If you are unable to send messages on LinkedIn, there are a few potential causes and solutions you can try. The most common reasons you may be blocked from sending messages include reaching your daily messaging limit, having a restricted account, or the recipient’s account settings not allowing messages.
Reaching your daily messaging limit
LinkedIn limits the number of messages you can send each day to protect users from spam. The daily limit depends on your account status:
- Standard accounts: Up to 30 messages a day
- Premium Business accounts: Up to 100 messages a day
- Sales Navigator accounts: Up to 300 messages a day
If you hit your daily limit, you will not be able to send more messages until the 24-hour rolling period resets. Upgrading to a premium account can increase your messaging allowance.
Having a restricted account
LinkedIn may restrict your account from sending messages if you violate their User Agreement policy. Reasons your account can get restricted include:
- Sending promotional messages or spam
- Sending too many connection requests
- Sending harassing messages
If your account is restricted, you will see an on-screen notice explaining the reason and duration. To get your messaging access restored, you will need to wait out the restriction period or submit an appeal to LinkedIn.
Recipient’s settings block messages
Some LinkedIn members configure their account to only receive messages from people in their network. If you try to message someone you are not connected to, you may get a notice saying the member does not accept messages.
To message the member, you will need to send them a connection request first. Alternatively, you can try contacting them through InMail if you have a premium account.
Confirm your account is in good standing
If your daily messaging limit has not been reached and your account is not restricted, the issue preventing messages may be on the recipient’s end. However, it is a good idea to double check that your account status is in good standing.
Go to your account settings and confirm:
- Your account has not been restricted for any policy violations
- Your messaging permissions are still enabled
- You have not been blocked by the specific recipient
If everything looks good on your end, you will need to reach out to the recipient to troubleshoot why your messages are not going through.
Troubleshooting tips
Here are some troubleshooting steps to try if you can’t send messages on LinkedIn:
- Check your internet connection and restart your device or web browser.
- Clear your browser cache and cookies.
- Try sending your message from a different device or web browser.
- Make sure you have the latest version of the LinkedIn app.
- Log out and log back into your LinkedIn account.
- Use LinkedIn Help to submit a request for assistance.
Consider switching communication channels
If you are unable to resolve the message blocking issue, consider reaching out to the recipient through an alternative communication channel such as:
- Phone
- A different social media platform like Twitter
- InMail (requires Premium account)
Getting in touch via another contact method can let you communicate with the recipient while troubleshooting the problem on LinkedIn.
Upgrading to Premium unlocks more messaging
One of the easiest ways to remove limits on your LinkedIn messaging is to upgrade to a Premium account.
With Premium, you get benefits like:
- Increased daily message limit of up to 100 messages
- Access to unlimited InMail messages
- Ability to message anyone, even if you’re not connected
Premium also gives the option to purchase addons like LinkedIn Sales Navigator that can boost your daily allotment up to 300 messages per day.
Use an automation tool
Automation tools like Dux-Soup, Loomly, or Sendible allow you to schedule and automate your LinkedIn messaging.
Benefits of automation tools include:
- No daily sending limits
- Pre-built messaging templates
- Tools to manage responses at scale
Keep in mind automation tools require financial investment and take time to set up properly. Make sure to thoroughly vet options to find one that best fits your needs and budget.
Request account review from LinkedIn
If you believe your account has been incorrectly restricted, you can submit a request for LinkedIn to review your account status. Here is the process:
- Go to the LinkedIn Help Center
- Search for “request account review”
- Complete the online request form
- Explain why you think your restriction or block is incorrect
- Provide any details that can help your case
LinkedIn states they will respond with their findings within 24-48 hours after you submit the request. If it is determined the restriction was not warranted, they can lift the messaging limitations right away.
Avoid behaviors that trigger restrictions
To avoid having your account restricted in the future, be mindful of the types of messaging behavior LinkedIn prohibits:
- Do not repeatedly send the same message to people who do not respond
- Avoid messaging contacts who you do not know personally
- Never use LinkedIn messaging for spam or solicitation
- Do not send messages that are harassing, threatening, or contain objectionable content
Staying within the LinkedIn terms of service guidelines can help preserve your full messaging capabilities over the long-term.
Can I appeal messaging restrictions?
If LinkedIn has placed limitations on your ability to send messages, you may be able to appeal and get the restrictions lifted in some cases. Here is what you can do:
- Wait out the duration of the temporary restriction period
- Submit an appeal request to LinkedIn Help explaining why you believe the restriction was unjustified
- If it was a mistake, LinkedIn may remove the restriction after reviewing your case
- For serious or repeat violations, restrictions may remain upheld after appeal
Keep in mind restrictions are typically imposed after multiple policy violations. So appeals may not always result in the desired outcome. Your best option is to learn from the experience and modify your behavior going forward.
What to do if my LinkedIn account is banned?
