LinkedIn allows you to recall messages that you have sent, which can be useful if you made a mistake or sent something you did not intend to send. Recalling a message essentially deletes it from the recipient’s inbox before they have a chance to view it. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to recall a message on LinkedIn:
Recalling Messages on the LinkedIn Website
If you sent a message on LinkedIn’s website that you want to recall, follow these steps:
- Go to the LinkedIn website and log into your account.
- Click on the “My Network” icon at the top of the page (it looks like a little person silhouette).
- Click on “Messages” in the dropdown menu.
- Locate the message you want to recall in your list of conversations and click on it to open the message thread.
- Hover over the message you want to recall and click on the three dots that appear.
- Select “Recall message” from the dropdown menu.
- A pop-up will appear asking you to confirm that you want to recall the message. Click “Recall.”
That’s it! The message will be recalled and essentially deleted from the recipient’s inbox. One thing to note is that you can only recall messages that the recipient has not yet read. Once the recipient opens the message, recall is no longer possible.
Recalling Messages on the LinkedIn Mobile App
If you need to recall a LinkedIn message that you sent from your mobile device, the process is very similar:
- Open the LinkedIn app on your mobile device.
- Tap on the “My Network” icon at the bottom of the app screen.
- Tap on “Messages.”
- Find and open the conversation containing the message you want to recall.
- Tap and hold the message you want to recall.
- Tap “Recall” when the option appears.
- Confirm that you want to recall the message when prompted.
And that’s all there is to it! The message will be recalled from the recipient’s inbox as long as they have not opened it yet. The recall option is only available for a short period after sending the message, so make sure to recall as soon as possible if needed.
Why Would You Want to Recall a LinkedIn Message?
There are a few main reasons you may want to recall a LinkedIn message:
- You made a mistake – Perhaps you sent the message to the wrong recipient, there was a typo, or you attached the wrong file. Recalling quickly prevents the recipient from seeing your error.
- You sent confidential information – If you accidentally sent sensitive information to someone you should not have, a quick recall can prevent a potential data breach.
- You changed your mind – Maybe after sending, you realized the message’s tone was off or the content was not quite right. Recalling gives you a chance to re-do it.
- The message is no longer relevant – If time has passed since sending the message, the context may have changed. A recall avoids confusing the recipient.
The ability to recall messages can be a lifesaver if you accidentally send something you shouldn’t have or if you change your mind shortly after hitting send. Taking a few seconds to double check your message before sending can prevent having to recall, but it’s nice to have the recall option just in case.
Limits and Considerations for Recalling LinkedIn Messages
While recalling LinkedIn messages can be useful, there are some limitations and things to keep in mind:
- Time limit – You only have a short window of time after sending to recall a message. The exact time varies, but is usually between a few seconds to a few minutes.
- Read status – You can only recall messages that have not yet been read. Once opened, a recall is no longer possible.
- Inbox alerts – Even if you recall quickly, some inbox preview or notification may have been sent to the recipient, so they may see some indication that a message was sent and recalled.
- Text messages – You cannot recall text messages sent through LinkedIn. Only messages sent within LinkedIn can be recalled.
- Legal implications – Recalling messages you are legally required to send may not absolve you of responsibility, depending on the situation.
In summary, recalling LinkedIn messages can be a useful feature, but it has limitations. It should not be viewed as a way to delete messages after-the-fact. The best practice is still to double check all your messages before hitting send whenever possible.
Troubleshooting When You Can’t Recall a LinkedIn Message
In some cases, you may try to recall a LinkedIn message and find that the option is not available. Here are some potential reasons and troubleshooting tips:
- The message is too old – As noted above, you only have a short window after sending to recall a message. If too much time has passed, recall will no longer be possible.
- The recipient already read it – Once a recipient opens a message, it can no longer be recalled.
- You already recalled a previous message – LinkedIn limits users to recalling one message per conversation per day. If you already recalled something else you sent to that recipient, you’ll have to wait until tomorrow.
- You are sending too many messages – If you are aggressively messaging lots of people, LinkedIn may throttle your ability to recall messages as an anti-spam measure.
- Technical issues – In some rare cases, a technical glitch may prevent recall. Trying again later often resolves this.
The most common reasons recall fails are that time has run out, or the recipient already read the message. Beyond that, throttling or technical issues may occasionally prevent recall, but waiting and trying again later often helps.
Alternatives If You Cannot Recall a LinkedIn Message
If you cannot recall a LinkedIn message for whatever reason, here are some alternative steps you can potentially take:
- Send a follow-up message – Explain that you made a mistake in your previous message and provide the correct information.
- Politely ask the recipient to disregard – Request that the recipient deletes and ignores your earlier message if it contained errors or inappropriate content.
- Utilize reporting – If you shared sensitive or dangerous information unintentionally, you can report your own message to LinkedIn and request removal.
- Block the recipient – If you shared very damaging information to the wrong person, blocking them prevents furtherspread.
- Change settings – Adjust your messaging settings to limit who can message you or tighten up automatic preview text.
While not as clean as a simple recall, following up, asking the recipient to disregard the message, reporting/blocking if necessary, and adjusting settings can help minimize damage if a recall fails.
Best Practices for Avoiding Message Missteps on LinkedIn
To avoid putting yourself in a position where you need to recall a LinkedIn message, here are some best practices to follow:
- Proofread before sending – Take an extra minute to double check the message content, recipient, and any attachments/links before hitting send.
- Add recipients last – Write the entire message before entering any recipients. This way you don’t accidentally send an unfinished draft.
- Use preview/send later – For long or complex messages, use LinkedIn’s preview function or write in a separate app and copy/paste when ready to send.
- Avoid sensitive content – Unless absolutely necessary, avoid sending confidential, controversial, or objectionable content that may cause problems if seen by unintended eyes.
- Think business professional – Mentally proofread from the mindset of sending a formal business communication before hitting send.
Making a habit of taking an extra moment to double check messages and exercise caution with sensitive content will significantly reduce the need to ever recall anything. But when in doubt, it’s always better to recall a questionable message than leave it out there for all to see.
In Conclusion
Recalling LinkedIn messages can get you out of a jam if you make a mistake or have second thoughts shortly after sending something. But the ability to recall has limitations, so it should not be viewed as a cure-all in the event you share something you shouldn’t. Taking care to compose professional, appropriate messages and thoroughly proofread before sending is always preferable. However, when necessary, quickly recalling an errant message before it’s too late can help minimize any potential embarrassment or damage.
