LinkedIn requires users to verify their email address before they can fully access all of the platform’s features. This verification process involves LinkedIn sending a 6-digit code to the email address provided during sign up which must then be entered on the LinkedIn website to confirm ownership of the address.
However, sometimes LinkedIn users report issues receiving this verification code email. There are a few potential reasons why LinkedIn may not be sending the verification email:
Email ended up in spam or promotions folder
The most common reason for not receiving the LinkedIn verification code email is that it was mistakenly flagged as spam or promotional content by your email provider. Many users don’t realize that the verification email may have been delivered, but was filtered into one of these other folders rather than the main inbox.
Be sure to check your spam, junk, promotions, or other filtered folders for an email from LinkedIn containing your verification code. You can search for keywords like “LinkedIn” or “verification” to find it quickly. If you locate the email, be sure to mark it as “Not Spam” so future emails arrive in your inbox.
Typo in email address entered
Another possibility is that you accidentally typed your email address incorrectly when signing up for LinkedIn. Even a small typo like an extra letter or mistyped character would mean the verification email gets sent to the wrong address.
To fix this, go back to your LinkedIn account settings and double check that the email listed is 100% accurate. Update it if needed, then request LinkedIn to re-send a new verification code. This time it should arrive at your correct email address.
LinkedIn is having technical issues
Like any website or platform, LinkedIn can occasionally experience technical glitches on their end which disrupt services like verification email delivery. Sometimes heavy traffic or a system outage can temporarily delay these emails from being sent.
If you’re certain you entered your email correctly, try waiting a bit and requesting a new verification code. If the issue persists, check LinkedIn’s help center or Twitter account to see if they have posted about any known problems. Most issues are resolved within a few hours.
Email provider blocking LinkedIn
In rare cases, an email provider’s filters may be aggressively blocking all mail from LinkedIn domains. This can happen if LinkedIn IPs/domains get falsely flagged as unsafe or as a source of spam.
You may need to log into your email account settings to whitelist LinkedIn addresses and adjust spam filters so the verification email can get delivered. If you are unsure how to adjust these settings, contact your email provider’s customer support for assistance.
Verification email expired
LinkedIn’s verification codes expire after a short period if not used. The expiration is typically between 5-15 minutes. If you requested the code some time ago but are just now entering it, the code you originally received is likely no longer valid.
The solution is simple – just request LinkedIn to send a brand new verification code, then promptly enter it on the LinkedIn website before it expires again.
Account is restricted
In some cases, LinkedIn may restrict certain accounts from full access until the email is verified. This is most common if LinkedIn detects suspicious activity they want to validate is not spam or abusive behavior.
If your account is restricted, re-entering your email and requesting another verification code likely will not work. You will need to contact LinkedIn customer support directly to resolve the restriction before verification can be completed.
Email notifications disabled
LinkedIn users can customize notification settings for their account. It’s possible to unintentionally disable email notifications which would prevent you receiving the verification code email.
Check your LinkedIn account settings and ensure email notifications are enabled. There should be checkboxes to control receiving various types of emails from LinkedIn.
Entered wrong email initially
A final possibility is that you entered the wrong email address when you first signed up for your LinkedIn account. Later realizing the typo, you may have updated the email associated with your profile to the correct address.
However, the verification code will still be sent to the initial wrong email entered during sign up. You will not receive it in the updated email address.
In this case, you will have to contact LinkedIn support to reset your account email address entirely back to the initial (but incorrect) one. This will allow you to receive the verification code email at that first email, verify it, then update your account with the right email.
How to troubleshoot LinkedIn verification code issues
If you are still not receiving LinkedIn’s verification email after checking for the issues above, here are some troubleshooting steps:
- Double check spam folders and filters for the email.
- Request a new verification code and wait a few minutes for it to deliver.
- Try requesting the code on both desktop and mobile app.
- Log out then back into your LinkedIn account before retrying.
- Use an alternate email address for verification.
- Check LinkedIn Help Center for service issues.
- Try a different device and internet connection.
- Contact LinkedIn support if issue persists.
Preventing LinkedIn verification code problems
You can avoid LinkedIn verification code issues in the future by:
- Entering your email slowly and double checking for accuracy.
- Using Google/Outlook/Yahoo email addresses that are less likely to be blocked.
- Marking LinkedIn messages as “Not Spam” in email filters.
- Enabling email notifications in LinkedIn settings.
- Entering codes promptly before they expire.
- Being patient during LinkedIn service disruptions.
Conclusion
LinkedIn’s email verification process is an important step to accessing the platform’s full functionality. Not receiving the 6-digit verification code can be frustrating, but the issue can usually be resolved by checking your email spam folders, entering the correct email address, allowing messages from LinkedIn domains, and ensuring notifications are enabled.
With over 740 million members, LinkedIn does sometimes experience technical issues that temporarily disrupt services like verification emails. But most problems can be fixed with a little diligent checking and troubleshooting. Contact LinkedIn support if you continue to have unresolved difficulties receiving your verification code.