LinkedIn is a popular professional networking platform that allows users to connect with other professionals in their industry. One of the key features of LinkedIn is the ability to build up a network of connections. With over 600 million users worldwide, LinkedIn provides access to a massive pool of professionals that can be leveraged for career and business opportunities.
A common question that comes up is whether it is possible to download a list of your LinkedIn connections. There are a few different reasons why someone may want to download their list of connections, such as keeping a backup or using the data for analysis. Fortunately, LinkedIn does provide the ability to download your connections, with a few limitations.
Can You Download a List of Your LinkedIn Connections?
Yes, it is possible to download a list of your LinkedIn connections. LinkedIn provides users with the ability to request an archive of their account data, including their list of 1st-degree connections.
To download your connections list on LinkedIn:
- Go to your LinkedIn account settings
- Under the “Data privacy” section, click on “Get a copy of your data”
- A new window will open – select “Request archive”
- LinkedIn will prepare an archive and email you when it is ready to download (usually within 24-48 hours)
- The email will contain a link to download your archive. This is a ZIP file containing your connections list as a CSV file, along with other account info.
So in summary – yes, LinkedIn does allow you to download your list of connections through requesting an account archive.
What Information is Included in the Connections List?
The connections list that you can download from LinkedIn contains the following information:
- Full name
- Headline (current position and company)
- Location
- Industry
- Profile URL
- Number of connections
This gives you a snapshot of your connections’ key professional details. However, the download does not include contact details like email addresses or phone numbers. You will only get the information that is visible on their public LinkedIn profile.
Limitations of Downloading Your Connections
While LinkedIn does allow downloading your connections list, there are some restrictions to be aware of:
- You can only download your 1st-degree connections – connections who you are directly connected to. 2nd and 3rd-degree connections are not included.
- As mentioned above, you only get limited profile details – no private contact info is included.
- LinkedIn restricts how often you can request a download to once every 24 hours.
- The maximum number of connections you can download at one time is limited to 50,000.
- LinkedIn expressly prohibits using the downloaded data for spam, marketing, or other unwanted solicitation purposes.
So in summary, while you can download your connections list, LinkedIn does impose some limits to prevent abuse.
Why Download Your LinkedIn Connections List?
Here are some of the main reasons people may want to download their LinkedIn connections list:
- Backup your network – Having a CSV copy of your connections serves as a good backup in case anything happens to your main LinkedIn account.
- Network analysis – You can analyze your network by industry, location, position level etc. Using the key profile details in the download.
- Planning outreach – You can plan your outreach strategy by segmenting your connections into strategic groups.
- Testing integrations – Downloading your connections allows you to test linking your CRM or other tools.
- Historical record – It provides a snapshot of your network at a point in time for historical record keeping.
However, it is important to keep LinkedIn’s restrictions against unwanted solicitation in mind if downloading your connections.
Alternative Ways to Manage Your Connections
In addition to downloading your connections, LinkedIn also provides some built-in tools to help you manage your network:
- Search Filters – You can search your connections by industry, company, location, and more.
- Tags – You can organize connections using customizable tags visible only to you.
- Contact Management – The ability to add personal notes and reminders for connections.
- Team Links – Share connections with team members who also need access.
These tools allow you to segment and organize your network directly within LinkedIn for ongoing relationship management.
Conclusion
Downloading a list of your LinkedIn connections is possible by requesting an account archive from your account settings. This allows you to get a CSV file with profile details for your 1st-degree connections. However, there are limitations such as no contact details, restrictions on frequency, and the total number allowed. Common uses cases are creating backups, planning outreach, and analyzing your network. But alternatives like LinkedIn’s search filters and tags allow you to manage your network directly within the platform as well.