If you’re having trouble accessing your LinkedIn messages, don’t worry – you’re not alone. LinkedIn’s messaging system can sometimes be confusing or encounters glitches that prevent access. Here are some troubleshooting tips to try if you can’t access your LinkedIn messages.
Check Your Network Connectivity
The most common reason for not being able to access LinkedIn messages is an issue with your internet connection. LinkedIn requires an active internet connection to send and receive messages. Make sure your wifi or mobile data is turned on and functioning properly. If you’re connected but still can’t access messages, try disconnecting and reconnecting to the network. This refreshes the connection and often resolves temporary glitches.
Update the LinkedIn App
An outdated version of the LinkedIn app could be preventing access to messages. Open your device’s app store, go to the LinkedIn app page, and check if any updates are available. Download the latest version which may contain bug fixes or optimizations that restore messaging functions. After updating, close the LinkedIn app entirely and relaunch it to ensure the new version initializes properly.
Check LinkedIn Website
If you can’t access LinkedIn messages on mobile, try checking on a desktop computer by logging into LinkedIn through a web browser. Navigate to the messaging section and see if messages appear there. If so, the mobile app is likely experiencing a temporary bug or glitch specific to your device. Web access confirming messages are actually present rules out account or connectivity issues.
Log Out and Back In
A simple logout and login can force your LinkedIn account to refresh properly and grant restored access to messages. On mobile, go to your profile, tap settings, select account preferences, and choose logout. Then close the app entirely and relaunch it to log back in. On desktop, click your profile pic, manage account, and sign out. Then sign back in on the homepage. This resets your account which may clear up any messaging bugs.
Clear App Cache and Data
Over time, built up app data and cache files can get corrupted and cause access issues like inability to view messages. On an Android device, go to settings, apps, select LinkedIn, then choose storage. Tap clear cache and clear data to delete these temporary files. On an iPhone, go to settings, LinkedIn, and select delete app. Reinstall LinkedIn from the app store. This wipes the slate clean giving you a fresh install of the app.
Check Account Restrictions
In some cases, access to LinkedIn messaging can be restricted due to account limitations. Free LinkedIn accounts can only send messages to 1st-degree connections. Paid Premium accounts lift this restriction. If you’re trying to message 2nd or 3rd-degree connections and can’t access messages, upgrading to Premium may be required.
Additionally, LinkedIn may temporarily restrict messaging capabilities if you’ve sent a high volume of messages considered spam. This limitation usually resolves itself within 24-48 hours. Sending messages too frequently can also trigger temporary restrictions.
Reset LinkedIn Password
A password issue could explain the inability to access LinkedIn messages. Even if you’re still able to log into your account, a glitch with your password behind the scenes may disrupt certain account features. Try resetting your LinkedIn password as a potential solution.
On desktop, click Forgot password on the LinkedIn login page, enter your email, then follow instructions to create a new password. On mobile, tap Forgot password on the login prompt, confirm your email, then create and confirm a new password. Logging in with your fresh password may resolve any password-related access problems.
Contact LinkedIn Customer Support
If you’ve tried all troubleshooting tips but still can’t access LinkedIn messages, it’s time to contact their customer support for additional help. On desktop, click your profile picture, settings & privacy, and help to reach out to customer service.
On mobile, tap your profile, settings, help, then select contact us to get in touch with LinkedIn’s support team. Provide detailed information about the messaging issue you’re experiencing and what steps you’ve tried already. LinkedIn can investigate further and resolve more stubborn account or app malfunctions blocking access.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication
As a security precaution, consider enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) on your LinkedIn account. 2FA requires entering a unique verification code from your mobile device when logging in from new browsers or locations, adding an extra layer of protection.
If your inability to access LinkedIn messages coincided with a potential security breach or attempted login from an unrecognized device, 2FA could prevent future disruptions. Activating it strengthens overall account security.
Try Third-Party LinkedIn Apps
Alternative third-party apps for accessing LinkedIn may succeed where the official mobile app fails. Options like LinkedUp or Lincoln provide additional interfaces for LinkedIn functions that could potentially resolve messaging access issues. Install an alternative on your mobile device and see if messages appear properly through the third-party interface.
Purge Messaging Conversations
A buildup of too many messaging conversations and connections could overload your account and prevent access. Try removing old conversations and contacts to potentially reduce lag and restore messaging capabilities.
On desktop, click Messaging, select a conversation, click the 3-dot menu, choose Remove connection. On mobile, open messaging, tap a conversation, hit options, then remove connection. Pruning your active contacts may lighten the load on your account.
Disable Extensions or Add-Ons
Some web browser extensions or add-ons designed to enhance LinkedIn could actually be interfering with messaging functions and causing access issues. Try disabling any LinkedIn-related extensions you have installed in your desktop web browser like Chrome or Firefox, then check if you can access messages again.
Try Private Browsing
Accessing LinkedIn messaging in a private or incognito browser window blocks addons, extensions, cookies and other data that could be causing problems. In Chrome desktop browser, click the 3-dot menu, New Incognito Window, go to LinkedIn, and see if you can view messages normally in this clean private session.
Revoke Account Authorization
At some point, you may have authorized a third-party app or integration to connect with your LinkedIn account. It’s possible this external authorization could now be interfering with messaging capabilities.
Try revoking previously granted authorizations to eliminate potential conflicts. On desktop, click your profile pic, settings & privacy, Partners, extensions and services, then remove any integrations you don’t want connected anymore. On mobile, tap your profile, manage account, partnerships, then revoke access.
Wait for Temporary Outage Resolution
In rare cases, a temporary technical outage on LinkedIn’s end could explain inaccessible messaging. Check sites like Downdetector to see if others are reporting widespread LinkedIn problems that usually resolve within a few hours as the issue is fixed.
Otherwise, a quick refresh of the app or webpage will tell you if short-lived maintenance downtime was the culprit blocking access. Waiting briefly for restoration of normal operations is advisable before pursuing deeper troubleshooting.
Conclusion
With useful tips like app and browser refreshes, network connectivity checks, password resets, and contacting LinkedIn support, you should be able to get to the bottom of most messaging access issues. Pay attention to error messages for clues on specific problems. Don’t hesitate to uninstall and reinstall the app as a last resort. With some diligent troubleshooting, you’ll be back to seamless LinkedIn messaging access.
