How to Export LinkedIn Contacts & Connections in 2026

LinkedIn lets you export your 1st-degree connections to a CSV file directly from your account settings. No paid plan required, no third-party tool necessary. The feature is built into every free LinkedIn account under Settings & Privacy, and LinkedIn is legally obligated to provide it under GDPR Article 20 (the right to data portability).

Yet most professionals never use it. And among those who do, few understand the limitations of what LinkedIn actually includes in the export -- or what it quietly leaves out.

This guide walks through the exact steps to export your LinkedIn contacts in 2026, what data you actually receive, where the gaps are, and how to put that data to work in your CRM, email workflows, or relationship management system.

Key Takeaways

• LinkedIn's native export is free and available to every user through Settings & Privacy > Get a copy of your data
• The CSV includes six fields: First Name, Last Name, Email Address, Company, Position, and Connected On date
• Email addresses are often missing because most users restrict email visibility in their privacy settings
• Phone numbers are never included in the standard connections export, regardless of privacy settings
• Only 1st-degree connections can be exported -- 2nd and 3rd-degree contacts are not available
• Export processing takes 10-24 minutes in most cases, though LinkedIn warns it can take up to 24 hours
• Third-party tools like Evaboot, PhantomBuster, and Dux-Soup can supplement missing data but carry compliance risks

How to Export LinkedIn Connections (Step-by-Step)

The native export process is straightforward but buried several layers deep in LinkedIn's settings. Follow these steps exactly.

Step 1: Open LinkedIn Settings

Log in to LinkedIn on desktop. Click your profile photo in the top navigation bar, then select Settings & Privacy from the dropdown menu.

Step 2: Navigate to Data Privacy

In the left sidebar, click Data privacy. Scroll down to the section labeled Get a copy of your data.

Step 3: Select Your Data

LinkedIn presents two options:

• Want something in particular? -- Select specific data categories (choose "Connections")
• Download larger data archive -- Includes messages, activity, profile data, and everything else

For a contacts export, select Connections under the first option. This gives you the fastest download with only the data you need.

Step 4: Request the Archive

Click Request archive. LinkedIn will send a confirmation to your registered email address.

Step 5: Download the CSV

LinkedIn processes your request and emails you when the file is ready. Processing typically takes 10 to 24 minutes, though LinkedIn's official documentation states it can take up to 24 hours for larger networks.

The download link arrives via email and is also accessible from the same Data Privacy settings page under Download your data.

Step 6: Open and Review

The export generates a file called Connections.csv. Open it in Excel, Google Sheets, or any spreadsheet application. Each row represents one connection with the data fields described below.

What Data Is (and Isn't) Included in the Export

Understanding the exact contents of the export prevents wasted time and mismatched expectations. Here is a complete breakdown.

Data Fields in Connections.csv

Field	Included	Notes
First Name	Yes	As displayed on their LinkedIn profile
Last Name	Yes	As displayed on their LinkedIn profile
Email Address	Conditional	Only if the connection allows it in their privacy settings
Company	Yes	Current company listed on their profile
Position	Yes	Current job title listed on their profile
Connected On	Yes	Date the connection was established
Phone Number	No	Never included in exports
LinkedIn Profile URL	No	Not included in the standard connections export
Location	No	Not part of the connections CSV
Industry	No	Not part of the connections CSV
Mutual Connections	No	Not part of the connections CSV
Headline	No	Not part of the connections CSV

Why Email Addresses Are Often Missing

The most common frustration with LinkedIn exports is sparse email data. Here is why: LinkedIn users control email visibility through their privacy settings. Most professionals set their email to "Only me" or "1st-degree connections" -- and even the latter does not guarantee inclusion in a CSV export.

In practice, expect 30-50% of your connections to have email addresses in the exported file. The rest will show blank fields.

Character Set Limitations

CSV and vCard formats have limited support for extended character sets. Names written in Chinese, Japanese, Hebrew, Arabic, or other non-Latin scripts may appear corrupted, garbled, or blank in the exported file. This is a format limitation, not a LinkedIn bug. If you work with an international network, verify that critical contacts exported correctly.

What Most Guides Get Wrong

"You Can Export Anyone's Contact Data"

Wrong. LinkedIn only allows exporting your 1st-degree connections. You cannot export data for 2nd-degree connections, 3rd-degree connections, group members, or people who appear in search results. The export reflects your network, not LinkedIn's entire database.

"The Export Includes Everything on Their Profile"

Also wrong. The export includes six fields maximum. It does not include their headline, summary, skills, endorsements, experience history, education, location, or LinkedIn profile URL. What you get is a stripped-down contact card, not a full professional profile.

"It Takes Seconds"

LinkedIn does not provide instant downloads. The archive request is queued and processed server-side. While most exports complete in 10-24 minutes, large networks (10,000+ connections) or high-traffic periods can push processing to several hours. LinkedIn's official help page confirms the maximum wait time is 24 hours.

