How to Embed Google Drive Video in WordPress (Easy Guide)

Embedding large videos directly into your WordPress website can consume hosting storage, increase bandwidth usage, and make video-heavy pages harder to manage. One alternative is to store your videos in Google Drive and display them on your WordPress website.

But how do you embed a Google Drive video in WordPress without dealing with complicated embed code or an inconvenient default player?

With DriveHub, you can connect Google Drive to WordPress, select the folder containing your videos, and display them on your website using a customizable media player.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to embed a Google Drive video in WordPress step by step.

Quick Answer: How Do You Embed a Google Drive Video in WordPress?

The easiest way to embed Google Drive videos in WordPress with DriveHub is to:

1. Install and activate DriveHub on your WordPress website.
2. Connect your Google Drive account.
3. Select the Google Drive folder containing your videos.
4. Create a Media Player module in DriveHub.
5. Customize the player and select the video you want to display.
6. Copy the generated shortcode.
7. Paste the shortcode into your WordPress page or post.

Your Google Drive video can then be displayed and played directly from your WordPress website without uploading the original video file to your WordPress media library.

Why Embed Google Drive Videos in WordPress?

Videos can be significantly larger than typical website images and documents. Uploading multiple large video files to your WordPress hosting account can quickly consume storage and increase the amount of data your server needs to deliver.

Using Google Drive as the storage location can help you keep your video files separate from your WordPress hosting environment.

Here are some reasons you may want to use Google Drive for your WordPress videos:

1. Save WordPress Hosting Storage

Large video files can take up considerable space in your WordPress media library. Keeping the original files in Google Drive can reduce the amount of video content stored directly on your hosting account.

2. Keep Your Media Files Organized

If you already use Google Drive to manage your videos, you can keep your existing folder structure instead of uploading duplicate copies to WordPress.

3. Manage Videos From Google Drive

When your videos are stored in Google Drive, you can manage the files from your Google Drive account while using your WordPress website to display them to visitors.

4. Avoid Manually Uploading Large Video Files to WordPress

Instead of repeatedly uploading large video files through the WordPress media library, you can connect a Google Drive folder and select the videos you want to display.

How to Embed Google Drive Video in WordPress

With DriveHub, you can connect your Google Drive account and display videos on WordPress using a shortcode.

Let’s walk through the process.

Step 1: Install and Activate DriveHub

First, install and activate the DriveHub plugin on your WordPress website.

After activation, open the DriveHub menu from your WordPress dashboard and start the setup process.

Step 2: Connect Google Drive to WordPress

Next, connect your Google Drive account to DriveHub.

Open the DriveHub dashboard and launch the setup wizard. You can choose whether to connect your entire Google Drive or use a specific folder.

For most websites, connecting a specific folder is a more practical approach because it lets you control which files are available to your WordPress website.

After selecting your folder:

1. Sign in to your Google account.
2. Grant the required permissions.
3. Select the Google Drive folder you want to use.
4. Complete the connection process.

Once the folder is connected, you can manage the videos you want to display from that designated location.

Step 3: Create a Media Player Module

After connecting Google Drive, create a new display module in DriveHub.

DriveHub provides different display options for your Google Drive files. For videos, select the Media Player option.

You can then configure the player according to your website’s requirements.

Depending on your setup, you can customize options such as:

• Video display style
• Player dimensions
• Download availability
• File filters
• Container size
• Display settings

Select the video you want to embed and save your configuration.

Step 4: Copy the Generated Shortcode

Once your media player is configured, DriveHub generates a shortcode that you can use to display the video on your WordPress website.

Copy the shortcode from the DriveHub dashboard.

Step 5: Add the Google Drive Video to Your WordPress Page

Now open the WordPress page or post where you want the video to appear.

Add a Shortcode block to the page and paste the DriveHub shortcode into it.

Alternatively, you can add the shortcode wherever your WordPress editor or page builder supports shortcodes.

Publish or update the page.

Your Google Drive video should now be available through the media player on your WordPress website.

Can You Embed Google Drive Videos Without Uploading Them to WordPress?

Yes. With a Google Drive integration such as DriveHub, you can keep the video files in Google Drive and display them on your WordPress website.

This means you don’t need to upload another copy of the same video file to your WordPress media library.

This approach can be particularly useful for websites that manage a large number of videos or already use Google Drive as their primary file storage solution.

