It can be frustrating when you want to access an old LinkedIn account but have forgotten the password and no longer have access to the email address associated with it. LinkedIn accounts contain valuable professional connections and information that you may want to retrieve. The good news is that there are a few different options you can try to regain access to an old LinkedIn account with no password or email address.
Verify Account Using Phone Number
The easiest way to access a LinkedIn account with no password is to use a phone number verification process. When you originally set up your LinkedIn account, you had the option to add a phone number for account verification purposes.
If you still have access to the phone number you used, go to LinkedIn.com and click on “Forgot password”. You will be prompted to enter the email address or phone number for the account. If you enter the phone number, LinkedIn will send a 6-digit verification code via text message to that number. Once you receive it, enter the code on the LinkedIn page and you should be able to set a new password and access the account.
This method works as long as you still have access to the phone number used for the account, even if you no longer have access to the email address. It provides a simple way to get back into an old LinkedIn account.
Use LinkedIn Help Center
If you don’t have the original phone number used for the LinkedIn account, you can still try to recover access through the LinkedIn Help Center. Here are the steps:
Fill out account recovery form
Go to the LinkedIn Help Center page for recovering your account (https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/ask/TS-HTS). You will need to fill out a form with any details you remember about the account, such as your name, location, company, connections, etc.
Provide as many details as possible to verify your identity. If you can recall any of your connections’ names or companies, include that information.
Upload ID document
For further verification, LinkedIn will ask you to upload a scan or photo of your official ID, such as a driver’s license, passport, etc. Make sure it is a clear and legible image. This helps LinkedIn confirm you are the legitimate account holder.
Wait for account recovery
After submitting all the details, you will need to wait for the LinkedIn account recovery team to manually review your request. This process can take several business days or possibly weeks.
If they can satisfactorily verify your identity as the account holder, they will send recovery instructions to any alternate, confirmed email addresses or phone numbers they find associated with your account. Then you can reset the password and regain access.
Use Cookie-Based Session
Here is one last potential method to access a LinkedIn account with no password or email access.
Look for active login on a device
Check if you might already be logged into the LinkedIn account on another device or browser where the session is still active.
For example, if you use LinkedIn on your work computer and stay permanently logged into that browser, you could regain access to that account through that existing active session, even without knowing the password.
Extend session through cookies
Additionally, your browser may have stored cookies that could extend the login session. For example, if you use the Chrome browser and have syncing enabled across devices, check your Chrome settings on other computers or mobile devices to see if LinkedIn cookies are present that might allow you to access the account.
With this method, look for an opportunity to extend an existing active session for the account you want to regain access to.
Create a New LinkedIn Account
If all else fails and you are unable to recover your old LinkedIn account, you may need to simply start fresh by creating a brand new account. Here are some tips for doing this while still retaining connections and information from the old account:
Reconnect with your network
You will need to send new connection requests to rebuild your network on the new LinkedIn account. Focus on reconnecting with key contacts first. Avoid spamming all your old connections at once, as LinkedIn may flag this as suspicious activity.
Export old connections
Before abandoning access to the old account entirely, make sure to export your list of LinkedIn connections. On the LinkedIn desktop site, go to Account > Settings & Privacy > Data privacy to request an archive with your connections.
Reference old work history
Your new LinkedIn profile will not have access to the work history details you added to your previous account. However, you can still reference positions, companies, education, etc. on your new profile using the same information you previously entered. Reconstructing your profile accurately helps maintain your personal brand.
Import recommendations
You can ask old connections to re-post their LinkedIn recommendations on your new profile. This helps restore some of the credibility signals lost when switching accounts.
Creating a brand new LinkedIn account requires effort, but it may be your only option if account recovery does not work. Focus on reconnecting with your most important contacts and rebuilding your profile to get back to having an effective presence on LinkedIn.
Conclusion
Losing access to an old LinkedIn account can be frustrating, but there are several potential solutions:
– Use phone number verification to reset password
– Work with LinkedIn Help Center for account recovery
– Check for active login sessions on other devices
– Create an entirely new account and reconnect with network
With some effort, you can likely regain access to your contacts, profile details, recommendations, and other valuable information from the old account. Be persistent and utilize LinkedIn’s account recovery resources. Rebuilding connections and reputation takes time, but is possible.
Having an updated, professional presence on LinkedIn is important for anyone’s career. Don’t let an old, inaccessible account prevent you from participating in the LinkedIn community. Follow the strategies outlined here to claim your place and maximize the potential of your LinkedIn networking.
| Method | How it Works | Things Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Phone verification | LinkedIn texts a code to your phone to verify identity | Access to the phone number used for the account |
| Help Center account recovery | You provide details about yourself and LinkedIn verifies identity | Personal info recall and ID document |
| Existing login session | Stay logged into a browser or device where you still have access | A device or browser where you’re already logged into the account |
| Create new account | Build connections and profile again from scratch | Names/details to rebuild connections and profile |
FAQs
What if I don’t have the phone number anymore?
If you no longer have access to the phone number originally associated with the LinkedIn account, you won’t be able to use phone verification for password recovery. You’ll need to go through the account recovery process using personal details instead.
How long does LinkedIn Help Center recovery take?
It can take LinkedIn up to several weeks to thoroughly investigate an account recovery request. The more details you provide upfront to verify your identity, the faster the process may go.
What if LinkedIn Help can’t recover my account?
In rare cases, LinkedIn may not be able to satisfactorily verify your identity and your recovery request will be declined. At that point, creating a brand new account is your only option to participate again on LinkedIn.
Can I merge my old account into a new one?
Unfortunately, LinkedIn does not provide a way to merge two accounts together. You’ll have to rebuild your connections and profile manually on the new account. The best you can do is reference work history and export contacts from the inaccessible old account.
Is there a way to bypass verification requirements?
LinkedIn has strict identity verification processes in place for account security. There are no shortcuts or workarounds to bypass phone or ID verification when recovering an account. You must go through the necessary steps to prove you are the legitimate account owner.
