Getting Things Done with the Inbox

Chris is a Sr. Product Manager, whose core expertise within LinkedIn Answers ranges from “Using LinkedIn” to “Ethics“!

Some of you perusing our site this past week, may have noticed a few changes in the way you organize your Inbox. Yes, there are a few simple changes, besides just the updated look and feel, so I thought I’ll take a brief moment to capture and outline the upgrade to your Inbox user experience.

1. Navigation

First off, when you log into the page you’ll notice that you can now see a total number of action items that require your attention. These action items are culled from pre-existing open items in six different categories: “InMail” & “Introductions”, “Invitations”, “Profiles”, “Q&A” from LinkedIn Answers, “Jobs” and “Recommendations”.

We’ve also made a modification to the “Received”, “Sent” and “Forwarded” icons, which have been moved to the top right hand pane for easier recognition.

2. Sorting & Archival

You can also sort through the various items either by “Sender”, “Subject”, “Status” and or “Date received”. One additional enhancement we have made is your ability to archive all messages at one go. For e.g. when we asked our users for a five word submission for the Webby Awards, we received over 400 answers, which could have been archived much more easily with this capability.

Moving forward, we will be adding feature enhancements to your Inbox experience as is the case with all other aspects of your LinkedIn usage. If you have questions on the Inbox experience, feel free to share them on the blog.

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comments

  1. Hi,
    Sorting using the different items “Sender”, “Subject”, “Date” removes the need of a search feature within the Inbox.
    Thanks for adding this.
    Catherine

  2. I have a bunch of invites from people I’ve worked with who have moved on to other jobs, but whenever I try to accept an invitation, I keep getting bounced back to the sign-in page, which asks for my password, which I type in. However, my “ACCEPT” isn’t accepted and I don’t know what to do to let these people know that I haven’t responded because there’s something wrong with my connection. Am I doing something wrong? Is there something I can do to fix it?

    Would appreciate any help you can give so my “connections” don’t think I’m ignoring them.
    Thanks.

  3. Hi
    I am trying to contact someone who has contacted me through this website (who I have been trying to find for years) and I can’t get anywhere
    Please how do I contact Corey Carlisle – I am the ANdrew Bradley you have sent an Email, but I can’t respond no matter how I try

  4. How I change my e-mail adress?
    I want to change to edithgo@terra.com.br, please.
    Tanks.

  5. Hi
    New memmber.

  6. why i canot Confirm my Email Address???
    and
    how can i change it to – dudpro@gmail.com , witout lussing my Comaction????

  7. Hello. Recently I got a lot of invitations to join other people’s network, but I can not accept the them. Everytime I press “accept” I have to write my password for LinkedIn and then I have to press accept again. However when I check my network the new link does not appear. What am I doing wrong? I never had these kind of problems before…

  8. Hi,
    I’m not able to log in because opposite to login name there are three options such as gmail.com, hotmail.com and aol.com but my login name is suffixed with venkat@rishi.serc.iisc.ernet.in
    please help me.

    with regards.

    venkat

  9. I do receive email invitations from people to join their Linkedi network.
    If I click the link I don’t see an “accept” button.
    I also don’t see those invitations in my LinkedIn Inbox

    What is te procedure to accept those invitations?

  10. While the redesign looks great, I’m having difficulty taking any ‘action.” Although I am signed in (verified by the “Welcome, Rachel”) I keep getting thrown back to the sign in page whenever I attempt to manage my inbox. What should I do?

  11. I have two situations:
    1. I have accepted an invitation to join a network but the invitee does not appear under my network.
    2. I have added a position to my profile but it does not appear.

    What am I doing wrong?

    Myrna

  12. I am unable to approve new request or just about anything on my profile. When I click a link it asks me to log in, which I have done already, and when I do so it just brings me to the log in page but does not do what ever link I had clicked.

    Any ideas??

    Mike

  13. Dear sir,

    I was trying to locate my old friend and found he was working for Tip Top, however I was misunderstood and mistakenly typing my past employment at tip top and it shows on my profile.

