If you are having trouble opening messages on LinkedIn, there are a few potential causes and solutions to try. The most common reasons LinkedIn messages won’t open are technical issues, restrictions based on your account settings, or the message sender has limited who can view their messages.
Check for Technical Issues
The most obvious reason LinkedIn messages might not be opening is some sort of technical difficulty. Here are some things to try:
- Refresh the page – A simple page refresh will often fix minor glitches.
- Check your internet connection – Make sure you have a stable internet connection. LinkedIn will not open messages without an internet connection.
- Try another browser or device – Sometimes issues are browser or device specific. Try opening messages in a different browser or on a mobile device.
- Clear your browser cache – Clearing your browsing data/history can eliminate glitches.
- Update your browser and LinkedIn app – Make sure you are running the latest versions, which may have bug fixes.
- Disable browser extensions – Browser add-ons can sometimes interfere with page loading.
- Try Incognito or Private Browsing – This troubleshoots extensions and browsing data issues.
- Restart your device – Rebooting can clear up temporary bugs.
If none of those basic troubleshooting tips work, the problem is likely account-related rather than a technical issue.
Check Your LinkedIn Account Settings
The most common account settings that can prevent LinkedIn messages from opening are:
- Disabled messaging – You can disable messaging in your LinkedIn account settings. Double check that receiving messages is enabled.
- Blocked senders – If you’ve blocked the sender, you will not be able to open their messages.
- Filters and email forwarding – Check for filters that may be deleting or archiving certain messages before you see them.
- Third-party apps – Some third-party tools for managing LinkedIn may be interfering with messages.
- Restricted profile viewing – If you have limited who can view your profile, messages may be impacted.
Take a careful look at your account settings and adjust them as needed to ensure messages can get through normally.
Sender May Have Limited Viewing
If you are certain there are no technical problems or account settings blocking the messages, the sender likely has their account restricted. Here are some limitations the sender could have set:
- Limited profile visibility – Senders can limit who can view their full profile and send them messages.
- Blocked recipients – Just as you can block senders, they may have blocked you.
- Only paying LinkedIn members – Free LinkedIn accounts have fewer messaging privileges.
- Outside of sender’s network – Senders may limit messages to only 1st and 2nd-degree connections.
If the sender has restricted their account, you will need to request they adjust their settings or add you to their network in order to view their messages.
Troubleshooting Tips
Here are some additional tips for troubleshooting and fixing LinkedIn messages that won’t open:
- Try sending yourself a message from another account to test if your receiving account has issues.
- On mobile, check if notifications for new LinkedIn messages are disabled in your phone settings.
- See if you can open the message on LinkedIn’s website if having issues in the mobile app.
- Ask the sender if they are having issues sending messages to check for account restrictions on their end.
- Contact LinkedIn customer support if you cannot resolve the issue through account settings.
- On LinkedIn’s website, try clicking the timestamp of the message to open it on its own page.
- When messaging contacts outside your network, always include a customized note explaining why you would like to connect.
Preventing LinkedIn Message Issues
You can take some preventative steps to avoid LinkedIn message problems in the future:
- Add connections to your network instead of messaging non-contacts.
- Avoid restrictive account settings that block messaging unless necessary.
- Don’t use third-party tools that reroute LinkedIn messages.
- Keep your LinkedIn apps and browser updated.
- Use LinkedIn on a desktop computer if your mobile device has issues.
- If messages suddenly stop working, revert any recent changes made to account settings.
- Always include customized notes when messaging new connections.
Why LinkedIn Messages May Not Open
LinkedIn messages may fail to open due to:
- Technical errors like no internet connection
- Account settings blocking messages
- Senders limiting who can view messages
- Incompatibility between mobile apps and desktop
- Outdated app and browser versions
- Third-party tools interrupting LinkedIn
- Browser extensions interfering with page loading
Common LinkedIn Message Problems
Common issues that prevent LinkedIn messages from opening include:
- Can’t open messages on mobile app or website
- Error messages when trying to view messages
- New message notifications but empty inbox
- Senders say they are sending messages that you can’t view
- Messaging randomly stops working
- Only some messages fail to open
- Blocked from messaging non-connections
Fixes for LinkedIn Message Issues
To fix LinkedIn messages not opening try:
- Refreshing the page
- Switching browsers or devices
- Updating LinkedIn app and browser software
- Checking account settings for restrictions
- Disabling browser extensions
- Making sure you are connected to the internet
- Clearing browsing data and cache
- Contacting LinkedIn customer support
Tips for Avoiding LinkedIn Message Problems
You can avoid LinkedIn message issues by:
- Adding contacts instead of messaging strangers
- Keeping software up-to-date
- Not using third-party LinkedIn tools
- Testing messages from a secondary account
- Watching for account setting changes that block messages
- Always including customized notes when messaging
LinkedIn Message Troubleshooting
To troubleshoot LinkedIn messages not opening:
- Refresh page, switch browsers, update software
- Check account settings for messaging restrictions
- Disable extensions, clear browsing data and cache
- Test message sending and receiving from a secondary account
- Contact LinkedIn support if issue persists
- On desktop try clicking message timestamp to open
- Ensure customized notes are included in messages to new contacts
What To Do When LinkedIn Messages Won’t Open
Steps to take when LinkedIn messages won’t open:
- Refresh page and check internet connection
- Try different browser or device
- Update LinkedIn app and browser
- Disable extensions, clear cache
- Check account settings for message blocking
- Ensure you are connected to the sender
- Ask sender to verify their account settings allow your viewing
- Try clicking message timestamp to open in new tab
- Contact LinkedIn support if issue persists
Reasons LinkedIn Messages May Not Open
Common reasons LinkedIn messages might not open:
- Technical issues like no internet, need to refresh page, update software
- Your account settings block messages
- Sender has limited who can view and message them
- You are blocked by the sender
- Using third-party tools that interfere with LinkedIn
- Browser extensions causing conflicts
- Incompatibility between mobile app and desktop