Why am I getting an error when trying to import my LinkedIn profile?

Last updated: July 18, 2026

Some users encounter an error message such as "LinkedIn profile import failed, Please try again with valid username" or a similar error when attempting to import their LinkedIn profile. This article explains what to do if you run into this issue.

Answer

If you are seeing an error when trying to import your LinkedIn profile, this is typically a temporary issue. Please try the following steps:

  1. Try again later. In most cases, simply retrying the import after a short wait resolves the issue.

  2. Use the "Import from Files" option. If the LinkedIn profile URL import continues to fail, you can instead export your data directly from LinkedIn and upload the file:

    1. Go to LinkedIn and download your data export (this will be provided as a zip file).

    2. In the app, navigate to the Import from LinkedIn section and select the Import from Files option.

    3. Upload the entire zip file downloaded from LinkedIn. The system will process your contacts from the file.

Note on processing time

After uploading your LinkedIn export file, you may see a message such as "Processing your contacts – We're analyzing your network to find the best matches." This is normal and may take some time to complete. To improve match recommendations, consider adding current job titles, companies, work email addresses, and location information to your profile.

If the issue persists after trying the steps above, please reach out to our support team for further assistance.