Optimize Video: If using Google Drive, compress the video to a reasonable file size. Very large video files can cause buffering issues.
Test in Advance: Always test the video playback on the device you’ll be using for the presentation before the actual event.
Download (If Possible): If you are using a third-party plugin, look for ways to download the video.

4. Can I control the video playback within Google Slides on my phone?

Yes, to a limited extent. The “Format” options (accessed by tapping the video placeholder and selecting “Format” button, which looks like a paint palette) allow you to set the start and end times, choose whether the video should autoplay, and mute the audio. However, advanced playback controls (like looping or showing player controls) are limited on the mobile app.

5. How do I loop a video in Google Slides on my phone?

Unfortunately, the native Google Slides app on mobile does not offer a direct “loop” function for videos. To achieve a looping effect, you may need to explore third-party add-ons (which may require using the desktop version) or edit the video itself to loop seamlessly before uploading it to YouTube or Google Drive.

6. What if I don’t have a YouTube account or Google Drive storage?

While it is highly advised to make a YouTube account or use Google Drive, you may look into third-party apps that let you upload to the Cloud. You may also check for alternative online video hosting platforms. Keep in mind that these methods might require workarounds and careful consideration of privacy and reliability.

7. How do I adjust the video’s volume in Google Slides on my phone?

You can mute the video entirely using the “Mute Audio” option in the video’s format settings. However, you cannot directly control the volume level within Google Slides on the mobile app. The volume will be determined by the device’s overall volume settings.

8. My video isn’t playing correctly. What should I do?

Check Internet Connection: Ensure you have a stable internet connection.
Video Format: Verify that the video format is supported. MP4 is generally the most reliable.
Video Permissions: If using Google Drive, make sure the video’s sharing permissions are set correctly so that anyone with the link can view it.
Restart the App: Sometimes, simply closing and reopening the Google Slides app can resolve playback issues.
Update the App: Ensure you’re using the latest version of the Google Slides app.
Codec Issues: Rare, but sometimes the video uses a codec your device doesn’t natively support. Try re-encoding the video using a common codec like H.264.

9. Can I embed a live stream into Google Slides on my phone?

Embedding a live stream directly isn’t natively supported. You would typically need to embed a recording of the live stream (after it has concluded) via YouTube. The YouTube URL of the recorded live stream will need to be added to the slideshow.

10. How can I add captions or subtitles to my video in Google Slides?

You can’t directly add captions or subtitles within Google Slides on your phone. Captions need to be added to the video file before uploading it to YouTube or Google Drive. YouTube offers built-in captioning tools, and many video editing software packages allow you to add and customize subtitles.

11. Is it possible to use a video as the background of a slide in Google Slides on my phone?

No, the mobile Google Slides app does not allow you to directly set a video as the background of a slide. You would need to resort to alternative methods to accomplish this.

12. Can I add an interactive video (like one with quizzes) to Google Slides on my phone?

No, that feature is unavailable on Google Slides. Interactive elements such as quizzes can’t be natively embedded using the Google Slides app on your phone. It is not possible to embed interactive videos or elements within the limitations.

By following these steps and addressing common questions, you’re now equipped to add videos to your Google Slides presentations on your phone like a pro! Embrace the power of visual storytelling and captivate your audience, no matter where you are.