LinkedIn Learning is an online learning platform that offers thousands of expert-led courses on various topics to help advance your career. If you have access to LinkedIn Learning through your organization or have an individual subscription, watching LinkedIn Learning videos is easy to do on both desktop and mobile. Here are some common questions about how to access and watch LinkedIn Learning videos with step-by-step instructions.
How do I log in to LinkedIn Learning?
To watch LinkedIn Learning videos, you first need to log in to your LinkedIn Learning account. Here are the steps:
- Go to www.linkedin.com/learning in your web browser. This will take you to the LinkedIn Learning homepage.
- Click on “Sign in” in the top right corner of the page.
- Enter your LinkedIn Learning credentials. This may be an email and password if you have an individual account, or your work credentials if accessing through your company.
- Once logged in, you will be taken to your LinkedIn Learning dashboard. This is where you can browse courses and videos.
If you don’t yet have access to LinkedIn Learning, you can start a free one-month trial as an individual subscriber. Contact your employer to see if they offer employees access to LinkedIn Learning as a company benefit.
How do I find videos to watch?
There are a few ways to find videos on topics you want to learn about on LinkedIn Learning:
- Search for courses or videos: Use the search bar at the top of the dashboard to search for specific courses, videos, topics, or skills.
- Browse topics and categories: Scroll through recommended topics and categories on the homepage or browse the library to discover new courses and videos.
- View recommendations: The “Recommendations for You” section provides suggested videos based on your viewing history and interests.
- See your learning plan: If you’ve set up a learning plan, view it under “Learning” in the top menu to access your assigned video courses.
You can also click on “Learning Paths” to view curated video playlists around popular topics like project management, leadership, software programs, and more.
How do I watch a video?
Once you’ve found a video you want to watch, follow these steps:
- Click on the video title to open the video page.
- Click the “Play” button to start the video. The video will start playing inline on the page.
- Use the video player controls to pause, adjust volume, enter full screen mode, or advance the video.
- Scroll down below the video for a course overview, a downloadable transcript, and additional video resources.
You can also download videos to watch offline within the LinkedIn Learning mobile apps. Note that some accounts may limit how many videos you can download per month.
Tips for watching videos
- View the course description before starting to get an overview of what you’ll learn.
- Download transcripts to read along as you watch.
- Take notes on key points to help retain what you learn.
- Use the table of contents to easily jump between video sections.
- Adjust playback speed to watch at the pace that suits your needs.
How do I keep track of my video progress?
As you’re watching videos, LinkedIn Learning will automatically track your progress within each course. Here are some ways to keep track of what you’ve watched and pick up where you left off:
- Completion status: Course thumbnails show what percentage completed you are. Fully watched videos are marked “Watched”.
- Continue Watching: This section shows the latest videos you’ve started but haven’t finished yet.
- Viewing history: Your full viewing history is available under “Learning” in the top menu.
- Bookmarks: You can bookmark videos to easily return to them later. View bookmarks under “Learning”.
For long courses, focus on completing one video or section at a time. The progress indicators will help you stay on track with even lengthy courses.
How do I control video playback?
When watching LinkedIn Learning videos, you can control the playback using the video player toolbar:
Player Control | Function |
---|---|
Play/Pause | Start or pause the video |
Rewind/Forward | Skip backward or ahead in 10 second increments |
Playback Speed | Speed up or slow down the playback rate |
Volume | Increase or decrease the audio volume |
Fullscreen | Make the video take up your entire screen |
Next/Previous Video | Navigate to the next or previous video in a course |
Using these controls, you can adjust playback to suit your needs and maximize your learning. For example, you may speed up videos on introductory topics you already have some familiarity with or slow down advanced videos to take more detailed notes.
How do I share LinkedIn Learning videos?
If you find a relevant or helpful video on LinkedIn Learning that you want to share, there are a couple ways to go about it:
- Share the video link: Click the “Share” icon on the video page to copy a direct link to that specific video. You can paste this link in emails, chats, or social media posts to share it.
- Embed code: Use the embed code also available under the Share icon to embed a given video on a website or blog. Copy the iframe code and paste into your site’s HTML.
- Screenshots: Take a screenshot of the vital information if wanting to share just a snippet, concept, or visual from the video.
However, keep in mind LinkedIn Learning’s guidelines – you should not download videos or share access to full videos, as this violates most accounts’ Terms of Use. Sharing direct links, screenshots, and your learnings is encouraged.
Can I watch LinkedIn Learning on my TV?
There are a couple ways to watch LinkedIn Learning on your television:
- Use screen mirroring: If your TV has screen mirroring capabilities, you can mirror your laptop or mobile screen to watch the LinkedIn Learning app on your TV.
- Use a streaming device: Devices like Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, etc. allow you to “cast” screens from compatible apps. Install the LinkedIn Learning app on your device to cast it.
- Use HDMI cable: Connect your laptop to your TV via HDMI cable to extend or mirror your display and watch LinkedIn Learning on the big screen.
- Try LinkedIn Learning on Oculus: LinkedIn Learning is available on Oculus VR headsets if you want a truly immersive viewing experience.
Make sure your LinkedIn Learning app and/or device are up-to-date for the best cross-device streaming capabilities. Viewing videos on a TV can provide a more engaging learning environment.
How do I control video quality/resolution?
LinkedIn Learning automatically adjusts video resolution quality based on your internet connection speed and bandwidth to minimize buffering. But you can manually adjust video resolution in Account Settings:
- Click on your profile avatar in the top right corner.
- Go to “Account” in the dropdown menu.
- Click on “Preferences” in the side menu.
