Linkedin

---
name: linkedin
description: LinkedIn automation via the Linked API CLI - fetch profiles, search people and companies, send messages, manage connections, create posts, react, comment, and run Sales Navigator and custom workflows. Use when the user wants to interact with LinkedIn.
user-invocable: false
disable-model-invocation: true
version: 1.0.0
category: ai-service
author: Linked API (vprudnikoff)
license: MIT
progressive_disclosure:
  entry_point:
    summary: "Linked API CLI: fetch/search LinkedIn people and companies, send messages, manage connections, create posts, react, comment, plus Sales Navigator and custom workflows."
    when_to_use: "LinkedIn automation - profile and company lookups, people/company search, messaging, connection management, posting, or Sales Navigator workflows through the linkedin CLI."
    quick_start: "1. Install @linkedapi/linkedin-cli 2. Export LINKEDAPI_TOKEN and LINKEDAPI_IDENTIFICATION_TOKEN 3. Run linkedin setup 4. Call commands with --json -q and check the success field."
context_limit: 4200
tags:
  - linkedin
  - social-media
  - automation
  - api
  - cli
  - messaging
  - sales-navigator
  - agent-workflows
requires_tools: []
---

# LinkedIn - Linked API Automation CLI

## Overview

`linkedin` is a CLI tool for LinkedIn automation built on Linked API. Use it to fetch profiles, search people and companies, send messages, manage connections, create posts, react, comment, and run Sales Navigator and custom workflows.

Each command sends a request to Linked API, which runs a real cloud browser to perform the action on LinkedIn. Operations are **not instant** - expect 30 seconds to several minutes depending on complexity.

Install the CLI when `linkedin` is not available:

```bash
npm install -g @linkedapi/linkedin-cli
```

## Safety & Compliance

Read this before running any command.

- **LinkedIn User Agreement risk.** Automated connection requests, messaging, scraping, and posting can violate LinkedIn's User Agreement and can lead to account restriction or suspension. The account owner is responsible for compliance with LinkedIn's terms and applicable law. Confirm the user accepts this risk before performing write actions at scale.
- **Confirm write and outreach actions.** Require explicit user approval before sending messages, connection requests, InMail, posts, reactions, or comments. Show the exact target and content first.
- **Credentials only.** Use the Linked API token and identification token issued from the dashboard. Never request LinkedIn passwords, 2FA codes, cookies, session exports, recovery codes, or browser profile data.
- **Respect action limits.** Per-account limits are configurable on the platform. A `limitExceeded` error means the limit was reached - stop and report it rather than retrying.

## Authentication

The CLI reads credentials from environment variables. Export them so secrets stay out of shell history and process listings. Never pass tokens as CLI arguments.

When a command fails with exit code 2 (authentication error), guide the user through setup:

1. Go to [app.linkedapi.io](https://app.linkedapi.io) and sign up or log in.
2. Connect the LinkedIn account.
3. Copy the **Linked API Token** and **Identification Token** from the dashboard.

Export the tokens and run setup:

```bash
export LINKEDAPI_TOKEN="your-linked-api-token"
export LINKEDAPI_IDENTIFICATION_TOKEN="your-identification-token"
linkedin setup
```

Treat an exposed token as compromised and rotate it in the Linked API dashboard. Do not put tokens in source files, committed examples, issue text, chat transcripts, screenshots, or logs.

## Global Flags

Always use `--json` and `-q` for machine-readable output:

```bash
linkedin <command> --json -q
```

Optionally set `LINKEDAPI_CLIENT=skill:linkedin` in the environment once so Linked API can attribute usage to this skill. There is no need to repeat it on every command.

| Flag | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `--json` | Structured JSON output |
| `--quiet` / `-q` | Suppress stderr progress messages |
| `--fields name,url,...` | Select specific fields in output |
| `--no-color` | Disable colors |
| `--account "Name"` | Use a specific account for this command |

## Output Format

Success:
```json
{"success": true, "data": {"name": "John Doe", "headline": "Engineer"}}
```

Error:
```json
{"success": false, "error": {"type": "personNotFound", "message": "Person not found"}}
```

Exit code 0 means the API call succeeded - always check the `success` field for the action outcome. Non-zero exit codes indicate infrastructure errors:

| Exit Code | Meaning |
|-----------|---------|
| 0 | Success (check `success` field - action may have returned an error like "person not found") |
| 1 | General/unexpected error |
| 2 | Missing or invalid tokens |
| 3 | Subscription/plan required |
| 4 | LinkedIn account issue |
| 5 | Invalid arguments |
| 6 | Rate limited |
| 7 | Network error |
| 8 | Workflow timeout (workflowId returned for recovery) |

