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Insert Online or Offline video in Word document – 3 useful ways

Author Xiaoyang Last modified

Adding videos to a Microsoft Word document can transform static text into an interactive and engaging multimedia experience. Microsoft Word lets you easily include videos from your computer or the internet right in the document itself. This means you can play videos directly within Word, making your document more dynamic and keeping your readers engaged without them needing to leave the document. Below is a detailed guide on how to embed both offline (local) and online videos into your Word document using different methods.

Video inserted into a document

Insert Offline / Local video in Word document

Insert Online video in Word document

Video: Insert Online or Offline video in Word document

Insert Offline / Local video in Word document

This section will detail the process of inserting offline or local videos into a Word document, offering step-by-step instructions along with tips to optimize the viewing experience.

Insert Offline / Local video in Word with Object feature

Embedding an offline or local video in a Microsoft Word document using the Object feature is a powerful way to enhance your document’s interactivity and provide rich content directly within your text.

  1. Open the Word file and place the cursor where you want to insert the video.
  2. Click "Insert" > "Object" > "Object".
    Object option on the ribbon
  3. In the "Object" dialog box, do the following:
    1. Click the "Create from File" tab.
    2. Click the "Browse" button to navigate to the video file on your computer, select it, and click "Insert".
    3. Click "OK" to insert the video.
      Object dialog box
      Tips: In the Object dialog box, there are two additional options:
      • Link to file:
        • Check this option to create a link to the video file’s location on your computer. This keeps the file size small, but the video won’t play if the document is moved to another device without the video file.
        • If unchecked, the video is embedded into the Word document, increasing its size but making it self-contained and portable.
      • Display as icon:
      • If checked, the video will appear as an icon in the document instead of a thumbnail.
  4. After the video is inserted, it will appear as a video icon in your document.
    A video icon in the document
  5. Double-click the video icon to play the video. When the "Open Package Contents" dialog appears, click "Open" to launch the video in your default media player.
    Open Package Contents dialog
  • Advantages:
  • The video is stored directly within the Word document, so users don’t need to download separate files or follow external links.
  • Considerations:
    • Embedding videos can significantly increase the file size, which may cause issues when sharing via email or other size-restricted platforms.
    • Some video formats might not be compatible across different systems or versions of Word.
 

Insert Offline / Local video in Word with Windows Media Player

Incorporating offline or local videos into a Microsoft Word document using Windows Media Player can greatly enhance your document's interactivity and appeal. This method allows you to embed a video with familiar playback controls directly within your document, making it an excellent choice for dynamic presentations or instructional materials. Here’s a detailed guide on how to insert an offline or local video in Word using Windows Media Player.

  1. Open the Word file and place the cursor where you want to insert the video.
  2. Click "Developer" > "Legacy Tools" > "More Controls".
    Developer tab with Legacy Tools selected and More Controls option highlighted
  3. In the "More Controls" dialog box, scroll through the list and select "Windows Media Player", then click "OK".
    More Controls dialog box
  4. A media player will be inserted into the document. Resize the player as needed.
    A media player is inserted into the document
  5. Right-click the embedded Windows Media Player control and select "Properties" from the context menu.
    Properties option on the context menu
  6. In the "Properties" pane, click "Custom" to reveal the More button. Then, click the button.
    Properties pane with Custom section visible, showing the More button
  7. In the "Windows Media Player Legacy Properties" dialog box, click the "Browse" button to locate and select your video file. Then click "OK".
    Windows Media Player Legacy Properties dialog box
  8. Close the "Properties" pane. To play the inserted video, click "Design Mode" under the "Developer" tab to exit design mode.
    Design Mode option on the Developer tab on the ribbon
    Tips: While Design Mode is enabled, you can freely adjust the size and position of the video player to fit your document’s layout.
  9. Now the video starts playing. You can pause or resume playback as needed.
    Video starts playing in the document
  • Advantages:
  • Directly embedding the Windows Media Player allows for easy use of video controls like play, pause, and stop, without the need to open a separate player.
  • Considerations:
    • This method is only compatible with Windows systems that have Windows Media Player installed, which can be limiting if the document needs to be viewed on non-Windows devices.
    • Since this approach uses a linked path, the video will not be viewable if the file path changes or if the document is used on another computer that does not have access to the same file path.

Insert Online video in Word document

This section will walk you through the process of embedding online videos into your Word documents, offering a step-by-step tutorial to enrich your text with media content seamlessly.

  1. Open the Word file and place the cursor where you want to insert the video.
  2. Click "Insert" > "Online Videos".
    Online Videos button on the ribbon
  3. In the dialog box that appears, paste the URL of the video from a supported platform such as YouTube or Vimeo. Then, click the "Insert" button.
    Insert Online Videos dialog
  4. Now the video will be embedded into your document.
    Video inserted into the document
  • Supported sources:
  • ◆ YouTube ◆ SlideShare ◆ Vimeo ◆ Stream ◆ Flip ◆ TED
  • Advantages:
  • ◆ Since the video is streamed online, this method does not increase the size of the Word document.
  • ◆ Videos can be inserted easily by URL or search, especially from supported sites like YouTube.
  • Considerations:
  • ◆ An internet connection is required to view the video.
  • ◆ The video may become inaccessible if removed or if the link changes on the source platform.

In summary, embedding videos into a Microsoft Word document can significantly enhance its interactivity and appeal by integrating dynamic multimedia content. Whether you are incorporating offline videos through the Object feature or Windows Media Player, or embedding online videos via links to platforms like YouTube or Vimeo, each method offers unique advantages and considerations. By understanding these options, you can choose the most appropriate method to enrich your Word documents with video content tailored to your specific needs and circumstances. To explore more tips and tricks for Microsoft Word, please click here to view additional options.

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