If you’ve recently sent a message on LinkedIn and noticed that it’s not showing up in your sent folder, there could be a few possible reasons for this. The most common causes are that the recipient has their messaging settings restricted, the message is stuck in a sending state, or there is a technical issue preventing delivery.
Recipient’s messaging settings
The most likely reason your LinkedIn message is not showing as sent is because the recipient has their messaging settings restricted. LinkedIn gives users control over who can message them. If the recipient has their settings set to only allow messages from people in their network or people who know their email address, your message will fail to send if you don’t meet those criteria.
You can check if this is the case by looking at the recipient’s profile. Click on the ‘More’ icon near the Message button on their profile and select ‘View member messaging settings.’ This will show you their allowed messaging criteria. If you don’t fulfill it, your message won’t be delivered.
The solution here is to connect with the recipient first before messaging them. Send them a connection request and wait for them to accept it. Once you are connected, you can message them freely without issue.
Message stuck in sending state
Another common reason your LinkedIn message may not show as sent is because it’s stuck trying to send. Sometimes messages can fail to send properly and remain in a perpetual sending state. This is typically due to a technical fault or internet connection issue when you tried to send it.
You can identify if a message is stuck sending by looking in your sent folder. The message will display but show a sending icon next to it. If it remains that way for a long time, it’s likely stuck.
To fix this, try resending the message. Copy the text and send it again as a new message. This should force the previous message to cancel and allow the new one to send correctly. You can also try force quitting and relaunching the LinkedIn app to clear out any stuck messages.
Technical issues preventing delivery
In some cases, technical issues on LinkedIn’s side may prevent your message from sending and showing in your sent folder properly. Problems like server outages, bugs, or performance problems can all affect message delivery.
Usually when this happens, many LinkedIn users experience problems sending messages, not just you. Check LinkedIn’s status page to see if there are any known issues with messaging that could be stopping your messages from sending.
If it’s a wider technical problem, usually all you can do is wait for LinkedIn engineers to fix it. Your messages will send as expected once service is restored. Just try again later.
Other potential reasons
Here are a few other less common reasons your LinkedIn messages may not be showing up as sent:
- You accidentally deleted the message before it sent
- You blocked the recipient so messages cannot be delivered
- The recipient blocked you, preventing message delivery
- Your account was restricted from sending messages due to spam complaints
Carefully check your sent folder for any sign of the message. If it’s really not there, think back carefully on the steps you took when sending it. If you’re certain you sent the message and it’s still not showing, it’s likely one of the more common issues above.
How to recover deleted LinkedIn messages
If you realize you accidentally deleted a sent LinkedIn message, is it possible to recover it?
Unfortunately, once you delete a LinkedIn message there is no built-in way to recover it. LinkedIn does not have a trash or recycle bin for messages like some other platforms.
When you delete a message in LinkedIn, it is permanently erased from their servers. There is no way to retrieve it either through LinkedIn settings or by contacting their customer support.
For this reason, be very careful when deleting LinkedIn messages. Double check you have the right message selected before confirming deletion. If in doubt, bookmark or save important messages externally so you have a backup.
You should also be cautious of MASS messaging campaigns on LinkedIn. If even a few recipients complain your messages are spam, LinkedIn could restrict your account from sending messages in the future.
How to resend a LinkedIn message
If your original LinkedIn message failed to send properly, you may want to resend it. Here’s how to easily resend a LinkedIn message:
- Open the original sent message in your sent folder.
- Copy the entire text of the message.
- Start a new message to the same recipient.
- Paste the copied text into the message body.
- Make any edits you need to update the message.
- Send the new message.
This will allow you to quickly recreate and resend the exact text of your previous message. Just be sure to delete the stuck sending copy of the original message to avoid duplication.
An alternative is to try sending your message again directly from your original sent message. Click the three dots next to the stuck sending message and select ‘Send again.’ This will reattempt delivery of the same message.
Use LinkedIn’s spam checker before sending
To avoid issues where your LinkedIn messages are blocked or flagged as spam, use LinkedIn’s spam checker first.
