If you are comparing the best LinkedIn backup tools, start with the content you need to preserve: your profile, connections, messages, posts, media, or company-Page data. LinkedIn says it is not a storage service and does not promise to store, maintain, or provide copies of member content except where applicable law requires it (LinkedIn User Agreement).
LinkedIn defines Content broadly. Its examples include feed posts, comments, profiles, articles, group posts, messages, videos, photos, audio, and PDFs (LinkedIn User Agreement). A profile PDF is therefore a useful reference, but it does not cover every object you may want to preserve.
Need ongoing capture of public LinkedIn content without handing over a password? Start with a public handle and set up SocialGuardian.
Best LinkedIn backup tools at a glance
| Option | Coverage | Workflow | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| LinkedIn native export | Specific categories or a larger download are available (LinkedIn Help). A backup guide lists connections, messages, profile information, account history, articles, and applications in larger CSV and JSON archives (LinkedIn backup guide). | Specific requests are emailed within minutes; a larger download is emailed within 24 hours, with a 72-hour download window (LinkedIn Help). | A one-time account-data archive. |
| SocialGuardian LinkedIn export | The LinkedIn export page lists posts, photos, videos, reels and shorts, stories, captions and metadata, follower and following lists, and engagement (SocialGuardian LinkedIn export). | Enter a LinkedIn @handle; the service says it pulls new content automatically, then lets you download the archive or restore individual items (SocialGuardian LinkedIn export). | Continuous capture of the listed public content without a password or installation (SocialGuardian LinkedIn export). |
| Native messages plus Sheets workflows | LinkedIn's native message export produces a CSV, and the documented Sheets workflow sends messages to Google Sheets (Kondo). | The native message export can take up to 24 hours and requires manual cleanup; the Sheets integration offers streaming or manual sync (Kondo). | Message history and spreadsheet analysis, not a complete LinkedIn archive (Kondo). |
| Company-Page data | Page owners, including Page admins and authorized third-party developers, can use the Pages Data Portability API for organization Page data that may include Page content and member interactions (LinkedIn Page data export). Page analytics are a separate XLS export from Page admin view (LinkedIn analytics export). | API access requires an application and review; Page analytics are a separate export workflow (LinkedIn API access; LinkedIn analytics export). | A separate Page-owner and admin workflow. |
Define what you need to preserve
Use the target object to choose a workflow:
- Profile snapshot: The documented desktop PDF route is Profile > More > Save to PDF. The guide describes the PDF as a readable snapshot that does not include connections, messages, or activity history (LinkedIn backup guide).
- Connections and account data: The larger native archive is the option to investigate. A backup guide lists connections and profile information among its files (LinkedIn backup guide).
- Messages: Request the Messages category or use a documented message-to-Sheets workflow (LinkedIn Help; Kondo).
- Posts and media: Choose a workflow that explicitly lists the objects you want. SocialGuardian's LinkedIn page lists posts, photos, videos, stories, captions and metadata, follower and following lists, and engagement (SocialGuardian LinkedIn export).
- Company-Page data: Treat Page data as a separate workstream. LinkedIn describes a Pages Data Portability API for Page owners and separately documents Page analytics export (LinkedIn Page data export; LinkedIn analytics export).
LinkedIn native export: the one-time account archive
LinkedIn's official Help Center documents this desktop route:
- Click the Me icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage.
- Select Settings & Privacy.
- Click Data Privacy on the left rail.
- Under How LinkedIn uses your data, click Download your data.
- Select the data you are looking for and Request archive (LinkedIn Help).
The tool lets you select specific categories or a larger download (LinkedIn Help). Specific requests are emailed within minutes. A larger download is emailed within 24 hours, and the download link is available for 72 hours (LinkedIn Help).
A LinkedIn backup guide describes the larger archive as CSV and JSON files that can include connections, messages, profile information, account history, articles, and applications (LinkedIn backup guide). LinkedIn's Help Center adds two boundaries: you receive only categories applicable to your account and activities, and the download provides your own personal data, not other members' data (LinkedIn Help).
Some connection email addresses may be missing because each member controls whether others may download that address (LinkedIn Help). Treat the connections file as an export of available data, not a promise that every connection has an email address.
The data-download feature is currently not available on mobile. LinkedIn recommends downloading data from a personal computer rather than a public computer (LinkedIn Help).
Add a readable profile snapshot
For a profile PDF on desktop:
- Open your profile.
- Choose More.
- Choose Save to PDF (LinkedIn backup guide).
That PDF is a readable profile snapshot, but the guide says it does not include connections, messages, or activity history and may not reflect real-time profile updates (LinkedIn backup guide). Use it alongside the larger archive rather than as a replacement.
