Losing access to your LinkedIn account can be frustrating and concerning, especially if you rely on LinkedIn for business or networking opportunities. Fortunately, in many cases it is possible to regain access to a suspended or closed LinkedIn account by following LinkedIn’s account recovery process.
Common reasons LinkedIn accounts get suspended or closed
There are a few main reasons why LinkedIn may suspend or close your account:
- Violating LinkedIn’s User Agreement or Professional Community Policies – This includes things like spamming, scraping data, or harassing other users.
- Suspicious activity – If LinkedIn detects suspicious or potentially fraudulent activity on your account, they may lock it until you can confirm you are the legitimate account owner.
- Inactive account – If you don’t log in to your LinkedIn account for an extended period of time, LinkedIn may automatically close the account due to inactivity.
If you think your account may have been suspended or closed in error, it’s important to go through LinkedIn’s account recovery process as soon as possible to get it reinstated.
How to recover a suspended or closed LinkedIn account
Here are the steps to take to submit an account recovery request to LinkedIn:
- Go to the LinkedIn account recovery page and enter your email address associated with your LinkedIn account.
- LinkedIn will send you an email with instructions to recover your account. The email will come from [email protected].
- Click on the “Recover Account” button or link in the email. This will direct you to the LinkedIn account recovery form.
- Fill out the account recovery form completely, providing as many details about your account as possible. This includes your full name, email address associated with the account, who you are connected with, companies you follow or work for, etc.
- Complete any additional steps shown after submitting the form. LinkedIn may ask you to verify your identity or ownership of the account through confirmation of your email, phone number, connections, etc.
- LinkedIn will review your recovery request and evidence provided. The review process usually takes 24-48 hours.
- If LinkedIn can confirm you as the legitimate account owner, they will send you an email that your account has been reactivated. Just log in with your email and password.
- If LinkedIn cannot verify your ownership of the account, they will notify you via email and may ask for additional information to complete the review.
Providing as much relevant information as possible in the recovery form increases your chances of regaining access to your account. But have patience, since LinkedIn’s review process does take some time.
What to do if your account recovery request is denied
If LinkedIn denies your account recovery request, here are some tips that may help:
- Double check you are requesting recovery from the email address associated with the suspended account.
- Try going through the recovery process again, providing additional details about the account history, your connections, employment details, etc.
- Check for an email from LinkedIn requesting any additional information to complete review.
- Make sure your account was not closed due to serious violations of LinkedIn’s policies. Accounts closed for harassment, spamming, scraping, or impersonation usually cannot be recovered.
- For account closure due to prolonged inactivity, emphasize that you still actively want access to the account.
- As a last resort, you can try contacting LinkedIn Customer Service for additional assistance.
Even if the initial recovery request is denied, providing supplementary information and persistence often results in recovering access to your LinkedIn account.
Best practices for avoiding LinkedIn account suspension
While account suspensions sometimes happen accidentally, you can take proactive steps to avoid losing access to your LinkedIn profile:
- Log in frequently – Use your LinkedIn account regularly to avoid inactivity closures.
- Strengthen your password – Have a strong, unique password to prevent unauthorized access.
- Be wary of third-party apps – Don’t grant extensive permissions to questionable third-party apps.
- Avoid policy violations – Don’t participate in spamming, scraping, impersonation or harassment.
- Confirm your primary email – Keep your primary email up-to-date so LinkedIn can contact you if needed.
- Turn on two-factor authentication – Enable two-factor authentication for increased account security.
Carefully following LinkedIn’s terms of service and community policies is the best way to avoid the risk of account suspension in the first place.
Conclusion
Having your LinkedIn account suddenly suspended or closed can certainly be alarming. But in many cases, you can successfully recover your account access by submitting a recovery request directly to LinkedIn and providing verification details.
Be sure to follow up on any additional information LinkedIn requests during the review process. And take proactive measures like strong passwords and avoiding policy violations to prevent the need for account recovery in the first place.
