Can You Embed Video in an Ebook?
Quick Answer: Technically yes, through EPUB 3, but practically no for most self-published authors. Apple Books supports embedded video in EPUB 3 on iOS and macOS devices. Amazon Kindle does not; it strips multimedia during conversion. Kobo and Google Play have inconsistent support. The reliable alternative is linking to externally hosted video.
The gap between the EPUB 3 specification (which supports audio and video) and what ebook platforms actually render is wide. Most authors who try to embed video end up with broken elements on the majority of their readers' devices.
Which Platforms Support Embedded Video
Apple Books: Supports embedded video and audio in EPUB 3 files on iPhones, iPads, and Macs. This is the most reliable platform for multimedia ebook content.
Amazon Kindle: Does not support embedded video in standard KDP self-published ebooks. Amazon's conversion process strips multimedia elements from uploaded EPUB files. Enhanced ebook features with multimedia exist but are limited to select publishers using Amazon's internal production tools.
Kobo: Partial EPUB 3 multimedia support that varies by device and app version. Not reliable enough to count on.
Google Play Books: Similar to Kobo, with partial and inconsistent support.
The Practical Alternative
Instead of embedding video, link to it. Host your video on YouTube, Vimeo, or your own website and include a clickable URL in the ebook text. "Watch the demonstration at [URL]" works on every device, doesn't inflate your file size, and doesn't break on platforms that strip multimedia.
This approach also lets you update the video content without republishing the ebook. A linked video can be re-recorded, re-edited, or replaced at any time. An embedded video is locked into the file.
For authors who want to offer multimedia alongside their ebook, a companion website or resource page with videos, audio, and downloadable materials serves readers better than trying to force multimedia into the ebook file itself.
Bottom Line
Don't embed video in an ebook unless you're publishing exclusively through Apple Books. For all other scenarios, link to externally hosted video. This approach works on every platform, every device, and keeps your ebook file size small. For more on interactive ebook features, see Interactive Ebook Creation: Clickable TOC and Embedded Media.
Q: Can you embed audio in an ebook? A: The same limitations apply. Apple Books supports embedded audio in EPUB 3. Amazon Kindle does not. For reliable audio delivery, link to externally hosted files or direct readers to an audiobook version through ACX or another audiobook platform.
Q: Does embedding video increase ebook file size? A: Significantly. Even a short video clip adds megabytes to the file. On Amazon KDP (if it were supported), this would increase delivery costs substantially. Linking to externally hosted video keeps the ebook file small and avoids delivery-cost penalties.