How to Reset Your LinkedIn Password (Even Without the Code)

Getting locked out of LinkedIn always seems to happen at the worst moment: just before an interview, halfway through a client conversation, or the morning you've finally set aside time to post. I've helped plenty of business owners get back in, and the good news is that LinkedIn's reset process is short once you know which screen to start from.

There are two different jobs hiding under the same search. If you've forgotten your password, you reset it from the sign-in page. If you know it and simply want a new one, you change it from your settings. I'll cover both, using the steps in LinkedIn's own help centre, plus what to do when the code never arrives.

Reset a forgotten LinkedIn password from the sign-in page

Use this route when you can't get into your account at all.

1. Go to the LinkedIn Sign in page and click Forgot password?
2. Enter an email address or phone number that's linked to your account.
3. If you picked email, check that inbox for a verification code, type it in and click Submit.
4. If you picked phone, choose whether to get a text or a call, enter the code you receive and click Submit.
5. Create your new password on the next page.

LinkedIn's help article says the code is valid for a limited time, so it's worth having your inbox or phone open before you start. If it runs out, go back to the beginning and ask for a fresh one.

The extra LinkedIn checks you might meet during a reset

Don't panic if LinkedIn asks for more than a single code. According to its help centre, you may be asked for:

• A two-factor authentication code, if you've switched on two-step verification for your account.
• Confirmation through a second email address or phone number that's linked to the account.
• A sign-in security prompt, which LinkedIn uses as an added check on password resets.

These steps feel fussy, but they're there to stop someone else resetting your password just because they know your email address. Once you're through, LinkedIn says you should receive an email confirming the change. If you get one of those emails and you didn't make the change, treat it as a warning sign and secure your account straight away.

Changing your LinkedIn password when you know the old one

If you're signed in and want a fresh password, perhaps after a data breach elsewhere or a shared laptop, use your settings instead.

On a computer

1. Click the Me icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage.
2. Select Settings & Privacy.
3. Under Sign in & security, select Change password.
4. Enter your current password, then type and confirm your new one.
5. Tick Require all devices to sign in with new password if you'd like to be signed out everywhere else.
6. Click Save password.

In the LinkedIn app

1. Tap your profile picture, then tap Settings & Privacy.
2. Tap Sign in & security, then tap Change password.
3. Enter your current password, then your new one twice.
4. Set Require all devices to sign in with new password to Yes if you want every other session closed.
5. Tap Save password.

LinkedIn may ask you to enter a verification code sent to your email or phone, or to approve the change through your LinkedIn app, before the new password sticks. If you've forgotten the old password midway through, there's a Forgot password link on the Change password page too.

What makes a LinkedIn password LinkedIn will accept

LinkedIn's rules are simple. Passwords are case-sensitive and must have at least eight characters. The help article adds that a strong password mixes letters, numbers and special characters. I'd go further and use a password manager, so your LinkedIn password is long, random and not shared with any other site.

That last point matters more than length. If you reuse the same password on a forum, a shop and LinkedIn, one leak anywhere can open the lot. Your LinkedIn profile is often the front door to your whole professional reputation, so it deserves its own.

Why I'd tick the sign-out-everywhere box on LinkedIn

The Require all devices to sign in with new password option is easy to skip past, and I think it's the most useful part of the whole process. If you're changing your password because something felt off, signing out of every other device makes sure nobody keeps a live session on an old phone or a borrowed computer.

For small business owners and creators, it's also a tidy-up moment. If you've ever logged in on a client's machine, a co-working desk or an assistant's laptop, this clears all of those in one go. While you're there, it's a good time to review who else touches your account and your Company Page. My guide to managing a LinkedIn profile or Company Page without losing hours covers how to share the workload safely.

Spotting fake LinkedIn password reset emails

Password resets are a favourite trick for scammers, so a little caution goes a long way. LinkedIn's own security guidance says never change your password by following a link in an email you didn't request. My rule of thumb:

• If you didn't ask for a reset, don't click anything in the email. Go to LinkedIn directly by typing the address or opening the app.
• Never share a verification code with anyone who messages or calls you, however official they sound.
• Ignore phone numbers claiming to offer LinkedIn account recovery in search results or posts. Use the help centre on LinkedIn itself.

If you're unsure whether a message is real, change your password from your settings using the steps above. That way you know you're on the real site.

If your LinkedIn reset code doesn't arrive

This is the most common sticking point. Work through these in order:

1. Check your spam, junk and promotions folders for the LinkedIn email.
2. Make sure you entered the email address or phone number that's linked to your LinkedIn account, not a newer one you never added.
3. Try the other option. If email isn't working, choose your phone number, or the reverse.
4. Wait a little, then request a new code rather than reusing an old one.
5. If you still can't get a code, contact LinkedIn's support team through the help centre to regain access.

Once you're back in, LinkedIn recommends adding another email address or phone number to your account. It's a two-minute job that saves a lot of stress next time. If you rely on LinkedIn to bring in clients, as I describe in my look at how to get started with LinkedIn for business, a backup contact detail is simple insurance against losing access at a bad moment.

If you want the full set, start at the LinkedIn Help: 28 Guides to Profile Views, Impressions, Algorithm and Account Fixes.

Frequently asked questions

How do I reset my LinkedIn password if I've forgotten it?

Go to the Sign in page, click Forgot password?, enter an email address or phone number linked to your account, type in the verification code LinkedIn sends and create a new password.

How long does a LinkedIn reset code last?

LinkedIn says the code is valid for a limited time but doesn't give an exact period. If it stops working, request a new code and use it straight away.

What are LinkedIn's password rules?

Passwords are case-sensitive and need at least eight characters. LinkedIn suggests mixing letters, numbers and special characters for a stronger password.

Can I sign out of LinkedIn on all my devices when I change my password?

Yes. Tick or switch on Require all devices to sign in with new password before you save, and LinkedIn will sign you out everywhere else.

What if I never receive the LinkedIn verification code?

Check your spam folder, try the other contact option, and request a fresh code. If none of that works, contact LinkedIn's support team through its help centre.