With persistence and patience, there is a good chance of regaining access to your valuable LinkedIn account and contacts. Just go through LinkedIn’s official recovery procedures to get your account reinstated.
| Reason for Account Suspension | How to Recover Account |
|---|---|
| Violating LinkedIn’s policies | Submit account recovery request, emphasize you have learned from your mistake, may not be recoverable if violation is severe |
| Suspicious activity on account | Complete account recovery process to verify identity as legitimate account owner |
| Prolonged account inactivity | Submit recovery request and indicate you still want active access to the account |
This table summarizes the common reasons for LinkedIn account suspension and the best practices for recovering your account access in each scenario.
Tips for avoiding future account suspension
- Log in frequently
- Use strong password
- Don’t grant extensive app permissions
- Follow all LinkedIn policies
- Keep primary email up to date
- Enable two-factor authentication
Carefully following LinkedIn’s terms of service and community policies can help avoid the risk of losing account access.
What happens if the account recovery request is denied?
If your LinkedIn account recovery request is initially denied, here are some tips:
- Request recovery from the email on file for the account
- Provide additional account details during another recovery attempt
- Check for emails from LinkedIn requesting more information
- Make sure the account wasn’t permanently closed for serious violations
- For closures due to inactivity, reiterate you still want access
- Contact LinkedIn Customer Service as a last resort
Supplying supplementary account history and verification often allows you to regain access after an initial denial. Persistence is key.
Can you recover an account closed for policy violations?
Accounts closed for severe violations like harassment, spamming, or scraping usually cannot be recovered. But minor first-time offenses may allow account recovery after the suspension period passes.
What to do if you can’t recover your old LinkedIn account
If you have exhausted all options and still cannot recover your closed LinkedIn account, here are some suggested steps:
- Create a new LinkedIn account with your name and email address
- Let connections know you have a new profile using your alternate contact info
- Import any contacts you have outside of LinkedIn
- Upload documentation of your education, skills, and work history
- Request endorsements and recommendations again from your network
- Follow companies, groups, and schools to help rebuild your network
- Take advantage of LinkedIn premium trial offers if available
While you can’t fully recreate your old account, you can rebuild much of your network and presence with some patience and effort. Focus on re-establishing connections and active participation.
Should you create a new LinkedIn account if recovery fails?
Yes, creating a new LinkedIn account is recommended if you are unable to recover your closed account. You can then rebuild your network, resume, connections, and reputation on the new profile.
LinkedIn account recovery FAQs
How long does LinkedIn account recovery take?
The LinkedIn account recovery and review process typically takes 24-48 hours. More complex cases can take up to one week to fully investigate and verify.
Can a deleted LinkedIn account be recovered?
Yes, the account recovery process works for both suspended and deleted accounts. However, the sooner you start the recovery request, the better.
Does LinkedIn notify contacts when your account is closed?
No, LinkedIn does not proactively notify your connections if your account is closed or suspended. You will need to inform important contacts yourself using alternate means.
Should I create a new LinkedIn account while waiting for recovery?
It’s best to wait until the outcome of your account recovery request before creating a new LinkedIn account. LinkedIn may see the new account as suspicious if created during the review.
Can someone hack my LinkedIn and get my account closed?
It is possible for a hacker to gain access to your account, violate LinkedIn policies, and get your account suspended. Enable two-factor authentication to better secure your account.
Key takeaways for recovering your LinkedIn account
- Act quickly and submit an account recovery request as soon as possible
- Provide as many account details as you can to verify identity
- Follow up promptly on any additional info LinkedIn requests
- Be patient as the review process can take up to one week
- Persistent recovery attempts often lead to restored account access
- Take preventative measures like strong passwords to avoid need for recovery
With some diligence and patience, you have a good chance of regaining access to your closed or suspended LinkedIn account through their official account recovery process.