Can I open LinkedIn without phone number?

Having a LinkedIn profile is crucial for anyone looking to build their professional network and career. However, during the signup process LinkedIn requires you to provide a phone number to verify your account. This leaves many wondering if it’s possible to open a LinkedIn account without providing a phone number.

Is a phone number required for LinkedIn?

The short answer is yes, LinkedIn does require a phone number to open an account. This is to help verify users’ identities and prevent fake accounts. When you sign up for LinkedIn, you’ll be prompted to enter your phone number so they can send you a verification code via text message or automated phone call.

LinkedIn states in their signup policies that a mobile phone number is required to create an account. They use this number strictly for account security purposes. You cannot bypass entering a phone number during signup.

So unlike some other social networks or apps, there is no way to open a LinkedIn profile without providing a valid mobile number. This verification step is mandatory.

Why does LinkedIn require a phone number?

LinkedIn instituted the phone number requirement to help combat fake profiles and maintain trust on their professional social platform. Here are some of the main reasons they need your phone number:

• Verify identity – Your phone number helps confirm you are a real person creating an authentic account.
• Security codes – LinkedIn uses your number to send verification codes during signup and when logging in from new devices.
• Fighting spam – Phone verification helps prevent spam accounts and bot-generated profiles.
• Account recovery – Your number allows LinkedIn to assist if you ever need help recovering access to your account.

Overall, LinkedIn decided phone numbers are the best way to protect their community of professionals. The requirements help uphold credibility and prevent misuse of the platform.

What are some alternatives to using your personal phone number?

Since LinkedIn requires a phone number to sign up, what can you do if you don’t want to use your personal mobile number? Here are a few potential alternatives:

• Google Voice – You can get a free Google Voice number that forwards calls and texts to your existing mobile number. Use your Google Voice number just for LinkedIn.
• Temporary disposable number – There are services that provide you with a temporary phone number you can use to verify accounts like LinkedIn.
• 2nd phone/tablet – Consider using a secondary mobile device that you keep just for social media and professional accounts.
• Family member’s number – Ask a family member if you can verify your LinkedIn account with their number temporarily.
• SIM card – Buy an inexpensive SIM card and basic prepaid mobile plan to use solely for your LinkedIn account.

The key is finding a phone number not tied directly to your personal mobile number to provide LinkedIn for registration. This gives you some separation and privacy.

Can you create a LinkedIn without any phone number?

Unfortunately, there is no way to signup for LinkedIn without providing them with a phone number. Their automated systems will not allow you to bypass that step.

Some things people try that won’t work:

• Leaving the phone number field blank
• Entering a random or fake number
• Using a landline number instead of mobile
• Deleting your number after activating your account

LinkedIn’s algorithms are designed to detect numbers that are clearly invalid. And removing your number after the fact will cause your account to be blocked or banned.

You need a legitimate mobile or cell phone number to complete the LinkedIn signup process and keep your account active. There are no workarounds to avoid giving them a number during registration.

How to use LinkedIn without a phone number after signing up

While a phone number is unavoidable to initially create your LinkedIn profile, there are some things you can do to use LinkedIn more anonymously after that:

• Turn off phone notifications – Disable texts and phone alerts from LinkedIn under account settings.
• Remove number from profile – After verifying your account, you can remove your phone number from being visible on your public profile.
• Don’t use LinkedIn’s mobile app – Stick to LinkedIn through a web browser only to limit location and phone tracking.
• Adjust privacy settings – Tighten up who can view your connections, see your activity updates, and contact you.

Following these tips will help you keep some distance between your LinkedIn presence and your personal mobile device after registering your account.

Pros and cons of using your personal phone number

If you decide to use your primary phone number for LinkedIn, here are some potential pros and cons to consider:

Pros

• Ease of use – No need to obtain alternate numbers or extra devices.
• Text alerts – Get notified right on your phone for profile views, messages, notifications.
• One less password – Don’t have to remember logins for a secondary number account.
• Full features – Easily use all LinkedIn mobile features with your smartphone.

Cons

• Privacy concerns – Your main number is visible on profile and given to LinkedIn.
• Spam risk – More chance of getting unsolicited messages and calls.
• Data sharing – LinkedIn has your personal number connected to your identity.
• Login complexity – Need 2-step verification codes sent your number when logging in.

Weighing both sides can help guide your decision whether to use your primary mobile number or explore alternate options.

Can you get banned from LinkedIn without a phone number?

If you try to use LinkedIn without a phone number, your account will face restrictions or bans. This is because a phone number is a mandatory part of their signup policies. Here’s what may happen if you don’t provide a number:

• Account blocking – LinkedIn may disable your profile until you provide a valid phone number.
• Signup bans – Trying to create accounts without a number could get your IP address banned.
• Profile restrictions – Key profile features may be limited until your number is verified.
• Security freezes – With no number for 2-step verification, your account could be frozen for safety.

In essence, operating a LinkedIn account without a phone number is not permitted and could lead to account limitation or termination. Make sure to use a legitimate mobile number to avoid running into issues.

How to delete your LinkedIn if you used a phone number

If you registered for LinkedIn using a phone number but now want to delete your account, the process takes a few steps:

1. Go to your LinkedIn Account Settings
2. Under “Account management” select “Close your account”
3. Select your reason for leaving LinkedIn from the dropdown menu
4. Re-enter your account password to confirm account closure
5. Select “Close Account”

After following these steps, your LinkedIn profile and data should be permanently closed within 24 hours. All that’s needed to close an account is your password – your phone number is not required.

Some things to note if you used your personal mobile number with LinkedIn:

• Unlink your number first – Remove it from your account profile before closing to disassociate it.
• You may still receive texts/calls – Even after closure, it takes time for LinkedIn to purge your data from their systems.
• Closure is irreversible – There is no way to reactivate or recover a closed account.

With those considerations in mind, you can securely delete your LinkedIn account while protecting your personal phone number moving forward.

Conclusion

Ultimately, there is no getting around the requirement to provide a valid mobile phone number when signing up for LinkedIn. This mandatory verification step helps LinkedIn fight fake accounts and spam to maintain the integrity of their professional social platform.

While you can’t avoid giving a phone number initially, you can take steps after account creation to separate your LinkedIn profile from your personal number. Options include using alternates like a Google Voice number, removing your number from your profile, and limiting LinkedIn’s access to your smartphone.

With over 750+ million members, LinkedIn relies on phone number verification to sustain trust and credibility within their vast community. Although an extra step, it optimizes the LinkedIn experience for individual professionals and organizations alike by upholding the authenticity of identities on the platform.