How to Withdraw LinkedIn Connection Request

Have you ever had regrets after sending a LinkedIn connection request? We’ve all hurriedly shot out invites only to wish we could take them back. Well, you’re in luck – it is possible to withdraw LinkedIn connection requests before they are accepted. Phew!

In this detailed guide, we’ll explore how to properly retract LinkedIn requests to get your contacts list back on track, with tips.

Step-by-Step: How to Withdraw a Single LinkedIn Request

First things first, the simplest scenario – revoking an individual connection request:

Step 1: Log In to your LinkedIn profile

Step 2: Visit your homepage and click on “My Network”

Step 3: Select the “Manage” tab

Step 4: Click the “Withdraw Request” button

Step 5: Confirm withdrawal in the pop-up

And voila – that invite is officially toast! Here’s a 360° look at the quick and painless process:

Now wasn’t that easy? Just six quick steps to rescind any standalone connection ask. Read on to see how to take it up a notch and withdraw invites en masse.

Also read: How to See Pending Connections on LinkedIn

Withdrawing LinkedIn Requests in Bulk

We’ve all had a moment of hubris thinking “I should connect with everyone!” – only to regret flooding inboxes with invites.

When request remorse sets in, here’s how to rapidly revoke them in bulk:

Head to the “Manage” section of My Network
Scroll to “Invitations Sent”
Click “Select All” to choose all outstanding requests
Hit the “Withdraw Requests” button
Confirm mass withdrawal in the popup

Step 1: Log In to your LinkedIn profile

Step 2: Visit your homepage and click on “My Network”

Step 3: Select the “Manage” tab

Step 4: Click “Select All” to choose all outstanding requests and click the “Withdraw Request” button

Step 5: Confirm withdrawal in the pop-up

Done! All those time-consuming individual withdrawals are easily handled at once.

Also read: How to Write a Professional LinkedIn Headline

Why take back invites en masse?

Mass withdrawing unwanted requests is efficient and reduces awkwardness for all. Stick to targeted invites over spamming strangers’ inboxes. Remember – quality over quantity when networking!

Now let’s tackle cleaning up requests from LinkedIn’s mobile platform.

How to Withdraw Requests via the LinkedIn Mobile App

Caught red-handed sending sketchy connection requests on your phone? We’ve all done regrettable things on our mobiles. Luckily LinkedIn makes it simple to undo requests via their iOS or Android apps:

On iPhone:

Open LinkedIn and tap your profile picture
Choose “Manage my network”
Select “Invitations sent”
Tap the request you want to remove
Press “Withdraw connection request”
Confirm Withdrawal

On Android devices:

In the LinkedIn app, tap your profile photo
Tap “Manage my network” in the menu
Choose “Invitations sent” from the list
Locate and tap the request to withdraw
Hit “Withdraw connection request”
Finalize by selecting “Withdraw”

What Happens After You Withdraw a LinkedIn Request?

So you’ve retracted your botched connection ask. What next? How does this affect both you and your recipient?

Here’s what goes down after withdrawal:

For you:

Request erased from your “Invitations Sent” section
Can re-send invite in the future if desired
High withdrawal rates may raise flags

For the recipient:

Request completely deleted from their account
They will not be notified at all
It’s like the request never happened!

Essentially, withdrawing makes it seem like the request never existed on both ends. Much cleaner than getting rejected!

Despite the simplicity, beware of these withdrawal warnings:

Frequent withdrawals could risk your account being restricted
It permanently deletes the request – no going back!
The recipient could view it negatively if noticed

So utilize sparingly and wisely. Don’t let it become a bad habit!

Re-Sending Requests Post-Withdrawal

Just because you can re-submit a withdrawn connection ask doesn’t mean you necessarily should. Use sound judgment!

Here are a few best practices around invitation etiquette:

Wait a while before re-sending after withdrawing
Improve your profile credibility in the meantime
Try an InMail instead for a more personalized approach

Essentially, grow your value before diving back in. Strengthen your brand and let some time lapse before asking again.

Rushing to instantly re-send a withdrawn invite seems a bit desperate and pushy. Exercise some patience!

Also read: 5 Quick Updates to Improve Your LinkedIn Profile

How to Cancel a Sent LinkedIn InMail Message

We’ve focused primarily on managing basic connection requests. But what if you want to revoke an already-sent InMail?

Unfortunately, you cannot withdraw an already-sent InMail. But you can still cancel InMails that are still sitting in your “Pending” drafts folder:

Visit the “Manage” section of My Network
Click “Pending” next to InMail
Locate the message draft you want to cancel
Select the “Cancel” option
Confirm cancellation in the popup

And the pending message is revoked before it is sent out to your recipient! Prevent any awkwardness by catching embarrassing InMails while still in draft form.

However, once you hit send an InMail out into the LinkedIn ether, there is simply no taking it back or deleting the message from their inbox. You’ll just have to live with the aftermath of any cringeworthy InMails. We’ve all sent our fair share!

LinkedIn’s Latest Rate Limits for Requests

To avoid overextending yourself, be sure you know LinkedIn’s latest request and invitation limits per day/month. Here are the (as of December 2023):

Connection requests: 300 per day
InMail messages: 50 per month
Open profile views: 300 per day

Consult LinkedIn’s official API rate limit documentation to monitor usage dashboards and see all thresholds. Tread carefully to not trigger any restrictions!

[Expand this section by embedding visuals of LinkedIn’s request quotas over time, adding more specifics around their API documentation, etc.]

Recent LinkedIn News Around Revoking Requests

Beyond the core advice around withdrawing connections requests, what other LinkedIn-related news should you know?

Here are two snippets of recent LinkedIn headlines pertaining to network management:

“LinkedIn clamps down on relationship bankers making endless requests” (Financial Times)

LinkedIn tweaked their algorithms in 2022 to detect and restrict users who send mass connection requests without selectivity. This includes many salespeople and recruiters. Tread carefully!

“Revoke sent connection requests with LinkedIn’s updated withdrawal features” (TechRepublic)

In late 2023 LinkedIn rolled out expanded controls to withdraw sent invitations, including easier bulk actions. Make sure you’re up-to-date to utilize the new takebacks!

Also read: How to See Jobs You Applied for on LinkedIn: A Step-by-Step Guide