Jan 27, 2024 • Filed to: Photo/Video/Audio Solutions • Proven solutions
While inserting videos in a PowerPoint file, a lot of users encounter this unwanted problem. From an unavailable file to a corrupt application, there could be all kinds of reasons behind this problem.
The good news is that this PowerPoint error can easily be fixed if you follow the right approach. Read on and get to know how to fix this issue in this PowerPoint cannot insert a video by 7 methods from the selected file troubleshooting guide.
If you have got the "PowerPoint cannot insert a video from the selected file (MP4)" error message, then I would recommend trying to diagnose the problem first. Ideally, you could have also encountered one of the following reasons for this PowerPoint issue.
Now when you know what could have caused the "PowerPoint cannot insert a video from the selected file: verify that the path and file format are correct" error, let's learn how to fix it.
It has been observed that software or logical errors are mostly some common reasons behind this PowerPoint issue. Therefore, if you have also got the PowerPoint cannot insert a video from the selected file error, then follow these suggestions.
As the error prompt states, the video file that you are trying to load might be unavailable or has the wrong path. To fix this, you can just go to Explorer on your system and check the path of the video. You can also copy the video and paste it on any other secure path (like the default My Videos folder).
Besides that, you can also play the file with a few applications (by right-clicking it) and check whether the video loads or not.
This might sound surprising, but a lot of video formats are not supported by PowerPoint. For instance, if you have PowerPoint 2010 or 2013, then some MPEG files with fast bit rates won't be compatible with the application.
The easiest way to fix this PowerPoint cannot insert a video from the selected file issue with MP4 videos is the conversion of the file. You can go to any online tool to convert the video to a supported WMV format. Once the conversion is done, you can save the WMV video, and try to insert it into your presentation instead.
Mostly, the PowerPoint cannot insert a video from the selected file issue that happens due to a corrupt or unsupported video. Therefore, if you think the video you are trying to insert is not supported, then you can use the Media Compatibility feature of PowerPoint.
Step 1. For this, just launch the PowerPoint application on your system and go to its main Menu > File > Info section.
Step 2. Now, visit the Optimization Compatibility feature and just turn it on so that the application will support the inserted media file.
Step 3. Afterward, when you would load your video, the application will automatically detect it and would try to optimize it.
If even after following these methods, the PowerPoint issue sustains, then you can try this approach. By enabling the Developer options in PowerPoint, you can embed Windows Media Player controls in the application. Later, you can use them to insert the video instead of its native feature.
Step 1. Firstly, launch PowerPoint on your system and go to its Menu > File > Option and visit the "Customize" ribbon from here.
Step 2. Now, select "Developer" from the available list and include it in the application.
Step 3. Afterward, you can find a dedicated Developer option in the toolbar. Visit the section and go to More Tools to enable the Windows Media Player Controls in the application.
Step 4. You will get dedicated Windows Media Player controls from here that you can use to import any video to the presentation.
If it has been a while since you have updated the drivers on your system, then it can also cause video playback issues in certain applications. To update its drivers, you can look for "Device Manager" from the search option on the taskbar.
Once the Device Manager application would be launched, go to the "Sound, video, and game controller" option to view the installed drivers. You can right-click any driver and choose to update or reset it from here.
Apart from the video file, there could be an issue with the installed PowerPoint application as well. Therefore, to fix the PowerPoint cannot insert a video from the selected file, you can just repair or uninstall the MS Office suite.
For this, you can go to your system's Settings > Apps and select the installed Office application. From here, you can go to it "Advanced Options".
Once the Advanced Options window will be launched, you can click on the "Repair" or "Reset" option to fix the application. You can also uninstall the application and can later install it again.
Lastly, the PowerPoint cannot insert a video from the selected file issue can happen due to a codec error. It is a compressor-decompressor feature in Windows that is responsible for the encoding of various videos. If the codec pack in your Windows has been outdated, then it can be one of the reasons for this problem.
There are various third-party codec packs that you can install on your Windows. Just visit their website, install the codec pack, and restart your system to check if it fixes the problem or not.
By following the above-listed methods, you can fix the PowerPoint cannot insert a video from the selected file due to software or compatibility issues. Though, this problem can also arise if you are trying to work on a corrupt video. To fix this, you can take the assistance of a reliable application like Wondershare Repairit.
It is a professional video repair tool that features Quick and Advanced video repair algorithms. The tool can get rid of missing fragments, corrupt headers, blurry pictures, syncing problems, and several other logical errors. It supports almost every video format and is known for its high repairing results. To fix a corrupt video using Wondershare Repairit Video Repair, you can follow these steps:
Step 1: Add the Corrupt Video
To start with, you can just launch the Wondershare Repairit Video Repair application and drag-and-drop the video file on it. You can also click on the add button to locate the corrupt video on your system.
Step 2: Repair Your Videos
After loading the video, you can view its details. Now, just click on the "Repair" button and let the application scan the loaded video.
Simply wait for a while for the application to complete the repairing process. Once your videos are repaired, you will be notified.
Step 3: Preview and Save Your Videos
You can now preview the repaired video on the native interface of the application and check if it can fix the issue or not. If you are satisfied with the results, then you can click on the "Save" button to export the repaired file to any location.
Step 4: Perform An Advanced Repair (Optional)
In case the quick scan is not able to fix the video, then it means there is a more severe issue with your file. To fix it, you can click on the "Advanced Repair" option adjacent to the video details. While the advanced repair will take more time, the results would also be superior.
To perform an advanced repair, you first need to load a sample video. The sample video must be of the same format as the corrupt file and shot on the same device. The application will consider this as a baseline while fixing your corrupt video.
With these suggestions, you would be able to fix the "PowerPoint cannot insert a video from the selected file" issue. Though, if you don't want to encounter an issue like this and manage your presentations better, then consider following these tips.
Most of the time, an issue like this takes place when we use an old or outdated version of MS Office. Therefore, you should make a habit of using an updated version of MS Office instead. You can just launch any MS Office application and go to its File > Help or Account feature to check for updates and upgrade the application.
Whether it is your presentation or the video that you wish to embed on the file, make sure that you have its copy. In this way, if the original file has been corrupted, you can easily recover your data from its second copy.
Apart from loading a video from your system's local storage, you can also link an online video to your presentation. Under the Video section in the toolbar, you can choose to link an online video. Here, you need to paste the embedding code for the video and just need a stable internet connection while presenting to play the file.
If you are facing consistent issues with the desktop application of MS PowerPoint, then you can try to use the free Office online tool instead. Besides that, there are some other alternatives like Google Slides, Keynote, Open Office, or Libre Office that you can further explore.
That's a wrap, folks! After reading this guide, you would be able to fix an issue like "PowerPoint cannot insert a video from the selected file: verify that the path and file format are correct". I have come up with common causes and tips to fix any logical or compatibility issue triggering this error. You can try either of these solutions and if your file has been corrupted, then just use Wondershare Repairit Video Repair to fix it.
1. What is the PowerPoint that cannot insert a video from the selected file error?
2. What are the causes of this PowerPoint issue?
3. Why can't I insert a video into my presentation?
4. What is the best video format for PowerPoint?
5. Can I insert an online video in PowerPoint?
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Eleanor Reed
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