The LinkedIn icon in Outlook allows you to easily share emails and calendar invites with your LinkedIn network. Adding the icon is simple but not immediately obvious. This article will walk you through the steps to add the LinkedIn icon to Outlook on both Windows and Mac. We’ll also cover troubleshooting tips in case you run into any issues getting the icon to appear.
Prerequisites
Before adding the LinkedIn icon in Outlook, you need:
- The latest version of Microsoft Outlook desktop app installed
- A LinkedIn account
- The LinkedIn desktop app installed on your computer
Ensure you have installed the latest Microsoft Outlook updates and downloads. Also confirm you’ve signed into the LinkedIn desktop app with your account.
Add Icon in Outlook for Windows
Follow these steps to add the LinkedIn icon to Outlook on Windows:
- Open Outlook and go to the Home tab
- Click on “New Items” and choose “More Items…”
- Select “Choose Form…” from the bottom of the menu
- Navigate to this path: C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Forms
- Select the “LinkedIn.oft” file and click Open
- You will now see the LinkedIn icon added next to the other Outlook icons
Once added, the LinkedIn icon will appear in your ribbon toolbar in the New Items section. You can now easily share Outlook items with your LinkedIn connections.
Troubleshooting Tips
If the LinkedIn icon is not appearing after following the above steps, try these troubleshooting tips:
- Restart Outlook and your computer
- Confirm the LinkedIn desktop app is installed and you’re signed in
- Manually navigate to the Forms folder if the path is different
- Update Office/Outlook to the latest version
Sometimes restarting Outlook or your computer can resolve issues with add-ins not appearing properly. Also ensure LinkedIn is installed and you’re logged in, as the icon relies on integration with the desktop app.
If the file path is different than shown above, manually browse to C:\Users\[YourUsername] to find the AppData > Roaming > Microsoft > Forms folder. The LinkedIn.oft file should be there.
Lastly, update Office and Outlook to the latest versions if available. Older versions may not fully support LinkedIn integration.
Add LinkedIn Icon in Outlook for Mac
Here are the steps to add the LinkedIn icon on Outlook for Mac:
- Open Finder and go to Applications > Microsoft Outlook
- Right click on Outlook and choose “Show Package Contents”
- Navigate to Contents > SharedSupport > Forms
- Drag the “LinkedIn.oft” file to your Desktop
- Now open Outlook and go to Preferences > Forms
- Drag the LinkedIn.oft file from your Desktop into the Forms list
- The LinkedIn icon should now appear in your Outlook toolbar
This makes the LinkedIn form accessible to Outlook on Mac so the icon shows up. You may need to restart Outlook after adding the file to the Forms directory.
Troubleshooting on Mac
If you followed the steps but the icon is not showing, try the following troubleshooting tips:
- Restart Outlook and your Mac
- Check that LinkedIn desktop app is installed and signed in
- Verify the LinkedIn.oft file is in the Forms folder
- Update Office for Mac to the latest version
Similar to Windows, a restart of the app or your computer may help with add-in issues. Double check that the LinkedIn desktop app is added, as the icon relies on this integration.
Go back to the Forms folder to confirm the LinkedIn.oft file is correctly placed there. Lastly, check for any Office for Mac updates to ensure Outlook is current.
Using the LinkedIn Icon
Once you’ve added the icon to Outlook, using it is simple:
- Compose a new email or calendar invite in Outlook
- Click the LinkedIn icon in the toolbar
- A window will pop up allowing you to share to LinkedIn
- Choose to share publically or with your LinkedIn connections
When you click the icon, you can update the LinkedIn post with any additional text or formatting you want. The email content will be automatically added.
This makes it easy to share professional emails, invites, and other Outlook items with your LinkedIn network.
Troubleshooting LinkedIn Sharing Issues
If you are having issues using the LinkedIn integration after adding the icon, check:
- LinkedIn desktop app is running and you’re logged in
- Internet connection is working properly
- Restart LinkedIn desktop app and Outlook
- Re-install LinkedIn desktop app if needed
The LinkedIn Outlook integration relies on the desktop app. If LinkedIn is not launched, signed in, or has connection problems, sharing won’t work properly.
Restarting both LinkedIn and Outlook can help resolve temporary glitches. Re-installing the LinkedIn desktop app will reset the integration if other issues persist.
Conclusion
Adding the LinkedIn icon to Outlook allows easy sharing of your emails and calendar items to your professional network. On Windows, locate the LinkedIn.oft file and add it to your Forms folder. On Mac, add it to the Forms folder in Package Contents.
With the icon added, you can share Outlook items to LinkedIn with a simple click. Troubleshoot issues by ensuring LinkedIn desktop app is installed and signed in, and restarting both apps. Keep Outlook and LinkedIn updated to the latest versions for best integration results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the LinkedIn icon not showing in my Outlook toolbar?
If the LinkedIn icon is not showing after adding it, first ensure the LinkedIn desktop app is installed and you are logged in. Restart both LinkedIn and Outlook. Also confirm the LinkedIn.oft file is in the proper Forms folder location for your Windows or Mac version. Finally, check for any Office/Outlook updates to install the latest LinkedIn integration.
What happens when I click the LinkedIn icon in Outlook?
When you click the LinkedIn icon within a new email or calendar invite in Outlook, a window will open allowing you to post that content to LinkedIn. You can add additional formatting or text before sharing publicly or directly with your LinkedIn connections.
Do I need a LinkedIn account to use the LinkedIn integration?
Yes, you need an existing LinkedIn account in order to sign in on the LinkedIn desktop app. This allows the integration to share content from Outlook to your LinkedIn profile and connections. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, you can sign up for free.
Where can I find the LinkedIn.oft file to add?
On Windows, the LinkedIn.oft file is located in the C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Forms folder. On Mac, it is in the Application > Microsoft Outlook > Contents > SharedSupport > Forms folder. Navigating to these File Explorer or Finder locations will allow you to access the file.
Does the LinkedIn integration work on Outlook mobile apps?
No, the LinkedIn integration, including adding the icon, only works with the desktop versions of Microsoft Outlook on Windows and Mac. The Outlook mobile apps do not support LinkedIn sharing or have the LinkedIn icon available.
Summary
– The LinkedIn icon allows easy sharing of Outlook emails and calendar items to your LinkedIn connections.
– On Windows, add the LinkedIn.oft file to the Forms folder in AppData. On Mac, add it to the Forms folder in Package Contents.
– The LinkedIn desktop app must be installed and signed in for integration to work.
– Troubleshoot issues by restarting LinkedIn/Outlook, re-installing LinkedIn, and checking for updates.
– Click the LinkedIn icon when composing an email or invite to post the content to LinkedIn.
Conclusion
Integrating LinkedIn with Outlook makes it simple to share professional content and connections between the two platforms. By following the outlined steps to add the LinkedIn icon in Outlook for Windows or Mac, you can easily post emails, calendar invites, and more directly to your LinkedIn network.
Troubleshooting any issues with the integration involves ensuring LinkedIn desktop app is installed and signed in, restarting both programs, and installing the latest software updates. With the LinkedIn icon configured, simply click to share Outlook items to LinkedIn without having to copy/paste or open additional windows.
