LinkedIn Account Restricted: Here’s What to Do

Introduction: Restricted Account Meaning

You may have encountered a situation where you tried to access your LinkedIn page, only to get stuck in an endless loop between security CAPTCHA and ID verification. 

Or perhaps you received a notification saying that this account is currently restricted. That’s the moment when LinkedIn has placed a ban on your account.

To avoid confusion, LinkedIn has several types of account restrictions:

• Identity verification restriction: This isn’t time-limited and can only be lifted by submitting an official ID through a form.

• Automation suspicion restriction: This is a temporary restriction lasting a few hours or days and is automatically lifted after some time.

We’ll primarily focus on the first case, but some of the strategies we’ll discuss can also help avoid the second. 

In the following sections, we’ll learn how to avoid being locked out of LinkedIn, understand why LinkedIn enforces these measures, and explore ways to regain access if it happens to you.

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Why Is My LinkedIn Account Restricted? 

LinkedIn places restrictions on accounts to maintain platform integrity, prevent spam, and ensure users are engaging authentically. Here are some common reasons why your account might get restricted:

1. Sending Too Many Connection Requests

• Stick to a maximum of 25 connection requests per day—going beyond this limit increases the risk of getting blocked on LinkedIn. At first, you may receive a warning such as “Your account is restricted for 1/24 hours,” limiting your actions for an hour or 24 hours.However, repeated violations can lead to more serious penalties, including longer restrictions or even a permanent ban.

Note: This limit applies to fresh or underdeveloped accounts that were recently created, have few connections, have been inactive for a while, and do not have a premium subscription. In practice, the limit of 50 per day works for warmed-up profiles without any bans.

2. Low Acceptance Rates for Connection Requests

• There’s a powerful button recipients of your requests can select: “I don’t know this person.”
• If too many users select this option when declining your request, or if you have a large number of pending unaccepted invites, LinkedIn may temporarily restrict your account.
• Learn how to automatically withdraw unaccepted connection requests in time to avoid issues.

3. Use of Automation Tools or Bots

• LinkedIn’s detection algorithms are highly effective at spotting automation.
• Tools based on Chrome extensions or cloud-based solutions are particularly risky.
• The most unsafe automation tools are those that inject their code directly into LinkedIn’s interface while it’s running.
• Chrome extensions for automation are not safe – With Linked Helper you won’t be banned: Automate LinkedIn risk-free

4. Violations of LinkedIn’s User Agreement (e.g., Fake Profiles, Inappropriate Content)

• Always create your profile under your real name.
• Variations are allowed, but if LinkedIn requests verification, your profile name must match your ID.

5. Suspicious or Spammy Activity

• Be cautious with the content you post. It should not be overly promotional, aggressively sales-oriented, or contain direct purchase links.
• Other users should not feel inclined to report it as spam.

Additional Triggers for LinkedIn Verification Requests

• Newly Created LinkedIn Accounts → If your account is new, verification is almost inevitable.
• Old Accounts That Have Never Been Verified → Even long-standing accounts may be flagged for verification. Example: A 12-year-old LinkedIn account that hadn’t been used for a while was required to verify as soon as it became active again.
• Logging in from a New Device → Changes in IP address or operating system can trigger a verification request.
• Using a VPN or Proxy. If your LinkedIn profile is set to USA, but you log in from France (or through a France-based proxy/VPN), LinkedIn may restrict access.
• Job Listings → This almost always results in an immediate verification request.
• Profile Edits → Make only one change per day and avoid modifying or deleting past work experience and education.

We’ve actively started applying these strategies to our own accounts and have seen a positive trend—accounts are no longer getting restricted as frequently.

Differentiating Between Temporary and Permanent Restrictions

Depending on the severity of the violation, LinkedIn may impose either a temporary or permanent restriction.

• Generally, the first violation results in a warning and your LinkedIn account will be temporarily restricted.
• Repeat or severe violations can lead to a permanent ban.
• If your restriction is related to identity verification, you’ll need to submit official documents. 

How to Unblock on LinkedIn – What to Do in 2025

1. Understand the Restriction

The first step is to determine what type of restriction has been placed on your account:

• If you are prompted to complete a Security Check (e.g., solving a CAPTCHA, verifying your phone number, and uploading an ID), then it is likely an ID-based restriction. In most cases, your account will be restored after successful verification.
• If it is a temporary ban due to excessive activity, it will automatically lift after a few hours or days.
• However, if this is your second restriction for the same reason, your account may be permanently deleted, making recovery impossible.
• Check email notifications or in-app messages from LinkedIn explaining why your account was restricted.
• Review LinkedIn’s User Agreement and Community Guidelines to identify potential violations.

2. Complete Identity Verification

• The next step is to verify your identity via SMS, followed by submitting a valid government-issued ID (e.g., passport, driver’s license) through LinkedIn’s verification system.
• Ensure that the photo on your ID is clear and matches the information on your LinkedIn profile.

