PowerPoint Cannot Insert a Video from Selected File [Fiexed]

The issue of PowerPoint cannot insert a video from the selected file may occur for certain Microsoft Office users when attempting to add a video to a PowerPoint presentation. This post from EaseUS explains the causes behind this problem and provides several solutions to resolve this problem.

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I am attempting to add an MP4 file to my presentation, but every time I try, I receive an error message saying that PowerPoint not inserting a video from the selected file. It advises me to verify the correctness of the file format and path. Can someone guide me in resolving this problem? 

While inserting videos into a PowerPoint file, you may encounter this frustrating problem occasionally. Error notice like this is highly irritating, and numerous factors contribute to PowerPoint cannot insert a video from the selected file. But don't worry. This post from EaseUS provides six effective ways to help you overcome this annoying issue.

How to Fix PowerPoint Cannot Insert a Video from Selected File

Now that you know the potential causes of PowerPoint not inserting a video from the selected file, you can try the following six methods to resolve the issue. Read the methods below: 

  1. Method 1: Repair the Corrupted Video That Can't Be Inserted in PowerPoint
  2. Method 2: Change the Video to WMV Format
  3. Method 3: Employ the Windows Media Player Controls in PowerPoint
  4. Method 4: Update the Installed Drivers on Windows
  5. Method 5: Install a K-Lite Codec Pack on Your Computer
  6. Method 6: Enable the Media Compatibility

Method 1: Repair the Corrupted Video That Can't Be Inserted in PowerPoint

As mentioned above, if the video file is damaged, PowerPoint may be unable to recognize it, preventing the video from being inserted. That is why this error may arise if you work on a corrupted video. But the good news is that you can fix it using a professional video repair tool - EaseUS Fixo Video Repair with just a few clicks.

This solution applies to a wide range of video playback issues. These include repairing corrupted videos caused by unstable downloads and restoring videos affected by malware infections.

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EaseUS Fixo Video Repair offers several powerful features for resolving video problems:

  • Repairing corrupted video files on Windows 
  • User-friendly interface and step-by-step guides 
  • Supporting a wide range of video formats, including MOV, M2TS, MKV, MTS, 3GP, AVI, FLV, MXF, KLV, INSV, M4V, WMV, MPEG, ASF and MP4 repair
  • Capable of recovering video files from corrupted hard drives, cameras, USB flash drives, and other storage devices
  • Solve video issues, including cannot open, blurry, audio and video out of sync, etc.

The entire application is straightforward, and even an amateur can run it. Here is what you should follow to bring back your corrupted video:

Step 1. Open Fixo on your local PC. Click "Video Repair" and add the corrupted MP4/MOV/AVI/MKV/3GP/FLV/MKV/WMV video files by clicking "Add Videos".

add videos to repair videos with Fixo

Step 2. Move the pointer to a video and click the "Repair" button to start the single video repairing process. If you want to repair all the videos, click "Repair All".

select videos to repair

Step 3. Wait a few minutes, and the corrupted videos will be repaired. Click the play icon to preview the videos. You can save a single video by clicking the "Save" button next to the play icon. If you want to save all the repaired videos, choose "Save All".

save repaired videos in Fixo

Step 4. If the quick repair fails, you should utilize the advanced repair mode. Click "Advanced Repair" and add a sample video. Choose "Confirm" to ensure.

add sample videos to perform advanced repair

Step 5. A list of detailed information on corrupted and sample videos will show up. Click "Repair Now" to start the advanced video repair process. When the repair is complete, you can view the videos and click the "Save" button to save the repaired video files to an appropriate destination.

click repair now to start advanced repair

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Method 2: Change the Video to WMV Format

Before diving into the steps, please take a moment to watch a video to familiarize yourself with the operation. Check the video tutorial below to see how you can convert video to WMV format using the K-Lite Codec Pack:

  • 00:30 - Check out your Office system
  • 02:15 - Restart your computer
  • 00:39 - Install a K-Lite Codec Pack to Solve the Error

It might sound surprising that PowerPoint does not support many video formats. But if you convert your video into WMV format, the chances of this error won't happen again. Here's what you should do to repair your corrupted video with VLC:

Step 1. Download and launch the VLC media player.

Step 2. Choose the "Media" tab and then click "Convert/Save".

vlc media player

Step 3. Tap on "Add" to the file you want to convert, then click "Convert/Save".

open media

Step 4. Choose "WMV" as output under the Profile section.

choose wmv as output

Step 5. Press "start" to process.

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Method 3: Employ the Windows Media Player Controls in PowerPoint

Windows Media Player includes a comprehensive selection of built-in codecs. By utilizing the Windows Media Player control within PowerPoint, you can insert and play videos successfully. So inserting Windows Media Player controls in PowerPoint can also solve this error:

Step 1. Open PowerPoint and go to file> Options.

Step 2. Go to the Customize Ribbon option, choose "developer", then click "OK".

choose developer

Step 3. Go to Developer in the menu, and add "Windows Media Player" in More Controls.

