How to Show Video on Google Slides

Updated on:

May 4, 2026

By:

Use this interactive demo to learn how to make a video play on click in Google Slides.

Quick summary

This tutorial shows you how to control video playback in Google Slides by setting a video to play only when clicked during a presentation. Using the Format options panel, you can configure the exact video playback trigger in just a few steps.

Steps

Select the video on your slide by clicking it — you'll see it highlighted with a blue border.
Click Format options in the toolbar to open the playback settings panel.
In the right panel, select Video playback to reveal your trigger options.
Under Play (on click), choose On click so your video plays only when clicked during your presentation.

📌 Why this matters

Controlling when a video plays in Google Slides is essential for delivering polished, professional presentations without unexpected interruptions. The "On click" video playback setting gives presenters full control over their narrative flow, ensuring the video appears exactly when intended. This feature is especially valuable for educators, sales teams, and business professionals who rely on timed media to engage their audience. Mastering Google Slides video playback settings helps users create more impactful, distraction-free slide decks.

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