As mentioned earlier, it’s critical to use your real name when creating a LinkedIn account. If the name on your profile does not match your ID, verification will likely fail.

3. Contact Support to Unblock LinkedIn

If you have been waiting too long for your verification to be processed, or if you have completed all the necessary steps correctly but still cannot regain access to your account, you can try contacting LinkedIn Support.

• Submit a request through LinkedIn’s Help Center.
• Clearly explain the issue and include as many details as possible.
• Attach screenshots to support your case and help speed up the resolution process.

4. Avoid Creating a New Account 

While LinkedIn is checking your ID, it might seem like a good idea to simply create a new account, this comes with serious risks:

• LinkedIn strictly prohibits multiple accounts for the same person.
• If LinkedIn detects multiple accounts, they may permanently ban the new profile as well.

5. Be Patient

Restrictions can take several days to resolve.

It’s common for LinkedIn to require multiple verifications for the same profile—sometimes up to five times.

If your account is unlocked but then restricted again, don’t panic—just repeat the verification process.

How to Prevent Future Restrictions

Best Practices for Maintaining a Healthy LinkedIn Account:

• Limit daily connection requests to avoid triggering spam filters (e.g., 10–25 invites per day).
  Avoid drawing too much attention to your profile by suddenly sending out hundreds of connection requests, especially if your account is new or has been inactive. Keeping your invites within 25 per day can help prevent verification requests. 
• Personalize connection requests and messages to increase acceptance rates.
  A high acceptance rate keeps your account in good standing. Start by connecting with people you know personally or those with mutual interests. Avoid including links in connection requests—this can be flagged as spam.
  
•  If LinkedIn hasn’t restricted your account yet but is prompting email verification when sending new requests, try canceling all outgoing invitations here. If necessary, you can create a new account and transfer connections using this feature. Be sure to follow best practices on your new account to avoid further issues.
  
• Avoid using new automation tools or bots.
  Stick to trusted tools with good reviews. We have compiled a detailed comparison of known automation tools in our blog. One of the safest options is Linked Helper, which mimics human behavior rather than making API calls that LinkedIn can easily detect.
  
• Regularly review and comply with LinkedIn’s guidelines.
  LinkedIn’s official policies outline what is allowed and what isn’t.
  • Avoid falsifying employment history or listing fake companies—this can lead to restrictions.
  • Use real profile pictures.
  • Don’t share misleading or false information, as LinkedIn prioritizes authenticity and trust.

By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the risk of having your LinkedIn account restricted in the future.

FAQs

Why is my LinkedIn account restricted?

There are multiple reasons, but the most common include:

• Using an incorrect or fake name, surname, or profile photo.
• Excessive activity, such as sending too many connection requests or messages in a short time.
• Including links in connection requests or messages.
• Low acceptance rates for your connection requests and frequent use of the “I don’t know this person” button by recipients.
• Using automation tools (especially browser extensions like LingWin that insert code during LinkedIn activity), which can trigger restrictions or verification requests.

How do I unblock my restricted LinkedIn account?

LinkedIn will provide you with steps to recover your account. This may include:

• Verifying your phone number or government-issued ID.
• Waiting a few days if the restriction was triggered by high activity, as some bans are automatically lifted.
• If the issue persists, you can contact LinkedIn Support to check the status of your restriction and request a review.

How long does it take to resolve a LinkedIn restriction?

Temporary restrictions usually last from a few days to a week, depending on the severity of the issue. In some cases, LinkedIn may request multiple rounds of verification, so be patient and follow the instructions carefully.

Can I use automation tools on LinkedIn?

Yes, but with precautions:

• LinkedIn does not officially allow automation, so you must use it carefully and avoid excessive activity. (See our article: Is there life after the LinkedIn weekly invitation limit?)
• Not all automation tools are safe—LinkedIn detects Chrome extensions (see details here), but Linked Helper is safer as it mimics human activity rather than sending direct API requests.

What happens if my restriction becomes permanent?

Unfortunately, permanent restrictions cannot be lifted. You will need to create a new account using your real name and photo. Start by gradually increasing your activity, follow LinkedIn’s guidelines, and be prepared for verification on your new account.

Conclusion

In summary, LinkedIn, like any other social network, prioritizes user security and enforces strict policies to maintain a safe and professional environment. If any suspicious or inappropriate activity is detected, LinkedIn may restrict or temporarily block an account, often requiring verification.

Even users who have not violated any rules may still face verification requests, especially if they have never verified their identity before. This is why it is essential to create a profile with your real name and a genuine photo, ensuring that you can recover your account if needed.

In most cases, temporary restrictions are lifted within seven days, allowing users to regain access. However, those who use low-quality automation tools, engage in excessive manual activity, or post content that violates LinkedIn’s policies risk permanent suspension. If an account is banned for a second time, restoring access will no longer be possible.