Short answer
LinkedIn restricts accounts for profiles that don’t reflect a real identity, signs of a takeover, automated activity and other policy breaches. If you think it’s a mistake, log in and follow the on-screen steps to verify your identity — usually a photo of a government ID and sometimes a selfie, handled by its verification partner Persona. If someone else has your account, submit LinkedIn’s Report Unauthorized Account Access or Changes form with your profile URL.
Why LinkedIn restricts accounts
- A profile that is fraudulent or doesn’t reflect your true identity — including a name that doesn’t match your ID.
- Signs the account has been compromised or taken over.
- Automated or inauthentic activity: scraping and auto-connect extensions, bulk messaging tools.
- Other breaches of the Professional Community Policies or User Agreement.
Restricted by mistake: verify your identity
- Log in and follow the on-screen steps.
- Upload a clear photo of a valid passport, ID card or driving licence; you may be asked for a selfie to match it.
- Make sure your profile name matches the document.
- Stop using any automation tools or browser extensions before you ask for the restriction to be lifted.
Hacked: report unauthorised access
- Submit the Report Unauthorized Account Access or Changes form and include your profile URL.
- LinkedIn verifies that the account is yours and then helps you regain access.
- If you lost access to the email on the account, LinkedIn’s help explains how to recover without it.
After you get back in
- Change the password to one you use nowhere else.
- Turn on two-step verification.
- Review active sessions and sign out everywhere you don’t recognise.
- Check emails and phone numbers on the account, your messages and any Company Page admin roles.
When it’s a business problem
For a founder, recruiter or sales lead, a restricted LinkedIn is lost pipeline. When verification loops or the compromised-account report goes unanswered, our hacked account recovery service prepares the case through LinkedIn’s official channels — without your password.
Frequently asked questions
How long does LinkedIn identity verification take?
It varies. A mismatch between the name on your profile and the name on the document is a common cause of delay, so fix that first.
Will LinkedIn lift a restriction if I used an automation tool?
Sometimes. Stop using the tool before you follow the on-screen steps; repeated violations make a lasting restriction more likely.
Can I recover a hacked LinkedIn without access to my email?
Yes, LinkedIn’s help has a route for no access to email, and the unauthorised-access form starts the ownership check.
Is it safe to upload my ID?
Do it only inside LinkedIn’s own verification flow. Never send ID photos to anyone who messages you claiming to be LinkedIn.
Sources: LinkedIn Help — account restrictions, LinkedIn Help — report a compromised account