--- title: Video Block description: How to embed YouTube, Vimeo, Dailymotion, VideoPress and media library videos with the Ultimate Blocks Video (UB) block, including every playback, style and Pro setting. url: "https://ultimateblocks.com/docs/advanced-video-block/" updated: "2026-11-07" category: Media Blocks --- # Video Block The **Video** block in Ultimate Blocks lets you add a YouTube, Vimeo, Dailymotion or VideoPress video, or a video file from your media library, to any WordPress post or page, and control how it plays. You can make it fit the page, autoplay it, start it at a set time, loop it, mute it and show your own thumbnail. The block is free, and Ultimate Blocks Pro adds YouTube channel details with a Subscribe button under the video. | **Block name in the editor** | Video (UB) | | --- | --- | | **Plan** | Free (YouTube channel details and Subscribe button need Pro) | | **Best for** | Tutorials, product demos, course lessons, video reviews and landing pages | | **Live demo** | [See the Video block in action](https://ultimateblocks.com/advanced-video-block/) | ## What you can use it for - Embed YouTube tutorials or product demos inside blog posts. - Show a short muted, looping background style clip on a landing page. - Start a long video at the exact moment that answers the reader’s question. - Replace the default preview image with a branded custom thumbnail. - Host your own MP4 files from the media library without a third party player. - Grow your YouTube channel with a Subscribe button under every video (Pro). ## How to add the Video block 1. Open the post or page in the WordPress block editor. 2. Click the **+** (Block Inserter) button. 3. Search for **Video (UB)** and click the block to add it. 4. The block shows a **Select Video Source** box. Choose how you want to add your video (see the next section). ![Adding the Video Block](https://ultimateblocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Adding-the-Video-Block.webp) ![](https://ultimateblocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/advanced-video-block-img-a3f7b3.png) In older versions of the plugin this block was called **Advanced Video**. It is the same block. ## Add your video The block gives you three ways to add a video: **Upload**, **Media Library** and **Insert from URL**. ### Upload a video file 1. Click **Upload**. 2. Choose the video file on your computer and click **Open**. The file is added to your media library and appears in the block. ![](https://ultimateblocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/advanced-video-block-img-209cc2.png) ![](https://ultimateblocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/advanced-video-block-img-652973.png) ### Pick a video from the media library 1. Click **Media Library** and find your video file. You can also upload a new file from this window. 2. Select the video. You can fill in its title and other details in the right panel. 3. Click **Select**. ![](https://ultimateblocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/advanced-video-block-img-47866c.png) ![](https://ultimateblocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/advanced-video-block-img-e2a44b.png) ![Add a video to the video block](https://ultimateblocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Add-a-video-to-the-video-block.webp) ![Add a video to the video block](https://ultimateblocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SCR-20241216-gxnc.webp) ### Insert a video from a URL 1. Copy the address of the video, for example a YouTube, Vimeo, Dailymotion or VideoPress link. 2. Click **Insert from URL**. 3. Paste the link and press **Enter**. The video loads in the block. ![](https://ultimateblocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/advanced-video-block-img-ae885e.png) ![Video displayed on the Gutenberg editor](https://ultimateblocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Video-displayed-on-the-Gutenberg-editor.webp) Supported sources: YouTube (including Shorts links), Vimeo, Dailymotion, VideoPress, and videos from your media library. The block also accepts a direct link to a video file, and it recognizes Facebook and TikTok video links, but these get fewer playback options. If a link cannot be read, the block shows **No video found at URL**. To swap the video later, select the block and click **Replace** in the block toolbar. You can also turn a core YouTube or other Embed block into this block: select it, click the block icon at the left of the toolbar and choose **Video (UB)**. ## Settings tab Select the block and open the block sidebar on the right. The **Settings** tab (gear icon) has these panels. The **General** panel appears after you add a video. ![](https://ultimateblocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/advanced-video-block-img-2e394d.png) ![General settings of the Video block](https://ultimateblocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/General-settings-of-the-Video-block.webp) ### General ![](https://ultimateblocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/advanced-video-block-img-a308b4.png) - **Autofit video embed:** make the video fill the full width of its container and resize on every screen. Turn this on for most posts. - **Aspect Ratio:** shown when autofit is on. Choose **Original**, **Square - 1:1**, **Standard - 4:3**, **Portrait - 3:4**, **Classic - 3:2**, **Classic Portrait - 2:3**, **Wide - 16:9** or **Tall - 9:16**. Use 9:16 for vertical videos such as YouTube Shorts. - **Video width (percentage):** shown when autofit is off. Set the width from 0 to 100 percent of the container. - **Preserve aspect ratio:** shown when autofit is off. Keep the original shape of the video when you change the width. - **Video height (pixels):** shown when autofit and Preserve aspect ratio are both off. Set a fixed height from 200 to 1600 pixels. - **Show player controls:** show or hide the play, pause, volume and full screen controls. For Vimeo, this option appears only when the video owner has a paid Vimeo account. - **Autoplay:** start the video as soon as the page loads. For YouTube, the block also mutes the video, because browsers block autoplay