Linking your Gmail account to LinkedIn allows you to easily import contacts, share content, and see notifications from LinkedIn while using Gmail. It’s a useful way to connect your professional network on LinkedIn with your email communications. In this article, we’ll walk through the steps to link your Gmail and LinkedIn accounts together.
Overview of Linking Gmail and LinkedIn
Here are some key things to know about linking Gmail and LinkedIn:
- It enables you to import your Gmail contacts into LinkedIn with one click
- Lets you easily share content from Gmail to your LinkedIn network
- Displays LinkedIn notifications and reminders directly in Gmail
- Only takes a few minutes to complete
- Can be disabled at any time if you change your mind
By integrating the two services, you can seamlessly manage your professional network and email communications in one place. Many people find this integration super helpful for staying on top of their LinkedIn activity.
Step 1: Open LinkedIn Settings
The first step is to open your LinkedIn account settings. Here’s how:
- Go to LinkedIn.com and log into your account
- Click on the “Me” icon at the top right (your profile image)
- Select “Settings & Privacy” from the dropdown menu
This will bring you to your main account settings page.
Step 2: Go to Communications
Next, go to the “Communications” tab:
- Click on “Communications” in the left sidebar
- Click on “Sharing & Visibility”
This is where you can manage links to external services like Gmail.
Step 3: Click “Connect to Gmail”
Now you’re ready to connect the two accounts.
- Scroll down and click the blue “Connect to Gmail” button
A pop-up will appear asking you to confirm linking Gmail.
Step 4: Log Into Your Gmail Account
The pop-up will ask you to log into your Gmail account to authorize linking it.
- Enter your Gmail address and click “Next”
- Enter your Gmail password and click “Next”
- Click “Allow” to confirm granting LinkedIn access to your Gmail account
This allows LinkedIn to sync aspects of your Gmail for connecting the services. Don’t worry, LinkedIn does not have access to your actual Gmail messages.
Step 5: Congratulations, You’re Linked!
That’s it! Once you click allow and enter your password, your Gmail and LinkedIn accounts will be successfully linked.
You’ll see a confirmation message from LinkedIn that the integration was successful. And you’re all done – the accounts are now linked.
Using the Linked Gmail and LinkedIn Integration
Now that your accounts are connected, here are some of the things you can do:
Import Contacts
Easily import your Gmail contacts into LinkedIn to expand your professional network.
In LinkedIn, go to My Network > Manage synced and imported contacts. You’ll see an option to “Sync Gmail Contacts”. Click this to rapidly import eligible Gmail contacts.
Share Articles
When reading an interesting article in Gmail, click the LinkedIn icon to easily share that content with your network. This helps you share professional material.
See Notifications
Get LinkedIn notifications within Gmail. This lets you know about new connection requests, messages, and other activity.
Schedule Messages
For taking networking on LinkedIn offline, use Gmail to schedule meetups or conversations with your connections.
Troubleshooting Linked Gmail and LinkedIn
If you’re having issues getting your LinkedIn and Gmail accounts to sync properly, here are some things to try:
Re-enter your Passwords
Go back through the connection steps and carefully re-enter your Gmail and LinkedIn passwords. Typos can prevent syncing.
Check LinkedIn Permissions
In LinkedIn settings, make sure Gmail sharing is enabled under “Sharing & Visibility”. LinkedIn should show “ON” for Gmail integration here.
Disable Chrome Extension
If you’re using Chrome, disable the Chrome LinkedIn extension as it can conflict. Reload Gmail afterwards.
Log Out and Back In
Sometimes logging out of both Gmail and LinkedIn, closing the browser, and logging back in can help reset the connection.
Contact LinkedIn Support
If you still can’t get it working after trying these troubleshooting tips, reach out to LinkedIn’s customer support for additional help.
Disconnecting LinkedIn and Gmail
If you want to unlink your Gmail and LinkedIn accounts in the future, here’s how:
- Go back to LinkedIn Settings > Communications
- Click “Disconnect” next to the Gmail integration
- Confirm you want to disconnect
This will immediately stop syncing the two services. You can always reconnect them again later if you choose.
Conclusion
Linking Gmail and LinkedIn creates a powerful integration between your email and professional networking platforms. By connecting them, you can expand your network, share content, and manage communications in one place.
To link Gmail and LinkedIn, simply go through the quick account sync process outlined above. Just log into both accounts, connect them in LinkedIn settings, and confirm the integration. Once connected, take advantage of contact imports, content sharing, notifications, and scheduling.
If you run into trouble syncing the accounts, try the troubleshooting tips listed. And you can disable the integration at any time. Linking Gmail and LinkedIn ultimately makes it easier to blend your professional networking and email activities.
Here are some additional tips on getting the most from your linked accounts:
- Customize notifications in LinkedIn settings so you only get notified about the most relevant activity.
- Review your synced contacts occasionally and disconnect ones you no longer want to be linked.
- Use LinkedIn’s advanced search operators to find the best contacts to connect with from your Gmail.
- Send connection requests in LinkedIn to prompt scheduling conversations by email.
- Share helpful news articles with your network by clicking the LinkedIn extension in Gmail.
Following these best practices will help you fully leverage the power of integrating your Gmail with LinkedIn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is linking Gmail to LinkedIn safe?
Yes, linking Gmail and LinkedIn is safe. LinkedIn can access basic Gmail information for syncing purposes but cannot view your actual Gmail messages or content. Your privacy is maintained.
What happens if I unlink Gmail and LinkedIn?
If you disconnect your Gmail from LinkedIn, all syncing and sharing between the services stops immediately. Your LinkedIn network itself is unaffected. You can reconnect them again at any time.
Can I import Yahoo or other emails into LinkedIn?
Unfortunately, LinkedIn currently only supports importing contacts and sharing content from Gmail. Connections with other email providers need to be added manually or imported as a CSV file.
Does Gmail linking work with multiple Gmail accounts?
No, you can only have one Gmail account synced to your LinkedIn account at a time. You can switch which one is connected in LinkedIn settings.
How many Gmail contacts will LinkedIn import?
LinkedIn will import up to 500 eligible Gmail contacts at a time. You can run the import repeatedly to add more batches of 500 contacts.
Summary
– Linking Gmail and LinkedIn provides useful integration between your email and professional networking.
– To link the accounts, go to LinkedIn settings and enable Gmail sharing, then log into Gmail to confirm.
– Benefits include importing contacts, sharing content, getting notifications, and scheduling meetings.
– Troubleshoot sync issues by checking passwords, permissions, browser extensions, and logging in/out.
– You can disable the connection at any time and relink the accounts later on.
Linking your Gmail with LinkedIn helps streamline your professional correspondence and networking activity. With a few quick steps, you can enable powerful integration.
