If you try to send a message to someone on LinkedIn and get a notification saying the message is locked, there are a few potential reasons why. The most common reasons LinkedIn locks messaging between users are:
- The recipient has limited who can message them
- You don’t have a 1st degree connection with the recipient
- The recipient marked your message as spam or inappropriate
- You have sent too many unsolicited messages
Recipient Limited Who Can Message Them
LinkedIn gives users control over who can message them. Under account settings, users can limit messages to only 1st degree connections, or 2nd and 3rd degree connections. If you try to message someone you’re not connected to at all, LinkedIn will lock the message.
To fix this, you need to connect with the person first before messaging them. You can send them a connection request if you know them or think they would accept. If not, there’s no way around the messaging limitation unless that user changes their settings.
No 1st Degree Connection
Similarly, LinkedIn automatically blocks messages between users who don’t have any sort of connection. The only people you can freely message are 1st degree connections in your network. Trying to message a 2nd or 3rd degree connection, or someone you’re not connected to, will lead to a locked message.
To communicate with someone you’re not directly connected to, you first need to connect with them, or communicate through an intermediary connection. You can also try sending an InMail if you have credits, as InMails can reach anyone on LinkedIn.
Recipient Marked Message as Spam
If the person you messaged marked your message as spam or inappropriate, LinkedIn will lock any future messages to protect that user. This usually happens if you messaged someone unsolicited content that they didn’t want.
In this case, there isn’t much you can do besides apologize for the unwanted message if appropriate. Continuing to send messages will likely just get you restricted. You’ll have to wait and hope the user removes the spam label to message them again in the future.
Too Many Unsolicited Messages
If you have sent multiple messages that recipients marked as unwanted, LinkedIn may detect you are sending unsolicited spam-like messages. As a result, they will lock your ability to message some users.
To restore your account, you’ll need to stop sending unsolicited messages. Only message people who you know and who would appreciate the message. Avoid messaging strangers or trying to aggressively sell something without reason.
What to Do If Your LinkedIn Messages Are Locked
If you find your LinkedIn messages are locked for any of the reasons above, here are some tips on what to do:
- If messaging someone specific, try connecting with them first before messaging again.
- Limit messages only to people in your 1st degree network.
- Avoid sending unsolicited messages to people you don’t know.
- Use InMail to message 2nd and 3rd degree connections.
- Apologize and retract any messages marked as spam/inappropriate.
- Build out your connections and network organically over time.
While frustrating, LinkedIn’s messaging limits are there to protect users from harassment, spam, and unwanted solicitation. The best approach is to build genuine connections and only message those who know and would want to hear from you.
Can You Unlock LinkedIn Messages?
In some cases, it is possible to unlock locked LinkedIn messages. However, there is no instant solution or button to unlock messages universally. The options depend on why the messages were locked in the first place.
If Recipient Limited Messages
As mentioned before, if the recipient has restricted who can message them, the only way to unlock messaging is to either connect with them directly, or hope they change their message settings to be less restrictive.
If Marked as Spam/Inappropriate
If a recipient marked your message as spam or inappropriate, appealing to LinkedIn’s customer service is likely the only recourse. You can contact them, explain the situation, and request they remove the spam label, which should unlock messaging.
If Sending Too Much Unsolicited Content
If LinkedIn restricted your account due to too many unwanted messages, you will have to change your behavior to get messaging privileges back. Stop sending unsolicited messages, connect with people organically, and communicate based on established relationships. Over time, your ability to message should be restored.
Tips to Avoid LinkedIn Message Locks
To avoid having your LinkedIn messages locked now and in the future, keep these tips in mind:
- Only message people in your 1st degree network
- Personalize messages based on existing relationships
- Don’t send spam or unsolicited messages
- Connect with people before trying to message them
- Limit messaging volume to avoid spam detection
- Build connections gradually and organically over time
While LinkedIn restrictions may seem excessive, they help maintain the professional nature of the platform and prevent unwanted solicitation. Maintain your network properly and only message mutually beneficial contacts, and you should avoid any messaging issues.
Can LinkedIn Message Locks Be Bypassed?
There are no approved methods to bypass LinkedIn’s messaging restrictions. Using workarounds to get around spam filters or messaging limits would be considered abuse of the platform.
Some things to avoid that could get your account restricted include:
- Creating multiple accounts to message the same person
- Sending batches of identical messages
- Hacking or reverse engineering any LinkedIn code
- Automating messages with bots or scripts
- Spoofing your identity
These tactics may work briefly but will quickly get detected. LinkedIn monitors for abusive behavior and suspicious activity. Any attempt to bypass messaging rules will likely result in your accounts and messages being locked again, or even suspended permanently.
Why LinkedIn Locks Messages
Understanding why LinkedIn is so restrictive and locks messages between some users can help you avoid problems.
LinkedIn locks messages in order to:
- Protect members from harassment and spam
- Maintain the professional nature of conversations
- Prevent solicitation from strangers
- Limit inappropriate or abusive behavior
- Uphold user privacy and messaging preferences
As a platform centered around professional networking and career development, LinkedIn aims to keep conversations productive. Mass messaging strangers, soliciting, or behaving inappropriately goes against LinkedIn’s purpose and culture.
If messages were entirely open, it could lead to a poor user experience with excess solicitations and abuse. By limiting who can message who, LinkedIn maintains the core value it provides its members.
LinkedIn Message Limits & Restrictions
Understanding LinkedIn’s messaging restrictions can help you operate within their rules:
- 1st Connections: You can message freely with your direct 1st degree connections.
- 2nd & 3rd Connections: Messaging requires a paid account with InMail credits.
- No Connections: Cannot message someone you are not connected to.
- Recipient Limits: Users can limit messages to only 1st degree connections.
- Spam/Abuse: Abusive messages can get you blocked from messaging a specific person.
- Unsolicited Messages: Mass unsolicited messages can lead to messaging restrictions.
Following LinkedIn’s messaging policies and communicating respectfully will ensure your account stays in good standing. While restrictions may occasionally block messages to some people, maintaining your network properly will avoid most issues.
Increasing Your LinkedIn Message Privileges
If your goal on LinkedIn is to reach and message people beyond just direct connections, there are a couple privileges that can help:
LinkedIn InMail
With a Premium Business or Sales Navigator account, you gain monthly credits for InMail messages. These let you message anyone on LinkedIn, regardless of your connection status. This can help reach 2nd and 3rd degree connections.
Adding Connections
Growing your own network by sending and accepting connection requests increases who you can freely message. Nurturing 1st degree connections improves who you can reach.
Receiving InMails
If recipients have InMail, they can message you first even without a connection. Having a filled out profile and being engaged on LinkedIn makes it more likely to receive InMails.
While LinkedIn’s messaging restrictions aim to protect users, there are still benefits from the premium features and taking time to grow your network.
Conclusion
LinkedIn locks messages between users who lack connections to maintain a professional environment and prevent harassment. While restrictions can be frustrating, they exist to protect the platform’s core value.
Avoiding unsolicited messages, building relationships gradually, and using premium features like InMail can prevent most messaging limits. With a thoughtful approach, LinkedIn can still enable beneficial communication.
The key is quality over quantity – nurturing a smaller number of relevant connections instead of messaging in mass. By communicating thoughtfully, your messages should reach the people who matter most.