## Commands

### Fetch a Person Profile

```bash
linkedin person fetch <url> [flags] --json -q
```

Optional flags to include additional data:
- `--experience` - work history
- `--education` - education history
- `--skills` - skills list
- `--languages` - languages
- `--posts` - recent posts (with `--posts-limit N`, `--posts-since TIMESTAMP`)
- `--comments` - recent comments (with `--comments-limit N`, `--comments-since TIMESTAMP`)
- `--reactions` - recent reactions (with `--reactions-limit N`, `--reactions-since TIMESTAMP`)

Request additional data only when needed - each flag increases execution time.

```bash
# Basic profile
linkedin person fetch https://www.linkedin.com/in/username --json -q

# With experience and education
linkedin person fetch https://www.linkedin.com/in/username --experience --education --json -q

# With last 5 posts
linkedin person fetch https://www.linkedin.com/in/username --posts --posts-limit 5 --json -q
```

### Search People

```bash
linkedin person search [flags] --json -q
```

| Flag | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `--term` | Search keyword or phrase |
| `--limit` | Max results |
| `--first-name` | Filter by first name |
| `--last-name` | Filter by last name |
| `--position` | Filter by job position |
| `--locations` | Comma-separated locations |
| `--industries` | Comma-separated industries |
| `--current-companies` | Comma-separated current company names |
| `--previous-companies` | Comma-separated previous company names |
| `--schools` | Comma-separated school names |

```bash
linkedin person search --term "product manager" --locations "San Francisco" --json -q
linkedin person search --current-companies "Google" --position "Engineer" --limit 20 --json -q
```

### Fetch a Company

```bash
linkedin company fetch <url> [flags] --json -q
```

Optional flags:
- `--employees` - include employees
- `--dms` - include decision makers
- `--posts` - include company posts

Employee filters (require `--employees`):

| Flag | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `--employees-limit` | Max employees to retrieve |
| `--employees-first-name` | Filter by first name |
| `--employees-last-name` | Filter by last name |
| `--employees-position` | Filter by position |
| `--employees-locations` | Comma-separated locations |
| `--employees-industries` | Comma-separated industries |
| `--employees-schools` | Comma-separated school names |

| Flag | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `--dms-limit` | Max decision makers to retrieve (requires `--dms`) |
| `--posts-limit` | Max posts to retrieve (requires `--posts`) |
| `--posts-since` | Posts since ISO timestamp (requires `--posts`) |

```bash
# Basic company info
linkedin company fetch https://www.linkedin.com/company/name --json -q

# With employees filtered by position
linkedin company fetch https://www.linkedin.com/company/name --employees --employees-position "Engineer" --json -q

# With decision makers and posts
linkedin company fetch https://www.linkedin.com/company/name --dms --posts --posts-limit 10 --json -q
```

### Search Companies

```bash
linkedin company search [flags] --json -q
```

| Flag | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `--term` | Search keyword |
| `--limit` | Max results |
| `--sizes` | Comma-separated sizes: `1-10`, `11-50`, `51-200`, `201-500`, `501-1000`, `1001-5000`, `5001-10000`, `10001+` |
| `--locations` | Comma-separated locations |
| `--industries` | Comma-separated industries |

```bash
linkedin company search --term "fintech" --sizes "11-50,51-200" --json -q
```

### Send a Message

```bash
linkedin message send <person-url> '<text>' --json -q
```

Text up to 1900 characters. Wrap the message in single quotes to avoid shell interpretation issues.

```bash
linkedin message send https://www.linkedin.com/in/username 'Hey, loved your latest post!' --json -q
```

### Get Conversation

```bash
linkedin message get <person-url> [--since TIMESTAMP] --json -q
```

The first call for a conversation triggers a background sync and takes longer; subsequent calls are faster.

```bash
linkedin message get https://www.linkedin.com/in/username --json -q
linkedin message get https://www.linkedin.com/in/username --since 2024-01-15T10:30:00Z --json -q
```

### Connection Management

#### Check connection status

```bash
linkedin connection status <url> --json -q
```

#### Send connection request

```bash
linkedin connection send <url> [--note 'text'] [--email user@example.com] --json -q
```

