LinkedIn Phone Number Verification: When It’s Needed

LinkedIn phone number verification isn’t part of signing up: LinkedIn’s sign-up form asks for an email and a password. LinkedIn asks for a number later, when you add one for password resets, turn on two-factor authentication or confirm a sign-in.

This guide explains each case, LinkedIn’s rules for your number, and what to do if the code doesn’t arrive.

Can you use LinkedIn without a phone number?

Yes. You don’t need a number to join, but LinkedIn recommends adding one: “We recommend adding at least one mobile phone number to your account as a way to reset your password in case you are locked out of your account.” The number stays private: “Mobile phone numbers added here won’t be displayed on your LinkedIn profile.”

One account, accurate details

LinkedIn’s User Agreement says “you will only have one LinkedIn account, which must be in your real name,” and asks you to “Provide accurate contact and identity information to us and keep it updated”. Its help center adds: “Creating multiple profiles is not allowed”.

So a second number is for keeping your personal mobile private on your own account, not for extra profiles. Keep it up to date: if you stop renting the number, replace or remove it.

How LinkedIn phone number verification works

1. Create a free PVADeals account and add credits: crypto from $3, or a card through Stripe from $5.
2. Choose LinkedIn from the list of websites, for the United States or the United Kingdom. If it isn’t listed for your country, rent an All services number instead, which works on any website.
3. Pick a long-term rental (3, 7, 14 or 30 days) and turn on auto-renew. LinkedIn uses this number to reset your password, so it has to stay yours. See the prices below.
4. In LinkedIn, open Settings & Privacy from the Me icon, then Sign in & security > Phone numbers > Add phone number. LinkedIn first sends a code to your primary email address.
5. Select the country, enter the number and click Send code. Don’t choose Call me with the code, because PVADeals numbers receive SMS only.
6. Copy the code from your PVADeals dashboard, where it appears as soon as it arrives, and click Confirm.

Two-factor authentication: SMS or authenticator app?

LinkedIn offers two methods, text message (SMS) and an authenticator app, and “LinkedIn recommends the authenticator app as the preferred two-factor authentication method.”

If you pick SMS, LinkedIn sends a code to your number when it doesn’t recognize the device you’re signing in from. Losing that number is serious. Without a signed-in device, LinkedIn says “You will be prompted to submit a picture of a government issued identification document” to get back in.

That’s why a 20-minute number is the wrong tool here. Use the authenticator app, or a long-term number on auto-renew. And before you stop renting, switch two-factor authentication off the number first: “You may not be able to remove a phone number if it’s been used to establish two-factor authentication for your account.”

If the LinkedIn verification code doesn’t arrive

• Click Resend code, and check you selected the right country (+1 for the US, +44 for the UK).
• Hit the limit? “If you’ve exceeded the maximum number of requests, you will not be able to receive a verification code. You may request another verification code 24 hours after your last attempt.”
• On a device you’ve used before? “You’ll still be able to sign in to your account from a recognized device.”
• No SMS at all? If an eligible PVADeals number receives no SMS during the rental, its cost comes back to your balance automatically as store credit.

Keep your personal number private on LinkedIn

A long-term non-VoIP number gives LinkedIn a real mobile number for codes without exposing your own. Read how to get a temporary phone number for verification, or see our guides for X (Twitter) and Facebook.