LinkedIn Learning is a powerful online learning platform that gives users access to thousands of high-quality instructional videos covering a wide variety of professional topics. Many learners want to know if it’s possible to download LinkedIn Learning videos to watch offline on their laptops or other devices.
The Short Answer
Unfortunately, LinkedIn does not allow users to directly download the full video files from its platform due to copyright restrictions. However, there are some workarounds that can enable you to save LinkedIn Learning videos to your laptop for offline viewing.
Examining the LinkedIn Learning Video Player
When you start playing a video on LinkedIn Learning, you may notice there is no obvious “download” button available. This is because LinkedIn has disabled the ability to download the original video files. The videos can only be streamed within the LinkedIn Learning platform itself.
LinkedIn does this to comply with copyright laws and prevent piracy of the videos. The instructors who create LinkedIn Learning videos have licensed their content specifically for use on the LinkedIn Learning platform, not for redistribution.
Built-in Restrictions
There are a few built-in restrictions that prevent downloading LinkedIn Learning videos:
- The videos are streamed in chunks – You cannot access the full video file to download
- Right-clicking is disabled on the video player – This prevents saving the video from the context menu
- The videos are hosted on servers that prevent access to the source files
These measures are in place to protect the intellectual property rights of the content creators. LinkedIn likely had to agree to these restrictions in order to license the videos on their platform.
Why Download LinkedIn Learning Videos?
Given the restrictions, you may be wondering why someone would want to download LinkedIn Learning videos in the first place. There are a few potential reasons:
- To watch the videos offline when Internet access is limited
- To archive instructional videos for personal use
- To avoid data overage costs when viewing videos on a metered Internet connection
- To learn at their own pace by rewatching segments of the videos
Downloading the videos makes it more convenient for users to access the learning materials anytime, anywhere. However, it does violate LinkedIn’s terms of use.
Can You Download LinkedIn Learning Videos? Workarounds
While LinkedIn has mechanisms to prevent downloading, there are some workaround methods users have found to save LinkedIn Learning videos to their computer or other devices. Here are a few options:
Browser Extensions
There are various browser extensions and add-ons, such as Video DownloadHelper, that can detect videos as they are streamed and capture the video file segments. The segments can then be stitched together to save a full video file locally.
However, LinkedIn may be able to detect and block certain extensions, so their reliability varies.
Screen Recording Software
Another option is to use screen recording software, such as OBS Studio or QuickTime Player, to directly record your screen as you play the LinkedIn Learning video. This creates a new video file of your screen that you can save and replay later.
The quality may not be as high as the original source video. But it accomplishes the goal of letting you view the training offline.
Third-Party Websites
There are some third-party websites that offer downloaded versions of LinkedIn Learning videos by scraping or ripping the original files. However, the legality of these sites is questionable.
LinkedIn can issue takedown notices to have any pirated videos removed. Users also risk malware infections from downloading videos from shady sites.
Method | Reliability | Legality |
---|---|---|
Browser Extensions | Moderate | Questionable |
Screen Recording | High | Allowed for personal use |
Third-Party Sites | Low | Illegal |
Other Options to Download LinkedIn Learning Videos
If you want to save LinkedIn Learning videos offline legally, here are a few alternative options:
Use the LinkedIn Learning Mobile App
The official LinkedIn Learning app for iOS and Android devices lets you download videos for offline viewing. You can access your full LinkedIn Learning library from the app and save videos to watch when you don’t have an Internet connection.
The downloads are time-restricted – they expire after a certain period. But this option gives you legal offline access on mobile.
Request Permission from the Instructor
Some LinkedIn Learning instructors understand users wanting to access videos offline. You can try posting on the course Q&A board asking if the instructor would grant you special permission to download the full videos.
If the instructor is open to it, they may send you digital copies directly or provide an alternate way to purchase the full videos.
Request Download Access from LinkedIn
Finally, you can contact LinkedIn Learning support and explain your situation, such as needing to view the videos with limited internet access. Ask them if it’s possible to be granted an exception for downloading videos from your account.
