How to Claim a LinkedIn Page

Chances are, your company has a LinkedIn page - even if you didn’t create it yourself. Whether it was auto-generated by LinkedIn or set up by a well-meaning employee who has long since moved on, reclaiming control of this vital digital asset is the first step toward building a powerful professional brand. This guide breaks down exactly how to claim an unmanaged LinkedIn page or regain access to one created by someone else, so you can start shaping your company's online narrative.

Why Claiming Your LinkedIn Page Matters

Leaving a LinkedIn Page unclaimed or outdated is like leaving the front door of your digital storefront boarded up. It’s more than just a missed opportunity, it’s a potential liability. An official, active page asserts your brand’s legitimacy and gives you a platform to connect with an audience of professionals, potential clients, and future employees. Let’s look at why taking control is non-negotiable.

Control Your Brand Narrative

An official LinkedIn page is a centralized hub for your brand's voice, values, and vision. It’s where you share company news, thought leadership articles, and celebrate team milestones. Without control, you can’t manage this narrative. Worse yet, an unmanaged page with outdated information - a wrong logo, an old office address, a generic description - sends the message that your company isn’t paying attention. Claiming your page allows you to align everything, from the banner image to the company description, with your current branding, ensuring consistency and professionalism.

Build Authority and Trust

LinkedIn is a network built on professional trust. A well-maintained Page is a stamp of credibility. It acts as social proof, showing potential clients, partners, and employees that you are an established and active entity in your industry. When someone searches for your company, a complete and active LinkedIn presence assures them they’ve found the right place. An empty or automatically generated page, however, can create doubt and confusion, potentially deterring valuable connections from reaching out.

Supercharge Recruitment and Attract Talent

Top talent today does their homework. Before they even apply for a job, they are looking up your company online, and your LinkedIn Page is often their first stop. It gives them a glimpse into your company culture, the people who work there, and the impact you’re making. An active page showcasing team events, employee successes, and insightful content paints a compelling picture of what it’s like to work for you. An unmanaged page does the opposite - it’s vacant, impersonal, and suggests a disconnected or disorganized culture.

Improve SEO and Online Discoverability

Search engines love LinkedIn. A properly optimized Company Page often ranks highly in search results, sometimes even appearing above your company's own website when people search for your brand. By claiming your page and filling out every section with relevant keywords - covering your services, industry, and specialties - you boost your visibility not just on LinkedIn, but on Google as well. This makes it easier for potential customers and future hires to find you when they’re looking for what you offer.

Is the Page Unclaimed or Just Inaccessible? Understanding the Difference

Before you can initiate the process, you need to identify what kind of page you're dealing with. The solution differs depending on whether the page is an "unmanaged" ghost ship or a fully created page where someone else holds the keys. Understanding this distinction will save you a lot of time and frustration.

The Auto-Generated "Unmanaged" Page

This is the most common scenario for new or smaller businesses. LinkedIn automatically creates a bare-bones page when multiple users add the same company name to their profile's work experience section, but a formal Page doesn’t exist yet. LinkedIn’s algorithm sees a pattern and essentially says, "Hey, it looks like this company is real, so we'll put up a placeholder."

How to spot it:

• It will have a generic, gray default banner and logo.
• There will likely be zero posts or custom content.
• It may feature a tagline like, "This is an unmanaged Page. Claim it to add your logo, post updates and more."
• The URL might look clunky and uncustomized.

These pages are an open invitation. If you work at the company, claiming them is usually straightforward.

The Existing "Orphaned" Page

This situation is slightly trickier. An "orphaned" page is a legitimate company page that was set up by someone at your organization - a former marketing manager, an intern, or maybe even the founder - who is no longer the right person to manage it or has left the company entirely. The page has content, a proper logo, and followers, but you and your current team are locked out because you don’t have administrative access.

How to spot it:

• The page looks complete and branded, possibly with old updates or posts.
• When you view the page, there is no "Claim this Page" button.
• The biggest sign: No one on your current team has "Super Admin" or "Content Admin" permissions.

Regaining control of an orphaned page involves a different process that requires proving to LinkedIn that you are the rightful new administrator.

The Step-by-Step Guide to Claiming an Unmanaged LinkedIn Page

Alright, if you’ve confirmed you're dealing with a basic, auto-generated page, you’re in luck. This process is designed to be user-friendly, as LinkedIn wants businesses to take ownership of these placeholders. Follow these steps carefully.

Prerequisites You'll Need

Before you begin, gather the following to make the process as smooth as possible:

• A Personal LinkedIn Profile: You can't manage a Company Page without your own profile. Make sure yours is up-to-date.
• Current Employment Listing: Your personal profile's "Experience" section must list the company as your current place of employment, with the correct company name.
• A Confirmed Company Email Address: This is the most important element. You must have an email address associated with your LinkedIn account that uses the company's unique domain (e.g., jane.doe@yourcompany.com, not janedoe@gmail.com). LinkedIn uses this to verify you actually work there.