When composing a new message, click the arrow icon next to the Send button. Select ‘Check for spam.’
LinkedIn will analyze your message text and warn you if anything looks suspicious or spammy. You can then edit your message to be more neutral and personalized.
Their spam tool also suggests replacing overused phrases and generic greetings. Following the recommendations can help ensure deliverability.
Personalize each message
Instead of blasting generic mass messages, take the time to personalize each LinkedIn message. Reference their profile, company, experience, or interests in your message text. This shows you took the time to engage with who they are.
Personalized messages come across more authentic and are less likely to be flagged as spam. You’ll have better luck connecting with recipients this way.
Check LinkedIn frequently for responses
Be sure to frequently check your LinkedIn notifications and messages for any replies. If you send someone an important message, follow up if you don’t hear back within a few days.
It’s easy to forget to check LinkedIn messages compared to other messaging apps. Set reminders if needed so you don’t miss key replies.
Enabling LinkedIn notifications can also alert you as soon as you receive a new message. Stay on top of your conversations.
Use LinkedIn Messaging Etiquette
To maximize your chances of getting responses to your LinkedIn messages, be sure to follow proper messaging etiquette.
- Personalize each message and demonstrate you read their profile.
- Be clear and specific about your reason for messaging in the first line.
- Keep messages concise yet friendly – no need for lengthy introductions.
- Reply promptly when you receive messages back.
- Respect it if someone doesn’t respond – don’t overmessage.
Following these tips will make you come across more professional in your communications and encourage recipients to write back.
Troubleshoot common LinkedIn messaging problems
Beyond sent messages not showing, there are a few other common LinkedIn messaging problems you may encounter:
- Message delivery delays – Allow up to several hours for messages to be delivered on LinkedIn’s servers.
- Incorrect spam warnings – If LinkedIn flags your message as spam incorrectly, remove any links/attachments and simplify your text.
- Messages going to the wrong person – Double check you selected the correct recipient before hitting send.
- Accidentally deleted messages – Unfortunately deleted LinkedIn messages cannot be recovered.
Carefully rereading messages before sending, and checking your sent folder for errors can help avoid many issues.
Use an alternate way to reach out
If you are absolutely unable to message someone on LinkedIn, try reaching out to them through an alternate method. You can:
- Connect via email if you have their address.
- Message them on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram if you’re connected.
- Use old-fashioned phone or snail mail to get in touch.
- Ask a mutual connection to pass along your request to them.
With persistence and creativity, you can almost always find a way to contact someone when needed.
When to seek help from LinkedIn support
If you’ve tried all the typical troubleshooting steps and your LinkedIn sent messages are still not showing, it may be time to contact their customer support for help.
Reach out to LinkedIn support if:
- No messages are being delivered and it’s not the recipient’s settings.
- You keep getting incorrect spam warnings when messaging.
- Your account is restricted from messaging without a clear reason.
- Messages are taking days to deliver with no explanation.
LinkedIn support can investigate issues on the back end and resolve account-specific messaging problems. Have details ready like message content and recipient names to help them troubleshoot.
Use a LinkedIn messaging alternative
If LinkedIn’s native messaging is giving you headaches, consider trying an alternate messaging solution designed for the platform.
Tools like LinkedIn Lead Gen Forms allow you to collect contact info right from LinkedIn profiles. Visitors submit their details without even leaving LinkedIn.
You can then follow up with connections directly via email or phone instead of buggy LinkedIn messaging. It gives you an automated way to build relationships.
Browser extensions like Sales Navigator also let you quickly log LinkedIn messages on recipient profiles for future follow up. Take back control of your outreach.
Key Takeaways
- Check recipient messaging settings if your sent LinkedIn messages disappear.
- Stuck sending messages can be resent or forced through by resending.
- Technical issues may disrupt LinkedIn messaging sitewide.
- Accidentally deleted LinkedIn messages cannot be recovered.
- Personalized messages are less likely to be marked as spam.
- Contact LinkedIn support if messaging problems persist.