    How do I removed this past position at Tip Top from my profile, because I never worked with them..

    Best regards,
    Aswin

  14. wow! I love the sorting thing.

    Also can we have feature wherein if I select multiple messages, I can give a single reply to them in one instance.

    thanks,

  15. Why do I keep getting the message “You are not the intended recipient of this email” when I try to accept an invitation?

    Michael

  16. Well it seems that not a few people are having difficulty with this system. I just read the comments and see that many people can’t accept invitations because they keep getting bounced back to sign in. Chris – I’ve been in touch with your customer service department. They’ve tried to be helpful – but nothing they have done has corrected the problem. Would appreciate hearing from you about how soon you expect this frustrating (and embarassing – I’ve not been able to make contact with people who have tried to get in touch with me thru your system) situation to be fixed.

  17. Hello,

    I cannot confirm my email address. In addition it always directs me to sign in for gmail, hotmail or aol. I use excite. does this mean I cannot use your service. I must be doing something wrong as it is very frustrating.

    Mark

  18. I am having the same problem as other users. After I log in, if I try to view or reply to messages, I get bumped back to the login screen. I sign in with my password again, try to access invites or messages, and get bumped back to login again.

    Can anyone help?

    Emily

  19. Why do I keep getting the message “You are not the intended recipient of this email” when I try to accept an invitation?

  20. I received an invitation to join someone’s network, but it was sent to a different email address than the one I use on linkedin. When I click on where current users are supposed to log in, I get to my profile, but the invitation does not exist when I get there. Please let me know how I can accept this invitation without creating a new login.
    Thank you,
    Anina

  21. I have the same problem as Gwen Young

  22. My main email addres is pia@cametrix.com . However I have added my dutch email address but cannot see it being used . I had to change my email addres to pia.greenaway@cametrix .com due to heavy spam. How do I get my email address changed at log in and for people to contact me on the correct address. Also do I have two accounts open again??? i did do an amalgamation earlier this year.

    Regards

    P Greenaway

  23. Gwen, Christina, Rachel and Mike, could you send me the email address you use to log in and tell me what web browser you’re using (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, etc.)? I’ll see what we can do about this.

    Chris

  24. Michael, usually when you get the message “You are not the intended recipient of this email” it means that you have inadvertently created two LinkedIn accounts with different email addresses. Someone sent an invitation to one email address, and when you tried to accepted it, you logged in with the other. If you contact customer service (cs@linkedin.com) they can delete your extra account so that you can have both email addresses on one account.

  25. Edith, if you click on Account & Settings at the top of the page, then click on Email Addresses under Personal Information you’ll see where you can add another email address and, if you wish, remove your current one.

    Have a good one!
    Chris

  26. Aswin,
    To remove a position from your profile, click on the “My Profile” tab. Next, click on the “Edit” link next to the position you’d like to remove. At the bottom of the edit page you’ll see a link to remove the position.

    Have a good one!
    Chris

  27. i keep getting an email from linkedin stating:

    Invitation reminders:

    • From Scott Harrison

    when i click on the name, it takes me to my inbox. the inbox has a message stating that i am not the intended recipient of this email in bold red letters.

    how do it clear this up?

  28. How do I get my name out of your list; I can’t see any utility in it?

  29. I’m new to this & have no idea what I’m doing.
    All I want to do is send a simple e-message to one of
    your members. (I joined so as to do so.)

    Now it seems you want something like 40 dollars to send
    the messace? …I hope not.

    I must be doing something wrong.

    Jeri Voyles (& Greg)…
    if you’re out there,
    it Arnie! (G-man).

    Please email me through my Perfecta Grip website.
    (Google it (or me)… it’ll come up.)
    or possibly, my alternate yahoo one herein.

