How to Upload Videos to LinkedIn

Uploading video directly to LinkedIn is one of the most powerful ways to grab attention, share your expertise, and connect with your professional network on a more human level. This guide cuts right to the chase, walking you through the exact steps for uploading video, optimizing it for the platform, and using smart strategies to get an actual return on your content. We’ll cover everything from technical specifications to content ideas that get results.

Why Video on LinkedIn is a Must-Do in 2024

Before getting into the how-to, it’s worth understanding why LinkedIn video deserves your attention. The platform’s algorithm heavily favors native video uploads - that is, videos uploaded directly to LinkedIn rather than linked from YouTube or another site. The reason is simple: LinkedIn, like every other social platform, wants to keep users on its site for as long as possible.

Here’s what that means for you:

• Higher Engagement: LinkedIn posts with video receive, on average, five times more engagement than other post types. They autoplay silently in the feed, making them an immediate pattern-interrupt that stops the scroll.
• Build Trust and Authority: Video allows you to showcase your personality, expertise, and passion in a way text and images can't. It builds a know, like, and trust factor that’s essential for professional networking, sales, and personal branding.
• Explain Complex Ideas Simply: Whether you're demoing a product, explaining a service, or breaking down an industry trend, video is an incredibly efficient medium for education. You can show, not just tell.

In short, if you aren't using video on LinkedIn, you're leaving a massive opportunity on the table to connect with clients, customers, and partners.

LinkedIn Video Specifications: The Nitty-Gritty Details

Getting the technical details right is the first step to making your video look professional and polished. A poorly formatted video can appear blurry or cropped, immediately undermining your message. Here are the specs you need to know.

General Requirements for Native Video (Standard Feed Posts)

• Length: Between 3 seconds and 10 minutes.
• File Size: Between 75 KB and 5 GB.
• File Format: The most common and recommended format is MP4 with AAC audio. However, LinkedIn also supports AVI, FLV, MOV, MPEG-1, MPEG-4, MKV, and WebM.
• Frame Rates: 60 frames per second (FPS) or less.
• Resolution: From 256x144 to 4096x2304.
• Aspect Ratios: Most common are 1:1 (square), 9:16 (vertical for mobile viewing), and 16:9 (horizontal/landscape). While horizontal works, square (1:1) and vertical (9:16) formats perform significantly better because they take up more screen real estate on mobile devices.

Key Recommendations for Best Performance

While LinkedIn supports a wide range of specs, sticking to these guidelines will give you the best results:

• Shoot for a Square (1:1) or Vertical (4:5 or 9:16) Aspect Ratio: Most users scroll LinkedIn on their phones. Vertical video fills the screen, grabs attention, and keeps thumbs from moving. A 1:1 square video is also a safe, highly effective bet.
• Add Captions: An estimated 85% of social media videos are watched with the sound off. If your video relies on someone talking, you must add subtitle captions. LinkedIn allows you to upload an SRT file, which is the professional standard.
• Duration Sweet Spot: While you can upload a 10-minute video, it doesn't mean you should. The most effective LinkedIn videos are typically between 30 seconds and 90 seconds long. This is enough time to deliver value without losing your audience's attention.

How to Upload a Video to LinkedIn: Step-by-Step Instructions

The process is straightforward whether you’re on your computer or phone. Below are the exact steps for both.

On Desktop (for your Personal Profile or Company Page)

The desktop interface gives you the most control, especially for adding options like a thumbnail and subtitles.

1. Log into your LinkedIn account. On your homepage feed, click the "Start a post" box at the top.
2. In the pop-up window, look for the icons at the bottom. Click the video icon (it looks like a small play button in a square).
3. Your computer’s file explorer will open. Navigate to your video file and click "Open" to select and upload it. The video manager window will appear once it's processed.
4. Edit and Optimize: You'll now see a preview of your video with several options:
   • Thumbnail: By default, LinkedIn selects a frame from your video. For a more polished look, click "Select thumbnail" and upload a custom image. A great thumbnail has a clear focal point and maybe even a text overlay summarizing the video's topic.
   • Video captions: Click on the edit icon (pencil) on your video preview and select "Add captions". Here you have the option to attach an SRT (SubRip Subtitle) file. This is the best way to add accurate, professional-looking captions.
   • Alternative text: This is for accessibility. Add a brief, descriptive sentence of what appears in the video to help users with screen readers understand the content.
5. Write Your Post Copy: This is your chance to add context. A good post includes:
   • A strong hook in the first sentence to stop the scroll.
   • A brief summary of what the video covers and why it’s valuable.
   • A call-to-action (CTA) encouraging viewers to comment, ask a question, or click a link.
   • Relevant hashtags (3-5 is a good number) to increase discoverability.
   • Mentions (@ symbol) of any relevant people or companies in the video.
6. Once you're happy with your settings and copy, click the "Post" button. LinkedIn will notify you when your video is done processing and live on the feed.

