How to Merge Duplicate LinkedIn Accounts: Step-by-Step Guide

What is LinkedIn Account Merging?

Managing your professional presence on LinkedIn can sometimes lead to having multiple accounts. 

Reasons for Having Duplicate Accounts:

• Multiple Email Addresses: You might have used different email addresses for personal and professional purposes, leading to separate accounts.
• Recycled Emails: An old or recycled email is sometimes used unknowingly to create another account.
• Assistance from Others: A friend, colleague, or family member might have set up an account on your behalf without realizing you already have one.

What is a LinkedIn Account Merging:

LinkedIn account merging is a process that combines two or more LinkedIn profiles into one. This helps consolidate your professional information, ensuring all your connections, skills, and endorsements are in a single profile. When you merge accounts, only the connections and email addresses from the duplicate account are transferred to your primary account. Other data like posts, recommendations, and group memberships do not transfer and are deleted.

Importance of Merging LinkedIn Accounts:

Maintain a consistent professional identity: Having all your professional information in one place is crucial for a streamlined online presence. It prevents confusion among your connections and helps maintain a consistent professional identity. When someone searches for you on LinkedIn, they should find a single, comprehensive profile showcasing your skills and experiences. This consolidation also ensures you don’t lose important connections or messages that might be scattered across different accounts.

LinkedIn’s Policy on Multiple Accounts: LinkedIn prohibits having multiple accounts. According to their Professional Community Policies, you are allowed only one personal account. This rule aims to maintain the integrity of the network and ensure that each user has a single, authentic identity. If LinkedIn detects multiple accounts, it might restrict or close them, so merging is a way to comply with these policies while preserving your professional network.

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How to Merge Duplicate LinkedIn Accounts

Merging LinkedIn accounts is a strategic move to consolidate your professional identity. Follow these steps to ensure a smooth transition.

Preparing for the Merge

Proper preparation is necessary before you begin merging your LinkedIn accounts. Here’s how to get started:

Ensure Access to Both Accounts:

Before initiating the merge, verify that you can log into each account. Use the correct login credentials for both profiles. It’s necessary to merge duplicate LinkedIn accounts. If you forgot a password, use LinkedIn’s password recovery options to regain access. Having control over both accounts is essential for completing the merge process.

Confirm Primary Email Addresses:

Double-check that the email addresses associated with each account are correct and accessible. The primary email address should be one you currently use. This step prevents future login issues and ensures that all essential communications reach you.

Back up Data from the Account to Be Closed:

Before closing any account, download a copy of your data. This includes connections, messages, and any other information you might need later. LinkedIn provides an option to download an archive of your account data. This ensures you don’t lose valuable information during the merge.

Steps to Merge Two LinkedIn Accounts

LinkedIn does not offer a direct self-service option for merging accounts. Therefore, you must reach out to LinkedIn support to request a merge. This involves a formal request where you specify the need to consolidate two accounts:

Step 1. Log into the LinkedIn account as your primary account.

Step 2. Click on the picture of yourself or “Me”. Scroll down and choose “Settings and Privacy”.

Step 3. Then find “Merging LinkedIn Accounts” and select “Merge Connections from Two LinkedIn Accounts”.

Step 4. Enter the email and password of the account you’re trying to merge and close. Confirm all the information and things done.

Alternative method:
When contacting support, provide the URLs of both accounts. This helps LinkedIn support staff identify the profiles you want to merge. Additionally, supply the login credentials for each account as proof of ownership. Accurate information speeds up the process and reduces the chance of errors.

Following these steps, your LinkedIn account maintains a singular, professional identity and prevents confusion among your network.

What Happens to Data During LinkedIn Merging?

As mentioned earlier, you need to back up the data on the account that you plan to close. When you merge LinkedIn accounts, not all information transfers during the merge, so knowing what to expect helps you prepare effectively.

Transfer of Connections and Email Addresses:

The primary items that move from the account you close to the one you keep are your connections and email addresses. This means all your professional contacts will remain intact, ensuring your networking efforts are preserved. The email addresses associated with the account being closed will also transfer, allowing you to receive updates and notifications without interruption.

Data That Won’t Be Merged:

Certain data, however, will not be transferred during the merging process. This includes profile content such as posts, articles, and media. Recommendations and endorsements you’ve received, will not move over. Saved articles, group memberships, and pending invitations remain with the closed account. Also, remember to download an archive that includes your messages, connections, and other vital details that don’t automatically transfer. 