  30. Same issue than Christina ! I cannot accept the invitations…

    PLEASE HELP

    I got a lot of invitations to join other people’s network, but I can not accept the them. Everytime I press “accept” I have to write my password for LinkedIn and then I have to press accept again. However when I check my network the new link does not appear. What am I doing wrong? I never had these kind of problems before…

  31. As a corporate enduser, there is a new feature I would like in the in box. 2 actually. It would be super to have a delete feature instead of only having archive, as well as the ability to export to an excel spreadsheet my out box. I would like to be able to track who responds as well as not responds and followup with my personal spreadsheet.
    Have you all considered the possibility of these features?
    Thank you!
    Maryellen O’Connell

  32. As a corporate enduser, there is a new feature I would like in the in box. 2 actually. It would be super to have a delete feature instead of only having archive, as well as the ability to export to an excel spreadsheet my out box. I would like to be able to track who responds as well as not responds and followup with my personal spreadsheet.
    Have you all considered the possibility of these features?
    Thank you!
    Maryellen O’Connell

  33. I am having the same problem as others about not being able to ‘Accept’ invitations… It throws me back to the ‘Sign-In’ page and nothing happens… When can we expect a fix for this? I am not able to continue with accepting invitations from my ‘contacts’… I am using IE 7 and I use the email address that I have entered while posting this comment…

  34. Hi Chris,
    While I truly appreciate all of the nice changes LI has implemented I would like to address one issue. I painstakenly sat and archived all of my messages (several thousand) prior to these changes. Then once all of the changes took place I had to archive them again. It seems it brought all of them back again. While the click all check box is good for a page at a time, it is still time consuming. Check the box scroll to the bottom and click archive. Perhaps an Archive ALL would help or even moving the archive and check box to the same area of the page. Better yet make sure archived messages do not become active again when changes are made.
    I hope LI will consider this issue when make other changes so we do not have to archive messages yet again.
    Thanks
    Sheilah

  35. Hi Sheila,
    I haven’t heard of anyone else having that problem with archived messages becoming un-archived, so I’ll definitely look into it. That shouldn’t have happened and we’ll make sure it doesn’t happen in the future. Sorry for the troubles!

    Chris

  36. I have the same problem as: Gwen Young Aug 31, 2007
    Christina Boutrup (Sep 2, 2007), Rachel (Sep 3, 2007), Mike Crandall (Sep 3, 2007), Mickey Surasky (Sep 4, 2007), Brian Wane (Sep 4, 2007).

    “whenever I try to accept an invitation, I keep getting bounced back to the sign-in page, which asks for my password, which I type in. However, my “ACCEPT” isn’t accepted” and “I am unable to approve new request or just about anything on my profile. When I click a link it asks me to log in, which I have done already, and when I do so it just brings me to the log in page but does not do what ever link I had clicked.”

    I submitted the problem to customer service, but so far have not received an answer. I am using Internet Explorer. I sign in with the email address that I’m using to send this message.

  37. Hi Chris,

    I use Internet Explorer 6, and I have the same issue about redirection on the sign in page when I try to accept an invitation or even save changes made to my profile : I’m automatically signed in at startup, and after it asks to sign in again, I’m redirected on the home page.

    Thanks for your help.

  38. I am having the same exact problem as everyone else with accepting/sending invitations. My last successful acceptance of an invitation was May 25, 2007. I have since been unable to accept or send invitations. I have not changed anything on my PC. I double checked to make sure I am using the correct password (I am and always was). I am using Windows 2000 and IE 6.0.

    Thanks for your help,

    Jesse

  39. I just got an email from LinkedIn support. Apparently there is not a fix yet for the problem with being pushed back to the login screen, but she gave me a great work-around. Just go to http://www.mozilla.com and download Firefox. I just installed the Firefox browser and now I have no problem with changing my profile or sending inmail.

    Thanks,

    Steve

  40. I have a question. I have been a member for years, but have not logged in recently. It keeps telling me my name and password don’t match. I reset my password via you url site, but still can not get in as a member. Cann you help me?

