Having your video appear as just a black screen on LinkedIn can be frustrating. There are a few potential reasons why this might happen and some troubleshooting steps you can take to try and fix it.
Quick Answers
– The video file is corrupted or incompatible with LinkedIn’s requirements
– The video isn’t properly processed after uploading
– There are connection issues between LinkedIn’s servers and your device
– Your LinkedIn app requires an update
– Your device software needs an update
Common Causes of Black Screen Videos on LinkedIn
Here are some of the most common reasons your video may show up as just a black screen on LinkedIn:
Unsupported Video File Type or Codec
LinkedIn only supports certain video file formats and codecs. If your video is not encoded properly or is an unsupported file type, LinkedIn’s video player may not be able to process and play it correctly.
LinkedIn recommends uploading MP4 or MOV files encoded with H.264 video and AAC audio for best results. Other formats like AVI, WMV, and non-standard codecs are much more likely to cause playback issues.
Video File Corruption
If your video file is corrupted or damaged in some way, it may appear as just a black screen when uploaded to LinkedIn. This could happen if the file was not exported properly from your editing software or became corrupted during download/upload.
Trying to re-export or upload a fresh copy of your video file can help rule out corruption issues.
Processing Failures
LinkedIn needs to process and transcode your uploaded video file into formats compatible with their video player and content delivery networks. If this processing fails or doesn’t complete fully, it can result in playback failures.
Uploading shorter videos generally has a higher success rate. You may need to re-upload your video to give their processing system another try.
Connection Problems
Like any streaming video service, your network connection stability can impact your ability to watch videos on LinkedIn. Weak wifi signals, bandwidth restrictions, VPN/proxy use, and other connection factors could potentially disrupt the streaming process.
Testing on different networks and devices can help determine if connection issues are the culprit. Make sure you have a stable high-speed connection for best results.
Troubleshooting Black Screen Videos on LinkedIn
If your uploaded video appears as just a black screen on LinkedIn, try some of these troubleshooting steps to resolve it:
1. Confirm the Video Plays Locally
First, rule out any problems with the video file itself by playing it on the device you uploaded from. This will verify the file isn’t corrupted and that your device/software can properly decode and display it.
2. Check Video Format Requirements
As mentioned above, LinkedIn has specific video format requirements. Double check that your video file is encoded in a supported codec like H.264 and container like MP4 or MOV.
3. Try Lower Resolutions
If you uploaded a very high resolution 4K or 8K video, try compressing it down to 1080p or 720p resolution. Higher resolution files are harder for LinkedIn’s system to process and more prone to playback failures.
4. Re-Upload the Video
One simple fix is to just delete the video from LinkedIn and upload a fresh copy. This gives their processing system another chance to properly transcode the video file. Make sure to upload from a stable wi-fi or wired connection.
5. Update LinkedIn App
Check if newer versions of the LinkedIn mobile app are available in your device’s app store. The latest updates could contain fixes for video playback bugs and issues.
6. Restart Your Device
As basic as it sounds, power cycling your smartphone, tablet, computer, or other device can sometimes clear up temporary glitches causing videos to not play. Completely close and restart the LinkedIn app as well after a restart.
7. Use a Different Device
See if uploading and playing the video file works properly from a different device like a mobile phone, tablet, or computer. This can determine if the issue is isolated to a particular device’s software/hardware.
8. Check for Server Outages
In rare cases, playback problems can stem from LinkedIn server outages. Check LinkedIn’s status page at https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin to see if they have reported any known issues.
Best Practices for Uploading to LinkedIn
To help avoid black screen and playback issues, keep these best practices in mind when uploading videos to LinkedIn:
Video Codec | H.264 |
File Format | MP4 or MOV |
Resolution | 720p or 1080p |
Bitrate | 2-6 mbps |
Framerate | 30 fps |
Audio Codec | AAC |
Additional tips:
- Keep videos short – under 5 minutes when possible
- Use a wired Internet connection for upload
- Re-encode and re-upload if needed
- Downsize very large or high-res files
- Try uploading from a different device if needed
Contacting LinkedIn Support
If you continue experiencing black screens or failed video playback after troubleshooting, you may need to reach out to LinkedIn customer support for additional help.
Some options to contact LinkedIn support include:
- Directly in the LinkedIn app – Tap your profile icon > Settings & Support > Get support
- LinkedIn Help Center – https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin
- LinkedIn Support Twitter – @LinkedInHelp
When contacting support, provide as many details as possible like:
- Steps to reproduce the video playback issue
- Full video file specs and metadata
- Upload/playback environment – device, OS, browser, etc.
- Screenshots of black screen errors
- Troubleshooting steps you’ve tried
LinkedIn should be able to investigate with these details and hopefully resolve any bugs or incompatibilities causing your uploaded videos to only show a black screen.
Conclusion
Black screen videos on LinkedIn can be caused by corrupted files, unsupported formats, processing failures, or connection issues. First try troubleshooting steps like re-uploading a fresh file, checking LinkedIn’s format specs, lowering resolutions, and updating software. If problems persist, provide details to LinkedIn support for further investigation. With some diligent testing, you should be able to successfully upload and play videos on LinkedIn without the dreaded black screen.