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Method 4: Update the Installed Drivers on Windows

If you haven't updated your system's drivers in a long time, it can lead to PowerPoint couldn't insert a movie from the selected file in certain programs. To update the drivers, you can utilize the search feature in the taskbar to locate the Device Manager.

device manager

Launch the Device Manager application to access the installed drivers and choose the Sound, Video, and Game Controller options. You can update or reset any driver from this page by right-clicking on the respective driver and selecting the desired action from the context menu.

Method 5:Install a K-Lite Codec Pack on Your Computer

PowerPoint uses installed codecs on your computer to play inserted videos. If you encounter the error above, even when the video is in a compatible format, it indicates that the necessary codec for video playback is either missing or incompatible. To resolve this, you can install a third-party video codec like K-Lite Codec Pack to help PowerPoint recognize and insert different videos successfully. Here's how you can do it:

Step 1. Once you have finished the download, double-click the "K-Lite_Codec_Pack_1752_Standard.exe" file and select Advanced mode.

choose advanced

Step 2. Choose your preferred player as the default video and audio player. Then click on "Next".

installation prefenrences

Step 3. On the MPC-HC configuration window, press "Next". Place all the checkmarks under Hardware Acceleration next to the Decoding Method.

default setting

Step 4. Press "Decline" when you are asked to install additional software.

click accept

Step 5. Press "Install".

press install

Method 6: Enable the Media Compatibility

Another convenient method to resolve the issue of being unable to insert a video in PowerPoint is by utilizing the Optimize Media Compatibility feature within the program. Here's how you can use it.

Step 1. Open your PowerPoint presentation. Choose file and then select Info.

Step 2. Press "the Optimize Media Compatibility" option.

Step 3. Wait for the PowerPoint itself to optimize the video file.

Pro Tips: How to Avoid Video Corruption

Though you can fix your video files using several ways mentioned before, it is crucial to protect your videos proactively. Regardless of how effective the solutions for fixing files may be, the repair process can still be troublesome. To simplify things, here are some valuable tips to help you prevent damage to your video files in the future:

  • 🗂️Make a copy of the information before making any changes.
  • 📀Use multiple backup methods, such as USB, CD, DVD, and cloud storage.
  • 🦠Keep your operating system and antivirus software up to date.
  • 🧑‍💻Use backup and recovery software.

Knowledge Center: Causes of PowerPoint Cannot Insert a Video from Selected File

Some common causes are given as follows:

📽️Corrupted video file If the video file you want to include in your PowerPoint presentation is damaged or corrupted, you won't be able to insert it successfully.
💼Missing file Suppose the video file you want to insert into your presentation is missing. In that case, you might encounter an error message in PowerPoint stating that it cannot insert the video from the selected file.
MS Office doesn't support the video's codec and format PowerPoint has limitations on the supported video file formats and codecs, and sometimes PowerPoint doesn't play any video. Therefore, if you encounter an error while inserting a video file with an unsupported format or codec, you will need to either convert the file to a compatible format or install the necessary codec.

PowerPoint Cannot Insert a Video from Selected File FAQs

If you still have any problems, you can read the following questions and answers to fix PowerPoint cannot insert a video from selected file.

1. Why can't I insert a MOV file into PowerPoint?

  • The MOV video file you are attempting to load might be missing or relocated. To resolve this, simply navigate to the Explorer on your system and verify the path of the MOV video you wish to insert into PowerPoint.
  • The MOV video file could also be damaged, or its meta component may have been altered. If this occurs, you must fix such files using a video repair tool.
  • The MOV format or codec is not compatible/supported.

2. Why won't my MP4 play in PowerPoint?

Verify if the video or audio file you have inserted is in a compatible format for PowerPoint. If it is not, attempt to convert the unsupported media to a supported file format using online conversion tools. We suggest converting video files to an MP4 format with H.264 video encoding and AAC audio for optimal playback. The absence of  PowerPoint 64-bit codec may also be a leading reason.

3. How do you embed a video from a file in PowerPoint?

To add a video to a specific slide in Normal view, follow these steps:

  1. Select the desired slide.
  2. Go to the Insert tab and tap on Video, then choose Movie from File.
  3. Select the file you wish to insert in the Choose a Movie dialog box.
  4. Click Insert to embed the video directly onto the slide.

4. What type of video file can you insert into a PowerPoint?

Windows video file (ASF, AVI) MP4 video file (MP4, M4V, MOV).

Conclusion

This guide describes how to fix PowerPoint cannot insert a video from selected file. Sometimes, the corrupted video files can be repaired if you employ Windows Media Player controls, convert the file type to another one, update the installed drivers, or use a third-party codec pack, but not always. 

If the above methods do not work, you can consider using EaseUS FixoVideo Repair, which is a specialized video repair tool designed to repair damaged videos. In case you are still in doubt, contact EaseUS Fixo Video Repair support.

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author Finley

Finley

Finley is interested in reading and writing articles about technical knowledge. Her articles mainly focus on file repair and data recovery.

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