Logging in to LinkedIn sounds like a small thing. Technically, it is. Nevertheless, it is one of the most searched LinkedIn questions ever. Why? Because login processes today are no longer just "email + password", but a mix of apps, browsers, SSO and security mechanisms. This article explains all the ways you can log in to LinkedIn - without marketing speak, without whitewashing.
"Log in to LinkedIn" means: You are accessing an existing LinkedIn account.
Not:
Registration
Account creation
Create profile
But only: Access.
The basic version still works:
E-mail address or user name
password
This is the standard LinkedIn login, regardless of whether:
Desktop
app
private or company profile
If you are unsure which email you have used: LinkedIn does not differentiate between "main or secondary email". Any stored address can be a login address.
The most common way:
Open LinkedIn in the browser
Click on Log in
Enter your e-mail address or user name
Enter your password
Confirm login
If cookies are blocked or old sessions are stuck, this may be the end of the process. More on this later.
The LinkedIn app uses the same account, but a different technical context.
Procedure:
Open the app
SelectLog in
Enter your login data
Confirm security code if necessary
Important: A functioning app login says nothing about the desktop login - and vice versa.
If your LinkedIn account is linked to Google:
No password required
Google takes care of the verification
LinkedIn only gets the approval
Typical for:
new accounts
professional Google setups
Once you have chosen this option, LinkedIn often expects it again.
Similar to Google, but more restrictive:
Apple ID instead of email
Often with "hide email" function
Higher security level
It becomes problematic if:
the Apple ID has been changed
the anonymous Apple mail is no longer accessible
Then it looks as if your account no longer exists - even though it is there.
Partially.
Possibilities:
Google login
Apple ID
Login link by email (in certain cases)
But: 👉 It doesn't work completely without authentication.
LinkedIn only replaces the password with another security feature.
If activated, you also need:
Security code
Authenticator app or SMS
This is not a mistake, but intentional.
If the code does not arrive:
wrong device
Old phone number
App not synchronized
This is one of the most common reasons why users "can't log in".
Short and honest:
Wrong email address
Incorrect password
Login using the wrong method (Google vs. password)
Cookies block the login
Outdated app version
Two-factor code missing
In 90% of cases, it's not LinkedIn itself.
Is constantly confused.
Login = existing account
Registration = new account
If you try to log in but end up on the registration page, you are usually using
a different email
a different login method
LinkedIn recognizes accounts strictly by identity, not by name.
Short version:
strong password
Activate 2FA
Do not save login data in the browser
Avoid public devices
Boring, but relevant, especially for professional profiles.
How can I log in to LinkedIn?With email + password, Google or Apple ID - in the browser or in the app.
Can I sign in to LinkedIn without a password?Yes, if your account is linked to Google or Apple.
Why is my LinkedIn login not working?Mostly because of an incorrect login method, missing security code or browser problems.
Are there different login options for the app and desktop?Yes, technically yes - functionally both access the same account.
Are LinkedIn login and registration the same thing?No. Login = existing account, registration = new account.
"Logging in to LinkedIn" is not a complex process, but it is fragmented:
different login methods
different devices
different security levels
If you know which method your account expects, logging in is trivial. If not, LinkedIn quickly seems broken - but it rarely is.