If you cannot use PowerPoint video background across slides, this post will help you. A video background in PowerPoint adds dynamism and visual appeal to your presentations. Fortunately, you can follow some simple suggestions to fix the error.

How to set a Video as a Background in PowerPoint?

To set up and use a video as a background in PowerPoint, follow these steps:

Browse to the slide you want to set a video background to.

Navigate to Insert > Media and select Video > Video on my PC.

Select the video you want to use, and click Insert.

Next, navigate to Playback > Video Options, click on the drop-down beside Start, and select On Click or Automatically.

Also, if you want the video to be on a loop, check the option Loop until Stopped.

Now, navigate to Slide Show > Set Up and check the Show Media Controls box.

Lastly, go to the Home tab, click Arrange in the Drawing group, and select Send to Back.

Fix Cannot use PowerPoint Video Background across Slides

Follow these suggestions if you cannot use video background across slides in PowerPoint:

1. Check Video Format Compatibility
2. Optimize Video Size and Resolution
3. Set Video Background Using Slide Master

Now, let’s see these in detail.

1] Check Video Format Compatibility

Start by checking if the video your’re trying to set as a background is supported by PowerPoint. The commonly supported formats include MP4, WMV, and AVI. If your video is incompatible, consider converting it to a supported format.

2] Optimize Video Size and Resolution

Large video files or videos with high resolutions can sometimes cause errors or playback problems. Optimize your video by reducing its size/resolution and see if it helps fix the error.

3] Set Video Background Using Slide Master

Lastly, try setting the video background in PowerPoint using the Slide Master. Here’s how:

1. Open PowerPoint, click on View, and select Slide Master.
2. Select the slide you want the set the video background to.
3. Navigate to the Insert tab and select Media > Video > Video on my PC.
4. Select the video you want to use, and click Insert.

Read: PowerPoint failed to load Hlink.dll

I hope this post helps you.

How do I get a video to play across all slides in PowerPoint?

Navigate to the drop-down arrow next to the video in the animations pane and select Effect Options. Next, in the Effect tab, change the Stop Playing option to After and choose the number of slides you want the video to play.

Why won’t my video play in PowerPoint slideshow?

Your video may not play in the PowerPoint slideshow, check if the video’s compatible for PowerPoint. However, it can also occur if the video is huge and has a high resolution.