#### List connections

```bash
linkedin connection list [flags] --json -q
```

| Flag | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `--limit` | Max connections to return |
| `--since` | Only connections made since ISO timestamp (only works when no filter flags are used) |
| `--first-name` | Filter by first name |
| `--last-name` | Filter by last name |
| `--position` | Filter by job position |
| `--locations` | Comma-separated locations |
| `--industries` | Comma-separated industries |
| `--current-companies` | Comma-separated current company names |
| `--previous-companies` | Comma-separated previous company names |
| `--schools` | Comma-separated school names |

```bash
linkedin connection list --limit 50 --json -q
linkedin connection list --current-companies "Google" --position "Engineer" --json -q
linkedin connection list --since 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z --json -q
```

#### List pending outgoing requests

```bash
linkedin connection pending --json -q
```

#### Withdraw a pending request

```bash
linkedin connection withdraw <url> [--no-unfollow] --json -q
```

By default, withdrawing also unfollows the person. Use `--no-unfollow` to keep following.

#### Remove a connection

```bash
linkedin connection remove <url> --json -q
```

### Posts

#### Fetch a post

```bash
linkedin post fetch <url> [flags] --json -q
```

| Flag | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `--comments` | Include comments |
| `--reactions` | Include reactions |
| `--comments-limit` | Max comments to retrieve (requires `--comments`) |
| `--comments-sort` | Sort order: `mostRelevant` or `mostRecent` (requires `--comments`) |
| `--comments-replies` | Include replies to comments (requires `--comments`) |
| `--reactions-limit` | Max reactions to retrieve (requires `--reactions`) |

```bash
linkedin post fetch https://www.linkedin.com/posts/username_activity-123 --json -q

# With comments sorted by most recent, including replies
linkedin post fetch https://www.linkedin.com/posts/username_activity-123 \
  --comments --comments-sort mostRecent --comments-replies --json -q
```

#### Create a post

```bash
linkedin post create '<text>' [flags] --json -q
```

| Flag | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `--company-url` | Post on behalf of a company page (requires admin access) |
| `--attachments` | Attachment as `url:type` or `url:type:name`. Types: `image`, `video`, `document`. Can be specified multiple times. |

Attachment limits: up to 9 images, or 1 video, or 1 document. Cannot mix types.

```bash
linkedin post create 'Excited to share our latest update!' --json -q

# With a document
linkedin post create 'Our Q4 report' \
  --attachments "https://example.com/report.pdf:document:Q4 Report" --json -q

# Post as a company
linkedin post create 'Company announcement' \
  --company-url https://www.linkedin.com/company/name --json -q
```

#### React to a post

```bash
linkedin post react <url> --type <reaction> [--company-url <url>] --json -q
```

Reaction types: `like`, `love`, `support`, `celebrate`, `insightful`, `funny`.

```bash
linkedin post react https://www.linkedin.com/posts/username_activity-123 --type like --json -q

# React on behalf of a company
linkedin post react https://www.linkedin.com/posts/username_activity-123 --type celebrate \
  --company-url https://www.linkedin.com/company/name --json -q
```

#### Comment on a post

```bash
linkedin post comment <url> '<text>' [--company-url <url>] --json -q
```

Text up to 1000 characters.

```bash
linkedin post comment https://www.linkedin.com/posts/username_activity-123 'Great insights!' --json -q

# Comment on behalf of a company
linkedin post comment https://www.linkedin.com/posts/username_activity-123 'Well said!' \
  --company-url https://www.linkedin.com/company/name --json -q
```

### Statistics

```bash
# Social Selling Index
linkedin stats ssi --json -q

# Performance analytics (profile views, post impressions, search appearances)
linkedin stats performance --json -q

# API usage for a date range
linkedin stats usage --start 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z --end 2024-01-31T00:00:00Z --json -q
```

### Sales Navigator

Requires a LinkedIn Sales Navigator subscription. Uses hashed URLs for person/company lookups.

#### Fetch person

```bash
linkedin navigator person fetch <hashed-url> --json -q
```

#### Search people

```bash
linkedin navigator person search [flags] --json -q
```

| Flag | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `--term` | Search keyword or phrase |
| `--limit` | Max results |
| `--first-name` | Filter by first name |
| `--last-name` | Filter by last name |
| `--position` | Filter by job position |
| `--locations` | Comma-separated locations |
| `--industries` | Comma-separated industries |
| `--current-companies` | Comma-separated current company names |
| `--previous-companies` | Comma-separated previous company names |
| `--schools` | Comma-separated school names |
| `--years-of-experience` | Comma-separated ranges: `lessThanOne`, `oneToTwo`, `threeToFive`, `sixToTen`, `moreThanTen` |

```bash
linkedin navigator person search --term "VP Marketing" --locations "United States" --json -q
linkedin navigator person search --years-of-experience "moreThanTen" --position "CEO" --json -q
```

