LinkedIn limits messaging between members who are not directly connected for several reasons. The main rationale is to protect members from unsolicited messages and spam. LinkedIn wants to ensure their platform facilitates productive professional networking and communication, not nuisance contacts.
Messaging is restricted between members who are not 1st-level connections for the following key reasons:
Prevent spam and abuse
Allowing any member to message any other member freely opens the door to spam, phishing attempts, and harassment. Scammers often exploit open messaging on social networks to blanket members with unsolicited bulk messages. Locking messaging reduces this avenue of abuse.
Encourage building connections first
LinkedIn is about professional networking. Messaging restrictions encourage members to build connections and relationships first before messaging. This promotes more selective and relevant communication aligned with establishing professional contacts.
Limit sales solicitation
Open messaging allows people to readily pitch products and services to any member without permission. This facilitates intrusive cold outreach. Locking messaging helps limit undesired sales solicitation through the platform.
Protect member privacy
Members value control over who can contact them. Locking messaging gives members more privacy in choosing who they interact with. Members can connect with others they want to communicate with while avoiding unsolicited messages.
Promote use of InMail
LinkedIn InMail is a paid messaging feature allowing members to message anyone, even if not directly connected. Locking regular messaging encourages greater use of InMail for contacting members outside one’s network.
Reduce member complaints
LinkedIn historically received many complaints from members receiving unwanted messages from people not in their network. Restricting messaging reduces these complaints and creates a better member experience.
Align with a professional platform
Open messaging aligns more with casual social networks geared for chatting with friends. Locking messaging maintains LinkedIn’s focus as a professional networking platform for career contacts versus socializing.
Drive upgrades to premium accounts
Locking messaging provides an incentive for members to upgrade to premium accounts. Paid accounts allow reaching out to more members through InMail and other features.
Who can message whom on LinkedIn?
LinkedIn allows different levels of messaging capabilities depending on the type of member account.
Free members
With a free standard account, members can only send messages to their 1st-level connections. You cannot message 2nd or 3rd-level connections, or members outside your network.
Premium Career members
Paid Career premium accounts let you message 2nd-degree connections in addition to 1st-degree connections. However, you still cannot message 3rd-degree connections or non-connections.
Premium Business, Sales Navigator members
Upgraded Business and Sales Navigator premium accounts allow messaging 2nd and 3rd-degree connections. But you still cannot freely message anyone outside your extended network.
InMail capability
InMail is LinkedIn’s special messaging product purchased on a credit basis. InMail credits allow you to message anyone on LinkedIn, regardless of your connection status. This is the only way to freely message non-connections.
Messaging workarounds
While LinkedIn restricts who you can message based on connections, there are some workarounds to open messaging avenues with non-connected members.
Group messaging
Joining common LinkedIn groups with another member allows you to message them through group posts and discussions regardless of direct connection status.
Contact info sharing
Including your contact info in your profile lets non-connections request connecting with customized messages. You can respond if interested in further messaging.
InMail credits
As mentioned above, purchasing InMail credits lets you message anyone outside your network. This is the main official workaround to messaging limits.
Connecting with members
The standard advice is simply sending connection requests to members you want to message. Building out your network opens more messaging avenues organically.
Contact form plugin
Some members install third-party LinkedIn plugins that let visitors send messages through profile contact forms. This provides a backdoor to messaging non-connections.
Why you may be unable to message some connections
Even when connected to another member, you may occasionally be unable to message them. Here are some possible reasons for this:
Member account restrictions
Some members configure their account settings to further limit messaging. Options include allowing messages only from members with shared connections.
Blocked by member
You will be unable to message connections who have specifically blocked you or restricted your account.
Restricted by LinkedIn
In some cases, LinkedIn itself restricts messaging privileges if there are concerns over spam or abuse associated with an account.
Premium accounts reverting
When premium accounts lapse to free accounts, messaging capabilities can revert to the lower free member levels.
Closed/deactivated accounts
Messaging is disabled when attempting to message members whose accounts are closed or deactivated.
Why you cannot message some LinkedIn members
There are a number of general reasons you may not be able to message certain LinkedIn members, even indirectly connected ones:
Member has limited profile visibility
Members can limit profile visibility settings so only direct connections can see and message them.
Account restrictions
As mentioned above, members can configure account restrictions to further limit messaging from non-connections.
You are blocked
You will be unable to message members who have specifically blocked or restricted you.
Lack requisite premium account
You need a paid premium account level to message 2nd or 3rd-degree connections. Free accounts can only message 1st-degree.
Member exceeds messaging limit
Members are limited to sending a certain number of InMails and messages per month. Attempts may fail if exceeding these limits.
No shared connections or groups
There is no networking linkage to enable messaging members with no shared connections or group memberships.
Closed/deactivated accounts
As noted above, attempts to message members with closed or deactivated accounts will fail as well.
Tips for messaging non-connections
While LinkedIn restricts messaging non-connections, here are some tips to potentially open communication channels:
Send an InMail
Purchase InMail credits allowing you to message anyone. This is the main official way to message non-connections.
Join common groups
Join groups you share with a member to message them through group posts and discussions.
Share your contact info
List contact details in your profile so a member can contact you off LinkedIn to discuss connecting.
Comment on posts
Commenting on a member’s posts allows them to potentially respond and start a dialogue.
Connect through company pages
Connecting with members through shared company pages can provide a networking bridge to message.
Upgrade to premium account
Upgrading your account to premium allows messaging 2nd and 3rd-degree connections at least.
Why you may be restricted from messaging
There are also some general reasons your own messaging capabilities may be limited or disabled, such as:
Standard free account
Free accounts can only message 1st-degree connections. Upgrade to message 2nd or 3rd-degree connections.
Account flagged for spam/abuse
LinkedIn may restrict accounts generating spam complaints or demonstrating abusive messaging.
Blocked by recipients
You will be unable to message members who have specifically blocked you.
Private profile settings
Having a fully private profile makes it harder for others to find and message you.
Security/unusual activity limits
LinkedIn may temporarily restrict accounts exhibiting suspicious activity to prevent potential abuse.
Unprofessional messages
Hoverly promotional or unprofessional messages may cause recipients to limit or block you.
Building connections is key
The main takeaway is that building direct connections is key to unlocking LinkedIn’s full messaging capabilities. Focus on networking to establish quality contacts you need to communicate with. With the right connections, you can message the members that align with your professional objectives.
