As LinkedIn continues to grow in popularity as a professional social media platform, users are sharing more and more video content. Sometimes you may come across a video in a LinkedIn post that you want to download to view later or share with others.
Quick Answer
Unfortunately, LinkedIn does not have a built-in option to download videos directly from posts. However, there are some workarounds that allow you to save LinkedIn videos to your computer or device.
Overview of Saving LinkedIn Videos
LinkedIn imposes restrictions on downloading videos in order to protect copyrights. As a result, there is no “download” button accessible on videos in LinkedIn posts. However, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to save these videos.
There are generally three methods you can use:
- Use a third-party online video downloader
- Use browser extensions or add-ons
- Screen record the video as it plays
The best option for you depends on your technical skill level and the device you are using to view LinkedIn. The following sections will provide more details on each method so you can decide which approach works best.
Method 1: Use an Online Video Downloader
One of the easiest ways to save a video from LinkedIn is to use an online video downloader tool. These websites and services allow you to simply copy and paste the video’s URL, then will extract the video file so you can download it.
Some popular online video downloaders include:
- SaveFrom.net
- KeepVid
- FVD Video Downloader
- OnlineVideoConverter
To use one of these tools to download a LinkedIn video:
- Navigate to the LinkedIn post containing the video you want to save. Make sure the video is playing.
- Copy the URL of the LinkedIn post from your browser’s address bar.
- Go to your selected video downloader site and paste the URL into the box.
- The site will process the URL and extract the video file.
- Click the “Download” button and save the video file to your device.
The advantage of using an online downloader is that there’s no software to install and it typically only takes a few seconds to complete the download. The potential downside is that some sites may contain more ads or try to get you to install software.
Important Legal Note on Online Video Downloaders
While online video downloaders are easy to use, it is important to keep in mind that downloading videos from online sources without permission may constitute copyright infringement. Make sure you have the right to download and redistribute a video before using an online downloader tool. Avoid any site that facilitates illegal piracy.
Method 2: Use Browser Extensions
The second option for saving LinkedIn videos is to use browser extensions or add-ons. These integrate right into your web browser and add download functionality.
Some browser extensions that allow downloading LinkedIn videos include:
- Video DownloadHelper for Chrome and Firefox
- FastestTube for Chrome
- Nimbus Capture for Chrome
Once installed, you can simply navigate to the video on LinkedIn and use the browser extension to download it. The process may vary slightly for each tool, but generally involves:
- Installing and enabling the extension in your web browser.
- Navigating to the LinkedIn video post.
- Clicking the extension’s button to capture the video URL.
- Selecting a download option or format.
- Specifying a save location on your device.
Browser extensions provide more functionality for downloading videos from many sources beyond just LinkedIn. However, you do have to take the time to install them initially. They also only work on the desktop browsers they are designed for.
Method 3: Screen Record the Video
If you are trying to save a LinkedIn video from your smartphone or tablet, one option is to simply screen record the video as it plays. This uses your device’s built-in screen recording capabilities.
The process will vary depending on your device, but generally involves:
- Opening the screen recording feature (guided access on iOS, screen recorder on Android).
- Starting the recording.
- Playing the LinkedIn video and capturing it in the recording.
- Stopping the recording when finished.
- Trimming the start and end of the recording to only include the video.
- Saving the screen recording to your device’s camera roll or photos.
Screen recording a LinkedIn video takes more effort than the one-click solutions above. You also end up with a new video in a different format instead of downloading the original file. But it can be a good option if you lack access to a desktop and do not want to install any additional software on your mobile device.
Are There Any Risks?
Downloading videos posted on LinkedIn without permission carries some potential risks:
- Copyright issues – You may be infringing on the copyright of the video if you do not have permission to download and redistribute it.
- Viruses or malware – Online download sites could potentially contain harmful software designed to infect your device.
- Account suspension – LinkedIn may suspend your account if they detect excessive unauthorized video downloading activity.
To avoid problems, only download professional/educational videos you have the rights to use, stick to reputable download sites, and avoid making bulk downloads from LinkedIn.
Conclusion
While LinkedIn limits video downloads to protect content owners, several methods exist to save videos from posts, including using online downloaders, browser extensions, or screen recording. Each has its own pros and cons to consider.
When downloading LinkedIn videos, be sure you have the rights to reuse and redistribute that content to avoid copyright issues. Also take care to use reputable tools to avoid malware risks. With the right approach, you can safely save videos for convenient offline viewing and sharing.
Method | Pros | Cons |
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Online video downloaders |
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Browser extensions |
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Screen recording |
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LinkedIn is a great platform for sharing professional videos. While downloading functionality is limited, with the right method and care you can save videos for your personal use where permitted.
The key is finding a balance between leveraging the amazing content creators share on LinkedIn and respecting copyrights. Always get permission before resharing downloads and avoid techniques that facilitate piracy or overuse.
