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

Author: Xiaoyang Last Modified: 2024-05-13

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.

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. Then, click Insert > Object > Object, see screenshot:
  3. In the Object dialog box, do the following operations:
    1. Click the Create from File tab;
    2. Click the Browse button to navigate to the location on your computer where the video is stored. Select the video file and click Insert in the Browse window;
    3. At last, click OK button.
    Tips: In the Object dialog box, there are other two options:
    • Link to file:
    • ◆ Check this option will create a link to the video file’s location on your computer. It doesn’t increase the file size as much, but the video will not be viewable if you move the document to another computer without also moving the video file.
    • ◆ If you do not select this option, the video file will be directly included in the Word document. As a result, the video becomes an integral part of the Word file, which increases its size. (To ensure the video can be viewed on any computer, it is advisable not to check Link to file)
    • Display as icon:
    • If you check this option, the video will be represented by an icon in the document.
  4. After you insert the video, it will appear as a video icon in your document. See screenshot:
  5. Double-click the video icon to play the video. When the following dialog box appears, click the Open button to launch the video in your default media player.
  • Advantages:
  • The video is stored directly within the Word document, eliminating the need for users to download an additional file or access an online link to view the video.
  • Considerations:
  • ◆ Embedding videos can significantly increase the overall file size of a Word document, which may make it difficult to share via email or other platforms that have file size restrictions.
  • ◆ There may be compatibility issues with the video format, especially when the document is opened on different operating 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 Develop > Legacy Tools > More Controls, see screenshot:
  3. In the More Controls dialog box, scroll through the list and select Windows Media Player, then click OK.
  4. And a media player is inserted into the file, you can resize the player to your need, see screenshot:
  5. Right-click the embedded Windows Media Player, then, select Properties from the context menu.
  6. In the Properties pane, click Custom to show the button. Then click button, see screenshot:
  7. In the Windows Media Player Legacy Properties dialog box, click Browse button to the video file from your computer. Then, click OK Button, see screenshot:
  8. Then, close the Properties pane. To play the videos you've inserted, make sure to exit Design Mode by pressing the Design Mode option under the Developer tab, see screenshot:
    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 the video you need.
  • 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. Then, Click on the Insert > Online Videos. See screenshot:
  3. In the dialog box that appears, paste the URL of the video directly if it's from a supported site like YouTube or Vimeo…. At last, click Insert button, see screenshot:
  4. Now, the video will be embedded into your document. See screenshot:
  • Supported sources:
  • ◆YouTube ◆SlideShare ◆Vimeo ◆Stream ◆Flip ◆TED
  • Advantages:
  • ◆ Since the video is streamed from the internet, this method does not increase the file size of the Word document.
  • ◆ Easy insertion with just a URL, or through a simple search on supported platforms like YouTube.
  • Considerations:
  • ◆ An internet connection is required to view the video.
  • ◆ Less control over the video's availability since it depends on its continuous presence online. If the video is removed from the source or if the URL changes, the video will become inaccessible.

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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