    Thank you so much

  41. I am having the same issues as many above. I cannot accept invitations, just throws me to the login screen, time and time again. I use IE7. It seems like many people are having this issue but I have not seen a resolution. Please help if you can.

  42. I received an InMail but I cannot reply to it!
    Everytime that I hit the reply key (and then try to send) it just keeps showing me the same page (and my answer text stays there unchanged) and the reply does not get sent!

    I’ve tried different computers and different Browsers. Also the time issue (daylight and timezone) were ok.

    What should I do in order to reply to the InMail that I received!

    Thank you

  43. I have the exact same problem as Norberto.

    I have received an InMail from a person that is not a contact, but in my network of the 3rd grade. I want to send him a response but when I have typed in my message and pressed “send”, the message input form appears again and nothing happens.

    I have tried both IE6 and firefox. This is a big problem because I have no other possibility to respond to this message since the person did not send any other contact information.

  44. Hi, Norberto. We inadvertently set the character limit for replies too low (1000 characters). If you delete the text of the original message it should give you enough room to reply. We’ll be releasing a fix for this soon — probably tomorrow night.

    Sorry for the troubles, but thanks for reporting the issue.

    Chris

  45. I need to be able to delete non-responsive invitations. Also, I have 13 invitations outstanding on an account that allows 15 and I am being asked to provide an email address to send an invitation. What’s going on. Thanks Nancy

  46. Hi,

    We need “DELETE” feature for indox.

    As Maryellen pointed out -

    “Maryellen O’Connell Sep 7, 2007
    As a corporate enduser, there is a new feature I would like in the in box. 2 actually. It would be super to have a delete feature instead of only having archive.”

    Delete is a very needed feature for any form of messaging UI. Please introduce this.

  47. We need a DELETE feature for the inbox. Simply archiving is unacceptable.

  48. I need to delete some archived emails. Why is there only an archive button and no delete?

  49. I’ve looked high and low and haven’t found a documented explanation for using the “I don’t know” (IDK) button and the “Flag as spam” buttons when replying to invitations. Scott Allen had the best explanation. Specific questions:
    -How many IDKs constrain an account’s inviting capability; do they have to happen within a set period of time?
    -What does the “flag as spam” response do?

    Thanks a lot!

  50. I agree with the above comments. We could really use a delete button.

  51. Ditto… delete button would be extremely useful. However, now it seems we don’t even have the option to archive anymore??! Isn’t this a step in the complete opposite direction? Here’s the new message in the FAQ:

    Archiving Sent Invitations
    Why can’t I archive my sent invitations?

    This feature is no longer an option unless you have received an invitation.

    http://linkedin.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/linkedin.cfg/php/enduser/popup_adp.php?p_sid=LsAaWF1j&p_lva=&p_li=&p_faqid=411&p_created=1207078707&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPSZwX3NvcnRfYnk9JnBfZ3JpZHNvcnQ9JnBfcm93X2NudD0zODUsMzg1JnBfcHJvZHM9JnBfY2F0cz0mcF9wdj0mcF9jdj0mcF9wYWdlPTE*

  52. Agree strongly with the need for a delete function, or at the very least the restoration of an archive function. We don’t need to see who has already accepted invitations, those folks are in our Connections list!

  53. We do hear you loud and clear on the request for the delete button. I’ve added that to the user feedback I’ll be passing on to the product team (@chrisrichman) in particular.

  54. For what it’s worth, I couldn’t agree more with the need for a delete button and/or, at the very minimum, restoration of the archive function on accepted invitations.

  55. I’ll pile on here as well. Please give us back the ability to archive sent invitations (accepted invites at the very least)! Definitely a step in the wrong direction. Why would you take out a feature?

  56. The option to delete a message might indeed be useful, but above all: please restore the option to archive sent messages (I can’t imagine why this was removed in the first place).

  57. For what it’s worth, I couldn’t agree more with the need for a delete button and/or, at the very minimum, restoration of the archive function on accepted invitations.

