5min

How to Embed a Video on GitHub Pages or Wiki

GitHub supports video very differently depending on where you add it. This guide explains how to embed video on GitHub Pages and GitHub Wiki.

GitHub treats video very differently depending on where you try to add it.

While videos are restricted in READMEs, issues, and pull requests, GitHub Pages and GitHub Wiki are the two places where embedding video is officially supported and reliable.

This guide explains how to embed video on GitHub Pages and GitHub Wiki, what methods work, and why teams use video to improve documentation clarity.

Why Use Video in GitHub Pages or Wiki?

GitHub Pages and Wikis are commonly used for:

installation and setup guides
architecture and design documentation
internal team documentation
open-source project tutorials

Text alone often fails to capture workflows, UI behavior, or real-world usage.

Short videos help teams:

demonstrate steps visually
show UI behavior and animations
reduce onboarding friction
improve accessibility for different learning styles

According to GitHub Octoverse 2024, repositories that include video content in documentation and project pages see higher contributor engagement and faster onboarding compared to text-only documentation.

Embedding Video on GitHub Pages

GitHub Pages supports full HTML, making video embedding straightforward.

Option 1: Embed video using an HTML `<iframe>`

This is the most common and reliable approach.

<iframe
width="800"
height="450"
src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VIDEO_ID"
title="Project demo"
frameborder="0"
allowfullscreen>
</iframe>

This works with:

YouTube
Vimeo
other platforms that provide embed URLs

GitHub Pages renders iframe embeds consistently across browsers.

Option 2: Embed a hosted video using `<video>`

If you host the file yourself:

<videocontrolswidth="800">
<sourcesrc="video.mp4"type="video/mp4">
</video>

This approach is commonly used for:

internal documentation
private demos
self-hosted assets

Note: file size and compression matter for performance.

Embedding Video in GitHub Wiki

GitHub Wikis use Markdown, but allow limited HTML, including video embeds.

You can paste the same iframe or <video> code used in GitHub Pages directly into a Wiki page, and it will render correctly in the browser.

If you want maximum compatibility, many teams use a clickable image thumbnail that links to the video instead of embedding it inline.

Why Video Improves Documentation Engagement

Documentation competes for attention – even among developers.

The Vimeo Video Engagement Report 2025 found that short technical videos retain up to 80% of viewer attention, far higher than long text explanations.

That means contributors are significantly more likely to watch a short demo than read an entire setup page.

Accessibility Benefits of Video Documentation

Accessibility is especially important in public documentation.

Research from the Nielsen Norman Group shows that subtitles and transcripts improve comprehension for approximately 85% of users, including:

non-native English speakers
users with hearing impairments
developers scanning content quickly

When video includes captions or transcripts, documentation becomes more inclusive and easier to understand across global teams.

Performance and Layout Best Practices

To keep Pages and Wiki documentation fast and readable:

use compressed video files
maintain a consistent aspect ratio (e.g., 16:9)
avoid autoplay with sound
test embeds on desktop and mobile

Small optimizations prevent layout shifts and slow load times.

Measurable Impact on Team Productivity

Visual documentation doesn’t just improve clarity – it saves time.

The Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2025 reported that teams using video explanations in technical workflows resolved issues about 25% faster than teams relying on text alone.

When contributors understand instructions visually, fewer follow-up questions are needed.