LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network platform with over 810 million members worldwide. It allows users to connect with other professionals, search for jobs, follow industry trends, grow their career, and more. However, like any website or platform, LinkedIn users can occasionally encounter errors when using the site.
One common error that LinkedIn users may come across is the “request error.” This error typically occurs when a user tries to send a connection request or message to another member, but the request fails to go through. There are a few potential reasons why the request error happens on LinkedIn.
Why Does the Request Error Occur on LinkedIn?
Here are some of the main reasons the request error may show up when trying to connect or message someone on LinkedIn:
- The recipient’s inbox is full – LinkedIn inboxes have limits, so if the person you’re trying to connect with has a full inbox, the request will fail.
- The recipient has restricted their account settings – Members can adjust their account settings to limit connection invites and messages. So your request may be blocked based on their configuration.
- You’ve hit LinkedIn’s daily limit – There are restrictions in place for how many connection requests and messages you can send per day. Going over the limits can lead to errors.
- Temporary technical issues – Like any site, LinkedIn can have intermittent technical glitches that prevent requests from going through smoothly.
- Recipient marked your message as spam – If the recipient feels your message is spam, they can mark it as such leading to errors sending future messages.
- You’re blocked by the recipient – If someone has blocked you on LinkedIn, any requests you send them will fail.
Essentially, the request error usually comes up because of restrictions put in place by LinkedIn or the individual user you’re trying to contact. Understanding what causes it can help you avoid the request error going forward.
How to Fix the LinkedIn Request Error
If you come across the request error on LinkedIn, here are some tips that may help resolve the issue:
- Wait and try again later – Sometimes transient technical problems cause the error, so trying again a few hours later could work.
- Check your daily limits – Log into LinkedIn on desktop to see your daily invite and message caps. You may have exceeded them for the day.
- Contact the recipient first – Send the person you want to connect with a quick note to confirm they’re open to connecting before sending the invite.
- Simplify your message – A long message can appear like spam. Try a shorter greeting to see if that goes through.
- Use an alternative way to connect – You can send connection invites via a shared group or company page if you’re both members.
- Fill out your profile – Recipients are more likely to accept invites from fully completed profiles versus sparse profiles.
Additionally, be sure you aren’t trying to message premium account holders as a basic user, as LinkedIn restricts those interactions. Premium users have the icons below their name indicating their upgraded account type.
If the steps above don’t work, you may need to directly ask the recipient if they can accept your invite or message. Sometimes the only way to resolve a persistent request error is to coordinate directly with the person you want to connect with on LinkedIn.
Why Does the Request Error Happen on LinkedIn?
There are a few main reasons why the request error may occur on LinkedIn when trying to connect with other members:
Recipient’s inbox is full
LinkedIn inboxes have limits on how many pending connection invitations and unread messages can be stored at one time. If the person you are trying to connect with has hit their limit, any new requests will result in an error.
Recipient restricted account settings
Members can adjust their LinkedIn account settings to limit who can send them connection invites or messages. For example, they may have settings enabled that only allow connections to message them or only allow invites from people in their network. Trying to connect outside of their configured restrictions will lead to errors.
You exceeded LinkedIn’s daily limits
To prevent spam and abuse, LinkedIn enforces caps on certain account activities such as:
- Number of connection invites – max of 300 per day
- Number of messages – max of 300 per day
If you exceed one of these limits, you’ll get the request error when trying to connect or message more people that day.
Temporary technical issues
As with any website or platform, LinkedIn can have intermittent technical issues that disrupt normal usage. Server errors or bugs can sometimes cause the request error to show up unexpectedly when trying to interact with other members.
Recipient marked your message as spam
If the recipient feels your connection invitation or message has the characteristics of spam, they can flag it as such. This will make it difficult to contact that member again in the future, resulting in request errors on additional messages.
You’re blocked by the recipient
Members have the ability to block other users on LinkedIn. Attempting to connect or message someone that has explicitly blocked you will always result in a failed request.
Essentially, the request error stems from restrictions put in place by either LinkedIn itself or the individual recipient. Understanding what causes it allows you to troubleshoot the issue more effectively.
How to Troubleshoot the Request Error
To troubleshoot and fix the LinkedIn request error, here are some steps you can take:
Wait and try again later
If the error is intermittent, take a break and come back to sending your request a few hours later. Transient technical problems on LinkedIn’s servers could be the cause of the temporary issue.
Check your daily LinkedIn limits
Log into LinkedIn on your desktop and go to your account settings. This will show you the current daily limits for sending invites and messages as well as how many you have remaining for the day.
Review recent recipient interactions
Think back to your most recent connections and messages with the recipient. Did they mark your messages as spam or block you previously? That could explain why your new requests are now failing.
Contact the recipient first
Send the recipient a quick note to confirm they are open to receiving your connection invitation before attempting to send it again. This can avoid wasting invites on people who don’t want to connect.
Simplify your outreach
Avoid long messages that could appear like spam. Use a short, customized greeting mentioning your shared connections or interests.
Try alternative connection methods
You can send InMail or connect via shared groups or company pages if you are both members. This provides additional options if direct invites aren’t working.
Update your account and profile
Make sure your profile is complete and optimized to avoid looking like a spammer. Recipients will be more inclined to accept invites from credible, established accounts.
Persistently working through these troubleshooting steps should help narrow down the root cause and resolution for the pesky request error on LinkedIn.
Common LinkedIn Request Error Messages
Here are some of the common request error notifications you may see on LinkedIn and what they typically indicate:
| Error Message | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Couldn’t send invitation, please try again later | A temporary technical issue prevented sending the invite |
| Only Connections can send you InMail | Recipient limits messages to 1st degree connections only |
| Your message couldn’t be sent | You have exceeded your daily messaging limit |
| Unable to send invitation at this time | Recipient has a full inbox or restricted settings |
| That member limits invitations | Recipient adjusted their settings to restrict invites |
Familiarizing yourself with these common request error messages can provide clues on how to resolve the issue.
How to Avoid LinkedIn Request Errors
Here are some tips to avoid frequently seeing the request error when trying to connect or message people on LinkedIn:
- Spread out your requests – Don’t send batches of invites/messages. Pace yourself over days/weeks.
- Personalize your messages – No generic greetings, customize each one.
- Connect in smaller increments – Try sending 5-10 invites per day, not the max 300.
- Use LinkedIn’s alternative options – InMail, join groups, follow company pages.
- Make sure your profile is complete – Add a photo, summary section, work history, etc.
- Only connect with people you know – Don’t randomly invite strangers.
- Follow up individually if needed – If you encounter errors, reach out to the person directly via email or phone.
- Don’t over-message people – Too many messages may be seen as spam.
The key is using LinkedIn thoughtfully and intentionally, not trying to exploit requests and message limits. Making genuine connections and engaging in a professional manner will prevent many request errors.
Conclusion
The request error on LinkedIn is annoying but can be overcome. It usually results from inboxes being full, recipients restricting invites/messages, or you exceeding daily caps. Troubleshooting steps like checking your limits, contacting the recipient first, and using alternative connection methods can help resolve the issue. Spreading out requests, personalizing messages, and not overusing the platform will prevent many request errors in the first place. With some diligent effort, you can overcome problems with request errors on LinkedIn.
