This guide explains how to use the External link option as the video source in a Video Lesson Activity.
The External link source is used when videos are hosted outside the Video Library and are accessed using a video URL or embed code.
When to use the External link source #
Use External link when:
- The video is hosted on platforms like YouTube or Vimeo
- You have a direct MP4 video URL hosted externally
- Video hosting infrastructure is not configured
Videos added using this source are not stored in the Video Library.
Supported video types for External link #
The External link source supports:
- YouTube video URLs
- Vimeo video URLs
- Direct MP4 video URLs
The video must be publicly accessible or accessible to students.
Using External link in a Video Lesson Activity #
Step 1: Open the Video Lesson Activity
Create a new Video Lesson Activity or edit an existing one.
Scroll to the video configuration section.
Step 2: Select External link as the source
In the Source dropdown, select External link.
Paste either:
- The video URL, or
- The embed code provided by the external platform
Step 3: Verify the video preview
Confirm that the video loads correctly in the preview.
If the video does not load, verify that:
- The URL or embed code is valid
- The video is accessible
Important notes about External link videos #
- Videos added using External link do not appear in the Video Library
- Videos cannot be reused through the library
- Streaming and performance depend on the external provider
- Some playback and tracking behavior may vary by platform
For centralized management and reuse, use Upload video or Video library instead.
What to do next #
After adding a video using External link, you may want to:
- Configure video completion rules
- Restrict access to other activities based on video completion