- Under “Video Playback Quality” choose Auto (recommended), 144p, 240p, 360p, 480p, or 720p.
Setting to a lower resolution like 144p can help videos play smoothly on slower connections. Higher resolutions like 720p provide better quality but require more bandwidth. Letting LinkedIn automatically adjust based on your connection is best for most use cases.
How do I control data usage?
Watching videos can use up mobile data quickly. To limit LinkedIn Learning’s data usage you can:
- Lower video playback quality/resolution as covered above.
- Disable auto-playing of next videos under Account Preferences.
- Download videos over WiFi to watch offline when not on WiFi.
- Set the LinkedIn Learning app to restrict background mobile data in phone Settings.
- Remind yourself to only stream over WiFi or download videos before going offline.
Monitoring your data usage and enabling restrictions when not on WiFi will allow you to keep learning with minimal impact on your mobile data limits.
How can I take notes on LinkedIn Learning videos?
To fully retain what you learn from LinkedIn Learning videos, it helps to take organized notes. Here are some great ways to take notes:
- Use Evernote/OneNote: Take notes directly within LinkedIn Learning-integrated apps like Evernote or OneNote.
- Typed notes: Pause and type key takeaways in a text document during the video.
- Handwritten notes: Jot notes down with pen and paper as you watch, timestamping key concepts.
- Screenshots: Use the Snipping Tool or keyboard shortcuts to snapshot important visuals.
- Bookmarks: Use LinkedIn Learning bookmarks to flag segments to come back and review.
Developing an effective note-taking system will boost retention and help you put what you learn into practice long after watching the videos.
How do I download LinkedIn Learning videos to watch offline?
You can download LinkedIn Learning videos using the mobile apps for iOS and Android to watch offline when you don’t have an internet connection. Here’s how:
- Open the LinkedIn Learning app on your device.
- Tap on the “Download” icon below the video you want to download.
- Select video quality. Higher quality uses more storage space.
- The video will download to your device. An icon will indicate when downloads are complete.
- To watch, tap “My Downloads” and select the video. An internet connection is not needed.
Downloaded videos are available in the “My Downloads” section of the app for offline viewing. Note that most accounts limit how many videos you can have offline at once.
Can I speed up LinkedIn Learning videos?
Yes, you can speed up LinkedIn Learning video playback to watch lectures and tutorials faster. On the video player toolbar, use the “Speed” drop-down menu to choose increased speeds up to 2x normal speed.
Speeding up videos lets you:
- Get through courses faster by condensing viewing time.
- Work through intros/reviews quicker on familiar topics.
- Fit more videos into your daily learning time.
- Finish a long video during a short commute or break.
However, playback speed of 1x or slower can be better for complex topics requiring note taking. Use speed adjustments strategically rather than defaulting always to the maximum speed.
Can I access course materials like slide decks?
In addition to video content, many LinkedIn Learning courses provide supplementary downloads like slide decks, worksheets, quick reference guides, etc. These are available under the Materials tab on a course’s details page.
To access these:
- Navigate to the course you’re taking and click on it.
- Below the course video pane, click on the “Materials” tab.
- View and download any available documents for the course.
- Use these to supplement your learning from the video content.
Downloading materials for courses allows you to reinforce your learning through different mediums and study course topics in greater depth.
How do I control subtitles & closed captions?
LinkedIn Learning provides a transcript for every video. To make this transcript viewable as subtitles during playback:
- Click the “CC” button on the video player toolbar to enable subtitles.
- Click the gear icon to change subtitle styling and language.
- View the transcript alongside the video for the full context.
- Search transcripts for quick navigation based on keywords.
Subtitles and transcripts allow you to follow along in print for complex topics. Enable subtitles by default or on an as-needed basis depending on your learning style.
Can I ask the instructor a question?
Unfortunately you cannot directly ask LinkedIn Learning instructors questions. However, on some courses the instructor may actively monitor and respond to the Q&A discussion board. To potentially ask a question:
- Navigate to the course page and open the Q&A tab.
- Browse existing questions or post your own question here.
- The instructor may respond directly or address common questions in future course updates.
While not guaranteed, discussion boards provide the best opportunity to pose questions. Fellow learners may also offer helpful advice in the comments.
How do I troubleshoot playback issues?
Experiencing choppy playback or buffering? Try these troubleshooting tips:
- Refresh the page – resume playback after refreshing.
- Lower resolution – reduce video quality under Account Settings.
- Check internet speeds – minimum 3 Mbps recommended.
- Close other tabs and apps – minimize bandwidth competition.
- Restart your device – clear any memory issues.
- Update your browser and apps – ensure optimal performance.
Common playback issues can often be quickly resolved through troubleshooting. Reach out to LinkedIn Learning support if problems persist for help resolving.
What browser is recommended to watch videos?
LinkedIn Learning is optimized for the latest version of modern browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge. For best results it’s recommended to:
- Keep your browser updated to the current version.
- Enable JavaScript and cookies in browser settings.
- Use a mainstream, standards-compliant browser.
- Avoid older browsers which may have compatibility issues.
Up-to-date Chrome or Firefox are great choices for maximizing playback and performance of LinkedIn Learning. Avoid outdated browsers or programs like Internet Explorer.
Conclusion
LinkedIn Learning makes learning new skills and advancing your career easy and convenient. By leveraging the platform’s robust video library across devices, taking advantage of features like offline viewing and speed adjustment, and optimizing your playback setup, you can get the most out of your LinkedIn Learning subscription. Following best practices around watching, sharing, and retaining videos will help boost your learning success.