There are a few common reasons why you may be unable to verify your identity on LinkedIn:
Your name doesn’t match your ID exactly
LinkedIn requires your full name on your account to match your government-issued ID exactly. This includes middle names and suffixes like “Jr.” or “III.” If there is any difference between your LinkedIn name and ID, it will cause the verification to fail.
For example, if your ID says “Robert John Smith Jr.” but your LinkedIn just says “Robert Smith,” it won’t match. You’ll need to update your name on LinkedIn to match your ID.
Your photo doesn’t match
LinkedIn’s automated verification system uses facial recognition technology to match your profile photo to your photo ID. If the photos don’t resemble each other closely enough, it will fail the match.
To fix this, make sure you are using a recent, high-quality headshot photo on your LinkedIn profile that looks similar to your photo ID. Avoid using group photos, landscapes, or other non-headshot images.
Your location data is inconsistent
LinkedIn looks at the location information associated with your account, including your listed location and IP addresses you have logged in from. If this doesn’t match the location on your ID, it can cause issues.
Double check that your listed location on your profile matches what is on your government ID. Also be sure you are logging into LinkedIn from the same country/region the majority of the time.
Your LinkedIn account is too new
LinkedIn restricts ID verification to accounts that are at least 30 days old. This is a fraud prevention measure. If your account is brand new, you’ll have to wait until it passes the 30 day threshold before verification will work.
You have multiple accounts
LinkedIn’s automated system can get confused if you have multiple LinkedIn accounts associated with the same name and identity details. Try consolidating down to a single LinkedIn profile.
Also, if you have tried verifying in the past with another account, you may have to wait before trying again. LinkedIn limits users to 5 failed verification attempts every 30 days.
Technical issues or bugs
In some cases, there may simply be a technical problem or bug preventing identification verification from working properly. Some things to try:
- Make sure you have the latest version of the LinkedIn app
- Try verifying on both mobile and desktop
- Log out and log back into your account
- Clear the app cache and data
- Try again another day
Most verification issues can be resolved by double checking your name, photo, locations details, and account status. But occasionally a technical glitch prevents it from working smoothly.
Your ID type isn’t supported
LinkedIn has a list of approved government-issued ID types that can be used for verification. If your form of ID is not on this list, the system will not recognize it.
LinkedIn supports the following types of IDs:
- Driver’s license
- State ID card
- Passport
- National ID card
- Alien registration card
- Immigrant visa
- National health card (select countries)
- Voter ID card (India only)
- Aadhaar card (India only)
- Permanent account number (India only)
If your ID is not one of those types, you will need to update your LinkedIn profile with one of the approved ID types in order to get verified.
You entered your details incorrectly
One simple mistake entering in your ID card details can cause LinkedIn’s verification to fail. Double check that you correctly entered things like:
- ID number
- Issuing authority
- Expiration date
- Date of birth
- Address
An incorrectly entered letter or number will cause a mismatch. Go slow and carefully input your ID details to ensure accuracy.
Your account was mistakenly flagged for fraud
In some cases, LinkedIn’s automated fraud detection can incorrectly flag valid accounts. This blocks them from verifying their identity.
If you believe your account has been incorrectly flagged, you can submit an appeal to LinkedIn. But keep in mind the appeals process takes time and is not always successful.
You’re located in a country where verification isn’t available
LinkedIn’s ID verification feature is only available in certain countries at this time. If your LinkedIn account lists a location not included on their supported countries list, you will not be able to verify your identity.
Here are the countries currently supported for LinkedIn verification as of October 2022:
| Australia | Italy |
| Austria | Mexico |
| Belgium | Netherlands |
| Brazil | Norway |
| Canada | Poland |
| Denmark | Singapore |
| Finland | South Africa |
| France | Spain |
| Germany | Sweden |
| Hong Kong | Switzerland |
| India | United Arab Emirates |
| Ireland | United Kingdom |
| Israel | United States |
If your country is not on the list, you will need to update your LinkedIn profile location to one of the supported countries to verify your ID.
Conclusion
Trouble verifying your identity on LinkedIn can be frustrating, but is usually fixable. The most common issues involve name mismatches, inconsistent location data, unsupported ID types, or technical bugs. Double checking your profile details against your government ID and ensuring your account meets LinkedIn’s requirements is key.
If you still are unable to verify after troubleshooting, wait a few days and try again. Identity verification on LinkedIn is intended to be helpful, but the automated system sometimes has flaws. With persistence and by methodically working through possible causes, you should eventually be able to confirm your identity.
