Everyone knows how easy it is to add a video to a PowerPoint slide show, but did you know that you can also do it with PDFs? It is now possible. That's great because adding videos to PDFs is a great way to make them more interactive and multimedia. If you want to use a video to help explain something, this tool can be helpful for training materials, presentations, or any other document.
There are a few different reasons why you might want to include videos in a PDF. Imagine that you are in the process of producing a training manual and that you wish to add a video demonstration of a certain procedure. Or, let's assume you are giving a presentation and realize you need to illustrate a point by showing a video clip. In either scenario, you will need to include the video in the corresponding file.
The good news is that you can add videos to PDFs in a number of different ways. And we will talk about three of the most important ones. That being said, we will also talk about some things you should remember while performing this task on different operating systems. Let's go!
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How To Embed Video In A PDF Step-By-Step
There are three different ways in which you can embed video in PDFs. You can embed videos:
- As hyperlinks
- As rich media
- As attachments
In this section, we are going to give you step-by-step guides on how you can easily carry out the task, for each of the three methods.
How To Embed Video As A Hyperlink In A PDF
The first and the best way to embed video is as a hyperlink in a file. It's like adding a clickable movie poster to a book. This allows you to make your PDFs more engaging by including videos that can be played with a simple click.
Here are the steps you need to follow to embed a video as a hyperlink:
- Open the PDF with Microsoft Word.
- Click "Insert," then "Link." From there, you can either enter a web address or choose a video from your computer.
- Alternatively, right-click your text and select "Link" (you can also press "Ctrl+K"). In the window that appears, paste the video's address and click "OK" to add it to your document.
- Save your document as a Word file.
Once done, it's time to convert the Word file to PDF. You can use FormatPDF's "Word To PDF" online converter to transform your file. The steps are as follows:
- Go to https://www.formatpdf.com/en/word-to-pdf/
- Click on "Select Word File" and upload the document, or else, you can drag it onto the "OR DRAG AND DROP THE WORD HERE" box.
- Tap on the "Convert To PDF" button.
- It might take a few seconds, depending on the size of your file. Once done, it will be automatically saved on your device. And that's it, you have the video embedded in your file!
How To Embed Video As Rich Media In A PDF
Rich media is one of the easiest ways to share information online, and it's like a digital toolbox filled with exciting things like videos, animations, various interactive elements, as well as sounds.
Now, if you are thinking about adding a video to a PDF document, Adobe Acrobat DC is the expert in this case. It's professional PDF editing software that allows you to embed videos in a file. Moreover, it comes with different functionalities to help you edit, crop, and combine PDFs.
Adding a video to PDFs is super simple with Adobe Acrobat DC, and here's how you can do it:
- First, download or install Adobe Acrobat DC on your computer or smartphone.
- Then open Adobe Acrobat DC on your device. You can do this by double-clicking the desktop shortcut or clicking on its icon on your phone.
- Find the "File" menu and click "Open." Select the PDF in which you want to add the video.
- Click on the "Tool" menu at the top-left corner of your screen. Remember, it might also be in the "More Tools" section on the right toolbar.
- You will find three options, which are Add 3D, Add Video, or Add Sound. Remember, some of these features might require payment. Click on the "Add Video" option.
- Choose the video you want to embed on the PDF by browsing your device. Once you have selected it, use the mouse or your fingers to place it where you desire it to be.
And there you have it! You see how simple it is to embed videos in PDFs.
How To Embed Video As An Attachment In A PDF
Attachments are generally used to add descriptions of related materials, such as documents, videos, pictures, audio, or group builds. So, if you have a video saved on your computer, smartphone, or tablet, you can easily embed it into PDFs as an attachment.
However, you will need to use a PDF editor like Adobe Acrobat to do this. It's a popular PDF editor and, moreover, the best part is it's easy to use and supports a wide range of video formats. Also, the videos you embed can be played back in most PDF viewers.
The steps to embed videos as an attachment are as follows:
- Install or download Adobe Acrobat on your device.
- Then, open your PDF file in the app. You can do this by right-clicking on the PDF and choosing "Open with" and then picking "Adobe Acrobat." Alternatively, you can make Adobe Acrobat your default PDF opener so that all the new PDFs are open in it by default.
- Click on the "Edit PDF" option and select the "More" button.
- Finally, tap on "Attach File" in the toolbar.
- Browse to the location of the media file and select it.
- Click on the "Open" button.
What You Need To Know About Embedding Video In PDFs
Now that you know various ways to embed videos, it's time to learn a few things that will help you carry out the task more effectively and efficiently. While adding a video to a file, keep these things in mind:
- The video file that you want to embed must be in a supported format. Some of the most common supported formats are MP4, MOV, and AVI.
- Obviously, your video needs to be small enough to fit in your document. That's because the larger your media is, the larger your file will be.
- In case you want to embed a long video, it's better if you consider embedding it as an attachment instead of embedding it directly in the PDF file. This will make your file smaller and easier to share.
- Of course, you might need to adjust the video settings, such as the resolution and playback speed. This way, the file will play smoothly.
- Always make sure that the media you want to add to a PDF is compatible with the PDF reader you are using. Remember that not every reader supports all video formats.
- Moreover, you can insert annotations into the video, like highlights or captions.
Which Programs Allow You To Embed Video In PDFs
Although they do work on other operating systems, the three methods mentioned above primarily focus on how to embed videos in PDFs on Windows PCs.
However, it's important to keep in mind that not everyone uses Windows; some prefer Mac or Linux. In fact, some also want to do this from a smartphone or tablet. So let's see how.
Embed Video In A PDF On A PC
Obviously, it's simpler to embed videos in PDFs on your computer than on a mobile device. Just make sure you know what kind of operating system you are using, for instance, Windows, Mac, or Linux. That's important because it will help you pick the right program to install. So, without further ado, let's get into it!
Windows
If you are a Windows user, you are in luck. That's because you can use any of the three methods mentioned above to embed videos in PDFs. However, we do suggest embedding your videos as attachments because it's easy and requires minimum effort. Well, you will need to install Adobe Acrobat on your PC.
Mac
Mac users, on the other hand, can use the built-in PDF editor "Pages" to embed a video in a file. The steps are super easy:
- Open your file.
- Go to the "Tools" menu, then select "Rich Media."
- Click on the "Add Video" button.
- Choose the media file you want to embed.
- And there you have it!
Linux
The process of embedding a video in a file on Linux is pretty simple, especially if you use a good PDF editor. You can use LibreOffice Draw, which is one of the best editors for Linux computers:
- First of all, open the PDF.
- Select "Media" under the "Insert" menu.
- Then click on "Video" and select the media file you want to embed. Easy!
Embed Video In A PDF On A Smartphone Or Tablet
If you don't have a computer nearby and still need to embed videos in a file, don't worry. There are tons of alternatives available that allow us to carry out the task on smartphones or tablets, whether it's Android or iOS.
Android
There is a mobile version of Adobe Acrobat for Android that you can install from the Google Play Store, and then follow the steps above to embed videos in PDFs.
However, you can find various other free apps on the Play Store in case you don't want to subscribe to Adobe. Also, there are online programs that allow embedding videos too.
iPhone (iOS) Or iPad
Just like in Android, you can install the mobile version of Adobe for your iPhone or iPad.
But, if you don't want to use it, you can look for other alternatives on the Apple App Store that are compatible with iOS devices. For instance, you can use GoodReader, PDF Expert, iAnnotate, and Xodo PDF Reader, which allow you to embed videos.