Continuous public-content capture without a password
SocialGuardian's LinkedIn export page describes a different workflow from a request-based native archive: it says LinkedIn photos, videos, and posts back themselves up continuously, with no password and nothing to install, using only a public @handle (SocialGuardian LinkedIn export).
The page lists these captured items:
- Posts
- Photos
- Videos
- Reels and shorts
- Stories
- Captions and metadata
- Follower list
- Following list
- Engagement (SocialGuardian LinkedIn export)
To use the documented workflow:
- Enter your LinkedIn @handle.
- Let the service pull new content automatically.
- Download the whole archive any time, or restore individual items (SocialGuardian LinkedIn export).
SocialGuardian's homepage says it does not ask for passwords or logins and says users can export their full archive anytime without lock-in (SocialGuardian homepage).
If posts, photos, videos, and the other listed objects are your priority, enter a public handle at SocialGuardian for ongoing capture and archive access.
Messages: native CSV and Google Sheets workflows
If messages are the priority, Kondo's guide documents this native export path:
- Click your profile icon on LinkedIn and select Settings & Privacy.
- Navigate to Data privacy.
- Open Get a copy of your data.
- Under the specific data files option, select Messages.
- Click Request archive.
- Download the CSV and import it into a new Google Sheet (Kondo).
Kondo describes the native message export as free and safe for a one-time backup, but says it can take up to 24 hours and requires manual data cleanup (Kondo).
For the documented Google Sheets connection:
- Open your Google Sheet.
- Go to Extensions > Add-ons > Get add-ons and install Kondo.
- Go to Extensions > Kondo > Setup Webhook.
- Activate Kondo Webhook.
- Select Connect to Kondo.
- Choose Streaming or Manual sync (Kondo).
The same guide documents a Bardeen browser-automation route for visible messages:
- Install the Bardeen browser extension.
- Navigate to your LinkedIn messaging page.
- Locate the Save LinkedIn messages from the messaging page to Google Sheets playbook.
- Run the playbook (Kondo).
These are message-focused workflows. They do not replace the native larger archive or a content-capture workflow for the other objects listed here (LinkedIn Help; SocialGuardian LinkedIn export).
Company-Page data: API export plus analytics record
Do not treat a personal LinkedIn data download as proof of a company-Page asset archive. LinkedIn says its personal download provides your own personal data, while its Page documentation describes a separate Pages Data Portability API for Page owners (LinkedIn Help; LinkedIn Page data export).
Pages Data Portability API
LinkedIn says Page owners, including Page admins and authorized third-party developers, can export data related to their organizations' LinkedIn Pages through the Pages Data Portability API. The data organizations provide or generate through Pages may include Page content and member interactions (LinkedIn Page data export).
The documented setup path is:
- Create the LinkedIn Page.
- Create a developer application in the Developer Portal.
- Apply for Pages Data Portability API under the app's Products tab.
- Complete the access form (LinkedIn API access).
LinkedIn reviews the application and notifies the applicant. Once approved, LinkedIn provides additional information on how to get started and technical-support details (LinkedIn API access).
The API has a privacy boundary. LinkedIn says the Page owners exporting your data setting controls whether some member profile data and individual Page interactions are shared through the API; relevant fields are removed from the response when a member's setting is off (LinkedIn API access).
Members can control that setting through this documented path:
- Click the Me icon at the top of the LinkedIn homepage.
- Select Settings & Privacy.
- Click Visibility in the left menu.
- Click Page owners exporting your data.
- Turn on Allow Page owners to export your data. LinkedIn says this setting is off by default (LinkedIn member setting).
Page analytics as a separate record
A Page admin can export analytics as an XLS:
- Access Page admin view.
- Click Analytics in the left menu.
- Select Content, Visitors, Followers, or Competitors.
- Click Export in the upper-right corner.
- Select a timeframe.
- Click Export again (LinkedIn analytics export).
Keep this XLS with the Page archive as an analytics record. The documented analytics workflow does not establish a media or post-asset archive, so keep it separate from the Pages Data Portability API workflow (LinkedIn analytics export; LinkedIn Page data export).
Safety and policy boundaries
LinkedIn's User Agreement prohibits using software, devices, scripts, robots, crawlers, browser plugins, add-ons, or other processes to scrape or copy LinkedIn Services, including profiles and other data (LinkedIn User Agreement). It also prohibits bots or other unauthorized automated methods for downloading contacts, sending messages, or creating, commenting on, liking, sharing, or resharing posts (LinkedIn User Agreement).
