The core WordPress has a video embed feature which allows you to embed a video in WordPress very easily. This video embed feature was included in WordPress 3.6 which made it easier for you to embed a video in WordPress without having to install a plugin. In this post, I will show you how you can directly embed a remotely hosted video in WordPress or a video that you have uploaded to your WordPress media library.
Usage
The easiest way to embed a video in WordPress is to copy and paste it into your post/page editor.
http://example.com/wp-content/uploads/myvideo.mp4Please note that this option will only work on a self-hosted WordPress site where you can install plugins/themes. So if your website is hosted elsewhere (e.g. wordpress.com), make sure to move to a managed WordPress hosting environment. If you wish to embed a video in lightbox you will need to use the Lightbox Ultimate plugin.
Insert from Media Library (Classic Editor)
While you are writing content in the classic visual editor, you can click on the Add Media button to upload and insert a video into the post/page.
Once the video is embedded, you will be able to see a preview of the thumbnail even before publishing it.
Video Options
Embedding a video by directly pasting the URL is easier. But if you use the video shortcode you will have more customization options.
Currently, the video shortcode supports the following options.
src
This is the source of your video file. It is recommended to use mp4 file format since it is compatible with most browsers (including browsers running on mobile devices).
[video src="https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/myvideo.mp4"]
You can specify other file formats to allow for graceful fallbacks.
- mp4
- m4v
- webm
- ogv
- wmv
- flv
[video mp4="http://example.com/wp-content/uploads/myvideo.mp4" ogv="http://example.com/wp-content/uploads/myvideo.ogv" mov="http://example.com/wp-content/uploads/myvideo.mov"]
poster
“poster” attribute defines an image to show as a placeholder before the video plays.
[video src="https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/myvideo.mp4" poster="http://example.com/wp-content/uploads/poster.jpg"]
loop
“loop” attribute allows for the looping of a video. If set to “on” the video will start over again every time it is finished.
[video src="https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/myvideo.mp4" loop="on"]
autoplay
“autoplay” attribute causes the video to automatically play as soon as it is ready.
[video src="https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/myvideo.mp4" autoplay="on"]
preload
“preload” attribute defines if and how the video should be load when the page loads. Default is “metadata”.
- metadata – only metadata should load when the page loads.
- none – the video should not load when the page loads.
- auto – the video should load entirely when the page loads.
[video src="https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/myvideo.mp4" preload="auto"]
width
“width” attribute defines the width of the video.
[video src="https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/myvideo.mp4" width="640"]
height
“height” attribute defines the height of the video.
[video src="https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/myvideo.mp4" height="360"]
It’s better not to specify a width and height in the shortcode. WordPress will fit the video in the content area with the best possible width and height (keeping the aspect ratio). This will also make the video responsive.
How to Embed a WMV Video in WordPress
WMV is a Windows Media Video file compressed with Microsoft’s video compression formats. This format is normally used in Windows to store videos on your computer. Since WMV is not an HTML5 compatible video format, it’s not possible to play this type of video file in a modern browser.
If you have a WMV video file that you wish to play on your WordPress site, you should encode it to a supported HTML5 video format instead (e.g. MP4, WebM, and Ogg). You can do this very easily these days with a free video encoder like handbrake.
First, Select the video file on your computer and open it using Handbrake.
Now select a destination where the encoded video file will be saved. Make sure to keep the Web Optimized option enabled. Click Start Encode.
You can upload the newly generated video file to your server and embed using the above method.
Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links. If you follow one of those affiliate links and purchase something it will provide me with a little bit of a commission. This costs you nothing extra but helps maintain my site, free plugins, and themes. So I thank you for your support.
Johnny says
Hi
How can I also get an End Poster Image (endscreen) with a link. Anyone knows a plugin for that?
Thansk 🙂
admin says
@Johnny, the poster is an HTML5 video attribute that can only be shown until the user clicks on the play button.
Johnny says
Thank you Admin
What I’m looking for is a image that comes after the video. Like an Ad.
Is there a WP plugin for that?
Johnny 🙂
Gwendolyn says
Hi,
How do I have an embedded youtube video autoplay?
I’ve tried the code you’ve provided here: autoplay=”on” and that does not work.
The following list below is also code that I’ve tried which hasn’t work:
&autoplay=1
?autoplay=1
?autoplay=1&cc_load_policy=1.
admin says
@Gwendolyn, I don’t think the WordPress oEmbed API supports autoplay for a YouTube video.
Vanessa says
Hi When I use this the poster image I specify fills the space available on the page (full width) rather than constricted by the video dimensions. Then when you click the play button the video shrinks down the dimensions I specified. I have both width and height specified. Do you know how I can restrict the poster size from expanding outside the video?
Yamen says
Hi,
Is there any way to disable navigation bar from embadded video?
I’m trying to add video with autopllay, auto loop and without ‘play’, ‘stop’ etc. buttons.
Is it possible to do?
Thanks!
admin says
@Yamen, You should be able to do this with CSS. I added this CSS code to my theme customizer (Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS):
.mejs-controls{
display: none;
}
Yamen says
Th ank you
2drumstix says
How would one align the video center?
BTW, my videos would only show the size be using both width & height.
Charlotte says
Hi!
I’m adding a mp4 video with autoplay, loop and preload. It all looks great except for a spiral loading effect that appear after each loop. Do you know how to I get rid of it?
Thanks 🙂
admin says
@Charlotte, Please provide a link to the page in question so I can take a look.
SVEDrilling says
Great post!! Thanks for sharing!!
decanter says
I specify fills the space available on the page (full width) rather than constricted by the video dimensions. Then when you click the play button the video shrinks down the dimensions I specified. I have both width and height specified. Do you know how I can restrict the poster size from expanding outside the video?
admin says
@decanter, Please provide a link to the page in question so I can take a closer look at the issue.
Atif Mehboob says
Hi, I tried all your instructions and successfully added the video, now just one thing is remain, I want the video to full width on page please help me,
Thanks
admin says
@Atif, It should already take up the full space of the content area. Are you using a shortcode or did you just copy and paste the video URL? Please provide a link to the page in question so I can take a look.
Jenny says
My videos are cut off when embedded in my blog. Could you show me how to fix it? Thanks a lot.
admin says
@Jenny, What shortcode are you using? Please provide a link to the page where you are having this issue.
Kari Bovasso says
Hi there, none of these are working for me:
http://www.schusterfamilylaw.com/videos/Can you view it and see if you can tell me what is wrong?
admin says
@Kari, If you directly open this URL in your browser you will see that it goes to a 404 (not found) page:
http://www.schusterfamilylaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/1.-Adoption-1.mp4Ionna says
Do you know if it’s possible to add videos made in a app like mago video to your site ?
jenny says
i set the video to autoplay but it doesn’t auto play. could you help? also i added the code for no player control but it shows up as well.
Slappy McPhee says
I just like 2drumstix am needing guidance on being able to justify where the video is oriented on my website. Also when in the editor on WP I am seeing that the video window is spanning the entire horizontal space that it sits in. I would like to know how I could wrap test around it or have it say on the right side and then the text on the left? Thanks for any help in advance!
Ollie says
I have many videos embedded on my website. No issues on normal browsers. However seems to not load any of them on mobile devices. Is there an easy fix for this?
nowak says
Great tutorial!!! Thanks.