How to See Sent Messages on LinkedIn

Wondering where that important message you just sent on LinkedIn went? Unlike an old-school email program, LinkedIn doesn't have a separate Sent Items folder, which can be a little confusing at first. This guide will show you exactly how to find and manage your sent messages on both LinkedIn's desktop site and mobile app, so you can always track your conversations with confidence.

Where to Find Your Sent Messages on LinkedIn (Desktop)

Finding messages you've sent on the LinkedIn desktop version is straightforward once you understand that every interaction is part of a continuous conversation. LinkedIn treats your messages like a text message thread, not a series of disconnected emails.

The Quick and Simple Breakdown

Here’s exactly where to look:

• Step 1: Log in to your LinkedIn account on your computer.
• Step 2: In the top navigation bar, look for the speech bubble icon labeled "Messaging." Click on it.
• Step 3: A two-paneled messaging window will appear. The left side lists all your ongoing conversations, with the most recent ones at the top. Find and click on the conversation thread you want to review.
• Step 4: The panel on the right will display the entire chat history with that person or group. Your sent messages are integrated right into this flow, marked by your profile picture. Simply scroll up to see previous messages you've sent.

The main thing to remember is that there isn't a dedicated folder just for outgoing messages. Your sent messages live inside the specific conversation they belong to. This design encourages a more interactive, back-and-forth communication style, much like popular chat applications.

Accessing Your Sent Messages on the Mobile App

If you're using LinkedIn on the go, finding your sent messages is just as easy. The mobile app follows the same conversational logic as the desktop site, keeping all your communications organized by thread.

Steps for iOS and Android

The process is nearly identical for both iPhone and Android users:

• Step 1: Open the LinkedIn app on your smartphone.
• Step 2: Tap the "Messaging" icon. On most devices, it looks like a speech bubble with three dots and is located in the top-right corner of the home screen.
• Step 3: Your list of conversations will appear. Tap on the specific discussion you want to check.
• Step 4: Just like on the desktop version, the all-inclusive chat view will open. You can scroll through the entire history to see every message you’ve sent to that connection.

Filtering and Searching for Specific Sent Messages

What if you need to find a message you sent weeks, months, or even years ago? Scrolling through a long conversation isn't practical. This is where LinkedIn's search and filtering tools become your best friends.

Using the Search Bar

The most direct way to pinpoint an old message is to use the search functionality within the messaging platform.

On your desktop, when you open the messaging pane, you’ll see a search bar at the very top of your conversation list labeled "Search messages." Here’s how to use it:

1. Search by Person: Start typing the name of the person you messaged. LinkedIn will instantly narrow down your conversation list to match the name.
2. Search by Keyword: This is a more powerful feature. If you remember a specific term, project name, or phrase from your message, type it into the search bar. For example, if you discussed a “Q3 marketing report,” typing that phrase will pull up every conversation where it was mentioned. Click the result, and LinkedIn will even highlight the keyword in the chat history.

This works especially well when you need to confirm what you said about a particular topic or find a specific link or file you sent someone in the past.

Using Message Filters

To the right of the search bar (on desktop), you’ll find a filter icon. This tool helps you refine your inbox view to quickly locate different types of conversations.

You can filter by:

• Archived: Shows conversations you've previously hidden from your main inbox.
• My Connections: Only shows messages from your 1st-degree connections.
• Unread: Hides all conversations you've already seen.
• InMail: Isolates messages sent or received using LinkedIn's premium messaging feature, which is often used for outreach to people you're not yet connected with.
• Spam: Displays messages LinkedIn has automatically identified as potential spam.

While these filters apply to the entire conversation and not just sent messages, they are incredibly useful for decluttering your view. For instance, if you know the message you sent was an InMail to a potential client, selecting the "InMail" filter will help you find it much faster.

Pro-Tips for Managing Your LinkedIn Messages

Knowing where to find your messages is just the first step. True social media pros know how to manage their inbox for maximum efficiency and impact. Here are a few valuable tips that go beyond just viewing your messages.

Editing or Deleting a Sent Message

We've all done it: sent a message with a typo or in the heat of the moment. LinkedIn gives you a small window to correct your mistakes. You can edit or delete a message for up to 60 minutes after sending it.

• On Desktop: Hover your mouse over the message you sent. Three dots (...) will appear. Click them and select "Edit" to modify the text or "Delete" to remove it entirely.
• On Mobile: Tap and hold the message you want to change. A menu will pop up with options to "Edit" or "Delete."

A small note saying "This message has been deleted" will appear in its place if you delete it, so the action isn't invisible. Still, it’s a lifesaver when you need it.

Leveraging "Read Receipts"

Wondering if your connection ever actually saw the message you sent? That’s where read receipts come in. When enabled, a tiny version of the recipient’s profile picture appears below your message once they've opened it.

To check or change your settings:

1. Go to your LinkedIn profile and click on "Me" > "Settings & Privacy."
2. Click on "Data Privacy" > "Messaging experience."
3. Here you can toggle "Read receipts and typing indicators" on or off.

For sales professionals, recruiters, and networkers, this feature is excellent. It provides immediate feedback and helps you decide when it might be appropriate to follow up.

Archiving Conversations to Declutter Your Inbox

Once the 60-minute window closes, you can’t delete an individual message from a conversation. However, you can organize your inbox by archiving old or unimportant conversations. Archiving simply hides the thread from your main inbox view, it does not delete it permanently.

To archive a Conversation, hover over it in the left-hand list, click the three dots (...), and select "Archive." The conversation will disappear from sight, giving you a much cleaner, more organized messaging space. You can always find it again using the "Archived" filter.

Why Doesn't LinkedIn Have a "Sent" Folder?

This is a common question, and the answer comes down to design philosophy. LinkedIn wants its messaging platform to feel like a modern, conversational chat app (like WhatsApp or Messenger), not a traditional email client like Gmail or Outlook. The all-in-one conversational thread is more intuitive for back-and-forth dialogue and fosters a more connected, less formal communication style. Thinking of it as a professional chat room rather than an inbox helps clarify why it’s structured this way.

Final Thoughts

Finding your sent messages on LinkedIn is all about shifting your perspective - think of them as part of a continuous conversational thread rather than separate items in a folder. By mastering the search and filter functions and using management features like archiving and read receipts, you can keep track of all your professional communications with ease.

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