Having your LinkedIn account banned makes it impossible to access your messages and full profile. Here are some steps you can take in response:
- Figure out what content or activity led to the ban
- Submit an appeal request to LinkedIn to review the ban
- Provide clarification and promise to abide by policies moving forward
- If your appeal is rejected, you will likely have to wait out the ban period
- After the suspension is lifted, make sure to comply with LinkedIn terms of service
Though rare, permanent bans are possible for extreme or repeat violations. If you are unable to get your account reinstated after ban, you can try creating a new profile and starting fresh.
Mistakes to avoid
To maximize your chances of maintaining sending privileges, be sure to steer clear of these common messaging mistakes:
- Mass messaging people who don’t know you personally
- Sending spam or unsolicited promotional pitches
- Automating messages without LinkedIn’s consent
- Scrapping data or attempting to reverse engineer the platform
- Sending offensive, abusive, or harassing content
Violating LinkedIn’s policies can quickly land your account in hot water. When in doubt, err on the side of caution when interacting with other members.
Is there a way to auto-send messages?
While LinkedIn does not directly offer a way to auto-send messages, there are third-party tools that can help automate messaging:
- Dux-Soup – Chrome extension for automating messages and other tasks
- Loomly – Social media management platform with scheduling
- Sendible – Social media marketing suite with LinkedIn automation
- Buzzstream – All-in-one tool for outreach and tracking
The key caveat is that automated messaging violates LinkedIn’s terms of service if done in excess. Use third-party tools judiciously to avoid account restrictions.
Should I buy a Premium account?
Upgrading to a Premium LinkedIn account offers several messaging perks that can be worthwhile for power users:
- Higher daily message send limits
- Option to message people you are not connected to
- Unlimited access to InMail messages
- Improved deliverability and response rates
However, Premium accounts come at a cost starting around $30-$60+ per month. Evaluate whether the boosted messaging capabilities will provide enough value to justify the ongoing expense.
Can I message recruiters if we’re not connected?
Typically, you can only message someone on LinkedIn if you are directly connected in their network. However, there are a couple exceptions when messaging recruiters:
- If the recruiter has an open network policy, you may be able to message them
- With a Premium account, you can send InMail messages to anyone
- Some third-party tools can automate messages without a connection
If the recruiter does not accept open network messages, try sending a connection request first before attempting to message them.
How to send messages via mobile app
The process for sending messages on LinkedIn’s mobile app is similar to the desktop experience:
- Tap the My Network icon on the toolbar at the bottom
- Find the profile of the person you want to message
- Tap the Message icon near the top right of their profile
- Type your message in the text field
- Tap the paper airplane icon to send it
One limitation is that longer messages may be cut off in the mobile app. For more extended communication, we recommend composing messages on LinkedIn’s full desktop site.
Why can’t I see the messaging icon?
If you cannot see the messaging icon on a LinkedIn member’s profile, here are some potential reasons why:
- You are not logged into a LinkedIn account
- Your account is restricted from sending messages
- You are not directly connected to the member
- The member has limited who can message them
- You have the member muted or blocked
Double check your account status and relationship to the member. In some cases, you may need to send a connection request before messaging is enabled.
Is there a character limit?
LinkedIn does enforce a character limit on messages:
- LinkedIn mobile app: 1000 characters
- LinkedIn desktop site: 5000 characters
Messages that exceed those limits may be automatically truncated when sent. For longer communications, consider splitting your content into multiple messages or connecting via email instead.
Can I customize message settings?
As the message recipient, you do have some ability to customize your messaging settings on LinkedIn:
- Turn off message read receipts
- Limit messages to only 1st degree connections
- Choose who can see your shared connections
- Block specific members from messaging you
To update your message settings, go to your account Privacy & Settings. Improving your control over incoming messages can enhance your LinkedIn messaging experience.
What happens when I reach the limit?
If you try to send messages after hitting your daily limit, LinkedIn will block additional messages from being delivered. You will see an on-screen notice informing you that your limit has been reached.
You will not be able to send any more messages until the rolling 24-hour period resets, even from a different device. Patience or upgrading your account are the only ways to resume messaging after you reach your cap.
Why do I need to be connected to message?
LinkedIn requires you to be connected to another member in order to freely message back and forth for a couple reasons:
- Limits unsolicited communication from strangers
- Reduces spread of spam and abuse
- Encourages building relationships first
- Provides context about the other member through shared connections
The connection requirement aims to maintain trust and prevent harassment on the platform. Premium accounts offer options like InMail to message non-connections when needed.
Closing Thoughts
Being unable to send messages on LinkedIn can certainly be frustrating. But in many cases, the issues can be resolved by adjusting your messaging approach or account settings. With some strategic troubleshooting, you can get your account’s messaging capabilities back on track.
The key is being patient, following LinkedIn’s policies, and maintaining your professionalism whenever interacting with other members. With the right mindset and techniques, you can unlock the full potential of LinkedIn messaging for building relationships and achieving your career goals.