How to Embed a YouTube Video in a Google Doc

Google Docs has been a game-changer in the way we keep records and collaborate on projects. You can write just about anything and share it with your family, colleagues, or even your clients and customers. Words, however, are sometimes limited in their capacity to truly carry a message across. Some things are just better illustrated. Think of a DIY assignment. For instance, consider a pasta recipe. Or how to fix a leaking pipe. Wouldn’t it be nice to simply demonstrate how to do these things rather than write a series of paragraphs?

A great video can be the difference between a quality report that provides a one-stop source of information, and mediocre content that leaves your audience unimpressed and unsatisfied.

Luckily, we’re here to help.

In this article, we’re going to see how you can embed a YouTube video in your Google doc.

Is There an In-Built Video Feature on Google Docs?

You can work on your document whenever you want, wherever you are. Your files are always just a few clicks away as long as you have access to a computer or mobile device. All your changes will also save automatically.

Apart from all this convenience, it’s a bit disappointing that we don’t yet have a Google Docs feature that’s tailor-made for sharing of YouTube videos. It’s all a bit surprising since both Google Docs and YouTube are products of the same company – Google.

The beauty of Google Docs, however, is that it’s designed to accommodate plenty of workarounds. You’ll be pleased to learn that there are clever ways to include a YouTube video in your Google Docs that are simple and straightforward.

How to Embed a YouTube Video in a Google Doc

If you’re looking to embed a YouTube video in your next Google Docs project, one of the most creative workarounds may involve yet another member of Google’s suite of apps: Google Slides. Inserting a video in a Slides presentation is a simple task. After that, all you have to do is copy your video and paste it into Google Docs. For convenience, we’re going to discuss how you can do this in two parts. Let’s dive in right away:

Part 1

1. Log into your Google account and launch Google Slides. If you’re using a desktop computer, you can access all of Google’s online apps straight from your Gmail. To do so, simply click on the dotted icon in the top right corner.
   
2. Start a new blank presentation.
   
3. Click on “Insert” in the top menu and then select “Video” in the dropdown.
   
4. In the box that pops up, enter the URL of the YouTube video you’d like to embed. You may have to leave Slides momentarily to fetch the URL. As long as you insert a valid URL, you should be able to see a preview of the video in the box.
   
5. Once the video is found, click on “Select” to add it to your slide.
   
6. Right-click on the video thumbnail and select “Copy.”
   

Part 2

1. Open the Google Doc where you’d like to embed your YouTube video.
   
2. Make sure that the cursor is positioned in the spot where you want the video to appear, and then click on “Insert” in the top menu.
   
3. Select “Drawing” in the dropdown menu and then click on “New.”
   
4. Paste your video’s thumbnail into the drawing pane.
   
5. Click on “Save and Close.” At this point, the video should show up within your document.
   

The handles positioned around your video can be used to adjust frame size. Below the video, you should also see options such as “In Line”, “Break Text”, and “Wrap Text”. These features will help you to move your video around in the document. Unfortunately, your video doesn’t come with a playback button. To play the video, you have to double click on it and then click on the “playback” icon.

How to Embed a YouTube Video in a Google Doc on Mobile (iPhone or Android)

The above steps are only applicable when you’re using a desktop since the mobile Google Slides app doesn’t support inserting a video into your slide deck.

Does that mean you are doomed if you are using a mobile device? Not at all!

You have two options: inserting a hyperlink or converting your video to a GIF.

The first option works just fine, although the user has to leave Google Docs to actually watch the video. Here’s how it works:

1. Select the text you’d like to convert into a hyperlink.
   
2. Click on “Insert” in the top menu then select “Link.”
   
3. In the box that appears, enter the URL to the YouTube video you’d like to link to.
   
4. Click on “Apply.”
   

The selected text turns into a clickable link that opens the video in a new tab.

How about converting the video into a GIF? To do this, you need to find a good GIF maker app. There are plenty of good apps on both the Google Store and App Store, but two of them stand out in particular: GIF Maker-Editor for Android devices and GIF Toaster Pro for iOS devices.

Once you’ve converted your video into a GIF and saved it on your device, do the following:

1. Open Google Slides and launch a new presentation.
   
2. Tap on “+” then select the GIF you’d like to insert.
   

At this point, you can now copy the GIF and paste it into your Google Doc.

How to Put a YouTube Video in a Google Drive Folder

Sometimes after embedding a video, you may want to go the extra mile and save it in a Google Drive folder where you can watch it as many times as you like without heading over to YouTube. Alternatively, your goal could be to share the video privately with colleagues.

To save a YouTube video in a Drive folder, do the following:

1. Open the video and copy the link in the search bar.
   
2. Find a video downloader tool like “savefrom.net.”
3. Enter the link and download the video in the desired format.
   
4. Once you’ve saved the video, open your Google Drive and navigate to the folder where you’d like to save your video.
5. Click on “New”
   
6. Select “File Upload.”
   
7. Proceed to upload the video to your Drive.
   

How to Insert a Non-YouTube Video Into Google Docs

YouTube is a behemoth in video content, and chances are that you’ve used it from marketing your product to enjoying music, shows, and movies. However, all of your videos may not be on the platform. You may have video files that are too confidential to publish. Other times you might have recorded the video yourself but you’re keen to seek the opinion of your team before you finally publish.

In any of these cases, you can still insert the video into Google Docs. Here’s how:

1. Upload the video to Google Drive.
2. Right-click on the video and select “Get Link.” In the box that appears, you can choose to share the link with anyone or confine it to a select group of people.
   
3. Take a screenshot of the video using the inbuilt Windows Snipping Tool or a similar tool of your choice. The screenshot should serve as a placeholder in your Google Doc.
   
4. Open your Doc and position the cursor at the spot where you’d like the video to appear.
5. Place the screenshot in the Doc. To do so, click on “Insert” in the top menu and then select “Image” in the dropdown menu. Then, navigate to the folder where you’ve saved the screenshot.
   
6. Once the screenshot is in position, it’s time to convert it into a link. To do this, highlight the screenshot, select “Insert,” then select “Link.”
   
7. Paste the sharable link copied earlier and then click on “Apply.”
   

Before adding the link, you can use the handles around your screenshot to adjust the size as you see fit. You don’t want an image that’s too large, otherwise, your document may look unprofessional and disorganized.

Additional FAQs

Can I Embed a YouTube Video Directly Into Google Docs?

No. To do this, you have to work with both Google Slides and Google Docs. First, insert the video in Google Slides and then select it and choose “Copy.” Then paste the video in the Drawing Pane under the “Insert” tab in your Google docs.

Can You Put YouTube Videos on Google Slides?

Yes. In order to do this:

• Log into your Google account and launch Google Slides.

• Click on “Insert” in the top menu and then select “Video” in the dropdown.

• In the box that pops up, enter the URL of the YouTube video you’d like to embed.

• Once the video is found, click on “Select” to add it to your slide.

Can I Embed Video From Google Drive?

Yes. To do so, right-click on the video and get a sharable link, then head over to Google Docs and embed the link in a screenshot, which acts as a placeholder.

How Do I Embed a YouTube Video in Google Sites?

• Click on “Insert” in the top menu.

• Select “Video.”

• Select “YouTube” then enter the video’s URL.

• Click on “Save.”

Create Complete Google Docs That Go the Extra Mile

Embedding YouTube videos into your Google Docs can be the perfect way to create engaging content that provides all of the information your audience needs. Thanks to this article, you will know exactly how to go about it.

Do you use Google’s suite of applications in your day-to-day work? What’s your experience embedding YouTube videos in your Google Docs?

Feel free to share in the comments section below.