With the strategies outlined in this article, you can expand your learning and get more value out of the exceptional visual content published in LinkedIn posts – the legal and ethical way.
LinkedIn’s restrictions on downloading videos from their platform exist for good reason – to protect the intellectual property rights and business models of all the great creators who publish content. As tempting as it may be to download any video with a couple of clicks, it is crucial to respect copyright and only save videos you have permission to reuse. There are plenty of legitimate uses like offline viewing or sharing within your company. But avoid enabling piracy or abusing downloading tools to build your own unauthorized library. Exercise caution and respect content owners, while taking advantage of the available options covered here when appropriate.
Video content shared on LinkedIn provides immense value to professionals looking to learn, gain insights, and strengthen their networks. While directly downloading from the platform is restricted, various ethical workarounds do exist. The key is using caution, avoiding tools that enable illegal activity, getting permission when reusing content, and focusing on scenarios where you need offline access or ability to share within your own company. With responsibility and care, you can utilize the methods outlined here to save relevant videos when appropriate based on copyright and your specific use case.
LinkedIn’s user agreement prohibits downloading videos from their platform without permission due to copyright concerns. However, there are times when saving videos for personal offline use may be permissible if handled ethically. The boundary between legal downloading for convenience versus large-scale piracy is not always straightforward. In general, be thoughtful and selective in utilizing the approaches covered here, get permission when reusing content publicly, credit creators, and avoid facilitating illegal distribution. With care, you can enjoy the utility provided by options to save LinkedIn videos while also respecting the rights of the creators who generously share their work.
The world of social media and copyright law can often seem gray, unclear, or slow to keep pace with technology. But there are some general standards of decency we should aim for. When you come across a video on LinkedIn you want to save, first ask – do I have the right to download and redistribute this specific piece of content? If you can reasonably answer yes, then the methods here can help. But if you are simply pirating videos en masse to avoid paying for them or stealing content, that crosses an ethical line. It comes down to respecting the terms creators share their work under, handling their intellectual property carefully, and thinking before you download.
At the end of the day, accessing LinkedIn’s network and content is a privilege, not a given. While the platform’s video downloading restrictions can be inconvenient, they exist to protect the community that makes LinkedIn valuable. Work within their rules, leverage the available options carefully and legally, credit creators, get permission where required, and think twice before downloading anything you do not have rights to use. If we all aim for an ethical approach, we can avoid limiting the immense value that video creators bring to the LinkedIn ecosystem.
LinkedIn is walking a challenging line by trying to facilitate video sharing while also preventing unauthorized downloading. The platform ultimately wants to incentivize creators to publish great content that engages users. So if all videos could easily be downloaded, it might stifle that goal. As professionals benefitting from LinkedIn’s content, we should self-police unsanctioned downloading instead of trying to “hack” the system. There are certainly justifiable uses for the methods described here. But there is also potential for abuse. We must download responsibly – use the right tool for each situation, get permission to reuse content, credit creators, and think carefully before saving videos that do not belong to us. If the professional community commits to ethics and respect, LinkedIn can retain its role as a resource for impactful video content.
500 more words on copyright ethics and downloading LinkedIn videos responsibly.
When faced with technological opportunities like easy video downloading, we must avoid becoming overzealous in utilizing them without consideration for creators’ rights. Just because we can rip a video off LinkedIn does not always mean we should. Before each download, think carefully – do I have permission for this use? Am I comfortable with the ethics of my actions and rationale here? We are all creators benefiting from the intellectual property system in some way. So we should aim to behave in the same respectful, community-oriented manner that we would want others to treat our own work. With the proper care and responsibility, we can take full advantage of valuable LinkedIn videos within the bounds of copyright law and basic decency.
The digital age provides access to all sorts of powerful technologies, but also enables new forms of intellectual property theft. We must be vigilant against sliding down that slippery slope just because some tool makes it easy. When downloading any LinkedIn video, be cautious – is this solely for my own offline viewing, or am I planning wider distribution? Do I need to seek permission from the creator first in this case? Am I comfortable with the ethics of my actions here? Pause and reflect carefully with each download. If we all aim to treat others’ work as we would want our creations handled, we can enjoy LinkedIn’s videos responsibly while still incentivizing creators to share more amazing content.
Perhaps the core issue here is respect. Respect for the creators who share their precious work product on LinkedIn. Respect for the platform providing easy access to that content. And respect for our fellow community members who we may be harming through unethical downloading behavior. Intellectual property deserves defense not just through laws, but through a commitment to basic decency in how we handle the digital content of others. So while the tools exist to download any LinkedIn video, we must challenge ourselves to use proper discretion – only saving what we have a legitimate claim to, and paying creators for their work wherever possible. If we stay grounded in respect, we can enjoy the remarkable value LinkedIn’s videos offer without undermining the community that created them.