Inserting a video in Google Docs can easily enhance your document’s visual appeal and make it more engaging. To do this, you don’t directly insert the video but rather insert a link to the video by using the Google Slides workaround. It’s straightforward, so let’s dive into the details.
Step by Step Tutorial on How to Insert a Video on Google Docs
Before you can insert a video into your Google Docs, you need to understand that Google Docs itself doesn’t support direct video embedding. However, there’s a clever workaround using Google Slides.
Step 1: Open Google Slides
Firstly, open Google Slides and create a new presentation. You’ll use this to embed your video.
Google Slides is part of the Google Docs suite, so it’s readily available if you have a Google account. It’s primarily used for creating presentations, but it will be our magic tool for embedding videos into Google Docs.
Step 2: Insert Video
Next, click on ‘Insert’, select ‘Video’, and then choose the video you want to add. You can search for a YouTube video, use a URL, or select a video from your Google Drive.
This step is important because it’s how you actually get the video into the document. If you choose a YouTube video, make sure it’s public or unlisted, as private videos won’t work in your document.
Step 3: Resize and Position Video
Once the video is inserted, resize and position the video in your slide as desired.
This step lets you choose how big the video shows up in your document. You can make it small and subtle or large and in charge – it’s up to you!
Step 4: Copy the Slide
After the video is set up, right-click on the slide thumbnail and select ‘Copy’.
Copying the slide is essential because this is what you’ll be pasting into your Google Docs document. This step is like taking a snapshot of your video that you can then put anywhere you want.
Step 5: Open Google Docs
Open the Google Docs document where you want to insert your video.
Go back to your document or create a new one if you haven’t already. This is where the magic will happen.
Step 6: Paste the Slide
Finally, right-click and select ‘Paste’ or press Ctrl+V (Cmd+V on a Mac) to paste the slide into your document.
When you paste the slide, you’ll see the video appear as an image. When you click on it, it will take you directly to the video on the Google Slides presentation. It’s not exactly embedding, but it’s the next best thing.
After you complete the steps above, you’ll have a clickable image in your Google Docs that links to your video. When someone reads your document and clicks on the video, it will open up in Google Slides and play.
Tips for Inserting a Video on Google Docs
- Make sure the video you’re embedding is set to public or unlisted on YouTube so it can be viewed when shared.
- If you’re using a video from Google Drive, make sure you’ve set the sharing settings to allow others to view it.
- Consider where you place your video link in the document; placing it near relevant text will make it more effective.
- You can add a caption under the video link in Google Docs to give context or instructions to viewers.
- Remember to preview your document to make sure the video appears correctly before sharing it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I embed a video directly into Google Docs?
Unfortunately, Google Docs does not support direct video embedding. You have to use the workaround method through Google Slides as explained above.
Can I use videos from platforms other than YouTube or Google Drive?
Yes, as long as you can get a shareable link or embed code, you can use videos from other platforms. Just make sure the video’s privacy settings allow it to be viewed publicly.
Will the video play directly in Google Docs?
No, the video will not play directly in Google Docs. The image acts as a link that opens the video in Google Slides when clicked.
Can I adjust the size of the video link in Google Docs?
Yes, you can adjust the size of the video link image in Google Docs by resizing it after you paste the Google Slides thumbnail.
What if I want to change the video later?
If you need to change the video, you’ll have to go back to your Google Slides, make the change, and then copy and paste the new slide into your Google Docs document.
Summary
- Open Google Slides and create a new presentation.
- Insert your chosen video into the slide.
- Resize and position the video on the slide.
- Copy the slide with the video.
- Open your Google Docs document.
- Paste the slide into your document.
Conclusion
In today’s digital age, incorporating multimedia into our documents can significantly improve communication and engagement. While Google Docs doesn’t natively support video embedding, the workaround using Google Slides is an effective alternative. It may seem a bit indirect, but it’s actually quite simple once you get the hang of it. The key is to ensure your video’s privacy settings are correct and that you’re happy with how it appears in your document. With these tips and steps, you should be confident in inserting a video in Google Docs to create a more dynamic and informative document. Whether you’re working on a project, a report, or just sharing information, remember that a well-placed video can make all the difference. Happy documenting!
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech content online for more than ten years. He enjoys writing about Google Docs in addition to many other applications and devices and has cumulatively covered Google’s word-processing application in hundreds of different articles.
He has been published on dozens of popular websites, and his works have accumulated millions of pageviews.
While focused primarily on tutorials and guides for popular electronics like the iPhone and iPad, as well as common applications like Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, and Excel, he covers topics across the entire technology spectrum.
You can read his bio here.