LinkedIn contacts are the people whose details live inside your LinkedIn account. Every 1st-degree connection is saved automatically and can be exported. Others may appear as contacts when you message them or do a one-time address book import via mobile, but only connections can be exported. Think of these entries as a private Rolodex attached to your profile.

Why LinkedIn Contacts Matter

Recruiters store candidate info in one place, then push the list into an ATS for faster follow-up. Marketers segment prospects and run targeted campaigns without leaving the platform. Sales teams and founders sync contacts with HubSpot, Salesforce, or Pipedrive to launch nurture sequences. A clean list means better response rates. Ops teams export records quarterly to meet GDPR or other data-retention rules.

To automate workflows, see our guide on LinkedIn integration with your CRM via Linked Helper.

How the Contact List Works

Open the List

Desktop: My Network → Connections.
Mobile: My Network tab → Connections.

Export to CSV

Me → Settings & Privacy → Data Privacy → Get a Copy of Your Data → Download Larger Data Archive → Request Archive.
Your download will typically be ready in about 24 hours.

For more details, read the step-by-step guide to downloading your LinkedIn contacts to Excel with emails.

Load the CSV into a CRM

HubSpot: drag-and-drop the file or let the HubLead Chrome add-on auto-sync.
Zapier: create a "New file in Dropbox ➜ Create contact" zap for hands-off maintenance.
Salesforce and Pipedrive: import the CSV and confirm field mappings; most fields work as-is.

Add New Names

Use Search → All Filters → send a Connect request.
Need phone numbers? View each profile's Contact info or use an enrichment tool. The connections CSV does not include phone numbers.
On mobile, open My Network tab → Connections.

Platform Limits

LinkedIn caps invitations (the exact number is undisclosed, but commonly observed at around 100–200 per week).
Withdrawing an invitation triggers a 3-week cooldown before you can re-invite the same person.
Emails appear only if members allow visibility.

Best Practices

Clean monthly: merge duplicates, update job titles, and remove bounces.
Use Sales Navigator Custom Lists or add tags in your CRM after import to stay organized.
Respect invite limits: spread requests across the week.
Secure data: delete old archives, enable two-step verification.
Personalize invites: a brief note (up to 200 characters) improves acceptance rates. Free accounts can personalize up to three invites per month; Premium removes this monthly cap.

Bonus Tips

Sales Navigator's Relationship Explorer shows up to eight relevant leads and warm paths based on your personas. Save them as leads or connect directly.
Hit the invite cap? Tap "Follow" on high-value leads; their posts still land in your feed.
Ask colleagues to do a one-time contact import (if available), then filter by industry to find dormant deals.
To find contacts outside your network, join niche Groups. Members can view your profile and you can often message them without connecting, depending on group settings.

How to Find a List of Your LinkedIn Connections?