Where to find and change your primary email

Your primary email on LinkedIn is the address LinkedIn uses to send you notifications and password reset links. To change it, sign into your account on a computer or the LinkedIn mobile app, then go to your profile settings. On desktop, click the profile icon in the top right corner, select "Settings and privacy," then choose "Account preferences." On the mobile app, tap the profile icon, scroll down to "Account," and tap "Email addresses."

Once you're in the email settings section, you'll see a list of all email addresses connected to your account. The one marked as "Primary" is the one LinkedIn currently uses for all official communications. Click or tap the email address you want to make primary, then select the option to set it as primary. LinkedIn will send a confirmation message to that address before the change takes effect.

Key Takeaways

  • Your primary email is the address LinkedIn uses to send you notifications, password resets, and account alerts.
  • You can change your primary email through Settings and privacy on desktop or the Account section on mobile.
  • You must confirm the new primary email address by clicking a link in a confirmation message LinkedIn sends to it.
  • You can keep multiple email addresses on your LinkedIn account, but only one can be primary at any time.
  • If you no longer use an email address, you can remove it entirely from your account after setting a different one as primary.

Adding a new email address before changing primary

If the email address you want to use as primary isn't yet connected to your LinkedIn account, you'll need to add it first. In the email settings section, look for an option to add a new email address. Enter the address and LinkedIn will send a confirmation link to that inbox. You must click the link within the time limit to verify you own that address.

Once the new address is confirmed, it will appear in your email list. At that point you can set it as your primary email. This two-step process — adding the address, then confirming it, then making it primary — protects your account by ensuring you actually control the email address you're switching to.

What happens to your old primary email

When you change your primary email, your old email address stays connected to your account unless you remove it. This means you can still use the old address to sign into LinkedIn if you remember your password. However, all new notifications and official messages from LinkedIn will go to your new primary address instead.

If you want to completely disconnect an old email address, you can remove it from your account once you've set a different one as primary. LinkedIn won't let you remove your only email address, so you must have at least one email on file at all times. If you're switching to a work email and want to remove your personal email, make sure the work email is confirmed and set as primary first.

Signing in after changing your primary email

Changing your primary email does not change how you sign into LinkedIn. You can still use either your old email address or your new one to log in, as long as both are connected to your account. LinkedIn recognizes any email address linked to your account as a valid login credential.

If you remove your old email address entirely, you'll only be able to sign in with your new primary email or with your phone number if you've set that up. If you forget which email addresses are on your account, you can check the email settings page to see the full list.

Fixing a typo or correcting a misspelled email

If you made a typo when entering your primary email and LinkedIn won't send you messages, you'll need to add the correct address and confirm it. Go to your email settings, add the correct address, click the confirmation link when it arrives, then set the corrected address as primary. After that, you can remove the misspelled address from your account.

If you can't access the email address with the typo to click the confirmation link, you may need to contact LinkedIn support. They can help you remove an unconfirmed address that you no longer have access to, so you can set up the correct one instead.

Recovering access if you've lost your primary email

If your primary email account has been hacked or you no longer have access to it, you can still regain control of your LinkedIn account. On the LinkedIn sign-in page, select "Forgot password?" and choose to receive a reset link on a different email address if you have one connected to your account. LinkedIn will send the reset link to any confirmed email on file.

If you don't have access to any email address on your LinkedIn account, use the "I can't sign in" option on the login page to contact LinkedIn support. They can verify your identity through other information and help you regain access. Have your phone number, a recent payment method, or other account details ready to speed up the process.

Why LinkedIn asks you to confirm email changes

LinkedIn requires you to confirm any new primary email address by clicking a link in a message sent to that address. This step protects your account from someone else changing your email without permission. If a hacker gains access to your password, they can't lock you out by switching your primary email to an address they control — they'd need access to the new email address to complete the change.

The confirmation link typically expires after a few hours or days, depending on LinkedIn's current policy. If your confirmation link has expired, go back to your email settings and request a new one. You can add the email address again and LinkedIn will send a fresh confirmation message.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same email address for multiple LinkedIn accounts?

No. Each email address can only be connected to one LinkedIn account. If you try to add an email that's already linked to another account, LinkedIn will show an error. You'll need to use a different email address for each separate account you create.

What if I change my primary email but never confirm it?

If you don't click the confirmation link, your primary email won't actually change. LinkedIn will keep using your old primary email for all messages and notifications. You can request a new confirmation link from your email settings if the first one expired.

Does changing my primary email affect my LinkedIn profile or connections?

No. Your profile, connections, messages, and all other account content stay exactly the same. Only the email address LinkedIn uses to contact you changes. Your connections won't see your email address unless you've made it public in your profile settings.

Can I set a phone number as my primary contact instead of an email?

LinkedIn requires at least one email address on your account at all times. You can add a phone number for two-factor security, but you cannot remove all email addresses or use a phone number as your only contact method.

How long does it take for the primary email change to go into effect?

Once you click the confirmation link in the email LinkedIn sends you, the change takes effect immediately. LinkedIn will start sending all new notifications and messages to your new primary address right away. You don't need to wait for any additional processing time.