Kondo's guide warns that scraper and extension workflows can carry a risk of account restrictions for violating LinkedIn's terms (Kondo). LinkedIn reserves the right to limit use and restrict, suspend, or terminate an account for breach, misuse, or policy violations (LinkedIn User Agreement). Review the current terms before using a scraper or browser extension.
A layered backup plan for profiles, connections, posts, and Page data
Match each object to the workflow that explicitly covers it:
- Create a profile reference. On desktop, use Profile > More > Save to PDF. The PDF is a readable snapshot, but it excludes connections, messages, and activity history (LinkedIn backup guide).
- Request the larger native archive. Use Me > Settings & Privacy > Data Privacy > How LinkedIn uses your data > Download your data, select the categories or larger download, and request the archive (LinkedIn Help).
- Capture listed public content continuously. SocialGuardian documents a public-@handle workflow for automatic capture, archive download, and individual-item restore (SocialGuardian LinkedIn export).
- Preserve messages deliberately. Request the Messages category and import the CSV into Google Sheets, or choose the documented Sheets workflow (Kondo).
- Apply for Page-data access when eligible. Create the Page and developer application, apply for the Pages Data Portability API, complete the access form, and wait for LinkedIn's review (LinkedIn API access).
- Export Page analytics separately. Use Page admin view > Analytics, choose a documented analytics tab, export, choose a timeframe, and export again (LinkedIn analytics export).
- Store the native archive securely. The LinkedIn backup guide recommends a secure location, preferably with encrypted backup (LinkedIn backup guide).
- Verify each result. Open the downloaded files, check that the expected objects are present, and retrieve an individual item where the selected service documents that capability. This verification is a practical check, not a promise that every workflow restores a LinkedIn account.
For cadence, the LinkedIn backup guide suggests a profile PDF monthly and a full data export quarterly. It labels this as a suggested schedule, not official LinkedIn policy (LinkedIn backup guide).
Build a backup you can inspect before you need it: capture listed LinkedIn content, download the archive, and keep a secure copy with SocialGuardian.
What backup can and cannot restore
A backup is reference material, not automatic account recovery. The LinkedIn backup guide says exported data can help recreate a profile and reconnect using the connections list if recovery is not possible (LinkedIn backup guide).
LinkedIn's Help Center warns that closing the account removes access to the LinkedIn account data (LinkedIn Help). Request and secure the archive before closing an account if you need that data later.
LinkedIn's Privacy Policy says public posts, images, videos, or articles can be viewed by everyone and reshared anywhere, subject to settings. It separately says information shared through company or organization pages is viewable by those organizations and other page viewers (LinkedIn Privacy Policy). Visibility is not the same as a verified archive, so confirm the exact object and recovery path you need.
FAQ
How do I download all of my LinkedIn data?
On desktop, go to Me > Settings & Privacy > Data Privacy > How LinkedIn uses your data > Download your data, choose specific categories or a larger download, and select Request archive (LinkedIn Help).
Does LinkedIn have a native backup or export tool?
Yes. LinkedIn's Help Center documents a data-download feature for specific categories or a larger download, followed by Request archive (LinkedIn Help).
What does a LinkedIn data export include?
The applicable categories vary by account and activities. A LinkedIn backup guide lists connections, messages, profile information, account history, articles, and applications among larger-archive files; LinkedIn says the download provides your own personal data, not other members' data (LinkedIn backup guide; LinkedIn Help).
How often should I back up my LinkedIn account?
A LinkedIn backup guide suggests a profile PDF monthly and a full data export quarterly. That is the guide author's recommendation, not official LinkedIn policy (LinkedIn backup guide).
Can I back up LinkedIn posts, photos, and videos automatically?
SocialGuardian's LinkedIn export page says its service continuously backs up LinkedIn photos, videos, and posts using a public @handle, with no password and nothing to install (SocialGuardian LinkedIn export).
Can I recover or recreate my LinkedIn profile after losing access?
A backup does not automatically restore a lost account, but exported data can be used as a reference to recreate the profile and reconnect using the connections list (LinkedIn backup guide).
Are LinkedIn scraping and browser-extension backup tools safe?
LinkedIn prohibits unauthorized tools and processes used to scrape or copy its services, and Kondo warns that scraper and extension workflows carry a risk of account restrictions for violating LinkedIn's terms (LinkedIn User Agreement; Kondo).
How can I back up LinkedIn company-Page assets?
Use two separate tracks: a Page owner or authorized developer can apply for the Pages Data Portability API, whose eligible data may include Page content and member interactions; a Page admin can separately export Content, Visitors, Followers, or Competitors analytics as an XLS (LinkedIn Page data export; LinkedIn analytics export).
