Why is my LinkedIn connection no longer pending?

There are a few reasons why a LinkedIn connection may no longer show as pending:

The recipient declined or ignored the request

The most common reason a connection is no longer pending is because the recipient decided to decline or ignore the request. On LinkedIn, connection requests expire after 30 days if the recipient takes no action. After that time, the request is automatically removed and no longer appears as “Pending” to either party.

Some reasons a recipient may decline a connection request include:

• They do not know the requester personally or well enough to connect.
• They want to limit their network to close contacts.
• They are concerned about spam or too many connection requests.
• They did not see value in connecting with the requester.

Additionally, some people simply ignore connection requests if they are not interested in connecting. As the requests expire after one month, this will also lead to the pending connection disappearing.

The requester withdrew the invitation

Another possibility is that the original requester withdrew the connection invitation before the recipient took action on it. Reasons for withdrawing an invitation include:

• The requester decided to prune their connections and removed pending requests.
• The requester reconsidered connecting with that individual.
• The requester accidentally sent the invitation and withdrew it.
• The two parties connected through other means in the meantime.

When you withdraw a connection request, the pending invitation is immediately removed from both sides.

There was an error or glitch

In some cases, a pending connection can disappear due to a technical error or glitch:

• A bug or issue with the LinkedIn platform itself.
• The recipient’s account privacy settings changed or were reset.
• One of the parties deactivated their account.

While rare, bugs can cause pending invitations to get removed unintentionally. If it seems to have disappeared for an unknown reason, submitting the request again is recommended.

How to resend a LinkedIn connection request

If your pending LinkedIn connection disappeared, you may want to send a new connection invitation. Here is how to do it:

1. Go to the recipient’s LinkedIn profile page.
2. Click “Connect” next to their profile photo.
3. A window will pop up allowing you to send them a connection request or customize the pre-populated message.
4. Click the “Send” button to resend your invitation.

The invitation will appear as “Pending” once again until the recipient accepts, declines, or ignores it. You can also withdraw the request again at any time before it is accepted.

Finding out why a connection is no longer pending

If you are confused or concerned about a missing pending connection, there are a few options to potentially get clarification:

• Reach out to the recipient directly via email or another platform to ask about the request.
• Check your notifications and communications within LinkedIn to see if they sent a message about it.
• Look for changes in the recipient’s profile, such as different employment or location, that may provide context.
• Review your own settings and account details to rule out any errors on your end.

In most cases, the recipient simply ignored or declined the request. But if you have reason to believe it was removed unintentionally, politely reaching out may help provide closure.

Best practices for managing LinkedIn connections

To avoid frustrations with pending connections going missing or being ignored, keep these best practices in mind:

• Personalize each connection request with a note refreshing the other person’s memory of your relationship or shared connection.
• Send connection invitations only to people you have an established relationship with.
• Follow up if you do not receive a response after 1-2 weeks.
• Periodically review your connections and remove contacts you no longer interact with.
• Accept invitations selectively, even if you need to ignore some requests.

Cultivating your LinkedIn network thoughtfully and maintaining strong relationships will lead to more fruitful professional connections. The platform works best when you connect only with contacts you truly want to stay in touch with.

Conclusion

There are several reasons a pending LinkedIn connection may disappear, including the recipient declining the invitation, the requester withdrawing it, or a technical issue. Most often, the recipient simply chose not to accept. While it can be disappointing, focus on nurturing the connections you do have and being selective when sending or accepting invitations. With good LinkedIn etiquette, you can build a strong professional network on the platform.