with sound. - **Allow custom start time:** start the video at a set point. Enter the time in the **Start time** boxes (hours, minutes and seconds, depending on the video length). - **Loop:** play the video again when it ends. Available for YouTube, Vimeo, VideoPress and media library videos. - **Mute on page load:** load the video without sound. Visitors can turn the sound on. Available for Vimeo, Dailymotion, VideoPress and media library videos. - **Use a custom thumbnail:** show your own preview image before the video plays. Click **Upload** to pick an image, or **Insert thumbnail URL** to paste an image address. Click **Replace** to change it. For Vimeo, a custom thumbnail and autoplay cannot be used together. ### Visibility Control (Pro) Show or hide the video for certain visitors. Turn on **Hide the block from everyone** to hide it completely, choose a **User Role** to show it only to those users, or turn on **Enable Schedule** and set **From** and **To** dates. Read the [Visibility Control guide](https://ultimateblocks.com/docs/visibility-control/). ![](https://ultimateblocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/advanced-video-block-img-ae2b2b.png) ![](https://ultimateblocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/advanced-video-block-img-af5a61.png) ![](https://ultimateblocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/advanced-video-block-img-0637e5.png) ### Animation (Pro) Pick an entrance effect for the video, then set **Repeat**, **Repeat Count**, **Duration (Seconds)** and **Delay (Seconds)**. Click **Preview Animation** to test it. ![](https://ultimateblocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/advanced-video-block-img-c0a002.gif) ### Custom CSS Add your own CSS to this block only. Type `selector` to target the current block. ![](https://ultimateblocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/advanced-video-block-img-a11d46.png) ### Responsive Control Turn on **Hide On Desktop**, **Hide On Tablet** or **Hide On Mobile** to hide the video on that screen size. ![](https://ultimateblocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/advanced-video-block-img-d0c32e.png) ## Styles tab Switch to the **Styles** tab (half-circle icon) to change the frame around the video. ![Customize the video block](https://ultimateblocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Customize-the-video-block.webp) ### Border Set the **Border** width, style and color, and round the corners with **Border Radius**. You can set each side and corner separately. ![](https://ultimateblocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/advanced-video-block-img-920652.png) ### Shadow ![](https://ultimateblocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/advanced-video-block-img-f3c32c.png) - **Include a shadow:** turn the shadow on or off. - **Shadow angle:** set the direction of the shadow. You can drag the small circle. - **Shadow radius (px):** set how far the shadow moves away from the video. - **Shadow color** and **Shadow transparency:** pick the color and how see-through it is. - **Shadow blur radius (px):** soften the shadow edges. - **Shadow spread radius (px):** make the shadow larger or smaller. ### Dimension Settings Set the **Padding** and **Margin** around the video. **Tip:** Use **Copy Style** and **Paste Style** in the block toolbar to copy the look of one Video block to another. ## Pro features - **Channel Settings:** show your YouTube channel name and logo under the video. - **Show Subscribe Button:** add a YouTube Subscribe button next to the channel details, so viewers can subscribe without leaving your site. These options work with YouTube videos. Read the full guide: [How to add a YouTube Subscribe button to videos](https://ultimateblocks.com/docs/how-to-add-a-youtube-subscribe-button-to-videos/). [Get Ultimate Blocks Pro](https://ultimateblocks.com/pricing/) to unlock them. ## Extensions you can use with this block - [Visibility Control](https://ultimateblocks.com/docs/visibility-control/) (Pro): show the block only to certain users or on a schedule. - [Animation](https://ultimateblocks.com/docs/animation/) (Pro): animate the block when it comes into view. - [Responsive Control](https://ultimateblocks.com/docs/responsive-control/): hide the block on desktop, tablet or mobile. - [Custom CSS](https://ultimateblocks.com/docs/custom-css/): add your own CSS to this block only. - [Saved Styles](https://ultimateblocks.com/docs/how-to-save-a-style/) (Pro): save your design and reuse it on other posts. ## Frequently asked questions **Is the Ultimate Blocks Video block free?** Yes. The Video (UB) block is part of the free Ultimate Blocks plugin. Only the YouTube channel details and Subscribe button need Ultimate Blocks Pro. **Which video sites does the Video block support?** It supports YouTube, Vimeo, Dailymotion and VideoPress links, plus video files you upload to your media library. It also accepts direct links to video files. **Why does my YouTube video play without sound when autoplay is on?** Browsers only allow autoplay when a video is muted, so the block mutes YouTube videos that autoplay. Visitors can turn the sound on in the player. **How do I start a video at a specific time?** Turn on Allow custom start time in the General panel and enter the hours, minutes and seconds in the Start time boxes. **Can I use my own thumbnail for a video?** Yes. Turn on Use a custom thumbnail, then upload an image or insert an image URL. The image shows until the visitor plays the video. **How do I make the video responsive?** Turn on Autofit video embed. The video then fills the width of its container on every screen, and you can pick an aspect ratio such as 16:9 or 9:16. ## Related docs - [How to add a YouTube Subscribe button to videos](https://ultimateblocks.com/docs/how-to-add-a-youtube-subscribe-button-to-videos/) - [Image Slider block](https://ultimateblocks.com/docs/image-slider-block/) - [Image (UB) block](https://ultimateblocks.com/docs/image-block/) - [Image Hotspots block (Pro)](https://ultimateblocks.com/docs/image-hotspots-block/) - [Visibility Control](https://ultimateblocks.com/docs/visibility-control/)