- Post a video from your computer
- Posting from the app
- LinkedIn's video limits
- File types that work
- Add captions
- Keep the important bits away from the edges
- Why your upload failed
- Vertical, square or horizontal?
- A pre-upload checklist
- What makes a LinkedIn video worth watching
- My advice
- Frequently asked questions
To post a video on LinkedIn from a computer, click the Video icon in the share box on your homepage, choose Select video to share, pick the file, add your text and click Post. Videos can be up to 15 minutes long and up to 5 GB, and you'll get a notification when the video has finished processing.
Video on LinkedIn is simple once you know the limits, and maddening when you don't. LinkedIn's own troubleshooting page points to the usual suspects: the wrong file type, a video stored in iCloud or an app that went to sleep mid-upload.
Here's how to post one, the specs LinkedIn publishes and how to add captions, from LinkedIn's own help pages.
Post a video from your computer
- Go to your LinkedIn homepage.
- Click the Video icon in the share box.
- In the pop-up, click Select video to share.
- Choose the video file on your computer.
- Add your post text and any hashtags.
- Click Post.
Once it's uploaded and processed, LinkedIn sends you a notification that the video is ready to view.
Posting from the app
You can upload from the LinkedIn app on iPhone and Android too, with a couple of differences. On iPhone, keep the LinkedIn app open while the video uploads; if it goes into the background, the upload can stall. Once processing starts, you can switch apps. On Android, the upload carries on in the background while you use other apps.
The big one for iPhone users: videos stored in iCloud can't be uploaded from the app. Move the video to your phone's own storage first, then try again.
LinkedIn's video limits
| Spec | LinkedIn's limit |
|---|---|
| File size | 75 KB minimum, 5 GB maximum |
| Length | 3 seconds minimum on desktop, 2 seconds in the app; 15 minutes maximum |
| Resolution | 256x144 up to 4096x2304 |
| Aspect ratio | From 1:2.4 to 2.4:1 |
| Frame rate | 10 to 60 frames per second |
| Bitrate | 192 Kbps to 30 Mbps |
File types that work
LinkedIn lists MP4, MOV, AVI, WEBM, MKV and WMV among the supported formats, plus several older ones. If the format isn't supported, you'll see an error message. The catch is ProRes: LinkedIn says some formats like it may upload but then fail to process. If a video sits processing forever, export it again as an MP4 and upload that.
Add captions
Anyone watching with the sound off relies on captions, so they're worth the extra minute. On LinkedIn they need an SRT file, which is a plain subtitle file with the words and timings.
- Click the Video icon in the share box on your homepage.
- Click Select video to share and choose your video.
- In the video preview, click Edit in the top right.
- Click Select Caption, attach the SRT file and confirm.
- Add your text and hashtags, then click Post.
Two things to know. LinkedIn describes captions as something you add using the desktop experience, and the SRT file has to be attached before you post. Captions work for personal profiles and LinkedIn Pages, and they show once the video has finished processing.
Keep the important bits away from the edges
LinkedIn's troubleshooting page recommends keeping key elements, text and logos away from the top, bottom and sides of your video, so the LinkedIn interface doesn't cover them. If you've added text on screen, leave a margin around it.
Why your upload failed
- The file type isn't supported, or it's a format like ProRes that won't process.
- The video is shorter than the minimum or longer than 15 minutes.
- The file is over 5 GB.
- On iPhone, the app went into the background during the upload.
- On iPhone, the video is stored in iCloud rather than on the phone.
Vertical, square or horizontal?
LinkedIn accepts aspect ratios from 1:2.4 to 2.4:1, which covers tall vertical videos, square ones and wide horizontal ones. So you don't need to re-edit a phone video before you post it. If you film for several platforms, a vertical or square version usually travels best, but check that your on-screen text sits well inside the safe zones either way.
A pre-upload checklist
- Is it an MP4 or another supported format, not ProRes?
- Is it between 3 seconds and 15 minutes long?
- Is the file under 5 GB?
- Have you got an SRT caption file ready, and are you posting from a computer so you can attach it?
- Is your text, logo and any key detail clear of the edges?
If the answer to any of those is no, fix it before you start the upload. It's much quicker than waiting for a long video to process and then finding it failed.
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What makes a LinkedIn video worth watching
The specs get your video posted. They don't get it watched. Open with the point in the first few seconds, use captions, and write post text that tells people why they should press play. Keep it to one idea. If you're deciding between a video and another format, a LinkedIn carousel can work well for step-by-step content that people want to save.
And whatever format you choose, the basics of posting on LinkedIn well still apply: be useful, be specific and talk to one kind of reader.
My advice
Export as MP4, keep it well under 15 minutes and add an SRT caption file on desktop before you post. If you're uploading from an iPhone, move the video off iCloud and keep the app open until processing starts. Those few habits avoid nearly every upload headache.
Frequently asked questions
How do I post a video on LinkedIn?
Click the Video icon in the share box, click Select video to share, choose your file, add text and click Post.
How long can a LinkedIn video be?
Up to 15 minutes. The minimum is 3 seconds on desktop and 2 seconds in the app.
What is the maximum video file size on LinkedIn?
5 GB, with a minimum of 75 KB.
How do I add captions to a LinkedIn video?
On desktop, click Edit in the video preview, then Select Caption and attach an SRT file before posting.
Why won't my video upload to LinkedIn from my iPhone?
Keep the app open during upload, and move the video out of iCloud to your phone's storage first.
What video format is best for LinkedIn?
MP4 is supported and a safe choice. Formats like ProRes may upload but fail to process.
