https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zhgX7VNoGs
Hey everyone, in this tutorial, I’m going to show you exactly how to embed a video into Canva in a way that actually plays.
It’s easy to drop a video in, but the tricky part is getting it to play outside Canva—like after you download it. So let’s walk through what works, what doesn’t, and what I recommend you do instead.
Method 1: Embed the Video Directly in Canva
Option 1: Paste the Video Link Directly
- Open your Canva design.
- Copy the URL of your YouTube video.
- Paste it directly into your canvas. Canva will embed the video automatically.
At this point, it looks like it works. You can resize the video, press play, and it plays right there inside Canva. Simple enough.
Option 2: Try Using the YouTube App
- Click “Apps” in the left menu.
- Search for the “YouTube” app.
- Paste in your video link and insert it.
Again, you can see the video and hit play. So far so good… right?
Why This Method Fails
Here’s the issue: as soon as you try to download the design, the video doesn’t work. I tested it with all formats: PDF Print, PDF Standard, JPEG, MP4 Video, and even PPTX.
None of them play the embedded video.
PDF shows just a thumbnail, MP4 ignores the embed completely, and PowerPoint might not even display it. It just doesn’t work once it leaves Canva.
Method 2: Add a Clickable Link to an Image
Step 1: Insert an Image or Text
Take a screenshot of your video (like a thumbnail), or insert any image, or even a shape or text that says “Click to watch video”.
Step 2: Add a Hyperlink
- Select the image or text.
- Click the Link button from the top bar.
- Paste the YouTube video link into the field.
Now the image or text becomes clickable.
Step 3: Download as PDF
- Click “Share” > “Download”.
- Select either PDF Standard or PDF Print.
- Download the file.
When someone opens this PDF and clicks the linked image or text, it opens the YouTube video in a browser. This works 100% of the time.
Why I Prefer This Method: This is the only method that works if you plan to share or download your Canva design and still want the video to play.
It’s easy, reliable, and doesn’t require viewers to be inside Canva.
Bonus: Things I Tried That Didn’t Work
- Downloading the embedded video as an MP4: Makes my whole Canva file a video
- Downloading as JPEG: Just shows static image, no play function (this is obvious)
- Creating a public view link: shows the whole design, but doesn’t play the video either.
I tested every option Canva offers, and the only consistent way to get a video to play from a Canva design is either by presenting it live in Canva or linking it via PDF.
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30-Day Free Access
Try out all Canva PRO features
- 1-Click Background Remover
- Create Designs in Bulk
- 1-Click Design Resize
- 100M+ Stock Content
- 600K+ Templates
- Transparent background PNG files
30-Day Free Access
Try out all Canva Pro features
- 1-Click Background Remover
- Create Designs in Bulk
- 1-Click Design Resize
- 100M+ Stock Content
- 600K+ Templates
- Transparent background PNG files
