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Embed YouTube Videos in WordPress

June 19th, 2006
Written By: Adam Sussman


For a while now I’ve been wanting to share videos in my Blog but every time I went to copy the Embed code from YouTube my entire Blog displayed craziness.

Today I wanted to embed another video and finally took a few minutes to figure out what to do.

There are dozens of posts around the web with all these ideas on how to make it work and I found a real simple solution.

In SiteAdmin go to Users and turn off “Use the visual rich editor when writing” then go back to your post and past the Embed code provided by YouTube.

That should do it.

 

Update: March 24, 2007

I am now using version 2.1.2. Putting the videos is as easy as clicking on the Code tab while writing the post and pasting the YouTube or Google embed code. Although there are times when this is not 100%. Try clicking on the Users tab, find your user name and click on Edit. There is a “Your Profile Tab” and a box that say’s “Use the visual editor when writing”. Check this, and click “Update Profile”. This will allow you to turn off the Editor when typing writing posts. Only problem is you have to format your text in HTML, which becomes a pain. Like I mentioned, embed code in the code tab seems to work most of the time.

 

Update: September 01, 2007

If you followed everything on this page and your still having issues, I think I found a bug with certain browsers and WordPress Admin. I wrote a post about it here: Certain Things In Wordpress Admin Not Working? It Could Be Your Browser!


 

 

 

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88 Responses to “Embed YouTube Videos in WordPress”

  1. random click » YouTube video in WordPress
    June 28th, 2006 10:21
    1

    […] Finally I managed to get a YouTube video embeded into one of my posts. I searched the WordPress FAQ’s, forum’s etc but to no avail, the screen was just showing a blank space. Thanks to ShandyKing the one thing they don’t tell you to do (or I was too blind to see and/or stupid to realise) is to insert the code without the rich-text editor turned on. To do this either: […]

  2. randomclick
    June 28th, 2006 10:22
    2

    Thanks, I was messing round with this last night and couldn’t get it to work. The one thing that nowhere mentioned was to turn off the rich-text editor. Fianlly got it!

  3. TrailerSpy
    July 21st, 2006 20:05
    3

    ShandyKing, you are my hero!!! THANK YOU! I have been trying to figure this out for quite some time so that I can actually show movie trailers on my blog about movie trailers. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!

  4. TrailerSpy » Blog Archive » TrailerSpy, now featuring actual trailers!
    July 21st, 2006 20:15
    4

    […] Thanks to Kareem, Jessica, and ShandyKing, TrailerSpy is finally in business! Wahoo! […]

  5. Jebus
    July 31st, 2006 22:36
    5

    This works! A very simple solution. Thanks.

  6. DSW
    August 12th, 2006 05:11
    6

    I didn’t know it was that simple. I tried to post video on my blog before. I will again try to post with this method.

  7. Ben
    August 13th, 2006 10:01
    7

    This didn’t work for me, seems to have worked for everyone else though. I just switch off the visual rich editor then paste the embed code into the text entry area right? No tricks?

  8. Skrollster
    October 5th, 2006 03:54
    8

    i’v finaly manage to embed youtube vids in my blog thanks to you.. thank you very much.. and it was simple..

  9. Joe
    October 23rd, 2006 10:00
    9

    Good tip! Something else to note: for Firefox, remove the “wmode” parameter or you won’t be able to click the play controls.

    It appears twice, once as a block and once in the block:

    I’ve been doing a bunch of tests on WordPress plug-ins to simplify video embedding. I’ve looked at three so far. If anyone’s interested, this will get ya started: Publish YouTube Video on Your Blog.

    I’ll be adding more reviews and tips I discover in the next few days.

  10. Joe
    October 23rd, 2006 10:04
    10

    Oops, you’ve got tags turned off, here’s the stuff that was stripped:

    The code to look for (space added to the left of the tag)

    URL to my site: http://www.vibetechnology.com/vt/2006/09/13/publish-youtube-video-on-your-blog/.

