Having a verified LinkedIn account is important for establishing credibility and trust on the platform. A verified account shows users that you are who you say you are. There are a few options for verifying your LinkedIn account for free.
Use your mobile phone number
The easiest way to verify your LinkedIn account for free is by using your mobile phone number. Here’s how:
- Go to your LinkedIn profile
- Click on the “Me” icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage and select “View profile”
- From the “View profile” page, find and click on the “edit public profile & URL” button on the right rail
- This will open your profile in editing mode. On the right rail, under the “contact info” section, click the “add” button next to the phone number field.
- Enter your mobile phone number and select the “This is my mobile number” checkbox below it.
- Click “Save”.
LinkedIn will send a verification code to your mobile number via text message. Once you receive it, enter the code in the pop-up verification window. And you’re done! Your profile will now show a green checkmark next to your name indicating your account has been verified.
Verify through your email address
If you don’t have a mobile number linked to your account, you can verify through your email address instead:
- Go to your LinkedIn profile
- Click on the “Me” icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage and select “View profile”
- From the “View profile” page, find and click on the “edit public profile & URL” button on the right rail
- This will open your profile in editing mode. On the right rail, under the “contact info” section, click the “add” button next to the email field.
- Enter your email address and click “Save”.
LinkedIn will send a verification email to that address with a confirmation link. Click on the link to verify your email address. Once verified, your profile will show the green checkmark indicating your account is verified.
Connect your LinkedIn to Facebook
If you have a Facebook account, connecting the two profiles is another way to get verified on LinkedIn for free:
- Go to your LinkedIn profile
- Click on the “Me” icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage and select “View profile”
- From the “View profile” page, find and click on the “edit public profile & URL” button on the right rail
- This will open your profile in editing mode. On the right rail, under the “social media presence” section, click the “+” icon.
- Select Facebook from the list of options.
- You’ll be redirected to Facebook to connect your account. Log into Facebook if needed.
- Select “Okay” to allow LinkedIn access to your public Facebook profile info.
Once your accounts are connected, your LinkedIn account will be automatically verified using your Facebook profile information. The green checkmark will appear by your name.
Verify through ID documents
If none of the above options work for you, you can verify your identity by providing LinkedIn with a copy of your ID document – a drivers license, passport or other government-issued ID. Here’s how:
- Go to your LinkedIn profile
- Click on the “Me” icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage and select “View profile”
- From the “View profile” page, find and click on the “edit public profile & URL” button on the right rail
- This will open your profile in editing mode. On the right rail, under the “contact info” section, click on “verify your account with an ID”.
- LinkedIn will prompt you to upload a scan or photo of your official government ID document, such as a passport, drivers license, national ID card, etc.
- Upload a clear, high-quality scan or photo of your ID document.
- Crop the scan/photo to only show the ID (remove any background, etc)
- LinkedIn’s automated systems will verify the name, photo, and other details match your LinkedIn profile information.
- Click submit. LinkedIn will review your document and verify your account within a few days.
This manual ID verification process takes a little longer, but is a reliable way to get your account verified if you can’t use any of the quicker options.
Why get a LinkedIn verification badge?
Getting the blue verification badge on your LinkedIn profile has several benefits:
- Proves you’re a real person and establishes trust/credibility
- Shows you have an authentic identity on LinkedIn
- Helps you stand out from others in search results
- Adds professionalism and authority to your personal brand
- Can improve your chances of connecting with the right people
- May help get your posts and content more visibility
- Limits impersonators or fake accounts stealing your identity
Tips for speeding up the verification process
Here are some tips to help expedite LinkedIn’s review and verification of your account:
- Make sure your profile is completely filled out with accurate info – this helps match your identity
- Add a current profile photo of your actual face (not a logo or graphic)
- List your current work position and education history
- Have at least 50+ connections in your network from real people you know
- Be active regularly – comment, post, engage with content. Don’t be completely inactive.
- If uploading ID, provide the clearest, highest quality scan or photo possible
The more complete your profile, the quicker LinkedIn can cross-reference and verify your identity. Newer or inactive accounts may take longer to review.
Why is my LinkedIn verification pending?
There are a few common reasons your LinkedIn verification request may be stuck in a pending status:
- Your profile is incomplete – add more info like photo, work history, education, etc.
- You don’t have enough connections – try to build out your network with more people you know
- ID document issue – blurry or unclear ID scan, name doesn’t match profile, etc.
- Suspicious activity on the account – rapid connection requests, spamming, etc.
- You changed your name recently – verify with maiden name documents
If it’s been more than a few weeks, try going through the verification process again making sure to correct any issues. You can also try reaching out to LinkedIn Customer Service for assistance on a pending verification.
What if my request for verification on LinkedIn was denied?
If LinkedIn denies your verification request, here are some things you can try:
- Double check your profile has complete, accurate information with no discrepancies
- Reach out to LinkedIn Customer Service and ask why verification was denied
- Provide additional forms of ID verification like a passport, drivers license, etc.
- Have co-workers or clients write you LinkedIn recommendations to validate your identity
- Remove any questionable or suspicious connections from your network
- Change your profile photo to a clear, professional headshot of yourself
As long as you can prove you’re using your real identity on LinkedIn, your verification denial can usually be overturned by correcting any issues and providing more supporting documentation.
Conclusion
Getting the blue verification badge on LinkedIn is a simple yet valuable way to build trust and authority on the platform. With a few quick steps you can verify your account through your mobile, email, Facebook, or ID document upload. Keep your profile transparent, consistent and professional for the best chance at expedited verification. The blue checkmark signals to other users that you’re an authentic figure worth connecting and engaging with.