On the LinkedIn Mobile App (iOS or Android)

The mobile app is great for uploading video quickly, especially if you shot the footage on your phone.

1. Open the LinkedIn app and tap the "Post" button (usually a "+" icon) at the bottom center of the screen.
2. From the list of options, choose "Add a video". This will open your phone’s media gallery.
3. Select the video you want to upload. You can also choose to record a new one directly within the app.
4. Trim and Edit: The app offers simple editing tools. You can trim the length of the video. Depending on your version of the app, you may also have options to add text overlays.
5. Tap "Next" and you'll be taken to the composition screen. Here, write your post copy, add your hashtags, and tag anyone relevant. Currently, the mobile app doesn’t support uploading an SRT caption file, which is a major reason why posting from a desktop is often preferred for more produced content.
6. Tap "Post" in the top right corner to publish your video.

Beyond the Upload: Strategies for High-Impact LinkedIn Videos

Uploading the video is just one piece of the puzzle. To truly get traction, you need a smart content strategy behind it. Here are some proven ideas and tips to elevate your video game.

Video Content Ideas That Resonate on LinkedIn

Not sure what to post? Start with content that educates, inspires, or offers a relatable perspective:

• Quick Tips & How-To's: Share a quick solution to a common industry problem. These are highly shareable and position you as a go-to expert. Example: "Here’s a 60-second trick to writing better email subject lines."
• Behind-the-Scenes: Show your team working on a project, a candid moment from a company event, or a tour of your workspace. This humanizes your brand and builds connection.
• Expert Interviews or Q&As: Host a short interview with a colleague or industry leader. It introduces your network to new perspectives and cross-promotes both of your brands.
• Client Testimonials: A short video clip of a happy client talking about their results is infinitely more powerful than a written quote.
• Myth-Busting and Opinion Pieces: Take a stand on a popular industry topic. A well-argued contrarian take can generate a lot of discussion.

Why Native Uploads Beat YouTube and Vimeo Links

It's tempting to upload your video to YouTube and then just share the link on LinkedIn. Don't do it. As mentioned earlier, LinkedIn's algorithm depresses the reach of posts with external links because they take users off the platform. A natively uploaded video autoplays in the feed, looks seamless, and gets significantly more organic visibility from the algorithm.

If you have content on YouTube, take the extra minute to download the MP4 file and upload it directly to LinkedIn for the best results.

Repurpose Your Content Brilliantly

You don't need to create brand-new content from scratch every day. The best video marketers are masters of repurposing.

• From Webinars to Micro-Videos: Did you host an hour-long webinar? Pull out 3-5 key moments or insights, edit them into individual 60-90 second videos, and you have a week's worth of content.
• From Blog Posts to Video Snippets: Take the main points from a popular blog post and turn them into a "talking head" video script. Record yourself summarizing the advice.
• From Podcasts to Audiograms: Use a tool to turn a short audio clip from your podcast into an audiogram (a static image with moving sound waves and captions). These perform surprisingly well.

Thinking like a content recycler saves you an incredible amount of time and helps maintain a consistent presence without burning out.

Final Thoughts

Uploading video to LinkedIn is a technically simple process, but its potential comes to life when paired with a thoughtful strategy. By focusing on mobile-friendly formats, adding captions, and delivering concise, valuable content, your videos can become a cornerstone of your professional branding and networking efforts.

Staying consistent with video isn’t just about having great ideas, it’s about a smooth workflow. We created Postbase as a modern social media tool designed for today's video-first world. You can plan your content visually on our calendar and schedule your Reels, Shorts, and LinkedIn videos to go live across every platform from a single, clean dashboard, helping you save time and maintain momentum.