  11. Howard Owens
    November 1st, 2006 00:19
    11

    Well, that didn’t work

  12. Karthik Setty
    November 3rd, 2006 13:01
    12

    Phew! That was simple! Thanks a ton!

  13. vhonne
    November 5th, 2006 20:35
    13

    whew! cool… i’ve been searching for that for a long time… and i didn’t expected… it’s easy… ehehe… thanks a lot… ShandyKing… you’re the one!!!

  14. Nikki
    November 10th, 2006 22:34
    14

    Excellent. I spent a couple of hours searching and luckily landed on your site. Your solution is so much easier than a plugin! Thank you!

  15. PixelFactor
    November 14th, 2006 07:32
    15

    Sweet! Thanks for the help. Ive now uploaded my first video to my blog thanks to your help!

    http://www.pixelfactor.org

    I would like to also re-publish your post, as i feel it may help others….hope this is ok ?

  16. Kidz Rage ! » Embed YouTube Video’s into Blogs
    November 14th, 2006 07:53
    16

    […] via ShadyKing […]

  17. Satty
    November 22nd, 2006 20:01
    17

    Thank you so much!

  18. Nathan
    November 30th, 2006 09:32
    18

    Nice! Thanks for sharing I’ve been trying to figure that out for a while now.

  19. 0wn th3 1n73r.net » Blog Archive » The phone dance
    December 4th, 2006 23:45
    19

    […] P.S. I am so glad I finally found a site that told me how to get YouTube videos to work. […]

  20. DESIGN-O-MATIC » Embedding YouTube videos in WordPress blogs
    December 13th, 2006 22:40
    20

    […] I just read this excellent tip re. embedding YouTube videos into WordPress from someone called Shandy King. I can’t believe how simple it is! […]

  21. DESIGN-O-MATIC » I embedded a YouTube video in this blog!
    December 13th, 2006 22:44
    21

    […] I just read this excellent tip re. embedding YouTube videos into WordPress from someone called Shandy King. I can’t believe how simple it is! […]

  22. Able Mart
    January 9th, 2007 14:24
    22

    Great tip. There’s also a plugin that some have had success with–

    http://www.skarcha.com/wp-plugins/wpvideo/

  23. twominutedrill
    January 24th, 2007 09:07
    23

    Thanks, this is just what I was looking for.

  24. berthold
    January 31st, 2007 08:57
    24

    What you *actually* want is probably http://www.viper007bond.com/wordpress-plugins/vipers-video-quicktags/

    This plugin works great in WP 2, contrary to other methods. I managed to get the embeds shown on the first try, but after the first change to the post, everything went south. With the plugin, it’s just a click.

  25. chris moseley
    February 22nd, 2007 08:10
    25

    for those technically challenged, “Site Admin” for my version of WP means going to Options, Writing and then unticking the box “Users should use the visual rich editor by default.”

  26. chris moseley
    February 22nd, 2007 18:52
    26

    OK, gurus. I was able to turn off the visual rich editor one time, but now i cannot get it to turn off. WTF? Any clues?

  27. shandyking
    February 22nd, 2007 20:09
    27

    What version of WP are you using?

  28. DESIGN-O-MATIC » Everybody should have one
    February 26th, 2007 19:09
    28

    […] just read this excellent tip re. embedding YouTube videos into WordPress from someone called Shandy King. I can’t believe how simple it […]

  29. Mumsgather
    February 27th, 2007 23:13
    29

    […] Being a bit technically challenged, I googled “embed video on wordpress blog” and found the answer I was looking for on ShandyKing.com’s blog post titled: Embed YouTube Videos in Wordpress. […]

  30. sat
    February 28th, 2007 04:29
    30

    Hi cool tips…but embed code is decrepated to try to avoid it..then it’ll give u full results…

  31. spikeybloke
    March 13th, 2007 03:18
    31

    Im using WP2 and copied the “embed” code straigh into my post and it displays without errors.

    I have edited the page a few times and it displays without errors.

  32. Fabio
    March 13th, 2007 07:01
    32

    Thanks!