    PLEASE

  58. It is important that you provide “Delete” feature for inbox and sent messages.

  59. I’m curious, was there a reason for removing the archive button?

    If I had to choose between the two, I’d rather have an archive button. Most of the time I’d like to declutter, but every once in awhile I want to review old invitations.

    Is there any ETA on when archive and/or delete will be re-implemented?

    Thanks.

  60. Please bring back ability to archive sent messages.

  61. The removal of the checkbox and archive option is definitely an interface step backward. While growing my network, at any point in time, I have several outstanding sent invitations. Once these are accepted, they just get in the way, and are best archived, or even deleted. However, the last upgrade has removed this ability. I feel strongly that you should reinstate it.

  62. It seem impossible for me to withdraw an invitation. Everytime I try to do so the screen freezes at the following URL address http://www.linkedin.com/mbox?displayMBoxItem=&itemID=S717139872_2&goback=%2Emis_false_1_DATE and I then have to go back a page to get out. Once I do this I do not know whether the invitation has been withdrawn or not. An error message is displayed in the status bar

    What can be down to fix this error? Why can’t ‘withdrawn’ be shown next to an invitation, so that we know that the action has been successfully completed?

  63. @Lachlan,

    Please check out our customer support site, which has answers to all the frequently asked questions on LinkedIn issues.

    http://linkedin.custhelp.com/

    If you can’t find it there, you can also shoot them an email.

    Thanks for your patience. Hope this helps.

  64. I have problems with Firefox. I cannot login, the redirection doesn’t work correctly. Can you help me?
    Thanks.

  65. When will be able to delete messages in the Inbox? I get so many messages from people looking to hire and it’s irritating that I can’t just click delete.

  66. Who would ever think a delete but would be this difficult to get. How many delete requests do you need before you put a simple button in place.

    Get a delete button in place before I delete my account.

  67. Why can’t I archive my sent invitations?

  68. This is most irritating! Hear us LOUD and CLEAR please – get a DELETE button in and give us the freedom to do away with what we do not want. Or keep it. It is our choice, not yours to make!

  69. Can’t login to LinkedIn – either the homepage or my profile. Tried submitting customer service email, but couldn’t send the page, site was hanging. Am using new MacBook with either Safari or Firefox. Have cleared the cache, deleted cookies, restarted modem, restarted wireless router, upgraded the OS and restarted the computer several times. Nothing works. Left voice message with LinkedIn customer support. Is anyone else experiencing this issue? Any solutions?

  70. @Daria,

    Not to the best of my knowledge. Please contact customer service if the issue persists.

    Thanks for your patience.
    Mario from LinkedIn

  71. Yes, DELETE button for messages is needed ASAP!

    Thanks.

  72. Hi,
    I agree with Logan Niles. Definitely, a delete button for messages is needed.
    Thanks.

  73. need a way to delete messages from inbox ?!

  74. @ Mark- Archiving any items sitting in Inbox will remove them from you Inbox and move them to to the new ‘Archived’ tab. I like to think of the ‘Archived’ tab as a recycle bin that you can always go to if you need to retrieve an item you accidentally threw out.

  75. I’m having the same problem that Dan Storjev has. Can’t get far enough into the site to even sign in. I’m wondering if it;s a router since the problem exists on all three connected machines. I’ve reset the wirelss router, my DSL router, cleaned machines. Nothing seems to make sense. Any sugestions…anyone?

    Can’t recall my profile address….set it up some time ago and wanted to work on developing it.

  76. We definitely need a delete button to delete sent/received messages. Please enable this option asap. Its needed by almost every user.

  77. How do we delete messages sent/received? Are we going to have that option in the near future?

    Thanks.

  78. @S – The functionality to delete messages does not exist. Your current option is to utilize the archive functionality for any recieved messages. See my comment above on archiving as well.

