LinkedIn is one of the most popular professional social networking platforms, with over 800 million members worldwide. It allows users to connect with other professionals, search for jobs, join industry groups, and more. While LinkedIn’s website is fully optimized for desktop and mobile use, its mobile app unfortunately does not support all devices.
Common Reasons Why LinkedIn May Not Work on Your Mobile Device
There are a few key reasons why you may be unable to access LinkedIn on your mobile device:
- Your device or mobile OS is not supported – LinkedIn’s mobile app is not available for every device or operating system. It may not be optimized or supported on your specific smartphone or tablet.
- App not downloaded – You must download the LinkedIn mobile app from your device’s app store in order to access LinkedIn on mobile. If you have not downloaded it, this will prevent you from using the mobile site.
- Outdated app – If you have the LinkedIn app but it is outdated, this could also cause issues. Make sure you have downloaded the latest version of the app.
- App needs reinstalling – Sometimes the LinkedIn app may get corrupted or develop errors that require you to uninstall and reinstall it to get it working properly.
- Account or login issues – Problems with your LinkedIn account, password, or login details can prevent accessing LinkedIn on mobile. Reset your password or double check your account information.
- Internet connectivity issues – LinkedIn requires an internet connection to access on mobile. Connect to WiFi or ensure your mobile data is enabled if you have connectivity problems.
- LinkedIn server issues – Server outages or technical problems on LinkedIn’s end could temporarily disrupt service.
- Unsupported country – In some countries, the LinkedIn app or mobile site is blocked or unavailable due to government restrictions.
- Parental controls – If you are on a family plan, parental controls may block access to LinkedIn.
Popular Mobile Devices Unsupported by LinkedIn
While LinkedIn is compatible with both iOS and Android devices, there are some popular smartphones and tablets that are unable to run the LinkedIn mobile app due to operating system limitations. Here are some of the most common mobile devices that currently do not support LinkedIn:
Device | Operating System |
---|---|
BlackBerry devices | BlackBerry OS |
Nokia Lumia devices | Windows Phone OS |
HTC First | Facebook Home OS |
Kindle Fire tablets | Fire OS |
Chromebooks | Chrome OS |
As you can see, LinkedIn’s mobile app is not available on BlackBerry, Windows Phone, Amazon Kindle, or Chromebook devices. This is because LinkedIn has not optimized its app for these operating systems.
BlackBerry Devices
BlackBerry phones and tablets running the proprietary BlackBerry OS cannot access LinkedIn’s mobile app, only the mobile site. However, the mobile site provides limited functionality compared to the app. BlackBerry fell out of favor over the past decade which led LinkedIn to discontinue support for the OS.
Windows Phone Devices
Windows Phone, developed by Microsoft, was another less popular mobile OS that LinkedIn never created an app for. Nokia Lumia phones and other Windows Phone devices can only use the basic mobile site. Microsoft discontinued Windows Phone development in 2017.
Amazon Kindle Fire Tablets
The Kindle Fire runs Amazon’s own Fire OS, a customized version of Android, which does not support the official LinkedIn app. Users are restricted to the web-based mobile site on Kindle Fire tablets. However, it provides an inferior experience to LinkedIn’s full-featured app.
Chromebooks
Chromebooks run Google’s Chrome OS operating system and similarly are limited to accessing LinkedIn through the web, not a native app. The functionality is again quite limited compared to LinkedIn’s robust mobile app available on iOS and Android.
Solutions and Alternatives for Accessing LinkedIn on Unsupported Devices
If your mobile device does not support the official LinkedIn app, there are a few possible solutions and workarounds:
Use LinkedIn’s Mobile Website
While not as ideal as the app, LinkedIn’s mobile website (linkedin.com) is optimized for mobile browsers and offers basic functionality for viewing profiles, searching jobs, messaging contacts, and receiving notifications. It’s the best option for mobile devices without app support.
Access LinkedIn on a Supported Device
Consider accessing LinkedIn on a supported smartphone or tablet running iOS or Android when possible. You can sync your profile and data across multiple devices.
Use LinkedIn’s Desktop Website
LinkedIn’s desktop website provides full access to all features, so you can always fall back to using your laptop or desktop computer if mobile access is unavailable.
Consider Switching Mobile Devices
In the long run, upgrading to a newer iPhone, Android phone, or tablet that supports LinkedIn will provide the best experience. You will gain access to faster speeds, better connectivity, and LinkedIn’s full app.
Install an Unofficial LinkedIn App
Some developers have created unofficial LinkedIn apps for unsupported devices like Kindle Fire. However, these often lack features, have bugs, or get discontinued. Proceed with caution and research first.
Request LinkedIn Support App Development
You can try reaching out to LinkedIn’s customer support and request they develop an official app for your device’s operating system. If they receive enough interest, it may spur app development. But there is no guarantee.
Conclusion
In summary, LinkedIn’s mobile app unfortunately does not work on all mobile operating systems. BlackBerry, Windows Phone, Amazon Fire OS, and Chrome OS devices cannot download the official LinkedIn app. This is generally due to low market share or discontinued operating systems. The best solutions are using LinkedIn’s mobile site, accessing LinkedIn on a supported device when possible, or upgrading to a newer smartphone or tablet. While inconvenient, with a combination of workarounds, you can still access LinkedIn and connect professionally even with an unsupported mobile device.