    I was looking how to do this easily…for a while

    Regards
    Fabio

  33. dolphina
    March 15th, 2007 23:22
    33

    Wow! It finally worked!

    I’ve almost given up trying for the 10th time,
    when my friend Lala sent me the link to this entry. Thank you for sharing the tip :)

  34. stumped 1
    March 22nd, 2007 23:03
    34

    I’m using WP 2.1.2 and I can’t find the Visual editor option. Am i stupid?

  35. shandyking
    March 24th, 2007 09:00
    35

    I’ve updated this post with new instructions.

  36. gastonl
    April 1st, 2007 16:26
    36

    This works only if you are admin, is there any way to allow this on simple users?

  37. Deanna
    April 7th, 2007 18:25
    37

    You SO rock!! I have been bashing my head into a wall trying to figure this out…thank you thank you thank you!

  38. Sam
    April 13th, 2007 00:01
    38

    I have been working on this for hours and no matter what I do, I have followed your instructions and it doesnt work…

    I turned it off, turned it on, deactived the advanced Html editor, turned in on…turned off the rich editor..surfed the net looking for answers..

    3 hours later..still no video.. :(

  39. rizal
    April 21st, 2007 22:41
    39

    Thanks so much! For this information.. :) If I not find this post I have no idea to make my video work.

  40. deadissue
    April 30th, 2007 22:54
    40

    Thanks! One problem though…I can view the embedded video on my blog when I’m using Firefox, but users trying to view it with IE are unable to. Has anyone else run into this issue?

    Is there anything I can do? I’ve done everything according to your post (IMBEDCODE).

    Thanks again - http://deadissue.com

  41. Peter
    May 1st, 2007 12:39
    41

    Nice, thanks! I had solved this problem before by manually editing the database entry for the post in question, a total pain in the @$$…this is much better!

  42. anny
    May 15th, 2007 22:35
    42

    Thank you!!! I almost started downloading a plug-in but glad I found your post….

  43. Philip
    May 16th, 2007 01:15
    43

    You deserve a medal for this. I have been pulling my hair out trying to get a slideshow video from One True Media embedded into my wife’s blog. I was rolling my eyes at the countless search reults for embedding YouTube video. So I said, “Screw it,” got a YouTube account, uploaded the video to it (One True Media offers this option through their site) and did a search specifically for embedding YouTube video. Something in the summary that led me to your site caught my attention. When I saw you were simply making an alteration to the user options in WordPress and pasting the YouTube embed code, I thought that logically, it would work for me to do the same with the embed code for OTM. And it did!!!!! Now, at 3:14am, I can get back to the work I put aside to get this crazy thing working. If I’m lucky, I can get an hour;s sleep before dragging myself back up and to my computer. Thanks a million; give yourself a hearty pat on the back!!!!!

  44. Narration X » Friday Film: IT Pro
    June 1st, 2007 09:45
    44

    […] Thanks to Shandy King for the post on embedding You Tube videos into wordpress […]

  45. J Street › Why, Specifically, The Sex Pistols Were The Greatest Punk Band In The World
    June 15th, 2007 07:14
    45

    […] If you run a WP blog and you’re having trouble getting YouTube embedding to work, go read this. This was written by Brady Bonk. Posted on Friday, June 15, 2007, at 6:59 am. Filed under Music. […]

  46. jg.com » Blog Archive » Man vs Wild
    June 18th, 2007 20:32
    46

    […] Thanks to ShadyKing for tip on turning off rich text editor for embedding youtube […]

  47. exinco
    June 19th, 2007 07:38
    47

    how about free hosting? Can i embed the video?

    e.g http://xxxx.wordpress.com

  48. des
    June 19th, 2007 20:58
    48

    thanks much! i finally posted a video in my blog…

  49. Charda
    June 25th, 2007 11:17
    49

    Thank you so much for this post. It helped me to finally get this right!

  50. Walter Hutchens
    July 7th, 2007 00:24
    50

    Thanks so much! Very helpful!

