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How to Fix PowerPoint When a Linked Video Cannot Be Found
Question details
A video within a PowerPoint presentation fails to play because it is linked to a local file on the original creator's computer rather than being embedded in the file.
- Product
- PowerPoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Sharing or attempting to play a presentation containing a video on a different computer or operating system.
- Observed behavior
- The video does not play, and an error may occur indicating that the linked media file or original file path cannot be found.
Ensure you have a way to contact the presentation creator to request the original video file or an updated version of the presentation.
Embed the Video Directly into the Presentation
Embedding the video ensures the media file travels with the presentation, preventing missing link errors across different computers.
When a presentation is shared with a linked video, the recipient's computer cannot access the original local file path. Embedding the video directly into the slides solves this problem by packaging the video securely inside the presentation file itself.
Ask the creator to open the original presentation on the computer where the video file is locally stored.
Navigate to the 'Insert' tab on the ribbon and click on 'Video'.
Choose 'Video on My PC' (or similar option) and select the original video file from the local drive.
Click the 'Insert' button directly. Avoid clicking the drop-down arrow to select 'Link to File'.
Save the updated presentation. The file size will be larger, but it can now be shared and played on any device without missing video errors.
Obtain the Video File and Update the Link
If you cannot get an embedded version from the creator, ask for the original video file and manually insert it into your copy of the presentation.
Use WPS Presentation to Manage and Embed Videos Seamlessly
WPS Office makes it incredibly easy to insert, embed, and manage media files within your slides. By embedding videos directly in WPS Presentation, you guarantee that your multimedia will play flawlessly on any device.
- 1. Open your file: Launch WPS Presentation and open your slide deck.
- 2. Navigate to Insert: Click on the 'Insert' tab located on the top ribbon.
- 3. Embed the video: Click the 'Video' icon, select 'Local Video', and choose your file to securely embed it into your presentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my PowerPoint video play on my computer but not on someone else's?
If the video was inserted using the 'Link to File' option, PowerPoint only saves the file path, not the actual video data. When shared, the other computer cannot access your local file path, causing the video playback to fail.
How can I tell if a video is embedded or linked in PowerPoint?
You can check by going to 'File' > 'Info'. If your presentation contains linked files, you will see an option under 'Related Documents' called 'Edit Links to Files'. If this option is missing, the media is likely embedded.
Does embedding a video increase the PowerPoint file size?
Yes, embedding media will significantly increase the overall file size of your presentation because the entire video file is copied and saved directly within the document.
How can I reduce my presentation file size after embedding a large video?
You can compress the media by navigating to 'File' > 'Info', selecting 'Compress Media', and choosing a lower resolution setting like 'Standard' or 'HD' to optimize the embedded videos without losing the file.
