How to Upload Video to LinkedIn: Step-by-Step Guide and Best Practices

By Aisha Patel3 min read 576 views

How to Upload Video to LinkedIn

A clear, professional video on LinkedIn boosts visibility and engagement far more than a link to an external site. Whether you are posting from a personal profile or a company page, the platform supports native uploads and gives you control over how viewers experience your content inside the feed. The steps below cover the upload flow, recommended settings for length, file size, captioning, and thumbnail choices so you can publish with confidence and avoid common mistakes that limit reach.

Table of Contents

How to Upload Video to LinkedIn
Upload a Video to Your Personal Profile
Upload a Video to a Company Page
Supported Formats and Recommended Settings
Optimize with Captions and Thumbnails
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Why Upload Video to LinkedIn Instead of Sharing a Link
Best Practices for Engagement
Summary

Upload a Video to Your Personal Profile

Open LinkedIn and sign in to your profile.

On the homepage, click the Start a post box near the top of the feed.

Click the video icon that appears in the post composer toolbar.

Select Upload Video and choose the file from your device.

While the video uploads, add a title, description, and set visibility (public, connections-only, or private).

Choose a thumbnail frame or upload a custom image if prompted.

Add tags and a call to action, then click Post.

Upload a Video to a Company Page

If you have admin access to a company page, the process is similar but you publish from the page instead of your personal profile:

Navigate to your Company Page.

Click Create a post or Share an update on the page.

Select the video icon and upload the file from your computer.

Enter a title and description that reflect the page's brand voice.

Set the audience and click Post.

Company pages support the same native upload flow, and videos appear in the page feed and in followers' updates.

Supported Formats and Recommended Settings

LinkedIn accepts common video formats, and the platform re-encodes files for playback across devices. To reduce processing issues and buffering, use these guidelines when you prepare your upload:

Format: MP4 or MOV (H.264 encoding is widely supported).
Aspect ratio: 1.91:1 (landscape) or 1:1 (square) works well in the feed.
File size: Stay under the platform's current limit to avoid upload failures.
Length: Keep videos concise for better retention and completion rates.

Optimize with Captions and Thumbnails

Many viewers watch without sound, so captions improve accessibility and reach. You can add a subtitle file during upload or edit it afterward if the platform supports it. For thumbnails, choose a clear frame with readable text and strong contrast. Avoid busy backgrounds. A custom image often performs better than the auto-selected frame.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Posting videos with no description or title.
Ignoring the thumbnail and letting an unflattering frame represent the content.
Using a file that is too large or in an unsupported format.
Forgetting to set the visibility before publishing.
Skipping captions on professional content.

Native uploads give you more control over the viewing experience and often receive higher engagement than external links. LinkedIn's algorithm favors content that keeps users on the platform, so a direct upload can improve reach and completion rates.

Best Practices for Engagement

Add captions or subtitles for accessibility.
Use a clear title and description that summarize the content.
Keep the video concise and relevant to your audience.
Post when your audience is most active for better reach.
Use a custom thumbnail to attract attention.

Summary

Uploading a video to LinkedIn is straightforward, but small choices affect performance. Use the right format, add captions, and choose a clear thumbnail to get the most from your content.