How to Unlock a LinkedIn Account in 2026?

If you are getting blocked on LinkedIn, you are probably in the recruiting business and are actively emailing job seekers about available jobs. Then, why did the platform restrict your account?

In the article, we will find out what you need to unblock on LinkedIn as well as exploring necessary requirements for registering a new account.

Why is My LinkedIn Blocked?

LinkedIn is one of the leading global social networks for business people that enables professional communication and networking with specialists from the various industries and business areas. Moreover, it is one of the most well-optimized platforms for recruiters to search for talents and publish job applications.

Nevertheless, the social network’s algorithms are constantly updated, which complicates the search for candidates.

And since many HR managers use it as the main recruiting source, for them, getting the account blocked on LinkedIn may appear close to a disaster. In this case, they will lose contact with candidates they already have connections and active dialogues with.

Possible Reasons why LinkedIn Blocked

• You send generic messages in bulk. If you do so, LinkedIn will most likely mistake you for a bot. In addition, candidates can also react negatively to default messages from LinkedIn members such as “Join my professional network.” The applicant can click the “I don’t know this person” button, which can also lead to account blocking.
• You have too many ‘pending’ requests. If you have sent more than 700 requests that have stuck with users, this may also serve to get your account on LinkedIn blocked. To prevent this from happening, you can withdraw the request. To do this, follow the chain: My Network → Manage → Sent → Withdraw. You can send another request for the same person after 3 weeks. Though, if you submitted a request a few days ago, do not cancel it because it may still be accepted.
• You use automation services. LinkedIn’s ToS prohibits the use of third-party automation services. However, if you do not exceed the established limits, blocking is unlikely. Also, remember that you cannot use more than one automation service simultaneously.
• Your SSI rating is low. SSI is a rating that shows the “quality” of a profile. There are four meeting criteria in which you can get 100 scores in whole. The ranking is influenced by relevant contacts, the number of posts and comments on the page, the popularity of publications and other factors. To maintain a high SSI, keep the response rate at 40–50%, visit not more than 100 profiles per day, and do not send more than 100 friend requests per week.

How to Unblock LinkedIn:The Official Recovery Path

Before you give up on the account, try this sequence. It works more often than people think.

1. Log in and read the exact restriction notice. LinkedIn distinguishes between a temporary hold, a manual review, and a permanent ban. The wording tells you which one you’re facing.
2. Submit the appeal form attached to the notice. Be short and polite: acknowledge the issue, explain the context (new job search, agency work, recruiter role), and promise to stop the flagged behavior.
3. Verify your identity if asked. LinkedIn now accepts a government ID upload through Persona. Use your real name — it must match your profile.
4. Wait 24–72 hours. Do not spam the support inbox. Multiple tickets slow things down.
5. Clean up before your account returns. Withdraw pending invites (My Network → Manage → Sent), disconnect any third-party automation, and remove suspicious integrations from Settings → Data privacy.

If the appeal comes back with a permanent decision, the account is gone. Don’t waste another week on it — move on.

Why a Virtual Number is the Best Choice for a New LinkedIn Account

You have three options for the phone step: reuse your personal number (risky — links you back to the banned profile), buy a second SIM (expensive, and LinkedIn increasingly flags carrier resale ranges), or use a virtual number from a verification service.

A virtual number costs a few cents, comes from a country you choose, and is discarded after the code arrives. No paperwork, no contracts, no link to your identity. For recruiters running multiple regional accounts, or freelancers rebuilding after a ban, it’s the standard approach.

Pick a provider that offers LinkedIn specifically in its service list — many cheaper platforms don’t. Numbers from Poland, the UK, the Philippines and Indonesia tend to have the highest success rate on LinkedIn right now.

How to Create a New LinkedIn Account After Being Blocked

The SMS-Man offers the possibility to obtain a virtual phone number for getting a confirmation code on 1000+ web and mobile applications. Among supported services, you can find email providers, instant messengers, social networks, payment systems, and many more. Thus, it suits well if you want to create new LinkedIn account.

Since the platform issues phone numbers for over 190 countries, you can register from any geolocation you want. The advantages of virtual numbers are that they work via special equipment on the provider’s side and don’t require SIMs. With SMS-MAN, you can obtain a disposable phone number or rent one with a rental period of up to 3 months. The price is also very affordable, starting from $0.14 per one-time use number.

Further, there are instructions on how you can receive a virtual phone number for LinkedIn account confirmation:

1. Visit the official website sms-man.com to complete the registration procedure for free access to all functionality.
2. In the website menu, find “Top Up” to deposit the necessary amount to your account for the online purchase of virtual numbers.
3. Select the country for your future virtual number. To select numbers from restricted regions and use them in the future, simply activate a VPN.
4. Select the service for which you plan to use the number – LinkedIn. After that, click “Buy SMS” next to this service.
5. Now, you can find your phone number in the ‘History’ section, at the bottom of the page.
6. Copy the number to paste it into the specified field when registering on LinkedIn.
7. Click “Continue” – this sends a request for a verification code from LinkedIn.
8. Go to your profile on the SMS-Man service and click “Get SMS.” All verification codes will be saved in the “Messages” section.
9. Enter the received code and complete the registration process on LinkedIn.

Quick FAQ on LinkedIn Ban Recovery

Can I appeal a permanent LinkedIn ban?

Once. If denied, the decision is final.

How long before I can create a new LinkedIn account?

No official waiting period, but 7–14 days lets the device fingerprint decay.

Will LinkedIn detect a VPN?

It detects the IP type. Residential and mobile IPs pass; datacenter IPs get soft-blocked.

Can I import my old contacts?

Only manually. Automated imports on a fresh account are a red flag.

Ready to set up the new profile? Grab a clean LinkedIn-compatible virtual number from SMS-MAN — a code costs from $0.01 and lands in under a minute, so you can finish sign-up in one sitting.