Panopto: Using the Video Player

Summary 

There are two ways to view a Panopto video: through the Panopto embedded viewer in Canvas or on a webpage and through the Panopto web interface outside of Canvas. Follow the instructions below to learn how to use the Panopto embedded viewer in Canvas and in Panopto. For more information on using features such as discussion, notes, and bookmarks in Panopto, please navigate to this article titled “How do students use Panopto’s everyday features?”. 

Viewing a Panopto video in Canvas 

  • Navigate to the Panopto video you would like to view in your Canvas course.  

  • The possible view configurations are described and shown below. You can change view configurations with the view change button in the top right corner of the video player, or the picture-in-picture button next to it. 

Panopto embedded video player in Canvas highlighting the View Change and Picture‑in‑Picture buttons in the top‑right corner, where viewers switch between different video layout options.


Primary video (main), secondary video / slides (thumbnail)
Panopto video player showing the primary video displayed in the main viewing area, with slides shown as a smaller thumbnail in the bottom‑right corner of the player.

Secondary video / slides (main), primary video (thumbnail)
Panopto video player showing slides displayed in the main viewing area, with the presenter video shown as a smaller thumbnail in the bottom‑right corner of the player.

Side-by-side view

Panopto video player showing side‑by‑side view, with the presenter video displayed on one side of the player and the slides displayed on the other side in equal size.

  • Viewers will see the Play button (▶︎) and, if enabled, they will also see the Watch in Panopto button (↗), and the more options button (^) at the bottom of the screen. If closed captioning is enabled, a clickable CC button will appear at the bottom of the screen. If downloads are available for the session, a clickable down arrow appears at the bottom of screen where you can download the presentation.

After pressing play...

  • After you press play, the video player looks very similar to other video players you have used. 

  • You’ll see the following buttons from left to right on the bottom toolbar of the video player:

  • Play 

  • Back 10 seconds 

  • Forward 10 seconds 

  • Audio levels 

  • Elapsed Time / Total Time 

  • Download session (if enabled by video Creator)

  • View in Panopto (if enabled by video Creator) 

  • Closed Captioning

  • Settings cogwheel where you can access:

    • Caption settings

    • Video speed

    • Video quality

  • Full screen view

Additional buttons on the video player include:

  • View change 

  • More options (if enabled by your instructor) 

  • Click the carat ^ button at the bottom center to reveal 

  • Here you will find an AI Summary, Notes, Information, and Search.
    Panopto video player controls showing the caret (^) button at the bottom center, which the user clicks to reveal additional playback controls.    Panopto video player with the expanded bottom panel open after clicking the caret (^) button, showing shortcuts to AI Summary, Notes, Information, and Search this video tools

Viewing a video in the Panopto web interface

If your instructor has enabled the View in Panopto button at the bottom of the video player, you will be able to watch the video outside of Canvas. This interface looks a little different from the Canvas interface and offers more features. The View in Panopto button is located in the bottom right of the video player and looks like an arrow pointing up and to the right (↗).

  • Click the View in Panopto button
  • This will take you to the Panopto web interface where the video player has similar features to the one in Canvas.

Panopto web interface video player showing the View in Panopto experience, with the video timeline and thumbnails below and a left‑side panel for Details, AI Summary, Captions, Notes, and Bookmarks, where viewers access expanded playback and navigation features outside of Canvas.

  • On the left you'll see the Details, AI Summary, Captions, Notes, and Bookmarks.
  • At the bottom of the video player you'll see the Play, Back 10 seconds, Forward 10 seconds, Time Elapsed, Time Remaining, Audio, Closed Captioning, and Settings Cogwheel that when clicked will show Captions, Speed, and Quality.
  • The last icon in that row on the far right is a downward carrot (⌄) which lets you collapse the feed at the bottom for a larger view of the main video.
  • Below that, you'll see any secondary video sources shared with you during the recording such as PowerPoint slides. 

For instructions on how to use additional Panopto play features from within Canvas such as taking notes and switching views between a PowerPoint slide and the speaker, visit these Panopto-generated instructions.

Print Article