Consequences of Losing InMail Credits and Other Services:

Be aware that any remaining InMail credits or premium features tied to the account being closed will not transfer. If you have a premium subscription, you may need to cancel it to avoid losing these benefits. Consider using any credits or features before the merge to maximize their value.

By understanding these details, you can ensure a seamless transition of your LinkedIn presence and maintain the integrity of your professional network.

How to Identify Duplicate LinkedIn Accounts

Detecting duplicate LinkedIn accounts is crucial for maintaining a clear and professional online presence. Here’s how you can easily spot and manage duplicate profiles.

1. Search for Your Name on LinkedIn and Recognize Duplicate Profiles

Begin by entering your full name in the LinkedIn search bar. This simple step reveals all profiles associated with your name. Carefully review the search results to detect any duplicates. You might be surprised to find more than one profile showing your details, especially if you’ve created multiple accounts over time or someone else has set one up for you.

Note: When browsing the search results, pay attention to the ‘You’ icon. This icon appears next to the account you are currently logged into. Any other accounts listed under your name without this icon likely signify duplicate profiles. These secondary profiles could have been created with different email addresses or account settings, leading to confusion about your primary account.

2. Confirm Primary Email Address and Account Information

Visit the settings of each account to ensure the primary email addresses align with your current and accessible emails. If you find an account with an unfamiliar or outdated email, it might be a duplicate you need to address.

How to Prevent Future Duplicate LinkedIn Accounts

Duplicate LinkedIn accounts can create confusion and dilute your professional presence. To avoid duplicating LinkedIn accounts is important. Here’s what to do:

Add Email Addresses from Closed Accounts to the Primary Account:

After merging accounts or closing a duplicate, add any email addresses from the closed account to your primary one. This prevents LinkedIn from mistakenly recognizing these emails as separate entities and helps you maintain a unified profile. 

Manage your email addresses effectively:

Always keep your primary email updated and add secondary emails that you regularly use. This approach not only secures your account but also helps in recovering access if you forget your login details. Regularly verify and update these emails to align with your current usage.

Understanding LinkedIn’s Professional Community Policies:

Multiple accounts for one individual aren’t allowed. Understanding these guidelines helps you stay compliant and protects your account from being flagged or restricted. LinkedIn emphasizes a single account per person to ensure clarity and reliability in professional networking.

Common Challenges in Merging LinkedIn Accounts

Merging LinkedIn accounts can seem straightforward, but several challenges often arise. Being aware of these potential obstacles helps you prepare and manage the process more effectively.

Access Issues with Old Email Addresses:

The email associated with a duplicate LinkedIn account might be old or inactive. Regaining access to this email is crucial, as LinkedIn requires you to verify both accounts before merging. If you can’t access the email, you may need to go through LinkedIn’s identity verification process. This involves providing identification or answering security questions to prove account ownership.

Managing Accounts with Premium Subscriptions:

LinkedIn’s Premium subscriptions, such as LinkedIn Learning or Sales Navigator, add complexity to merging accounts. Before merging, cancel any active subscriptions on the duplicate account. This avoids unnecessary charges and complications. Once merged, any Premium features associated with the closed account will not transfer.

Handling Accounts with Zero or Too Many Connections:

LinkedIn has specific restrictions when merging accounts with zero or more than 30,000 connections. Accounts with no connections can’t merge, and those with too many require you to reduce connections before proceeding. This involves manually managing your connections, which can be time-consuming but necessary to align with LinkedIn’s policies.

Resolving Issues with Pending Events and Group Ownership:

If you own LinkedIn groups or manage events, these responsibilities complicate the merging process. You need to transfer ownership of groups and cancel any upcoming events linked to the account you intend to close. This ensures a smooth transition and prevents disruptions in your professional engagements.

By understanding and addressing these challenges, you can streamline the merging process, minimizing disruptions to your LinkedIn activity and professional networking.

Tips for Maintaining a Single LinkedIn Identity:

To keep your LinkedIn identity singular and strong, consider the following tips:

1. Consistent Information: Ensure your profile information is consistent with your current resume and professional details.
2. Regular Updates: Frequently update your profile with new skills, job changes, and achievements to keep it current and engaging.
3. Profile Clean-Up: Periodically review and clean up your connections and any outdated information to maintain a professional appearance.
4. Secure Login: Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication for added security.