Embed video in epub - Page 5

JSWolf · 01-07-2026, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eroica20

I’ve played around with embedding video in epub3 format before, but ran into a lot of compatibility headaches. Some apps like Apple Books worked okay, but on other platforms the video just showed up as a missing file or a blank space. I wanted to include video for an instructional ebook, but honestly, it felt like every device and reader had its own quirks. Even if the file size was small, getting that video to play everywhere was rough.

That's because not every program has support for video. And a lot of people read on an eInk device such as a Kobo, Kindle, Pocketbook, etc. which doesn't have support for video. Some eInk Readers might support video, most don't.

IMHO, video is a lost cause. Same with audio.

Turtle91 · 01-07-2026, 08:51 PM

Or......

Just follow me for a minute here.....

You code so that the audio/video is shown on devices that support it, and, wait for it..... devices that don't show it have some alternate content - or ignore it completely.

RbnJrg · 01-07-2026, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eroica20

I’ve played around with embedding video in epub3 format before, but ran into a lot of compatibility headaches. Some apps like Apple Books worked okay, but on other platforms the video just showed up as a missing file or a blank space. I wanted to include video for an instructional ebook, but honestly, it felt like every device and reader had its own quirks. Even if the file size was small, getting that video to play everywhere was rough.

Do the try with the following code (maybe one of the two methods works in your ereader):

1) In your xhtml file:

Code:

<body>
  <div style="text-align: center; padding: 0pt; margin: 0pt;">
    <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="100%" preserveAspectRatio="xMidYMid meet" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 600 600" width="100%" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><foreignObject x="0" y="0" width="100%" height="100%"><div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" class="sound">
      <audio controls="controls" src="../Audio/Track18.mp3" class="sound"></audio>
    </div></foreignObject>

    <foreignObject x="0" y="80" width="100%" height="100%"><div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" class="full">
      <video controls="" src="../Video/screencast.mp4" class="full"></video>
    </div></foreignObject></svg>
  </div>

  <div class="center">
    <div class="inblock">
      <audio class="sound" controls="controls" src="../Audio/Track18.mp3">Track18</audio>

      <div style="width: 100%; margin: 0 auto;">
        <video controls="controls" style="width: 100%" src="../Video/screencast.mp4">If you read this, then your ereader doesn't support video.</video>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
</body>

and in your css file:

Code:

.center {
    text-align: center;
}

.inblock {
    display: inline-block;
    width: 100%;
    margin: 1em 0;
}

.sound {
    width: 100%;
    margin-bottom: 1em;
}

.full {
    width: 100%;
    height: auto;
}

As you can see, one method is based on a svg wrapper plus the use of the foreinObject tag; this is a nice method because with it, you can adjust the viewport with the resolution of the video. But both methods work fine under Sigil, Calibre, Thorium, Lithium, Reasily, Infinity Reader and Cantook; there are issues under PocketBook. Forget Google Play Books, there epub3 doesn't work.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
How can you embed video in an epub document?	patrickyoung	ePub	26	03-19-2019 12:56 AM
embed video	BetterRed	Sigil	1	11-30-2014 10:58 PM
trouble uploading epub with video embed on kindle	cykwon	Amazon Kindle	4	10-06-2011 02:26 AM
Embed other video file types	daffy4u	Feedback	8	02-09-2010 10:46 AM

01-07-2026, 08:51 PM	#62
Turtle91 A Hairy Wizard Posts: 3,454 Karma: 20534347 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Charleston, SC today Device: iPhone 15/11/X/6/iPad 1,2,Air & Air Pro/Surface Pro/Kindle PW & Fire	Or...... Just follow me for a minute here..... You code so that the audio/video is shown on devices that support it, and, wait for it..... devices that don't show it have some alternate content - or ignore it completely.

Advert