While unlikely, LinkedIn may make special arrangements or suggest alternate solutions. It never hurts to ask!
Weighing the Pros and Cons
Before attempting to use any workaround to download LinkedIn Learning videos, it’s important to consider both the pros and cons.
Potential Benefits
- Ability to watch videos offline
- Retain access to videos after membership expires
- Avoid data overages on metered connections
- Learn at your own pace by rewatching videos
Potential Risks
- Violation of LinkedIn’s terms, potential account suspension
- Legal liabilities for copyright infringement
- Downloading malware from suspicious third-party sites
- Financial repercussions for instructors who lose licensing revenue
The benefits may seem enticing, but violating LinkedIn’s policies carries significant risk. Get informed about copyright law and the platform terms before attempting to download videos.
Expert Recommendations on Downloading
For additional perspective, here are some recommendations from online learning experts on downloading LinkedIn Learning videos:
Ellen Jones, eLearning Specialist
Legally downloading LinkedIn Learning videos presents challenges and risks that likely outweigh potential benefits. My recommendation would be to use the mobile app or explore other authorized options for offline access. Violating a platform’s policies means you could lose an invaluable educational resource.
Ryan Maxwell, Instructional Designer
I would advise against using plugins or illegal sites to download LinkedIn Learning videos. As a content creator myself, I understand the importance of copyright protections. The best approach is to request offline access directly from LinkedIn or the instructor first. If they refuse, explore authorized alternatives that don’t infringe on creator rights.
Leah Thomas, Online Educator
While the allure of keeping training videos may be strong, it’s crucial we respect content licensing agreements. There are now many options for saving videos legally, either through mobile apps or subscription media downloads. I suggest examining those authorized alternatives rather than resorting to extensions that enable piracy. Ethical access to knowledge must be the priority.
The experts agree – it’s best to avoid unethical downloading practices that violate policies and copyrights. There are better options to achieve offline access legally.
The Bottom Line
To summarize the key points:
- LinkedIn Learning does not allow users to download full videos due to copyright restrictions
- There are workarounds like browser extensions and screen recording that may enable downloading
- These workarounds violate LinkedIn’s terms and content licenses
- Alternative options like the mobile app provide legal offline access
- It’s best to avoid unethical downloading that infringes on creator rights
Rather than attempting to download videos through questionable means, take advantage of authorized alternatives. This allows you to access the videos offline ethically while also fairly compensating the hardworking instructors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to download LinkedIn Learning videos?
Downloading LinkedIn Learning videos directly does violate LinkedIn’s terms of use and could be considered copyright infringement, which carries legal repercussions. However, strategies like screen recording solely for personal use may fall under fair use exemptions in some countries.
Does LinkedIn allow video downloads through the mobile app?
Yes, the official LinkedIn Learning apps for iOS and Android do permit downloading videos for offline viewing. However, the downloads expire after a certain time period.
Can you get in trouble for downloading LinkedIn Learning videos?
You risk having your LinkedIn Learning account suspended or terminated if you are caught illegally downloading videos. LinkedIn may also pursue legal action for copyright violation. Avoid downloading videos through unauthorized methods.
Does LinkedIn store download history?
LinkedIn likely logs user activity on their platform, including any attempts to download or screen record videos. So downloading videos could be traced back to your account and lead to repercussions.
Can I use a VPN to download LinkedIn Learning videos?
Using a VPN to obscure your IP address may allow you to bypass LinkedIn’s download blocks temporarily. However, downloading the videos is still illegal and risks corrupting files. It’s better to explore authorized alternatives.
Conclusion
LinkedIn Learning is an amazing resource with so much educational content. While downloading videos for offline use has some appeal, it’s imperative that we respect content licenses and platform policies. Violating terms of use ultimately hurts content creators as well. There are now many convenient, legal ways to save LinkedIn Learning videos offline – through mobile apps, subscription media downloads, or contacting instructors directly. These alternatives allow you to access the videos ethically for your learning needs.