#### Fetch company

```bash
linkedin navigator company fetch <hashed-url> [flags] --json -q
```

Optional flags:
- `--employees` - include employees
- `--dms` - include decision makers

Employee filters (require `--employees`):

| Flag | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `--employees-limit` | Max employees to retrieve |
| `--employees-first-name` | Filter by first name |
| `--employees-last-name` | Filter by last name |
| `--employees-positions` | Comma-separated positions |
| `--employees-locations` | Comma-separated locations |
| `--employees-industries` | Comma-separated industries |
| `--employees-schools` | Comma-separated school names |
| `--employees-years-of-experience` | Comma-separated experience ranges |
| `--dms-limit` | Max decision makers to retrieve (requires `--dms`) |

```bash
linkedin navigator company fetch https://www.linkedin.com/sales/company/97ural --employees --dms --json -q
linkedin navigator company fetch https://www.linkedin.com/sales/company/97ural \
  --employees --employees-positions "Engineer,Designer" --employees-locations "Europe" --json -q
```

#### Search companies

```bash
linkedin navigator company search [flags] --json -q
```

| Flag | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `--term` | Search keyword |
| `--limit` | Max results |
| `--sizes` | Comma-separated sizes: `1-10`, `11-50`, `51-200`, `201-500`, `501-1000`, `1001-5000`, `5001-10000`, `10001+` |
| `--locations` | Comma-separated locations |
| `--industries` | Comma-separated industries |
| `--revenue-min` | Min annual revenue in M USD: `0`, `0.5`, `1`, `2.5`, `5`, `10`, `20`, `50`, `100`, `500`, `1000` |
| `--revenue-max` | Max annual revenue in M USD: `0.5`, `1`, `2.5`, `5`, `10`, `20`, `50`, `100`, `500`, `1000`, `1000+` |

```bash
linkedin navigator company search --term "fintech" --sizes "11-50,51-200" --json -q
linkedin navigator company search --revenue-min 10 --revenue-max 100 --locations "United States" --json -q
```

#### Send InMail

```bash
linkedin navigator message send <person-url> '<text>' --subject '<subject>' --json -q
```

Text up to 1900 characters. Subject up to 80 characters.

```bash
linkedin navigator message send https://www.linkedin.com/in/username \
  'Would love to chat about API integrations' --subject 'Partnership Opportunity' --json -q
```

#### Get Sales Navigator conversation

```bash
linkedin navigator message get <person-url> [--since TIMESTAMP] --json -q
```

### Custom Workflows

Execute a custom workflow definition from a file, stdin, or inline:

```bash
# From file
linkedin workflow run --file workflow.json --json -q

# From stdin
cat workflow.json | linkedin workflow run --json -q

# Inline
echo '{"actions":[...]}' | linkedin workflow run --json -q
```

Check workflow status or wait for completion:

```bash
linkedin workflow status <id> --json -q
linkedin workflow status <id> --wait --json -q
```

See [Building Workflows](https://linkedapi.io/docs/building-workflows/) for the workflow JSON schema.

### Account Management

```bash
linkedin account list                            # List accounts (* = active)
linkedin account switch "Name"                   # Switch active account
linkedin account rename "Name" --name "New Name" # Rename account
linkedin reset                                   # Remove active account
linkedin reset --all                             # Remove all accounts
```

## Important Behavior

- **Sequential execution.** All operations for an account run one at a time. Multiple requests queue up.
- **Not instant.** A real browser navigates LinkedIn - expect 30 seconds to several minutes per operation.
- **Timestamps in UTC.** All dates and times are in UTC.
- **Single quotes for text arguments.** Wrap message text, post text, and comments in single quotes to avoid shell interpretation issues with special characters.
- **Action limits.** Per-account limits are configurable on the platform. A `limitExceeded` error means the limit was reached.
- **URL normalization.** All LinkedIn URLs in responses are normalized to `https://www.linkedin.com/...` format without trailing slashes.
- **Null fields.** Fields that are unavailable are returned as `null` or `[]`, not omitted.

## Anti-Patterns

- **Do not** pass tokens as CLI arguments (`--linked-api-token=...`). Export them as environment variables instead so they stay out of shell history and process listings.
- **Do not** request or accept LinkedIn passwords, 2FA codes, cookies, or session data. Use only the dashboard-issued tokens.
- **Do not** run bulk outreach or scraping without confirming the user accepts the LinkedIn User Agreement risk.
- **Do not** retry a write action automatically after a `limitExceeded` or rate-limit error. Stop and report it.