How to Embed a TikTok in Google Slides

Putting a TikTok directly into your Google Slides presentation can transform a mundane slide into a dynamic, attention-grabbing moment. Whether you're showcasing brilliant user-generated content, demonstrating a marketing trend, or just adding a bit of modern energy to your deck, a well-placed TikTok works wonders. This guide will walk you through the simplest method to embed any TikTok video into your slides and offer some best practices for doing it effectively.

Why Use TikTok Videos in Your Presentations?

Before we get into the "how," let's quickly cover the "why." A static presentation can lose an audience's attention quickly. Videos break up the monotony, and TikToks, in particular, bring a level of authenticity and cultural relevance that no stock video can match. They are perfect for:

• Illustrating a Point: A 15-second video can often explain a concept or show a product in action more effectively than five minutes of talking.
• Providing Social Proof: Featuring customer testimonials or user-generated content (UGC) in TikTok format builds instant credibility.
• Boosting Engagement: A funny, clever, or surprising video can re-energize a room and make your message more memorable.
• Showcasing Your Brand's Personality: Including your own brand's TikToks is a fantastic way to connect your social media marketing efforts to other parts of your business, like sales presentations or internal meetings.

The problem? Google Slides doesn't have a native "Insert TikTok" feature. You can't just copy and paste a link like you can with YouTube. But don't worry, the workaround is straightforward and gives you complete control over how the video plays.

The Easiest Method: Download, Drive, Display

The most reliable way to get a TikTok playing smoothly in your slide deck involves three main stages: getting the video file, uploading it to your Google Drive, and then inserting it into Google Slides. It might sound like a few extra steps, but it puts you in the driver's seat and avoids any weird linking or embedding issues.

Step 1: Download the TikTok Video as an MP4 File

First, you need to get a high-quality video file of the TikTok you want to use. The TikTok app itself often places a watermark on saved videos and might not always offer the simplest download path.

Your best bet is to use a third-party TikTok downloader website. There are many free options available with a quick search for "TikTok video downloader." The process is generally the same for all of them:

1. Find the TikTok you want to use. Tap the Share icon and select "Copy link."
2. Go to your chosen TikTok downloader website in your browser.
3. Paste the link into the text field on the site and click the download button.
4. You'll typically be given a few options. Choose the option to download the video without a watermark as an MP4 file. The video will save to your computer's "Downloads" folder.

A quick note on etiquette and copyright: Always try to use your own brand's TikToks. If you're using someone else's content, it's best practice to get their permission or, at the very least, give them clear credit on the slide. Using content for internal educational purposes is generally safer than for public-facing commercial use.

Step 2: Upload the Video File to Your Google Drive

Now that you have the MP4 file on your computer, you need to get it into your Google ecosystem. Google Drive is the perfect place to store it, as Google Slides can access your Drive files directly.

1. Navigate to drive.google.com and sign in to the same Google account associated with your Google Slides presentation.
2. Click the "+ New" button in the top-left corner.
3. Select "File upload."
4. Locate the MP4 file you just downloaded and select it. The file will begin uploading to your Drive.

Google may need a few minutes to process the video after it finishes uploading. You'll know it's ready when you can see a thumbnail preview of the video instead of a generic file icon. You can even double-click it to make sure it plays correctly within Drive.

Step 3: Insert the Video from Google Drive into Your Slide

This is where it all comes together. Once your video is processed and ready in Google Drive, adding it to your presentation is simple.

1. Open your Google Slides presentation and go to the slide where you want the video to appear.
2. Click on "Insert" from the top menu bar.
3. Hover over "Video" in the dropdown menu.
4. A new window will pop up. Select the "Google Drive" tab.
5. Your most recent files should appear at the top, including the TikTok video you just uploaded. Select it. (If you can't find it, you can use the search bar to look for the file name).
6. Click the blue "Select" button at the bottom.

Voila! The TikTok video is now embedded directly onto your slide. You can click and drag it to a new position or use the corner handles to resize it, just like any other image or shape.

Customizing Playback and Formatting

Simply inserting the video is only half the battle. To make it truly effective, you'll want to adjust how it looks and plays. With the video selected on your slide, a "Format options" sidebar should appear on the right. If it doesn't, right-click the video and choose "Format options."

Here are the most important settings to configure:

Video playback

• Play (on click): This is the default. The video will only start when you click on it during the presentation.
• Play (automatically): This is often the best option for a seamless experience. The video will begin playing as soon as you transition to that slide.
• Play (manual): This requires you to hit the play button on the video player bar itself during the presentation. "Automatically" is usually a better choice.

Position

• Start at / End at: This is a powerful feature. You don't have to show the entire TikTok. If you only need a specific 5-second clip to make your point, you can set the start and end times here. This keeps your presentation snappy and focused.
• Mute audio: If the video is purely for visual impact and you plan to speak over it, you can check this box to mute the sound. This is great for creating an ambient visual without distracting audio.

After adjusting the settings, click "Present" in the top-right corner to test the slide and confirm the video plays exactly how you want it to.

Other Options and What to Avoid

You might be wondering if there are other, more direct ways to get a TikTok into a slide. Here are a couple of common questions and why the download-and-upload approach is usually superior.

Can't I just link to the TikTok?

Yes, you can. You could take a screenshot of the TikTok, place it on your slide, and then hyperlink the image to the actual TikTok URL. When you click it during your presentation, it will open the video in a new browser tab.

The Downside: This method pulls your audience out of the presentation flow. It interrupts your deck, relies on a steady internet connection popping up a new window, and looks far less professional than having the video play directly within the slide. It’s a good backup option, but true embedding is much smoother.

What about screen recording?

You could also play the TikTok on your phone or computer and use a screen recording tool to capture it. Then, you would upload that recording to Google Drive.

The Downside: This often results in lower video quality than a direct download. You might accidentally capture other parts of your screen, like the user interface or notifications. The download method gives you a clean, high-resolution source file every time.

Best Practices for a Great Presentation

Now that you know how to embed the video, here are a few tips to make sure it enhances, rather than distracts from, your message.

• Give Credit Where It's Due: If the video isn't yours, add a small text box at the bottom of the slide with "Credit: @username" from TikTok. It's a respectful and professional gesture.
• Provide Context: Don't just show a video out of the blue. Introduce it by telling your audience what they are about to see and why it's relevant. After it plays, summarize the key takeaway.
• Trim for Impact: Shorter is almost always better. Use the "Start at / End at" formatting options to isolate the most impactful moment of the video. Your goal isn't to entertain for a minute, it's to reinforce your point in seconds.
• Test Everything: Before the big presentation, run through the slide deck in "Present" mode on the actual device you'll be using. Confirm the video autoruns as expected, the audio is on (or off), and that everything is positioned correctly.

Final Thoughts

Adding TikToks to your Google Slides is a game-changer for creating more engaging and modern presentations. By following the simple process of downloading the MP4, uploading it to Google Drive, and inserting it into your slide, you can seamlessly integrate dynamic video content and give it a professional-looking finish with custom playback options.

Using these videos is a great way to highlight the winning content you're already creating for your social platforms. At Postbase, we believe managing that content should be just as seamless. We built our platform to make planning, scheduling, and analyzing your social media – especially short-form video for TikTok, Reels, and Shorts – incredibly straightforward. Instead of wrestling with outdated tools, you can use our visual calendar and centralized inbox to manage everything in one place, freeing you up to focus on creating content worth sharing in your next presentation.