Google Drive Video vs. WordPress Media Library

Both approaches can work, but they serve different purposes.

Feature	Google Drive + DriveHub	WordPress Media Library
Store videos in Google Drive	Yes	No
Store videos on WordPress hosting	No	Yes
Manage files through Google Drive	Yes	No
Display videos on WordPress	Yes	Yes
Requires uploading videos to WordPress	No	Yes
Useful for existing Google Drive libraries	Yes	Less convenient

If your videos are already organized in Google Drive, connecting that storage to WordPress can help avoid maintaining duplicate video files.

How to Control Which Google Drive Videos Appear in WordPress

You don’t necessarily need to connect your entire Google Drive.

DriveHub allows you to work with a specific Google Drive folder, giving you more control over which files are available for display on your website.

For example, you could create a folder such as:

Google Drive → Website Videos → WordPress Videos

You can then add the videos intended for your website to that folder and use the folder as the source for your DriveHub media player.

This approach can make your video library easier to organize and manage.

Meanwhile, if you’re looking to connect entire google drive read our setup documentation → 

Does Embedding Google Drive Videos Affect WordPress Performance?

Embedding videos from Google Drive can help you avoid storing large video files directly in your WordPress hosting account. However, video playback still requires data to be delivered to your visitors, so overall performance can depend on factors such as video size, traffic, page design, network conditions, and the way the video is delivered.

For better performance, avoid placing many large video players on the same page and consider loading videos only when they are needed.

Best Practices for Embedding Google Drive Videos in WordPress

Keep these practices in mind when adding Google Drive videos to your website:

Use a Dedicated Google Drive Folder

Create a separate folder specifically for videos you want to display on your website. This makes your media library easier to manage.

Use Descriptive File Names

Instead of names such as video123.mp4, use descriptive names such as:

wordpress-google-drive-tutorial.mp4

This makes files easier to identify and manage.

Don’t Embed Too Many Videos on One Page

Multiple video players can make a page heavier and create a less user-friendly experience. If you have many videos, consider displaying them across multiple pages or using a video library layout.

Check Google Drive Permissions

Make sure the files and folders you want visitors to access have the appropriate permissions for your intended use. Incorrect permissions can prevent videos from being displayed or played.

Test the Video on the Front End

After publishing the page, open it in an incognito or logged-out browser window and test the video. This helps you verify that visitors can access the content as intended.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I embed a Google Drive video in WordPress?

Yes. You can embed Google Drive videos in WordPress using a Google Drive integration such as DriveHub. DriveHub lets you connect a Google Drive folder, select your video, configure a media player, and add it to WordPress using a shortcode.

How do I add a Google Drive video to WordPress?

Install DriveHub, connect your Google Drive account, select the folder containing your video, create a Media Player module, configure the display settings, and paste the generated shortcode into your WordPress page or post.

Can I embed Google Drive videos without uploading them to WordPress?

Yes. With DriveHub, your video can remain stored in Google Drive while the video is displayed on your WordPress website.

Can I embed a private Google Drive video in WordPress?

Video access depends on the Google Drive file’s permissions and the way the integration handles access. Before publishing, check your DriveHub configuration and Google Drive permissions to make sure the intended visitors can access the video.

Can I embed multiple Google Drive videos on WordPress?

Yes. You can use DriveHub to connect a Google Drive folder and display multiple files according to your selected configuration and layout.

Will Google Drive videos slow down my WordPress website?

Using Google Drive can prevent large video files from being stored directly on your WordPress hosting account. However, video playback still involves loading data, so the number and size of videos, page layout, traffic, and network conditions can affect the visitor experience.

Can I prevent visitors from downloading Google Drive videos?

Download availability depends on the Google Drive file permissions and the options provided by your DriveHub media player configuration. Check the player and file-sharing settings before publishing your video.

Key Takeaways

Embedding Google Drive videos in WordPress can be a practical option if you already store your video library in Google Drive.

With DriveHub, you can:

• Integrate Google drive with WordPress → 
• Select a specific folder for your website videos.
• Create a customizable media player.
• Create image galleries.
• Embed Google Drive PDFs and documents →  
• Display Google Drive videos on WordPress using a shortcode.
• Keep your original video files in Google Drive instead of uploading duplicate copies to WordPress.

If you’re looking for a simple way to embed Google Drive videos in WordPress, DriveHub provides a direct way to connect your Google Drive video library with your WordPress website.