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How to add a video to your email template?

In this article, you will learn how to add a custom Video with a thumbnail and how to embed a Video Player right into your email.

Written by Yaroslav Zhbadinskyi

If you would like to add a video to your email to make it more interactive, the best way to do it is to use the "Video" tool in the Stripo editor.


The Video block gives you two ways to add a video to your email:

  • Link to video: a clickable thumbnail that opens your video on YouTube, TikTok, Vimeo, or Loom. It works in every email client;

  • Play in email: upload an MP4 file, and the video plays right inside the email where the email client supports it. Everywhere else, recipients see an animated GIF made from the same video.

Way 1. Link to video:

This is a safe way of delivering videos because it works perfectly well with all email clients and devices.

How to add a video to your email template?

  • Add the Video block to your email template. In the right panel, select the Link to video tab, then paste the video link into the Video Link field.

Note: The Video block supports YouTube, TikTok, Vimeo, and Loom links.

Furthermore, you will be able to:

  • Apply a custom thumbnail, which gives you the option to change the video preview to a different image. Once it's on, you can also set the corner radius for the thumbnail;

  • Besides, AI can automatically generate alt text, improving accessibility and search engine visibility. Simply click the "Generate with AI" button to create Alt Text for your video.

  • Choose the "Play button styles";

  • Set up the needed size;

  • Apply the Responsive image control;

  • Apply alignment;

  • Add the Anchor Link;

  • Set padding.

Way 2. Play in email:

With Play in email, recipients watch your video without leaving their inbox. You upload an MP4 file, and Stripo prepares two versions of it: the video itself for email clients that support playback, and an animated GIF fallback for those that don’t.

How does your video display in different email clients?

  • Native video playback: iOS, macOS, Samsung, AMP Gmail, AMP Yahoo;

  • Animated GIF with autoplay: Outlook for macOS, Gmail and Yahoo (HTML versions);

  • Animated GIF with a play button: Outlook for Windows, Office 365.

How to turn on Play in email?

Go to Settings → Workspace → Workspace Configuration. In the Features Management section, turn on the Play video in email toggle.

How to upload your video?

  • Add the Video block to an email template. On the right panel, switch to the Play in email tab.

  • Dropping/Uploading video:

Here, you can drag and drop the MP4 file you are about to use, browse it on your computer, or paste it from the clipboard. The maximum file size is 200 MB.

  • Pasting an external URL:

If your video is already hosted on the web, you can insert a link to it instead.

Important note: use a direct link to the MP4 file. Links to YouTube or Vimeo won’t work here.

  • If you are going to use this video just once, choose the Leave as External option. The video will continue to load from its original link.

  • If you are going to use this video in other email campaigns, choose the Save to Gallery option.

Once your video is uploaded, you will be able to:

  • Add Alt Text for screen readers: write it yourself or generate it with AI;

  • Enable Autoplay to start the video as soon as the email opens. It works only when Sound is off;

  • Turn on Sound to play the video with audio;

  • Activate Loop to restart the video when it ends.

For email clients that can’t play video, Stripo automatically creates a GIF. In the Fallback GIF Animation section, you will be able to:

  • Attach a Link that opens when recipients click the GIF;

  • Pick the moment of the video where the GIF begins in Start Animation from;

  • Limit the Duration to 15 seconds or less. We recommend 3 seconds to keep the file light;

  • Adjust Frames/sec, up to 24. More frames make the animation smoother but the GIF heavier;

  • Choose the Play Button Style shown on top of the GIF;

  • Set up the Size and apply the Responsive image control.

Thank you for taking your time to read our articles. We hope you will find this information helpful.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at support@stripo.email.

We would be glad to talk with you.

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