How to Export LinkedIn Search Results to an Excel Sheet in 2026 (Step-by-Step Guide)
LinkedIn search results don't come with an "Export to Excel" button. That's intentional — LinkedIn wants you to stay on the platform, not take your data elsewhere.
But there are legitimate ways to get LinkedIn search data into a spreadsheet. Some are native LinkedIn features, some involve third-party tools, and some require a bit of workflow creativity. Here's what actually works in 2026.
TL;DR
- LinkedIn doesn't have a direct "export search results" button
- You can export your own connections natively (limited data, no profile URLs)
- Sales Navigator users can export saved lead lists to CSV
- Third-party tools like Apollo and Clay let you search and export with email addresses
- Outly lets you go from LinkedIn search URL to CSV (or straight to automated outreach) in minutes
- Scraping tools violate LinkedIn's ToS — stick to compliant methods
Best Ways to Export LinkedIn Search Results to Excel
Manual Copy-Paste Method
For small research projects (under 20-30 people), manual export is sometimes the most practical option.
- Run your LinkedIn search
- Open each profile you want to capture
- Copy the relevant information into a spreadsheet
Create columns for: Name, Title, Company, LinkedIn URL, Location, and any notes. It's tedious but completely compliant and gives you exactly the data you need.
For 10-20 people, this takes 20-30 minutes. For 100+ people, use one of the tool-based methods below.
Use LinkedIn's API Program
LinkedIn has an official API that developers can use to access LinkedIn data programmatically. This is the most compliant method for large-scale data access, but it requires technical knowledge and LinkedIn's approval.
Note: LinkedIn's API access is restricted and requires an application process. It's designed for companies building LinkedIn integrations, not for individual users exporting search results. For most people, this isn't a practical option.
Using External Tools
This is where most people end up, and it's the most practical approach for regular prospecting.
Step 1: Creating a Campaign in Outly
Log into Outly and click "New Campaign." Select "LinkedIn Search" as your lead source.
Step 2: Click on "I'm an advanced user"
This unlocks the URL-based import option, which lets you paste any LinkedIn search URL directly rather than rebuilding your search filters inside Outly.
Step 3: Add the Search URL
Run your search on LinkedIn with all your filters applied. Copy the URL from your browser's address bar and paste it into Outly. The platform will pull the matching profiles automatically.
Step 4: Save and Click on "Configure Settings"
Review the lead list that Outly has pulled. You can filter further, remove specific profiles, or adjust the targeting. Once you're happy with the list, click "Configure Settings" to set up your campaign parameters.
Step 5: Create a Sequence
If you want to run outreach (not just export), set up your message sequence here. Define your connection note, follow-up messages, and timing between each step.
Step 6: Edit Your Sequence
Customize each message with personalization variables. Outly's AI can suggest personalized openers based on each prospect's profile, or you can write your own templates with merge tags.
Step 7: Go to Your Campaign Settings
Set your daily limits, campaign schedule, and any exclusion rules (e.g., don't contact people you've already messaged in the past 90 days).
Step 8: Export to CSV
If you want the data in a spreadsheet rather than running outreach, click the export button. Outly generates a CSV with name, job title, company, LinkedIn URL, and any enrichment data.
Why It's Worth the Investment
Outly's Starter plan starts at $39.99/mo. For that, you get unlimited CSV exports from LinkedIn searches, automated outreach campaigns, and AI-powered message personalization. Compared to manually copying data from LinkedIn profiles, the time savings alone justify the cost within the first week.
What Are the Limitations of LinkedIn Search?
LinkedIn's search has real limitations that affect what you can export:
Free account search limits: LinkedIn restricts how many search results you can view per month on a free account. Once you hit the limit, you'll see a "You've reached the commercial use limit" message. Sales Navigator removes this restriction.
No direct export button: LinkedIn intentionally doesn't provide a way to export search results. Any export requires either their native data download (connections only) or a third-party tool.
No email addresses in search results: LinkedIn search results show name, title, company, and location. Email addresses are never included. You need an enrichment tool to find them.
Profile privacy settings: Some LinkedIn users restrict who can see their full profile. If a profile is set to private, you'll see limited information even in search results.
Boolean search limitations: LinkedIn's free search has limited boolean operators. Sales Navigator has much more powerful filtering, including seniority level, company headcount, years in role, and more.
What Are the Benefits of Exporting Your Search Results to Excel?
Organize and prioritize leads. A spreadsheet lets you sort, filter, and prioritize your leads in ways LinkedIn's interface doesn't support. You can add columns for notes, priority scores, and outreach status.
Import to your CRM. Most CRMs accept CSV imports. Getting your LinkedIn leads into your CRM keeps your pipeline organized and ensures nothing falls through the cracks.
Enrich with email addresses. Once you have a list of names and LinkedIn URLs, you can feed it into an enrichment tool to find business email addresses. This opens up email outreach as a channel alongside LinkedIn.
Share with your team. A spreadsheet is easy to share. If you're working with a sales team, exporting your lead list lets everyone see the same data and coordinate outreach.
Track outreach history. Add columns for "Date Contacted," "Response," and "Next Step" to turn your export into a lightweight CRM.
LinkedIn Export Mistakes That Kill Your Results (Avoid These 5 Errors)
Error 1: Using Scraping Tools
Any method that involves automated scraping of LinkedIn's interface — browser extensions that extract data from search result pages, bots that scroll through profiles — violates LinkedIn's Terms of Service.
LinkedIn actively detects and restricts accounts that use these tools. The risk is real: account restrictions, temporary bans, or permanent suspension. Stick to compliant methods.
Error 2: Exporting Without Filtering First
Exporting a raw, unfiltered list wastes time and produces low-quality leads. Before you export anything, apply every relevant filter: job title, seniority level, company size, industry, geography, years in role. A smaller, targeted list outperforms a large generic one every time.
Error 3: Ignoring the "Connected On" Date
If you're exporting your own connections, the "Connected On" date is valuable data. Sort by this column to find connections you haven't engaged with in a while — these are warm leads who already know you.
Error 4: Not Enriching for Email Addresses
Exporting LinkedIn data without enriching for email addresses leaves half the value on the table. A name and LinkedIn URL is useful. A name, LinkedIn URL, and verified business email is much more useful. Always run your export through an enrichment tool.
Error 5: Treating the Export as a One-Time Task
LinkedIn data goes stale fast. People change jobs, get promoted, and update their profiles constantly. An export from three months ago is already outdated. Build a workflow that refreshes your data regularly rather than relying on a one-time snapshot.
Conclusion
Exporting LinkedIn search results to Excel isn't as simple as clicking a button, but it's absolutely doable with the right approach.
For small lists, manual copy-paste works. For your own connections, LinkedIn's native export is free and easy. For prospecting at scale, a tool like Outly or Apollo gives you the most complete data with the least manual effort.
The key is to stay compliant. Scraping tools might seem like a shortcut, but the risk to your LinkedIn account isn't worth it. The methods above all work within LinkedIn's rules.
Ready to go from LinkedIn search to outreach in minutes? Start your free trial with Outly and export your first lead list today. Starter plan from $39.99/mo.
