LinkedIn is a popular professional networking platform used by millions of people around the world. On LinkedIn, users can connect with colleagues, clients, and potential business partners. An important feature of LinkedIn is messaging – users can send direct messages to connect with other members.
However, sometimes conversations can accidentally get deleted on LinkedIn. If you need to restore a deleted conversation on LinkedIn, there are a few things you can try.
Check if the conversation is still available
When you delete a conversation on LinkedIn, it gets moved to the “Deleted” folder. The deleted conversations remain in this folder for 30 days before being permanently removed. So the first thing to check is whether the conversation you need is still in the Deleted folder:
- Go to your LinkedIn inbox
- Click on the “Deleted” folder
- Browse through the deleted conversations
- If you find the conversation you need, click “Restore” to move it back to your inbox
If the conversation no longer appears in your Deleted folder, it likely has been permanently removed after 30 days.
Search for the conversation history
Even if the full conversation thread is no longer available, you may still be able to recover parts of the conversation history by searching LinkedIn. Here are some tips for searching:
- Use LinkedIn’s search bar to search for keywords or phrases you recall from the conversation
- Filter the search results to “Messages” to just see message history
- You can also search within a specific connection’s message history for relevant keywords
This may turn up portions of the deleted conversation that can provide some context. You won’t get the full back-and-forth thread, but some message history is better than none.
Check email notifications from LinkedIn
If you have email notifications enabled for LinkedIn messages, check your email inbox. LinkedIn will send an email alert when you receive a new message. So even if the conversation is deleted on LinkedIn, the emails containing the message history may still be available in your email.
Search your email inbox for the other person’s name or relevant keywords that may appear in the conversation. With some luck, the email notifications will have captured at least parts of the discussion.
Ask the other person to share the conversation
If you remember who you had the conversation with, you can try reaching out to request they share back the conversation. Unlike on your end, the conversation likely still exists undeleted on their LinkedIn account. Ask them nicely if they can forward you the conversation for your records.
Most people are willing to help out, especially if you explain that you accidentally deleted an important conversation. Just don’t overuse this method!
Use LinkedIn’s data download
LinkedIn allows users to request an archive of their account data. This includes your profile, connections, posts, and messages. To use LinkedIn’s data download:
- Go to the Account Privacy settings
- Click “Download your data”
- Enter your password when prompted
- LinkedIn will email you a link to download your data archive when ready (usually within 24-48 hours)
- Locate the messages folder in the ZIP file and search for the conversation
With the full message history in the data download, you may be able to find at least a portion of the deleted conversation.
Try desktop vs. mobile app
An interesting workaround is to check if the conversation is only deleted on mobile or desktop. For example, if you mainly use the LinkedIn mobile app, try logging into the desktop site and checking if the conversation still appears there.
Due to syncing issues, sometimes conversations get deleted on mobile but still exist on desktop or vice versa. So it’s worth cross-checking the different interfaces.
Use a backup service
Consider using an external backup service that archives your LinkedIn data. Services like Connectifier, LinkedInBackup, and Backupify can automatically backup your LinkedIn messages and data regularly. This gives you an independent backup you can restore conversations from.
Adjust LinkedIn settings
To avoid accidentally deleting conversations in the future, adjust your LinkedIn settings. Under Messaging settings:
- Turn off the “Delete read conversations after 30 days” setting.
- Enable confirmations for deleting conversations.
This will stop LinkedIn from automatically deleting conversations and require a confirmation each time you manually delete.
Conclusion
Restoring deleted LinkedIn conversations can be hit or miss. Your best options are checking the Deleted folder, emails, and requesting the other party to share the convo. Enable backups and tweak settings to prevent accidental deletes going forward.
While not guaranteed, taking the right steps increases your chances of salvaging that important deleted LinkedIn conversation.
Restoration Method | Likelihood of Success |
---|---|
Check Deleted folder | High if within 30 days |
Search message history | Medium |
Check email notifications | Medium |
Ask other person to share | High if willing |
LinkedIn data download | High |
Try desktop vs. mobile | Low |
Use external backup service | High if backups enabled |
Frequently Asked Questions
How long are deleted LinkedIn messages stored?
LinkedIn keeps deleted conversations in the Deleted folder for 30 days before removing them permanently. So there is a 30 day window to restore conversations before they are gone.
Can LinkedIn restore permanently deleted conversations?
Unfortunately, once a LinkedIn conversation is deleted after 30 days, even LinkedIn itself cannot restore it. The data is permanently removed from their servers. So it’s crucial to restore conversations within 30 days if needed.
Do deleted LinkedIn messages remain on the other person’s account?
Yes, when you delete a conversation, it is only deleted from your inbox. On the other participant’s account, the conversation remains intact. So you can request them to forward you the conversation.
Can you tell if someone deletes your LinkedIn message?
No, there is no way to tell if another user specifically deletes their copy of a LinkedIn conversation. It will simply disappear from your inbox as well.
How often does LinkedIn sync message deletions across devices?
LinkedIn aims to sync message deletions across mobile and desktop within 24 hours. However, sometimes this sync is delayed, leading to conversations getting deleted on just one platform.
Key Takeaways
- Check the Deleted folder within 30 days of deletion
- Search message history for snippets of conversation
- Look for email notifications containing messages
- Ask the other participant to forward the conversation
- Use LinkedIn data download to access full archives
- Enable backups to avoid permanent deletion