LinkedIn is a popular social media platform used by professionals and businesses to connect, share content, and find opportunities. One common issue users face is messages not showing up in their LinkedIn inbox. There are a few potential reasons why this happens.
You are not connected
On LinkedIn, you can only message people who you are connected with. If someone who is not in your network tries to message you, you will not receive the message in your inbox unless you accept their connection request first. LinkedIn does this to cut down on spam and unwanted solicitations from strangers.
So if you are noticing messages not coming through, check to see if the sender is connected to your profile. If not, they will need to send a connection request that you accept before you can exchange messages.
Your inbox is full
LinkedIn imposes a limit on the number of unread messages you can have in your inbox at one time. The current limit is around 100 unread messages.
If your inbox is at capacity, any new messages will not show up until you archive or delete some existing messages first. LinkedIn does this to prevent inboxes from becoming overwhelmed.
Go through your inbox and clear out any old or unwanted messages. Once you get below the limit, new incoming messages should appear again.
You have messaging turned off
LinkedIn gives you the ability to control who can message you. You can turn messaging off completely, allow messages only from people in your network, or allow messages from anyone on LinkedIn.
If you have messaging disabled or restricted, this could prevent you from seeing messages from certain individuals.
To adjust your messaging settings, go to your LinkedIn account settings and look for the “Communications” section. Make sure messaging is not turned off or limited only to connections.
They retracted the message
On LinkedIn, message senders have the option to retract a message after sending it. When they do this, the message is removed from the recipient’s inbox.
If you receive a notification that someone sent you a message but can’t find it in your inbox, it’s likely they retracted it before you opened it.
There is no way to view retracted messages. The sender would need to send the message again for you to view it.
You deleted or archived the message
If you previously had a message in your inbox but now cannot find it, you may have inadvertently deleted or archived it.
LinkedIn allows you to delete messages from your inbox. Deleted messages cannot be recovered.
You can also archive message threads. This removes them from the inbox but keeps them in your archives. Check your archives to see if you have the missing message thread filed there.
It’s marked as spam
LinkedIn’s algorithms automatically scan all incoming messages and may flag some as spam. Spam messages do not show up in your main inbox.
However, you can still view messages marked as spam by going to your account settings and looking under “Blocked accounts and spam.” Check here for any messages that may have been inaccurately flagged.
You hid the sender
On LinkedIn, you have the option to hide someone who has messaged you. When you do this, all messages from this sender are removed from your inbox and archived.
If you can no longer see messages from a particular person, it’s possible you hid them from your inbox. You can undo this in your account settings under “Blocked accounts and spam.”
There’s a technical issue
In some cases, there may simply be a technical glitch preventing messages from being delivered and displayed correctly.
LinkedIn regularly performs site maintenance and updates. During these periods, there could be minor messaging bugs. Give it some time and try again later.
Very rarely, messages may fail to deliver due to technical problems on LinkedIn’s end. If issues persist for more than a day or two, you can try contacting LinkedIn customer support.
Conclusion
There are a number of possible reasons messages may not show up as expected in your LinkedIn inbox. Most commonly, it’s because you are not connected to the sender, your inbox is full, or you have messaging settings restricted.
But it also could be the result of a retracted, deleted, archived or spam-flagged message. Or a temporary technical issue on LinkedIn’s end.
By understanding the various reasons LinkedIn messages may not show, you can systematically check and correct the issue. Ensuring proper settings and inbox management can help minimize missing messages going forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my LinkedIn messages not showing up?
Common reasons LinkedIn messages may not show up include:
- You are not connected to the sender
- Your inbox is full
- You have messaging turned off
- The sender retracted the message
- You deleted or archived the message
- It was marked as spam
- You hid the sender
- A temporary technical issue
How do I fix LinkedIn messages not showing up?
To fix LinkedIn messages not showing:
- Connect with the message sender
- Clear space in your inbox
- Adjust messaging settings
- Check archives and spam folders
- Unhide any senders you blocked
- Wait for technical issues to resolve
Why does LinkedIn limit the number of messages in my inbox?
LinkedIn limits unread messages to around 100 to prevent inboxes from becoming overwhelmed. This encourages users to regularly clear out old messages and keeps the inbox focused on recent, relevant conversations.
Can I recover retracted LinkedIn messages?
No, retracted LinkedIn messages cannot be recovered. Once a sender retracts a message, it is permanently deleted from the recipient’s inbox. The only option is for the sender to message again.
Where do archived LinkedIn messages go?
Archived LinkedIn messages are removed from the inbox but stored in the account’s archives. To view archives, go to your inbox, click the archive icon, and view archived conversations.
| Reason | Explanation | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Not connected to sender | LinkedIn only allows messaging between connected members | Connect with the sender |
| Full inbox | LinkedIn limits unread messages to ~100 | Archive or delete existing messages |
| Messaging settings | You may have messaging turned off or restricted | Adjust account messaging permissions |
| Retracted message | Sender deleted the message before you read it | Ask sender to resend message |
| Deleted/archived message | You previously deleted or archived the message | Check account archives |
| Marked as spam | LinkedIn algorithms flagged message as spam | Check spam folder |
| Sender is hidden | You hid messages from this sender | Unhide sender in settings |
| Technical issues | Temporary glitch on LinkedIn’s end | Wait for issue resolution |
Troubleshooting Tips
Here are some additional troubleshooting tips for dealing with LinkedIn messages not showing:
- Refresh and log out/back in – A simple refresh or relogging may resolve temporary glitches
- Use LinkedIn on desktop – LinkedIn’s desktop site tends to be more stable than mobile
- Check different folders – Messages could be in other tabs like “Archive” or “Spam”
- Contact support – If issues persist, reach out to LinkedIn Customer Service for help
- Post publicly – As a workaround, post publicly asking the sender to remessage you
Preventing Missing Messages
To help prevent LinkedIn messages from going missing:
- Keep inbox organized – Archive or delete old threads
- Avoid maxing out inbox capacity
- Be selective with hiding senders
- Check spam folder regularly
- Make sure messaging settings allow all connected members
- Maintain sufficient LinkedIn connections for messaging
With proper inbox maintenance and messaging settings, most situations with missing LinkedIn messages can be avoided.
When to Contact LinkedIn Support
In most cases, missing LinkedIn messages can be explained by one of the reasons discussed above. However, if you have thoroughly checked all possibilities and messages are still consistently not showing up, it may be time to contact LinkedIn support.
Examples of when to contact support include:
- Messages are missing daily for a week+
- Inbox is under capacity but new messages won’t load
- Senders confirm the messages were sent
- Issue persists across devices and browsers
LinkedIn’s customer service can investigate technical issues on your account, recover any missing messages from their records if available, and help identify what is blocking your messages.
Best Practices for LinkedIn Messaging
To maximize success with LinkedIn messaging:
- Personalize connection requests to boost acceptance
- Only message people you have an established connection with
- Use a professional message style and tone
- Follow up if you don’t receive a response
- Avoid spamming or mass messaging
- Send individual messages rather than group chats
- Use LinkedIn on desktop if having mobile issues
Key Takeaways
- Check you are connected, inbox capacity, settings, archives, and spam folders for missing messages
- Retracted, deleted, and hidden messages cannot be recovered
- Technical glitches may temporarily prevent messages from showing
- Practice good inbox hygiene by deleting or archiving old messages
- Contact LinkedIn support if missing messages persist unexplained
- Follow best practices like personalization and one-on-one messaging