  51. random stuff
    July 15th, 2007 01:47
    51

    Dude You Rock. I guess this forcess me to brush up on my html. Thanks I Digg You !

  52. Yash
    July 22nd, 2007 00:54
    52

    lemme try this

  53. Jake
    July 24th, 2007 01:02
    53

    Dude you are a legend! It worked see:

    http://refinancingblog.info/car-loans-used-cars

  54. Fion
    July 29th, 2007 00:01
    54

    Wonderful, your tip works for my blog! It’s my first attempt at embedding a YouTube video on my WordPress blog and with your tip, I got it to work . Thanks!!!

  55. praveen
    August 3rd, 2007 08:23
    55

    Great it makes my job easy. I can easily embed youtube videos on to my blog

  56. Neelesh
    August 5th, 2007 09:21
    56

    Thanks, it did worked smoothly. Results obtained.!!! ;-)

  57. Meg
    August 12th, 2007 14:08
    57

    Wow, a simple and elegant solution. Thanks a million. And thanks to Joe, too, for the Firefox tip.

  58. Patrick
    August 17th, 2007 20:45
    58

    Hi, I am a beginner here. I would greatly appreciated it if you could help to advise through a step by step instruction. :o)

    I am using wordpress and recently started two blog.

    Thanks!
    Patrick

  59. shandyking
    August 17th, 2007 20:59
    59

    When your in WP Admin, click on Write. Create your title and write your post.

    Then when your ready, copy the embed code from YouTube or Google.

    Then back in your post and click on the CODE tab (assuming you were using the VISUAL editor). Paste your Embed coded below all the HTML in the editor.

    That should do it. Note that if you save your post and go back later to edit it, it will create nonsense code and you will have to Embed the code all over again.

    Hope this helps!

  60. Emmi
    September 1st, 2007 10:21
    60

    STILL I cannot get it to work.
    Crap.

  61. Certain Things In Wordpress Admin Not Working? It Could Be Your Browser!
    September 2nd, 2007 11:21
    61

    […] “Embed YouTube Videos In WordPress” blog post generates a ton of traffic to this website every day. What I have found interesting is […]

  62. Embed Youtube Videos In your Wordpress Blog at Planet Saedel | PlanetSaedel | PlanetSaedel.com | Saedel Pensoy
    September 8th, 2007 10:47
    62

    […] stumbled upon Shandy King’s Post and learned that the solution was simple: Simply turn off the Visual RichText Editor when posting a […]

  63. Saedel
    September 8th, 2007 10:57
    63

    Thanks for this! I’m not really a video blogger but when someone asked me how to put videos in Wordpress, I had to do little research before I run into trouble. Luckily, I stumbled upon your site.

    I gave you credit in my post at my site.

    Thanks again!

  64. Embed YouTube Videos at Squaretan.com
    September 11th, 2007 22:04
    64

    […] So I went to YouTube to search for the video and I got it. I copied the linked from the YouTube Embed section. To my surprised my blog was screwed! I was thinking Oh my god, what must I do to embed Youtube videos? […]

  65. Liana Merete
    September 19th, 2007 17:42
    65

    oh i can’t believe what i’m seeing with my eye. Liana Merete.

  66. Google, Is That What You Think Of Me?
    September 27th, 2007 13:45
    66

    […] funny KillerAppGoogle advertisement .  This happens to only be my second most highly viewed page, Embed YouTube in WordPress Videos. Awesome Google! What a nice way to help me liven things up a bit around […]

  67. Marko Pyhajarvi
    October 1st, 2007 06:25
    67

    Hey, thanks a lot! Man I spent hours wondering how the heck this damn thing works. I did as you said above and it works fine. Good and USEFULL post!

  68. Jonathan
    October 14th, 2007 12:17
    68

    This is a great help. I just tried pasting the code into wordpress and it went crazy like you said. Google brought your site straight up and it was sorted in seconds.

