Where do I find messages in LinkedIn?

LinkedIn is a great platform for connecting with other professionals, networking, and building your brand. One of the key features of LinkedIn is the messaging system, which allows you to communicate directly with your connections.

But where exactly do you find the messages feature in LinkedIn? LinkedIn has changed their interface over the years, so the messaging system is not always easy to find. Here, we’ll walk through the steps to access messages on both desktop and mobile.

Finding Messages on LinkedIn Desktop

On the LinkedIn desktop site, the messages icon is located in the top navigation bar, on the far left side. It appears as a speech bubble symbol. To access your messages:

1. Login to your LinkedIn account on the desktop site.
2. Look at the top navigation bar, on the left side.
3. Click on the speech bubble icon labeled “Messages.”

This will open up the messages page, where you can view conversation threads with your connections. To start a new message, click on the “Compose message” button at the top of the page.

Things to Note

• The messages icon will be blue if you have any unread messages.
• You can also access messages by clicking on the profile photo at the top right of the screen. This will bring up a dropdown menu – click “Messages” to get to the messaging page.
• LinkedIn messaging works like an email inbox. You can view, respond to, and organize your messages threads.

Finding Messages on the LinkedIn Mobile App

The LinkedIn mobile app has a similar messaging icon, but it’s located in a slightly different spot.

To find messages on LinkedIn for iOS:

1. Launch the LinkedIn app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap the “My Network” icon at the bottom – it looks like 3 little people.
3. At the top of the My Network page, you will see the messaging speech bubble icon.
4. Tap the speech bubble to view your messages.

To find messages on LinkedIn for Android:

1. Launch the Android LinkedIn app.
2. Tap the “Me” tab at the bottom – this is your profile icon.
3. On the Me tab, tap the speech bubble messaging icon at the top of the screen.
4. This will bring you right to your LinkedIn messages.

Things to Note

• Unread messages will make the icon turn blue, just like on desktop.
• Tap the pencil icon in the top right to compose a new message.
• You can swipe left or right to easily archive messages when you’re done with them.

Who Can Send Messages on LinkedIn?

On LinkedIn, messaging works between direct connections. You can send messages to any of your 1st degree connections on LinkedIn. This includes:

• Anyone who has accepted your connection request
• Connections who you’ve sent an invite to that they accepted
• People who you imported as connections from your email contacts

You can also receive messages from any of your 1st degree connections. So messaging works both ways between connections.

Key Points

• You can only message people you’re connected to on LinkedIn.
• Your 2nd and 3rd degree connections cannot message you directly.
• You cannot message LinkedIn members you are not connected to.

Replying to LinkedIn Messages

Replying to a message on LinkedIn works the same as other messaging platforms. When viewing a message thread:

1. Tap in the text box at the bottom where it says “Send a message.”
2. Type your reply message.
3. Hit the blue send button to the right of the text box.

This will send a reply to that message thread. You can continue replying back and forth to have a conversation.

Other Reply Options

• To reply privately in a group thread, hold down the reply button.
• You can add attachments like photos, PDFs, and documents to messages.
• Use the @mention feature to tag connections in your replies.

Starting a New Message on LinkedIn

In addition to replying to existing threads, you can start a new LinkedIn message conversation from scratch. Here’s how to compose a new message:

1. Click the “Compose message” button at the top of your messages page.
2. Start typing your connection’s name in the “To” field.
3. Select the correct name when it pops up.
4. Enter a subject and message text.
5. Hit send to start the conversation!

Tips for New Messages

• You can message multiple connections at once by adding more names to the “To” field.
• Try to avoid generic subjects like “Hi” or “Question.” Use more descriptive subjects.
• Double check that the connections you’re messaging are 1st degree before hitting send.

Managing Your LinkedIn Messages

Just like an email inbox, your LinkedIn messages can quickly fill up with active conversations. Here are some tips for managing your messages and keeping things organized.

Archiving Old Messages

Once a conversation has ended, archive the thread to clear out your inbox:

• On desktop, select the message thread and click “Archive” or press “e”.
• On mobile, swipe left on the thread and tap “Archive”.

Muting Annoying Threads

To mute notifications from a particularly active thread:

• Desktop: Hover over the thread and click the “Mute” icon.
• Mobile: Press and hold the thread, then tap “Mute notifications.”

Marking Messages as Unread

To come back to a message later, mark it as unread:

• Desktop: Select the thread and click “Mark as Unread.”
• Mobile: Swipe right on the thread, then tap “Mark Unread.”

Searching for Old Messages

Use the search bar at the top of your messages page to find old threads by keyword, name, company, etc. This makes it easy to find conversations even from years ago.

LinkedIn Messaging Etiquette

Messaging on LinkedIn is a great way to build relationships, but there are some etiquette rules to keep in mind:

• Always use a professional tone in messages.
• Proofread for typos and errors before sending.
• Don’t overuse exclamation points, emojis, or internet slang.
• Reply to messages in a timely manner – don’t leave people hanging.
• Avoid sending generic messages like “Let’s connect!” Be more specific.
• If someone doesn’t reply, don’t keep messaging repeatedly.

Key Takeaways

• Treat LinkedIn messages like professional business correspondence.
• Be courteous, polite, and considerate to your connections.
• Put thought into your messages rather than spamming or selling.

LinkedIn Message Limits

LinkedIn does impose some limits on messaging to prevent abuse of their system. Here are the key limits to know:

• You can only send up to 300 messages per day.
• No more than 100 message recipients per day.
• Max 30 messages per hour.

These quotas reset at midnight Pacific time each day. If you go over the limits, LinkedIn may restrict your account from sending more messages temporarily.

Staying Within Limits

A few tips to avoid hitting LinkedIn’s messaging limits:

• Don’t copy/paste the same message to tons of people.
• Personalize your messages with name and company details.
• Spread out your messaging over the course of a day/week.
• Focus on quality over quantity – build relationships slowly.

Troubleshooting LinkedIn Messages

In some cases, you may run into issues using LinkedIn’s messaging feature. Here are some common problems and fixes.

Can’t Start a New Message

• Make sure you’re connected to the person (1st degree connection).
• Try updating the LinkedIn app or refreshing the desktop page.
• Clear your browser cookies/cache if on desktop.

Messages Going to the Wrong Person

• Double check you selected the right name from your connections list when starting the message.
• Make sure you don’t have duplicate connections for the same person.

LinkedIn Says You’re Not Connected

• It’s possible your connection has removed you from their network.
• Ask them to re-confirm the connection request on their end.

Can’t See All Message Threads

• Try using the search bar to find the conversation.
• Check if you archived the thread – look in Archived messages.
• Make sure you’re viewing All messages, not just Unread.

Conclusion

LinkedIn messaging allows for direct communication that can really strengthen your relationships. Follow the tips in this guide to access messages, keep your inbox organized, and start productive conversations.

The key is to use LinkedIn messaging professionally to provide value for your connections. Avoid spamming people with generic messages and make sure to respond promptly. With some finesse, messaging can take your LinkedIn networking to the next level.