Here are some common questions we receive about Product Videos for WooCommerce.

What video formats can I use?

We recommend using MP4, WebM, and OGG formats for the best compatibility across all modern web browsers. These formats provide a good balance of quality and file size.

Where can I display product videos?

You can display videos in two main locations:

On the single product page: You can have a “featured” video that takes center stage, as well as additional videos in the product gallery.
On the shop and archive pages: You can replace the standard product image with a video, which can be set to autoplay on hover.

Can I have videos autoplay?

Yes! You can enable autoplay in a couple of ways:

On the single product page: You can set the main featured video to autoplay as soon as the page loads.
On the shop and archive pages: You can enable a YouTube-style autoplay on hover, so the video starts playing when a customer moves their mouse over it.

Note: Most modern browsers have strict autoplay policies and will mute any videos that play automatically. Customers will need to click to unmute the sound.

How do I add a video to a product?

It’s as simple as adding an image!

Go to the product edit screen.
To add a featured video, use the “Product Video” box on the right-hand side.
To add videos to the product gallery, use the “Product gallery” box.

You can either upload a new video or select an existing one from your Media Library.

How does this plugin handle video hosting? (And why not YouTube?)

Our plugin uses the native WordPress Media Library for hosting videos. This means you upload videos directly to your site, giving you complete control and a faster, more professional experience.

We intentionally avoid using embeds from platforms like YouTube or Vimeo for a few key reasons:

Better Performance: External platforms load their own scripts and tracking codes, which can slow down your site. Self-hosting is faster.
Enhanced Privacy: By keeping everything on your server, you’re not sharing your customer data with third parties, which is better for privacy and GDPR compliance.
No Distractions: You get a clean video player with no third-party logos, ads, or “suggested videos” that could lead customers away from your products.

Will self-hosting videos slow down my site?

Not at all. We’ve built performance-first features directly into the plugin to prevent this.

On shop and category pages, videos are lazy-loaded, meaning they don’t load until the customer scrolls to them. Furthermore, they only begin to play when a customer hovers over or clicks on the product. This ensures your initial page load is incredibly fast, no matter how many products you have.

Of course, optimizing your video files is still important. By compressing your videos before uploading, you can ensure the best possible experience.

We’ve written a comprehensive Video Hosting & Optimization Guide that walks you through everything you need to know, including:

Our built-in performance features like lazy loading.
How to compress your videos with free tools.
Choosing the right video format.
Tips for working with your web host.

We highly recommend reading this guide to get the best results.

How do I set a thumbnail or poster image for my video?

By default, the plugin will use the first frame of the video as its thumbnail. However, for a more professional look, you can set a custom poster image.

Go to your WordPress Media Library.
Find and click on the video you want to edit.
In the right-hand panel, look for the “Featured Image” box.
Click “Set featured image” and choose any image from your Media Library.

This image will now be used as the thumbnail for your video wherever it appears.

Do you have more questions?

If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for here, please don’t hesitate to contact our support team. We’re always happy to help!

Frequently Asked Questions