Recover a LinkedIn Account After Losing Your Authenticator
Losing your authenticator does not mean losing the account: there is a sign-in path around it.
Is this your situation?
You lost the phone or app you use for sign-in verification and cannot get past the second step. No one else has locked you out, you cannot produce the second step.
Do this first
Do not start a new account. A member can turn two-factor authentication off from account settings if they can access their account using a device they are currently logged into. If a member does not have access to any device with a logged-in session, they must follow a separate identity verification process to turn off two-factor authentication.
Which situation is yours?
- Still logged in on a laptop or tablet: turn off two-factor authentication from account settings.
- No device logged in anywhere: a separate identity verification process must be followed.
- Need to begin identity recovery: sign in using your email or phone number and password.
- Prompted at the two-factor screen: select verify your identity at the bottom of the screen.
- Asked for proof: the ID requirement ensures only the account owner regains access.
- No logged-in device found: identity authentication is required prior to access being restored.
How LinkedIn handles this
- Two-factor authentication is a security feature associated with a mobile device on a LinkedIn member account.
- If a member cannot access the mobile device associated with two-factor authentication, they can follow steps to turn it off.
- If a member does not have access to any device with a logged-in session, a separate identity verification process must be followed.
- A member without access to a logged-in device will be asked to authenticate their identity prior to access being restored.
Which recovery path is yours?
- Are you still signed in on any device, like a laptop or tablet? A member can turn two-factor authentication off from account settings if they can access their account using a device they are currently logged into.
- On desktop, where in settings do you turn it off? Under Sign in & security, a member clicks Two-factor authentication to turn it off.
- On mobile, where do you turn it off? A member taps their profile picture to begin the process of turning off two-factor authentication.
- No logged-in device anywhere? On the two-factor authentication prompt screen, a member must select verify your identity at the bottom of the screen to proceed with recovery.
- Asked to prove you are the owner? The government-issued identification document requirement exists to ensure that only the account owner regains access and that unauthorized entities are not given access.
What not to do
- Creating a second LinkedIn account You hope a new account will get you back in faster.Why it happens: Frustration at being blocked leads to starting over instead of recovering.
- Skipping the identity step If a member does not have access to any device with a logged-in session, they must follow a separate identity verification process to turn off two-factor authentication.Why it happens: Readers expect a code-only path and overlook this requirement.Already happened: If you already declined, you must still authenticate your identity prior to access being restored.
- Searching only on mobile You assume the setting for turning off two-factor authentication only exists in one place.Why it happens: Readers assume only one platform offers the setting.
What to have ready
- Any logged-in device Check for a device still signed in. Open LinkedIn there without signing in again.
- Current email or phone Have the email or phone tied to the account ready. Confirm you can still receive messages there.
- Password Have your current LinkedIn password ready. Test it at the sign-in screen.
- Government-issued ID Have an ID ready for identity verification. Check it is current and readable.
- Settings & Privacy access Check where Sign in & security sits once logged in. Tap Sign in & security.
- No duplicate account created Confirm you have not started a second account. Search for one profile under your name.
Stop this happening again
Each admin who has access to a Page can set up two-factor authentication to protect their own profile and the Pages they manage. Check your account's sign-in methods against page roles explained so you know who else can act if a device is lost.
Quick reference
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Logged in on another device | Turn off two-factor authentication from account settings using a device you are currently logged into. |
| No logged-in device | Follow a separate identity verification process to turn off two-factor authentication. |
| Starting identity recovery | Sign in using your email or phone number and password. |
| At the two-factor prompt | Select verify your identity at the bottom of the screen. |
| Proving ownership | A government-issued identification document is required to authenticate your identity. |
| After identity verification | A member without access to a logged-in device must authenticate identity before access is restored. |
Keeping track of who has access
A lost authenticator becoming a lost account is preventable when you know your access methods in advance. Delvia keeps a record of who holds admin and sign-in access to your accounts, so a single missing device is not a single point of failure. That record turns a recovery scramble into a short, known procedure.
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