Selecting Video Formats for PowerPoint Decks (Windows or Mac)
by Avantix Learning Team | Updated June 29, 2016
Applies to: Microsoft® PowerPoint® 2010, 2013 and 2016 (Windows) and 2011, 2014 and 2016 (Mac)
If you are going to insert video in PowerPoint, you should have a basic understanding of video formats. For Windows users, newer available formats like MP4 can provide great quality but can't be used if you're running Windows 7 or an earlier version of Windows.
If you are having trouble playing videos, you may need to install the video and/or audio codec files.
Recommended article: How to Insert Video in PowerPoint (from a File on Your PC or a Shared Drive)
Do you want to learn more about PowerPoint? Check out our virtual classroom or live classroom PowerPoint courses >
Video formats for PowerPoint 2013 and 2016 (Windows 8 or 10)
If you are running Windows 8 or 10, you can insert MP4 videos in PowerPoint 2013 and 2016.
You can insert videos in the following formats:
- ASF (Windows media file)
- AVI (Windows video files – some require additional codecs)
- MPG (movie file)
- MPEG (movie file)
- SWF (Adobe Flash media file)
- WMV (Windows media video file)
- MOV (MP4 video file)
- M4V (MP4 video file)
- MP4
For those with Windows 8 or 10, if you use MP4 videos encoded with H.264 video and AAC audio and embed in PowerPoint 2013 or 2016, you will get the best playback experience.
However, if you need to play your presentation on other computers and you don't know the operating system, the recommended video format for embedding in PowerPoint 2013 or 2016 is MPEG. In this case, you may want to create two copies of your presentation – one with the MP4 video and the other with MPEG as a backup.
Video formats for PowerPoint 2013 and 2016 (Windows 7, Vista or XP)
Windows 7, Vista and XP support the following video formats:
- ASF (Windows media file)
- WMV (Windows media video file)
- AVI (Windows video files – some require additional codecs)
- MPEG (movie file)
If you use Windows 7, Vista or XP, use WMV or MPEG videos for the best playback experience. WMV is the authentic Windows Media format and MPEG is standard for video and audio compression and can be played back on any computer system.
Video formats for PowerPoint 2010 (Windows)
In PowerPoint 2010, you can insert video in the following file formats:
- ASF (Windows media file)
- AVI (Windows video files – some require additional codecs)
- MPG (movie file)
- MPEG (movie file)
- SWF (Adobe Flash media file)
- WMV (Windows media video file)
- MP4 (with QuickTime installed)
The best video format to embed in PowerPoint 2010 is WMV or MPEG.
If you want to play MP4 videos in PowerPoint 2010, you will need Windows 8 or 10 and you will also need to install QuickTime. Depending on your computer's hardware, the results may not be ideal.
Video formats for PowerPoint 2011 and 2016 (Mac)
On a Mac, regardless of the operating system, MP4 is the native and best playback format.
In PowerPoint 2011 and 2016 on the Mac, you can insert the following video file formats:
- AVI (Windows video files)
- WMV (Windows media video file with Flip4Mac installed)
- MPG (movie file)
- MPEG (movie file)
- SWF (Adobe Flash media file)
- MOV (MP4 video file)
- MP4
If you need to play your presentation on a Mac or Windows computer, the recommended format is MPEG.
Subscribe to get more articles like this one
Did you find this article helpful? If you would like to receive new articles, join our email list.
More resources
How to Embed a YouTube Video in PowerPoint
PowerPoint Keyboard Shortcuts to Play and Control Video During a Presentation
How to Animate Text, Images and Other Objects in PowerPoint
Related courses
Microsoft PowerPoint: Intermediate / Advanced
Microsoft PowerPoint: Design for Non-Designers
Our instructor-led courses are delivered in virtual classroom format or at our downtown Toronto location at 18 King Street East, Suite 1400, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (some in-person classroom courses may also be delivered at an alternate downtown Toronto location). Contact us at info@avantixlearning.ca if you'd like to arrange custom instructor-led virtual classroom or onsite training on a date that's convenient for you.
Copyright 2025 Avantix® Learning
You may also like
How to Highlight Text in PowerPoint (5 Ways)
You can highlight text in PowerPoint in many different ways. If you have PowerPoint 2019 or a later version, Text Highlight Color is available on the Home tab in the Ribbon. For those with older versions without a Highlight command in the Ribbon, you'll need to use other strategies to highlight text. In this article, we'll review five ways to highlight text in PowerPoint. Most of these strategies will work in all versions.
How to Curve Text in PowerPoint
You can curve text in PowerPoint using WordArt Transform options on the Shape tab in the Ribbon. The text can be WordArt text or text in a text box or in a placeholder. Using Transform text effects, you can curve or bend selected text. The text can be curved around a circle or other shape if you want. Typically, curved text is inserted in Normal View and can be a word or a line of text.
How to Link to Another Slide in PowerPoint (3 Ways)
You can easily add a link or hyperlink to another slide in the same PowerPoint presentation. In this article, we'll review 3 ways to link to another slide – using a link or hyperlink, adding an action setting or using the Zoom feature (Zoom & Link) to add a Slide Zoom. In order to make it easier to link to another slide, it's best to add a title in the title placeholder on each slide in the presentation. In PowerPoint, links become active when you run a slide show (click the Slide Show button on the bottom right of the screen). When you run a slide show and click a link, PowerPoint will jump to the link.
Image credit(s) / application screenshot(s): Microsoft
Microsoft, the Microsoft logo, Microsoft Office and related Microsoft applications and logos are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in Canada, US and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of the registered owners.
Avantix Learning |18 King Street East, Suite 1400, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5C 1C4 | Contact us at info@avantixlearning.ca
