How to Edit a LinkedIn Message

That sinking feeling after hitting ‘send’ on a LinkedIn message and immediately spotting a glaring typo is something we can all relate to. Whether you misspelled a client's name, sent an incorrect meeting time, or your phone’s autocorrect had a mind of its own, the urge to fix it is instant. The good news is, you often can. This guide will walk you through exactly how to edit a LinkedIn message, explain the time limit you’re working against, and cover what to do if you miss your chance.

Can You Actually Edit a LinkedIn Message? Yes, But There’s a Catch

You absolutely can edit a message after you’ve sent it on LinkedIn, but you have to be quick about it. LinkedIn gives you a 60-minute window to make any corrections. This feature works across both the desktop website and the mobile app, giving you a chance to fix embarrassing typos, clarify unclear wording, or correct a factual error before it becomes a permanent part of your conversation history.

After that one-hour mark passes, the option to edit vanishes, and the message is locked in place. LinkedIn likely implemented this time limit to maintain the integrity of conversations, preventing someone from changing the history of a discussion hours or days later. It’s a safety net, not a time machine.

How to Edit a LinkedIn Message: A Step-by-Step Guide

Fixing your message is straightforward, a lifesaver for professional communication. Here’s how to do it whether you’re at your desk or on the go.

Editing on a Desktop (Web Browser)

Most of us are multitasking on our main workstations, and catching a mistake here is common. The process is quick and just takes a few clicks.

1. Navigate to Your Messages: Log in to your LinkedIn account, and click the Messaging icon at the top of your homepage.
2. Open the Conversation: Find and open the chat containing the message you want to correct.
3. Locate the Message: Scroll to the specific message you need to edit. It must be one you sent within the last 60 minutes.
4. Access the Edit Option: Hover your mouse cursor directly over the message. Three dots (…) will appear on the right side. Click these dots to open a menu.
5. Select 'Edit': From the dropdown menu, choose the Edit option.
6. Make Your Correction: The message will reappear in your text box, ready for you to change. Fix your typo, correct the information, or rewrite the sentence.
7. Save Your Changes: Once you’re happy with the correction, click the Save button (or hit Enter). The original message will be replaced with the updated version, and a small pencil icon with the word "Edited" will appear next to it.

And that’s it. Both you and the recipient will see the corrected message along with the "Edited" notification, which makes the correction transparent.

Editing on the Mobile App (iOS and Android)

Sent a message while walking to a meeting? The mobile process is just as simple and might even feel a bit more intuitive.

1. Open the LinkedIn App: Launch the app and tap the Messaging icon, typically located in the top or bottom right corner of your screen.
2. Select the Conversation: Tap the chat that has the message you wish to fix.
3. Find the Sent Message: Scroll up to find the message you sent within the past hour.
4. Bring Up the Menu: Tap and hold down firmly on the message bubble itself. This will prompt a pop-up menu of options to appear.
5. Choose 'Edit': From the list of options (which also includes 'Copy', 'Forward', and 'Delete'), tap on Edit.
6. Revise Your Message: Your original message text will appear in the composition field at the bottom. Make the necessary changes.
7. Confirm the Edit: After revising, tap the blue checkmark or 'Send' icon to save and update the message. You'll see the "Edited" label appear next to the message, just like on the desktop version.

The Clock is Ticking: Strategies for That 60-Minute Window

Knowing you have just one hour puts a little pressure on the situation. The best habit you can build for professional social media communication isn't editing - it's rereading.

• The Quick Skim: Before moving to your next task, make it a habit to give your sent message a quick once-over immediately. This is when you'll catch most obvious errors.
• Don't Panic for Perfection: A minor typo like "teh" instead of "the" with an internal colleague might not be worth the edit. An incorrect statistic sent to a major prospect definitely is. Judge the severity before rushing to change it.
• Prioritize High-Stakes Conversations: If you're messaging a recruiter, a high-value lead, or a potential business partner, take an extra five seconds to double-check their name, their company's name, and any dates or numbers you’ve mentioned. These are the details that matter most.

Too Late? What to Do After the Editing Window Closes

So, you noticed the mistake an hour and five minutes later. The ‘Edit’ option is gone. What now? Don’t worry, you still have professional ways to handle the situation. In fact, how you handle a mistake can sometimes build more trust than if you had been perfect in the first place.

Option 1: The Simple Follow-Up Correction Message

For most mistakes, this is the best path forward. It’s honest, professional, and clear. Just send a brief follow-up message that acknowledges and corrects the error. A little self-correction shows you're paying attention.

Here are a few templates you can adapt:

For a simple typo:

"Apologies, just saw my typo! Meant to write *strategy*, not *staturity*."

"Correction: A classic case of my fingers moving too fast. That should have been next Tuesday."

For an incorrect fact or number:

"Quick clarification on my last message: the project deadline is EOD on the 15th, not the 14th. My apologies for any confusion."

When you misspell a name (an important one to fix):

"My sincere apologies, [Correct Name]. I misspelled your name in my previous message."

This approach is typically well-received. It's human, humble, and shows you care about clear communication. It's almost always better than letting a significant error go unaddressed.

Option 2: Deleting and Resending (Handle with Care)

LinkedIn also gives you the option to delete a message at any time, even after the 60-minute edit window has passed. However, use this feature cautiously. When you delete a message, a notification that says "This message was deleted" remains in its place. This can sometimes draw more attention to the fact that you removed something than a simple correction would have.

When to consider deleting a message:

• You Sent the Message to the Wrong Person: This is the prime scenario for deleting. If you sent sensitive information to the wrong contact, removing it immediately is the top priority.
• The Message Contains a Major Error: If the message has fundamentally incorrect information (like the wrong address for a meeting place or the wrong price quote on a proposal) that could cause major confusion, deleting and replacing it with the correct information might be the cleanest solution.
• You Sent Something Overly Casual or Unprofessional: If you sent a message you regret because of its tone, deleting it can be the right move. Follow up with a more polished message afterward if appropriate.

How to Delete a Message:

The process is nearly identical to editing. Just hover over the message (desktop) or tap-and-hold it (mobile), click the three dots, and select Delete instead of Edit. Then confirm your choice. After deleting, you can then type and send the correct message.

Final Thoughts

Editing a LinkedIn message is a simple fix when you catch a mistake early on. The 60-minute window provides a decent buffer to maintain professionalism, and for errors spotted later, a quick follow-up correction or a strategic deletion keeps your communications clear and effective.

Worrying about mistakes across a half-dozen social platforms is enough to make anyone's head spin. Managing professional relationships on LinkedIn while also handling comments on Instagram and DMs on X can be chaotic. We built Postbase to tackle this exact problem. By bringing all your comments and direct messages into a single, unified inbox, we help you keep track of every conversation without frantically switching between apps. This unified view not only saves time but also gives you the breathing room to compose thoughtful, accurate responses every time.