  69. Chris
    October 27th, 2007 06:03
    69

    Damn I couldn’t find that option, thanks for the useful hint

  70. Sean
    November 4th, 2007 17:04
    70

    Thanks for that tip, it was doing my head in. Most helpful to a new user of WP. I am not dissing WP, but this info is pretty crucial. Works fine on the 2.3.1 update to.

  71. 16th letter » Blog Archive » How to embed a YouTube video into your WordPress blog
    November 29th, 2007 09:21
    71

    […] the WordPress manual and help forums for about an hour and still had no luck. I finally found this site, which provided me with the […]

  72. Alpha Mind Blog » Blog Archive » How to Embed YouTube Videos in WordPress: 16 Almost-Easy Steps
    December 3rd, 2007 20:59
    72

    […] ShandyKing’s post (which comes up first on when you Google “wordpress embed youtube videos”) […]

  73. Riz
    December 5th, 2007 14:14
    73

    thanks! ur post was really helpful

  74. The Blog According to Buzz » Blog Archive » Twelve Days of Testing
    December 21st, 2007 23:03
    74

    […] think I found a solution, so this is a test with a silly, fun and festive version of the 12 Days of […]

  75. Natural Infection Video
    December 29th, 2007 04:09
    75

    There’s one more thing that I only discovered by trial and error. Havent seen it mentioned anywhere else.

    That is…

    Dont copy the code from Youtube to a text file and then copy from that text file to your Wordpress blog.

    Instead, copy directly from Youtube to your blog. (Yes, with the rich text editing thing in WP unticked.)

    The website link takes you to my video. It’s my first shot at producing a video so please be kind.

    Cheers.

  76. Grabbing Lightning
    January 12th, 2008 23:49
    76

    Thx Adam. This solution solved two of my problems:
    1) I’ve managed to embed a youtube video.
    2) I’m now able to update my HTML tags with target=”_blank” -> this was not possible earlier?!

  77. Paul Fischer
    January 23rd, 2008 17:52
    77

    Thanks Adam! This saved my bacon.

    -Paul

  78. Alex
    January 30th, 2008 00:55
    78

    That doesn’t do it for me.

  79. Mike
    January 31st, 2008 17:14
    79

    Wow, brilliant. Thanks very much.

    Still a few problems but this was helpful.

  80. Surrealism in Life Blog
    February 11th, 2008 01:21
    80

    trying to get this to work… I feel like I’m missing something because I am still unable to get it working.

  81. Fawaz
    February 17th, 2008 06:07
    81

    I don’t why but i’m unable to embed any type of video. I tried all the above methods.

  82. Jaxson
    May 12th, 2008 12:09
    82

    I have tried to get this to work and still having problems.

  83. Michael Timmons
    May 19th, 2008 19:42
    83

    I can’t believe how easy this is! Thanks!

  84. Betty
    May 24th, 2008 03:53
    84

    I tried your methods and it didn’t work. Then I changed to Firefox and it worked… Then I used Firefox to edit the original post, and it messed up again…
    It seems that it works only if there is nothing but a vedio in the post. If I wrote something and add a vedio, it just acts crazy
    :(

  85. Betty
    May 24th, 2008 06:14
    85

    Btw, you wrote ‘There is a “Your Profile Tab” and a box that say’s “Use the visual editor when writing”. Check this, and click “Update Profile”.’
    I think it should be “uncheck the box”.

  86. Tool Belts
    May 30th, 2008 10:32
    86

    As long as you follow the steps you should be able to get it to work.I dont really understand why it doesent work in IE though.

  87. Serenitee
    July 5th, 2008 09:30
    87

    Thank you.. and HELLO /DUH moment! Could not figure out why the YouTube vid was only showing code, and took me all of 10 seconds on your page to get it working. I feel a bit foolish, but perhaps it’s too early and my caffeine intake too low.

    Thanks again for takin the time & posting this info!

  88. sheep
    July 24th, 2008 01:18
    88

    thanks a lot. i was racking my brain for an hour doing this the hard way…lol. now i can finally sleep :D

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