Recommended formats
Video: .mp4 files encoded with H.264 video and AAC audio
Audio: .m4a files encoded with AAC audio
These names and formats may sound complicated, but you can easily convert to and use these formats without having to know anything more than the names.
Supported video file formats
|
File Format |
Extension |
|---|---|
|
Windows Video file (Some .avi files may require additional codecs) |
.asf |
|
Windows Video file (Some .avi files may require additional codecs) |
.avi |
|
MP4 Video file* |
.mp4, .m4v, .mov |
|
Movie file |
.mpg or .mpeg |
|
Windows Media Video file |
.wmv |
* When you are using Windows 7 running on a virtual machine (VM), the QuickTime Player is required to be installed for playing MP4 video files. (Read Download QuickTime for Windows, on the Apple site, for more information.)
Supported audio file formats
|
File format |
Extension |
|---|---|
|
AIFF Audio file |
.aiff |
|
AU Audio file |
.au |
|
MIDI file |
.mid or .midi |
|
MP3 Audio file |
.mp3 |
|
Advanced Audio Coding - MPEG-4 Audio file |
.m4a, .mp4 |
|
Windows Audio file |
.wav |
|
Windows Media Audio file |
.wma |
Additional information
-
If you experience slow playback, a lag between audio and video, audio stuttering, or frames being lost, see Tips for improving audio and video playback and compatibility.
-
PowerPoint may also support additional file types if you install additional codecs on your PC. If you want to learn about finding codecs for your PC, read Are you having playback issues (in PowerPoint)?
-
Certain older video file formats may not compress or export properly in Office on a Windows RT PC. Instead, use modern media formats such as H.264 and Advanced Audio Coding (AAC).
See Also
Add audio to your presentation
Insert and play a video file from your computer
File formats that are supported in PowerPoint
Video recommendations
.mp4 files encoded with H.264 video and AAC audio
Audio recommendations
.m4a files encoded with AAC audio
These names and formats sound complicated, but you can easily convert to and use these formats without having to know anything more than the names.
Audio from the iTunes Store may not play back when shared
Music files purchased from the iTunes Store can only be played on authorized computers, so people whom you share presentations with might be unable to play iTunes files.
PowerPoint for macOS supported formats
Supported video file formats
|
File Format |
Extension |
|---|---|
|
AVI movie (Some .avi files may require additional codecs) |
.avi or .vfw |
|
MPEG-4 movie |
.mp4, .mpg4 |
|
Apple MPEG-4 movie |
.m4v |
|
MPEG movie |
.mpg, .mpeg, .mpe, .m75, .m15 |
|
MPEG-2 video |
.m2v |
|
MPEG-2 Transport Stream |
.ts |
|
QuickTime movie |
.mov or .qt |
|
DVI movie |
.dif |
Supported audio file formats
|
File format |
Extension |
|---|---|
|
AIFF Audio file |
.aiff or .aif |
|
AU Audio file |
.au or .snd |
|
MP3 Audio file |
.mp3 or .mpga |
|
MP2 audio |
.mp2 |
|
MPEG-4 Audio file |
mp4 or .mpg4 |
|
Waveform Audio file |
.wav, .wave, .bwf |
|
Audible.com audio |
.aa or .aax |
|
Apple MPEG-4 audio |
.m4a |
|
Advanced Audio Coding - MPEG-2 Audio file |
.aac or .adts |
|
Apple CoreAudio format |
.caf |
|
Ringtone |
.m4r |
|
AC-3 audio |
.ac3 |
|
Enhanced AC-3 audio |
.eac3, .ec3 |
Windows Media files (.wmv, .wma) aren't supported on PowerPoint for macOS. There are a number of third- party tools for Mac that can convert your .wmv or .wma file to one of the supported formats listed above.
Alternatively, if you have a Microsoft 365 subscription that includes Microsoft Stream, you can upload the .wmv or .wma file to Stream and insert it into your presentation from there. Learn more about Microsoft Stream.
Audio from the iTunes Store may not play back when shared
Music files purchased from the iTunes Store can only be played on authorized computers, and people with whom you share presentations might be unable to play iTunes files.
Supported video file formats
|
File Format |
Extension |
|---|---|
|
MP4 Video file |
.mp4, .m4v, .mov |
|
Movie file |
.mpg or .mpeg |
Supported audio file formats
|
File format |
Extension |
|---|---|
|
AIFF Audio file |
.aiff |
|
AU Audio file |
.au |
|
MP3 Audio file |
.mp3 |
|
Advanced Audio Coding - MPEG-4 Audio file |
.m4a, .mp4 |
Supported video file formats
|
File Format |
Extension |
|---|---|
|
MP4 Video file |
.mp4 |
|
VP8, VP9 |
.mkv |
Supported audio file formats
|
File format |
Extension |
|---|---|
|
MP3 Audio file |
.mp3 |
|
Windows Audio file |
.wav |
|
MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) |
.mid, .midi |
Insert media into your slide
Once you have a converted media file in a suitable format with the correct encoding, go back to the PowerPoint slide where you want to insert your video or audio file. On the Insert tab of the ribbon, click Audio or Video. (For complete details about inserting the media file, see Insert and play a video file from your computer or Add audio to your slides.)
