LinkedIn has evolved beyond a simple resume platform, becoming a hub for professional insights, thought leadership, and engaging video content. From insightful webinars to quick industry updates, these videos offer immense value. But what if you want to watch a valuable clip offline, share it with a colleague who isn't on LinkedIn, or even repurpose it for a presentation? While LinkedIn doesn't offer a direct download button for most videos, the good news is you can still access and save them for free using various online tools.
This guide will walk you through the process of downloading LinkedIn videos for free online, explaining how these tools work, their benefits, and important considerations like legality and ethical use.
Why Download LinkedIn Videos?
There are several compelling reasons why you might want to download a LinkedIn video:
- Offline Viewing: Access valuable content when you're without an internet connection, such as during commutes or travel.
- Knowledge Retention: Revisit complex tutorials, insightful talks, or inspiring presentations at your own pace for better comprehension and recall.
- Internal Sharing: Easily share relevant industry insights or training videos with your team, even if they don't have direct access to LinkedIn or prefer a different viewing platform.
- Content Curation: Build a personal library of valuable resources that you can refer back to for professional development or inspiration.
- Repurposing Content (with permission): Extract key segments for presentations, internal training materials, or create summaries (always ensuring you have the creator's permission for any public or commercial use).
How to Download LinkedIn Videos for Free Online: The Simple Steps
The most common and user-friendly method for downloading LinkedIn videos involves using free online downloader tools. These tools typically follow a similar, straightforward process:
- Locate the LinkedIn Video: Go to LinkedIn and find the video you wish to download.
- Copy the Video URL:
- Click on the three dots (
...) located at the top right corner of the video post. - Select "Copy link to post" from the dropdown menu. This copies the direct URL of the video post to your clipboard.
- Click on the three dots (
- Go to an Online LinkedIn Video Downloader: Open your web browser and navigate to a reputable free online LinkedIn video downloader. Popular options include Taplio, Highperformr, SuperPen, Typefully, and Blabigo.
- Paste the Video URL: On the downloader website, you'll find an input field or a box where you can paste the copied LinkedIn video URL.
- Initiate Download: Click the "Download" or "Submit" button. The tool will process the URL and usually provide a preview of the video.
- Select Quality and Download: Choose your preferred video quality (e.g., HD, 720p, 1080p) if multiple options are available, and then click the final download button to save the video to your device. Most tools save videos in MP4 format.
Key Features to Look for in a Free Online LinkedIn Video Downloader
When choosing an online tool for downloading LinkedIn videos, consider these features:
- Completely Free: Ensure there are no hidden fees, subscriptions, or daily download limits that would hinder your access.
- No Software Installation: The best tools work directly in your browser, eliminating the need to download and install any additional software.
- No Sign-Up Required: Avoid tools that force you to create an account or provide personal information.
- High-Quality Downloads: The tool should allow you to download videos in their original quality (HD, Full HD, or even 4K, if available in the original).
- Fast Download Speeds: A good downloader will process and provide the video quickly.
- User-Friendly Interface: The process should be intuitive and straightforward, requiring minimal steps.
- Cross-Device Compatibility: The tool should work seamlessly on various devices, including desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones (Android and iOS).
- Ad-Free Experience: While some free tools may have ads, a less intrusive experience is preferable.
- No Watermarks: Ensure the downloaded video is clean and free of any watermarks from the downloader tool.
Is It Legal to Download LinkedIn Videos?
This is a crucial question with a nuanced answer:
- Personal and Educational Use: Generally, downloading LinkedIn videos for your own personal, non-commercial use, or for educational purposes, is considered permissible under "fair use" principles. This means watching them offline, saving them for future reference, or sharing them internally with a small team for learning.
- Copyright and Redistribution: It's not legal or ethical to download videos and then re-upload them, publicly redistribute them, or use them for commercial purposes without explicit permission from the original creator. This would violate copyright laws and LinkedIn's Terms of Service.
- LinkedIn's Stance: LinkedIn itself doesn't offer a direct download feature for most videos, indicating their preference for content to be consumed on their platform. However, using third-party downloaders for personal offline viewing is typically not a violation of their terms, as long as you respect the content creator's rights and avoid unauthorized public sharing or commercial use.
- Private Videos: Most online downloaders can only access and download publicly available LinkedIn videos. They generally cannot download videos from private accounts or LinkedIn Learning content, as this would require bypassing security measures and violate privacy.
Always exercise good judgment and respect the intellectual property of content creators. If you intend to use a downloaded video for anything beyond personal, private viewing, always seek permission from the original creator.
Alternatives to Online Downloaders
While online downloaders are the most convenient, a few other methods exist:
- Browser Extensions: Some browser extensions claim to offer direct download buttons on LinkedIn. While convenient, be cautious and only install extensions from trusted sources, as some can pose security risks or include unwanted adware.
- Developer Tools (Advanced): For technically savvy users, it's sometimes possible to find the direct video file URL within your browser's developer tools (e.g., by inspecting the "Network" tab while the video plays). This method is more complex and not always reliable.
- Screen Recording: As a last resort, you can use screen recording software (built into most operating systems or available as third-party apps) to capture the video while it plays on LinkedIn. This method might result in lower quality and larger file sizes.
Conclusion: Empowering Your Professional Learning
Downloading LinkedIn videos for free online provides a valuable way to curate and consume professional content on your own terms. By leveraging reputable online tools, you can save insightful presentations, tutorials, and discussions for offline viewing, enhanced learning, and internal sharing.
However, remember to always prioritize ethical use and respect copyright. With the right approach, these tools can significantly enhance your professional development journey, ensuring you never miss out on valuable insights shared within the LinkedIn community.