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 |
|---|---|
| Recommended: MPEG-4 with Advanced Video Coding (H.264) and Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) | .mp4, .m4v |
| QuickTime | .mov |
| WebM | .webm |
Supported audio file formats
| File format | Extension |
|---|---|
| Recommended: MPEG-4 with Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) | .m4a |
| Advanced Audio Coding | .aac |
| MPEG-2 Audio Layer III | .mp3 |
| Waveform Audio File Format | .wav |
Additional information
- Support for Windows Media Video (.wmv, .asf), Windows Media Audio (.wma, .asf), MPEG-2 (.mpg, .mpeg, .mpe), Audio Video Interleave (.avi), Audio Interchange File Format (.aiff, .aif, .aifc), and Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is limited and deprecated in PowerPoint version 2505 and above. Some files in these formats can be inserted into PowerPoint depending on the video and audio encoding used, but they will be converted to MPEG-4 format upon insertion and playback. Insertion and playback of audio in Musical Instrument Digital Interface (.mid, .midi) is no longer supported.
- Web Media Extensions needs to be installed for WebM with Vorbis audio encoding to insert and play in PowerPoint.
- 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).
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.)