LinkedIn is one of the most popular professional social networking platforms, with over 700 million users worldwide. Many professionals rely on LinkedIn to build their professional brand, make connections, find jobs, and more. A common question that arises is whether you can download the LinkedIn app on your laptop. The short answer is yes, you can download and install the LinkedIn desktop app on Windows and Mac laptops and desktops.
Overview of LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a social media platform designed specifically for professional networking and career development. It allows users to create professional profiles, connect with other professionals in their industry, find and apply for jobs, participate in industry groups, follow companies, and more.
Some key features of LinkedIn include:
- Profiles – Users can create detailed professional profiles highlighting their work experience, education, skills, accomplishments, recommendations, and more.
- Feed – A news feed shows updates from connections, companies, and groups that users follow.
- Connections – Users can connect with colleagues, classmates, clients, and other professionals.
- Groups – Groups allow users with similar interests or professional backgrounds to share content and participate in discussions.
- Job listings – LinkedIn has an extensive job board with millions of listings across many industries and locations.
- Content publishing – Users can publish long-form posts to share insights, build their brand, and establish thought leadership.
- Messaging – LinkedIn offers messaging capabilities to communicate with connections.
With over 55 million registered companies and more than 20,000 schools represented on the platform, LinkedIn has established itself as the go-to social media platform for professional networking and career development.
Benefits of Using LinkedIn on a Laptop
While LinkedIn’s mobile app provides the core social networking features, using LinkedIn on a laptop offers some additional benefits:
- Larger screen – Viewing profiles, articles, job listings, and other content is easier on a laptop’s large screen compared to a small mobile device.
- Easier typing – Typing long-form posts and messages is faster and easier on a full keyboard compared to mobile.
- Multitasking – You can have LinkedIn open side-by-side with other apps and browser tabs on a laptop screen.
- Access additional features – Some LinkedIn features like creating long-form posts and analytics are only available on desktop.
- Avoid mobile distraction – Using a laptop allows you to focus on LinkedIn without mobile distractions like texts or calls.
For busy professionals who use LinkedIn extensively for networking, job seeking, or promoting their business, accessing it on a laptop can make the experience more efficient and productive.
How to Download the LinkedIn App on Windows Laptops
Downloading the LinkedIn desktop app on a Windows laptop is quick and straightforward:
- Go to the LinkedIn desktop download page at https://www.linkedin.com/desktop/.
- Click the “Download” button.
- Once the installer file finishes downloading, open it and follow the on-screen instructions to install LinkedIn on your laptop.
- If prompted, sign into LinkedIn using your account email and password.
- After signing in, LinkedIn will open in your desktop browser – you can then pin it to your taskbar for easy access.
The LinkedIn desktop app runs independently of your browser and remains signed into your LinkedIn account. You can click the LinkedIn icon in your taskbar at any time to open it quickly.
Tips for managing LinkedIn desktop notifications
By default, LinkedIn desktop will show pop-up notifications on your Windows laptop for items like new messages, connection requests, and notifications.
To manage notifications:
- Click your profile picture > Settings & Privacy from the drop-down menu.
- Go to Notifications in the left sidebar.
- Toggle notification types on or off as desired.
Turning off certain notifications can cut down on distractions while you have LinkedIn desktop open.
Installing the LinkedIn App on Mac
Mac users can also install the LinkedIn desktop app by following these steps:
- Go to https://www.linkedin.com/desktop/ on your Mac.
- Click the “Download” button.
- Once downloaded, open the LinkedIn.dmg file and drag the LinkedIn icon into your Applications folder to install.
- Open LinkedIn from your Applications folder or Launchpad.
- Enter your LinkedIn login info if prompted.
As on Windows, you can pin LinkedIn to your Mac Dock for quick access. LinkedIn will launch in your default browser.
Customizing LinkedIn on Mac
On the Mac app, click LinkedIn > Preferences to customize options like:
- General – Change default web browser.
- Notifications – Manage desktop notifications.
- Privacy – Control tracking and advertising.
Tweaking these preferences can optimize LinkedIn desktop for your usage.
Using LinkedIn Messaging and Notifications
Two of LinkedIn’s helpful communication features are messaging and notifications:
Messaging
LinkedIn’s messaging system allows you to have conversations with your connections. On desktop, you can message contacts by:
- Clicking the Messages icon in the top toolbar.
- Opening a connection’s profile and clicking “Send message.”
- Replying to someone who messaged you first.
Messaging is useful for following up after connecting with someone, asking work-related questions, or keeping in touch.
Notifications
Notifications alert you to activity on your account. On desktop, LinkedIn notifications appear in the top toolbar. You can click to view details. Common notifications include:
- Connection requests
- Messages
- Mentions
- Likes and comments on your posts
- Group activity
- Shared content and recommendations
Notifications make it easy to stay up-to-date with the most relevant LinkedIn activity.
Joining and Managing LinkedIn Groups
LinkedIn Groups allow you to connect with professionals in your industry and discuss topics of shared interest. Here are some tips for managing groups on desktop:
Finding and joining groups
Use the search bar or browse recommendations to find groups to join. Look for active groups related to your profession. Often, you need to request to join private groups before participating.
Setting group notifications
Adjust your notification settings for each group. Turning off notifications for low priority groups reduces clutter.
Participating in discussions
Most groups let any member create posts and participate in discussions. Share expertise, ask/answer questions, and build connections.
Managing group memberships
Review your list of joined groups periodically. Leave stagnant or irrelevant groups to focus on more useful ones.
Groups are a valuable part of fully leveraging LinkedIn for networking and professional development. Take advantage of them.
Other LinkedIn Tips and Tricks
Here are some additional ways to make the most of LinkedIn through the desktop app:
- Customize your LinkedIn feed using the News Feed Preferences panel.
- Follow relevant companies to receive their latest updates.
- Use advanced search operators to fine-tune your job search.
- Export connections to a CSV file from the My Network page.
- Use Showcase Pages to highlight your brand, business, or organization.
- Publish long-form posts to establish yourself as an industry thought leader.
Invest time customizing LinkedIn desktop to meet your specific needs and goals. The platform offers many options to maximize its value.
Conclusion
Installing the LinkedIn desktop app provides a full-featured experience and unlocks additional functionality not available on mobile. With LinkedIn desktop, you can more easily manage your profile and connections, search for jobs, join relevant groups, publish content, and stay up-to-date on industry news. By customizing notifications and Feed preferences, you can tailor LinkedIn to your professional needs and keep distractions to a minimum. Whether networking, researching a company, or promoting your business, having access to LinkedIn on your laptop makes full use of its extensive capabilities.
