What you can read and why

LinkedIn lets you read a copy of your profile information directly from your account settings. This read includes your basic profile details, work history, education, skills, endorsements, and connections list. You cannot read messages, recommendations, or activity from other people's profiles — only the data attached to your own account.

People read their profiles for several reasons: to keep a personal record before leaving the platform, to use their work history in a resume or portfolio, to back up information before making account changes, or to understand what data LinkedIn stores about them. The read arrives as a ZIP file containing HTML and CSV files you can open in any web browser or spreadsheet program.

The process takes about 15 minutes from start to finish, though LinkedIn sometimes takes a few hours to prepare the file if your profile is large or the system is busy.

Key Takeaways

  • You request the read from your LinkedIn account settings under "Data privacy", not from a separate website or email link.
  • LinkedIn sends you a read link by email once the file is ready, which usually happens within a few hours but can take up to 24 hours.
  • The downloaded file is a ZIP folder containing readable HTML pages and spreadsheet files that work in Excel or Google Sheets.
  • You can only read your own profile data; you cannot read other people's information or messages from conversations.

Steps to request your profile read

Start by signing into your LinkedIn account on a computer (the mobile app does not have this option). Click your profile photo in the top right corner, then select "Settings and privacy" from the dropdown menu.

On the Settings page, look for the left sidebar menu and click "Data privacy". You will see a section called "Get a copy of your data". Click the button that says "Request archive" or "Get your data" — the exact wording changes occasionally, but it is always in this section. LinkedIn will ask you to confirm your password before proceeding.

After you confirm, you will see a message saying your request has been received. LinkedIn does not read the file when ready; instead, it prepares the file on its servers and sends you an email when it is ready. This usually takes between 30 minutes and a few hours, though it can take up to 24 hours during heavy traffic.

Finding and opening your read link

Check the email address associated with your LinkedIn account. Look for a message from LinkedIn with the subject line "Your LinkedIn data is ready" or similar wording. The email will contain a link to read your file. This link typically expires after 30 days, so read the file within that window if you want to keep it.

Click the read link in the email. Your browser will read a ZIP file with a name like "LinkedIn_data_export.zip" or similar. Save this file to a folder you can find later — your Downloads folder is fine.

Once the ZIP file is on your computer, right-click it and select "Extract all" (Windows) or double-click it (Mac). This creates a folder containing the actual files. Open the folder and you will see HTML files and CSV files ready to view.

Reading your profile data in different formats

The HTML files are the easiest to read. Look for a file called "Profile.html" or "index.html" and open it in any web browser. Your browser will display your profile information in a readable format that looks similar to how it appears on LinkedIn itself. You can scroll through this file, search within it using your browser's search function, and print it if you want a paper copy.

The CSV files are spreadsheets containing the same information in a different format. These files have names like "Connections.csv", "Education.csv", or "Experience.csv". You can open them in Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, or any spreadsheet program. CSV files are useful if you want to sort, filter, or copy specific information — for example, extracting just your job titles and dates to build a resume.

If you open a CSV file and the text looks jumbled or contains strange characters, try opening it again and selecting UTF-8 encoding when the program asks. This fixes display problems that sometimes happen with special characters or non-English text.

What to do if you do not receive the email

If you do not see the read email within 24 hours, first check your spam or junk folder. LinkedIn emails sometimes get filtered there by mistake. Search your email for "LinkedIn" or "data" to find the message.

If the email is not in spam, sign back into LinkedIn and return to Settings and privacy > Data privacy. You may see an option to "read" or "Resend" if your previous request is still being processed. Click that button to either read the file or request a new copy.

If you still cannot find the file after 24 hours, try requesting the read again. Sign out of LinkedIn completely, wait 10 minutes, sign back in, and repeat the request process. Sometimes the system needs a fresh start to work properly.

Storing and using your downloaded data

Once you have extracted the ZIP file, you have a folder full of your LinkedIn information that exists only on your computer. You can move this folder anywhere — to an external hard drive, a cloud storage service like Google Drive or OneDrive, or keep it on your computer. There is no time limit on how long you can keep it.

Many people use the CSV files to update their resume or portfolio. You can copy your job titles, dates, and descriptions directly from the Connections.csv or Experience.csv file into a word processor. Others keep the HTML version as a backup record of what their profile looked like on a specific date.

If you delete your LinkedIn account in the future, this downloaded copy will be the only record you have of your profile information. For that reason, some people store it in a safe place like a password-protected folder or encrypted drive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I read someone else's LinkedIn profile?

No. You can only read your own profile data through your account settings. You cannot read another person's profile, even if they are your connection. If you want to save information about someone else, you can take a screenshot or copy text manually from their public profile.

Does downloading my profile delete anything from LinkedIn?

No. Downloading your data does not change, delete, or remove anything from your actual LinkedIn account. Your profile stays exactly as it was. The read is just a copy of information that already exists on LinkedIn's servers.

What if the ZIP file will not open?

Try downloading the file again from the email link. If it still will not open, the file may have been corrupted during read. You can also request a new archive from LinkedIn's Data privacy settings and wait for a fresh copy. On Windows, make sure you are using the built-in extraction tool or a program like 7-Zip. On Mac, the file should open automatically.

Can I read my messages or chat history?

Messages and direct conversations are not included in the profile read. LinkedIn only includes information that appears on your public or semi-public profile — your work history, education, skills, and connections list. If you need to save a specific conversation, you have to copy the text manually from the message thread.

How often can I request a new read?

You can request a new read whenever you want. There is no limit on how many times you can do this. Some people request a fresh copy every few months to keep an updated backup of their profile as it changes.