Other Common LinkedIn Issues
Beyond identity verification problems, there are a few other frequent issues that can come up with LinkedIn that are good to be aware of:
Unable to Message Connections
If you are unable to message some of your connections on LinkedIn, it is likely because they have adjusted their messaging settings to only allow messages from people in their 1st degree network.
To message a 2nd or 3rd degree connections, you will need to directly connect to that profile first before messaging will be enabled.
Seeing Out of Date Profiles
Sometimes profiles of connections or prospects appear out of date on LinkedIn – with old job titles, profile photos, etc. This is due to LinkedIn’s data caching.
To refresh a profile and clear the cache, try logging out and back into your LinkedIn account. You can also try clearing cookies and cache from your browser settings.
Unable to Add Profile Section
LinkedIn limits free accounts to only having 3 sections on their profile at once. For example: Summary, Experience, and Education. To add additional sections like Skills, Accomplishments, etc. you will need to upgrade to a premium paid account.
Profile Views Not Updating
It can take 24-48 hours for LinkedIn to update your profile view count after someone looks at your profile. Be patient and wait a day or two if your views don’t seem accurate.
Unable to Upload Photo
LinkedIn photo uploads can fail if the file size is too large (over 8MB) or if the dimensions are incorrect. Profile photos must be 400×400 pixels and background header images need to be 1584×396.
Use an image editing tool to resize your images before uploading to ensure they meet LinkedIn’s requirements.
Forgotten Password
If you forgot your LinkedIn password, go to their login page and click “Forgot password”. You can reset your password by entering your email address and clicking on the password reset link sent to your email inbox.
If you no longer have access to your account email, you can recover your account by submitting ID documents to LinkedIn proving you are the account owner.
Deactivated Account
It is possible to reactivate a closed LinkedIn account for up to 30 days after deactivation. Simply log in with your credentials and your profile will be restored.
After 30 days, deactivated accounts are permanently deleted and can’t be recovered. You will have to create a brand new profile.
Restricted Account
LinkedIn may restrict accounts that violate their Terms of Service, such as spamming, scraping, or spreading misinformation. You can appeal restrictions by submitting a request to LinkedIn.
However restrictions are often permanent, so it’s best to read and follow LinkedIn’s guidelines upfront to avoid account limitations.
Tips for Troubleshooting LinkedIn Issues
Here are some general tips for troubleshooting and solving issues you encounter on LinkedIn:
- Check LinkedIn’s help documentation for answers to common problems.
- Make sure your app and LinkedIn platform are up-to-date.
- Try reproducing the issue on desktop and mobile to isolate the cause.
- Clear cookies, cache, and local storage in your browser and app.
- Log out and back into your LinkedIn account.
- If all else fails, directly contact LinkedIn support via chat or email.
Following troubleshooting steps methodically can help narrow down and fix many LinkedIn headaches. Allow sufficient time for LinkedIn support to respond to issues requiring their assistance. With persistence, you should be able to resolve most problems on LinkedIn.
Why LinkedIn Verification Matters
With over 800 million members, LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking platform. Verifying your identity serves an important purpose for your personal brand and establishing trust.
Here are some key reasons why confirming your identity on LinkedIn is worthwhile:
- Shows you are a real person, not a fake account
- Allows you to directly message more LinkedIn members
- Gives you access to certain paid LinkedIn services
- Builds credibility and trustworthiness
- Displays a “verified” badge on your profile
- Increases your visibility and professional opportunities
The verification badge indicating your identity has been confirmed establishes you as an authentic professional contact. It can help attract more profile views, connection requests, and job inquiries.
While not required, identity verification should be considered a best practice for cultivating your personal brand on LinkedIn. It enhances your reputation and visibility within the platform’s vast network.
Tips for Successfully Verifying on LinkedIn
Here are some tips to ensure the verification process goes smoothly when you are ready:
- Double check your name, photo, location match your ID
- Use a quality headshot photo resembling your ID pic
- Confirm your ID is an approved type by LinkedIn
- Carefully enter in all ID details – no typos
- Try both desktop and mobile verification
- If issues, wait 30 days before trying again
- Contact support if problems persist
With some care taken upfront to ensure your account and ID are aligned, the majority of members are able to breeze through LinkedIn’s automated verification system without issues.
By clearly communicating who you are as a professional, identity verification removes any doubts and builds invaluable trust and credibility.