  79. Why LinkedIn prevent us from deleting our received message, and when this option will be available?
    Thanks.

  80. I am getting error while conguring linkedIn Tool bar
    error like
    “you have entered an invalid email address or password, or the linkedIn website cannot be cantacted,Please re-enter your infromation andy try again”

    where i am entering right password

    can help me soon

  81. @Paresh- Normally, trouble shooting goes through our Customer Service Group. I have forwarded this item into the Customer Service ticketing system. If you don’t hear from them by end of day please contact them directly by clicking on the Customer Service button at the bottom of the homepage and do a search through our library of FAQs. If you don’t see your answer you can click on the Ask Customer Service button and submit your issue. CS will attempt to trouble shoot your specific issue.

  82. I find it absurd that there is no option to delete messages. I strongly suggest that this be fixed.

  83. Linkedin has been a very useful tool in helping me stay connected with former colleagues who aren’t quite friends. And for that I really am very grateful.

    As someone who has benefitted from this form of networking, I don’t want to criticize this useful site but there are unwanted messages sometimes and I could really use a delete button.

    Organizationally, it’s really difficult to function with that kind of electronic clutter.

    PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let us delete. PLEASE!

  84. You can add my name to the list of site users that think a delete button is an absolute necessity for inboxes.

  85. Add me in for the ‘delete’ messages button wish list. It is ridiculous not to have one.

  86. Delete button. Please.

    It’s not rocket science. But it is a customer request. Incredible that this many people have complained for this long and it remains unaddressed. Pitiful response for such a great site.

    Delete. Delete. Delete.

  87. I was surprised to realize that there was no way to delete messages. Is there an estimated time frame for its implemention?

    Fly me out there and I’ll code it myself. ;)

    Thanks for providing a great resource and keep up the good work!

  88. delete button please…

    it’s such a big problem!!!

  89. I want a delete buttom in my messages (inbox, sent, archived). I don’t see the purpose of linkedin keeping these messages. Unless you are selling the messages to another company.

  90. @Ed- I’m not able to comment on the likelihood of certain features being released in the future. However, please be assured as our Privacy Policy states that we do not sell, rent, or otherwise provide your personally identifiable information to third parties for marketing purposes.
    Thanks-
    Dirk

  91. I have been a member since 2006 and don’t understand why it is then that you are unable to provide a basic function that deletes messages? I notice how quick the response to the privacy insinuation by Ed came back, but on reading through this list…. starting back in 2007, I have not seen any positive response (other than a statement that the suggestion will be forwarded to @Chris or customer service). If there is a technical reason, maybe say it, if it is on the roadmap – maybe say That? But to continuously say Nothing… is really a poor show!

  92. Delete button in the Inbox is necessary. Thank you, Marilena

  93. I agree with Mark. A roadmap or simple rejection from LinkedIn customer support would be helpful. It’s been almost two years since this feature was first requested.`An acknowledgement of some sort is required. Thanks.

  94. Please add a delete function for e-mail this year (2009); otherwise I may have to close my account (on principle).

    Thank you.

    - Longtime LinkedIn User 2010?

  95. Please provide “DELETE” option under Messages otherwise like many other people I am also going to delete my accounts..It’s really irritating not to have delete option.

  96. More than two years after it has been requested, and there still isn’t a delete button?
    Surely being able to delete messages would save LinkedIn money, as the profiles would take up less server space?

  97. What if anything is the status of adding a delete button for sent mail? I’ve been advised by people to stop sending email via LinkedIn if it can’t be deleted although I would like to be able to continue to use this functionality. Can you please address this inquiry or tell people to whom we should direct it?

  98. @Mike- Your feedback from here is heard loud and clear. I’ve forwarded your comment on to the Product manager as they review the option. Thanks!

  99. Why isn’t there any way to delete emails?

  100. I have a few pending invitatons to join network. Everytime I try to approve, linkedin goes to login screen. Over and over, my pendings never get accepted .

  101. Mechelle Gooch – The only option is to use IE to accept. – Firefox can’t work with the redirect they send during login.

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