The Claiming Process

1. Search and Find the Page: Go to LinkedIn and use the search bar to find the unmanaged page for your company. Be precise with the name.
2. Initiate the Claim: Once on the page, look for a button or link that says "Claim this page" or "Are you an employee? Claim this page for free." It's usually located prominently toward the top. Click it!
3. Review and Agree: A pop-up will appear, asking you to confirm that you are an official representative of the company and have the authority to manage the page on its behalf. Check the box to agree to the terms.
4. Verify via Email: After agreeing, LinkedIn will send a verification email to the company email address listed on your profile. Log in to your email, find the message from LinkedIn, and click the confirmation link inside. This is the crucial step that proves your affiliation.
5. Gain Admin Access: Once verified, you'll be granted Super Admin access immediately. Congratulations! You now have control of the page and can start customizing it.

What to Do When Your Page Already Has an Admin

If you've discovered an existing, fully-formed page and no "Claim" button is in sight, you have an access issue, not a claiming one. This means someone, somewhere, is listed as an admin. Your mission is to either get them to hand over the keys or prove to LinkedIn that you should have them instead.

Method 1: The Easy Way - Contact the Current Admin

The simplest solution is often the best. The first thing you should do is try to identify and contact the current admin(s).

• Investigate: Start by asking around your company. Who handled marketing or social media in the past? In smaller companies, it could be one of the founders. In larger ones, it’s probably someone from a previous marketing team.
• Reach Out Directly: Once you’ve identified a potential admin, send them a friendly message - either through LinkedIn or company email. Explain the situation and ask them to add you as a "Super Admin." Keep it simple: "Hi [Name], hope you're well! I'm taking over our social channels and need admin access to the company's LinkedIn Page. Could you please add me as a Super Admin when you have a moment?"
• Guide Them: Make it effortless for them. If they agree but don't know how, provide clear instructions:
  1. Go to the LinkedIn Page and view it as an admin.
  2. Click "Admin tools" in the top right corner.
  3. Select "Manage admins" from the dropdown menu.
  4. Click the "Add admin" button.
  5. Search for your name, select your profile, choose the "Super Admin" role, and confirm.

Method 2: The Official Route - Requesting Admin Access from LinkedIn

There are times when the easy way isn't an option. Maybe the former admin has left on bad terms, is unresponsive, or you simply have no idea who set up the page. In these cases, you’ll need to go through LinkedIn's official channel for help. Be prepared, this process requires patience.

Prerequisites for Your Request:

• Have a personal LinkedIn Profile accurately listing your current role at the company.
• Have a confirmed company email address on your LinkedIn account.
• Be ready to provide a formal statement on the matter.

Submitting the Formal Request:

1. Navigate to your company's Page. See if there is a "Request Admin Access" button. This feature is not always present, but if it is, it’s your best starting point. Fill out the form provided.
2. If there's no button, you need to go through LinkedIn's Help Centre. You can typically find it by searching "Request admin access to a LinkedIn Page" in their help database.
3. You’ll be directed to a contact form. Fill it out with as much detail as possible. Clearly state your name, your position, a link to the page you’re trying to access, and the context (e.g., "The previous administrator has left the company, and we no longer have a way to access our page.").
4. LinkedIn may require you to submit a signed declaration on official company letterhead. This document would need to state that you are an authorized representative and are hereby requesting full administrative rights to the page.
5. Submit the form and wait. The LinkedIn team will manually review your case, which can take several business days or even weeks. Follow up periodically if you don't hear back, but try to be patient during their review process.

You Have Control of the Page! Next Steps for Success

Woo hoo! You did it. Whether you claimed an empty shell or regained access from a departed admin, the page is now yours to command. But the work isn't over. Here’s a quick checklist of what to do next to clean up, secure, and grow your new asset.

1. Audit and Correct Admin Access: This is your first priority. Go to Admin tools > Manage admins. See who is on the list. Add new admins from your current team (always have at least two Super Admins as a backup!) and immediately remove anyone who should no longer have access. This secures the page from any future lockouts.
2. Conduct a Full Brand Refresh: Go through every element of the page. Upload your current high-resolution logo and a compelling banner image that captures your brand's essence. Rewrite the "About" section and tagline to reflect your current mission and offerings.
3. Complete Every Section: Meticulously fill out all available fields: website URL, industry, company size, locations, and specialties. The more complete your profile, the more professional it appears and the better it performs in searches.
4. Publish a Welcoming Post: Create your first post. A simple "We're here!" or a post announcing "a fresh start" for the page is a great way to signal to existing followers that the page is now under new, active management. It resets expectations and encourages engagement.
5. Outline a Content Strategy: A living page is a successful page. Don't let it go dormant again. Think about what kind of content will best serve your audience. Will you share company news, industry insights, employee spotlights, or job postings? Creating a simple plan from day one will make all the difference.

Final Thoughts

Regaining control of your LinkedIn Page - whether it was auto-generated or left behind by a former colleague - is a vital step in managing your brand's digital presence. Following the right steps to claim it or request access gives you the power to shape your company's narrative, engage with your audience, and attract top talent.

Once you have access, keeping the momentum going with consistent, high-quality content is the real challenge. We built Postbase to make that part easier. Our visual calendar helps you plan your LinkedIn content alongside your other platforms, so you can see your entire strategy at a glance and schedule posts reliably. It’s built for how marketing actually works today, ensuring your newly claimed page stays active and engaging without the complexity of older tools.