How to Add Video to Email: Outlook, Gmail and Beyond
Email remains a powerful channel for businesses, educators, and creators. A short motion moment can lift opens, clicks, and replies, but most email clients do not allow raw MP4 or MOV playback inside the message body. This guide shows practical methods that work everywhere so you can deliver the feeling of video without breaking deliverability.
Why email clients do not play MP4 or MOV inline
- Security Embedded media can be abused, so clients block autoplay video.
- File size Attachments over 20 to 25 MB trigger limits and spam filters.
- Compatibility Devices and clients handle video differently, making consistent playback unreliable.
The fix is simple. Use formats and patterns that are universal, fast, and trackable.
Smart alternatives that work in Outlook, Gmail, Apple Mail, and more
Animated GIF previews
Loop a 5 to 10 second highlight. GIFs render inline in major clients, are lightweight, and create instant motion. Choose a strong first frame for clients that show only a still.
Clickable video thumbnail with play icon
Use a static image with a play button overlay. Link it to the video on your website, YouTube, or a landing page. This looks familiar, keeps emails small, and enables analytics.
Subtle cinemagraphs or short loops
Animate one element for polish and small file sizes. Great for branding, product shots, and lesson intros.
Video landing pages
Send readers to a page that hosts the full video, transcript, and call to action. This improves performance, SEO, and conversions.
How to add video to Outlook email
- Create a short GIF preview of your video.
- In Outlook, open a new message and select Insert → Pictures.
- Place the GIF in the email body.
- Right click the GIF, select Link, and paste the URL to the full video on your site, YouTube, or OneDrive.
- Send a test to confirm the GIF displays and the link works.
Tip Keep the GIF under 2 MB for reliable loading.
How to add video to Gmail
- Upload the full video to YouTube or Google Drive.
- Compose a new email in Gmail.
- Click Insert link and paste your video URL.
- Add a thumbnail with a play icon or drag a short GIF into the email body.
- Send a test to verify the preview displays and the link opens the video.
Tip Gmail supports animated GIFs inline, so short loops work well on mobile.
Best practices that improve results
- Keep previews short Aim for 5 to 10 seconds.
- Design the first frame Communicate the key message in case a client shows only a still.
- Use captions Many recipients view with sound off.
- Optimize for mobile Compress media and test on phones.
- Track clicks Add UTM parameters to links and measure in analytics.
- A/B test Try different thumbnails, GIF lengths, and subject lines.
Use cases where video email shines
- Marketing Product demos, feature launches, customer stories.
- Education Lesson previews, quiz intros, flipped classroom recaps.
- Internal comms Team updates that are faster than long text.
- Events Teasers, highlights, and personalized invites.
Tools that make creation easy
SlideClips allows you to create engaging videos by adding, video, animation, text overlays, and exports in email friendly video, animation, text overlays, and exports in email-friendly formats like GIF. Choose one of our PowerPoint templates and save as a GIF or create a slide deck in the AI Presentation Maker and save as a GIF in PowerPoint.
Frequently asked questions about adding video to email
Can I embed a YouTube video directly into an email?
No. Most clients block direct video playback. Use a clickable thumbnail or a short GIF that links to your YouTube video.
Does Outlook allow inline MP4 playback?
No. Add a GIF or thumbnail with a link to a hosted video.
Will GIFs play in Gmail and Outlook?
Gmail supports animated GIFs inline. Outlook supports them too, but older desktop versions may show only the first frame. Make the first frame count.
What length works best for preview clips?
Keep previews under 10 seconds. Host the full video and link to it.
Will adding video hurt deliverability?
No, as long as you avoid attaching large video files. Use lightweight images or GIFs that link out.
How do I track clicks?
Link your thumbnail or GIF with UTM parameters and measure in analytics and your email platform.
How to Add Video to Outlook Email
- Create a short GIF preview of your video.
- In Outlook, open a new message and select Insert → Pictures.
- Choose your GIF and place it in the email body.
- Right click the GIF, select Link, and paste the URL to the full video on your site, YouTube, or OneDrive.
- Send a test email to confirm the GIF displays and the link works.
Tip Keep the GIF under 2 MB for faster loading.
How to Add Video to Gmail
- Upload the full video to YouTube or Google Drive.
- Open Gmail and compose a new email.
- Click Insert link and paste your video URL.
- Add a thumbnail image with a play icon or drag a short GIF into the email body.
- Send a test email to verify playback and the link target.
Tip Gmail supports animated GIFs inline, so short loops work well.
Next steps
- Create your first preview in SlideClips.
- Pick a template from our PowerPoint templates and save as a GIF.
- Build a quick slide deck in the AI Presentation Maker and export it in PowerPoint as a GIF.
Try it free:
Build a short clip in SlideClips and drop it into your next campaign to see the lift in clicks and replies.
