GitHub READMEs are often the first thing people see when they visit a repository. They explain what a project does, how to use it, and why it matters.

Naturally, many developers want to embed a video in a GitHub README to show demos, walkthroughs, or feature previews. The challenge is that GitHub Markdown has strict limitations around video playback.

This guide focuses only on README files and explains what actually works today–without hacks that break or get stripped by GitHub.

For a complete overview of video across GitHub (issues, PRs, uploads, limits), see:

👉 https://govideolink.com/blog/github-video-guide

Can You Embed a Video Directly in a GitHub README?

No. GitHub does not support native video playback inside README.md files.

Even if you upload a video file to your repository, GitHub will not render it as an inline video player inside a README.

This limitation explains why searches like these are so common:

• embed video github readme
• github markdown embed video
• github readme embed video

The key distinction is between linking to a video and embedding a playable video.

Why Video Embeds Don’t Work in GitHub READMEs

GitHub sanitizes Markdown for security reasons. Inside README files, GitHub blocks:

• <video> HTML tags
• <iframe> embeds (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.)
• JavaScript-based players
• autoplay media

These restrictions are intentional and still apply in 2026.

What Does Work in a GitHub README

While you can’t embed a playable video directly, there are three reliable, supported approaches.

Method 1: Clickable Thumbnail That Links to a Video (Recommended)

This is the most common and reliable solution.

You show an image preview in the README that links to a video hosted elsewhere (video platform, documentation site, or issue comment).

Markdown example

[![Watch the demo](thumbnail.png)](https://example.com/video)

Why this works

• images are fully supported in Markdown
• links are allowed everywhere
• formatting stays clean and predictable

This approach is widely used in open-source projects because it works consistently.

Method 2: Animated GIF Preview

If you want motion directly inside the README, an animated GIF is the only format GitHub will render inline.

Markdown example

![Demo preview](demo.gif)

Trade-offs

Pros

• plays automatically
• works everywhere in GitHub

Cons

• no audio
• large file sizes
• limited duration

GIFs are best for short UI demonstrations, not full explanations.

Method 3: GitHub Pages for Real Video Embeds

GitHub Pages is the only GitHub feature that allows full HTML and iframe embeds.

If your repository has a GitHub Pages site, you can embed video using standard HTML.

HTML example (GitHub Pages only)

<videocontrols>
<sourcesrc="video.mp4"type="video/mp4">
</video>

Important notes:

• this works on GitHub Pages
• it does not work inside README.md
• READMEs can link to Pages content

This is useful for documentation-heavy projects.

Why Uploading a Video File Isn’t Enough

A common assumption is:

1. upload demo.mp4 to the repo
2. reference it in the README
3. expect inline playback

What actually happens:

• GitHub shows a download link only
• no player appears
• no preview is rendered

This is expected behavior, not an error.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When trying to embed video in a GitHub README, avoid:

• <video> tags in Markdown
• YouTube or Vimeo iframes
• assuming Git LFS enables playback
• expecting uploaded .mp4 files to render inline

These approaches will never work in README files.

Why Teams Still Add Video to READMEs

Even with limitations, README video links are valuable because they:

• give instant visual context
• reduce long explanations
• improve onboarding
• make projects more approachable

According to GitHub Octoverse research, repositories that include visual demos tend to see higher engagement and contributor activity than text-only projects.

Short videos are especially effective. Vimeo’s 2025 engagement insights show that concise videos retain up to 80% of viewer attention, making them ideal for quick demos linked from READMEs.

When README Video Links Aren’t Enough

As projects grow, teams often want:

• reusable video explanations
• clearer bug reports
• visual context during reviews
• async explanations attached to code

At that point, video usually moves out of the README and into issues, pull requests, or documentation workflows.

Related guides:

• How to Embed a Video in a GitHub Pull Request
• Add Video to GitHub Issues for Faster Debugging

Final Takeaway

You cannot embed a playable video directly in a GitHub README.

But you can:

• link to videos using thumbnail images
• use animated GIFs for short previews
• embed full video on GitHub Pages

Understanding these constraints helps you design READMEs that are clear, reliable, and future-proof.

For anything beyond lightweight demos, it’s better to use issues, pull requests, or documentation pages – where video works with fewer restrictions.