"You Can Do This from the Mobile App"

The full data export feature is only accessible from the desktop web version of LinkedIn. The mobile app provides account settings but does not include the data download functionality. Always use a desktop browser.

"Third-Party Tools Are Just Faster Versions of the Same Thing"

Third-party tools do something fundamentally different from the native export. LinkedIn's export gives you data your connections have explicitly shared. Third-party tools scrape, enrich, or infer data that may not have been voluntarily provided. The legal and ethical distinctions are significant.

Requesting a Full Data Archive

Beyond connections, LinkedIn allows you to download a complete archive of your account data. This is useful for record-keeping, switching platforms, or exercising your GDPR data portability rights.

What the Full Archive Includes

• Connections: Same CSV described above
• Messages: Your complete InMail and messaging history
• Profile data: Your own profile information, skills, endorsements
• Activity: Posts, comments, reactions, shares
• Search history: Your LinkedIn search queries
• Ad targeting data: How advertisers have targeted you
• Invitations: Sent and received connection requests

How to Request It

Follow the same steps above, but in Step 3, select Download larger data archive instead of choosing specific categories. Processing time for the full archive is significantly longer -- expect 24 to 72 hours depending on your account size and activity history.

Third-Party Tools for LinkedIn Contact Export

When LinkedIn's native export falls short -- missing emails, no profile URLs, limited data fields -- third-party tools fill the gaps. Each carries tradeoffs in cost, compliance, and capability.

Tool Comparison

Tool	Price	What It Exports	Best For
Evaboot	$29-99/mo	Sales Navigator leads with emails	Sales teams using Sales Navigator
PhantomBuster	$69-159/mo	Profile data, emails, activity	Growth marketers needing automation
Dux-Soup	$14.99-55/mo	Profile visits, connection data, CRM sync	Small teams on a budget
Closely	$49-99/mo	Leads with verified emails	Outbound sales teams

Evaboot

Designed specifically for Sales Navigator users. Evaboot extracts lead lists from Sales Navigator searches and enriches them with verified email addresses. It applies filters to clean data (removing false positives from Sales Navigator searches) and exports directly to CSV. Best suited for teams already paying for Sales Navigator who need to get data out of LinkedIn's walled garden.

PhantomBuster

A broader automation platform that includes LinkedIn-specific "Phantoms" (automated workflows). The LinkedIn Profile Scraper and LinkedIn Search Export Phantoms can extract profile data at scale. PhantomBuster also handles enrichment through integrations with email finders. More powerful but more complex than single-purpose tools.

Dux-Soup

A browser extension that automates LinkedIn profile visits and data collection. It stores extracted data in a built-in CRM or exports to CSV. The most affordable option for small teams, though its browser-based approach means it only works while your computer is running with the browser open.

Closely

Combines LinkedIn outreach automation with contact data export. Closely verifies emails through its own database and exports leads with contact information. Positions itself as a compliant alternative to more aggressive scraping tools.

Important Caveats

All third-party tools that interact with LinkedIn carry inherent risks:

• Terms of Service violations: LinkedIn's User Agreement prohibits scraping and automated data collection
• Account restrictions: LinkedIn detects unusual activity patterns and may restrict or ban accounts
• Data freshness: Exported data starts degrading immediately -- people change jobs, companies, and contact information
• Compliance burden: You become responsible for how you store and use the extracted data

Importing LinkedIn Contacts into Your CRM

The most common use case for exporting LinkedIn connections is importing them into a CRM for relationship management, lead nurturing, or sales pipeline tracking.

CRM Import Workflows

HubSpot: Navigate to Contacts > Import > Start an import. Select "File from computer," upload the Connections.csv, map the columns (First Name, Last Name, Email, Company, Position), and complete the import. HubSpot automatically deduplicates against existing contacts.

Salesforce: Use the Data Import Wizard under Setup. Select "Contacts" as the object type, upload the CSV, map fields, and run the import. Salesforce requires a valid email or unique identifier for each record.

Pipedrive: Go to Contacts > Import data > From a spreadsheet. Upload the CSV and map columns to Pipedrive's contact fields. Pipedrive handles duplicates by merging or skipping based on your settings.

Best Practices for CRM Import

1. Clean the data first: Remove connections without email addresses if email outreach is your goal
2. Add tags or labels: Tag imported contacts as "LinkedIn Connection" for segmentation
3. Set expectations: Remember that these are professional contacts, not opt-in marketing leads
4. Enrich gradually: Use your CRM's enrichment features to fill in missing data over time
5. Maintain regularly: Re-export quarterly to capture new connections and updated information

For a detailed guide on connecting LinkedIn with your CRM, see our LinkedIn CRM Integration Guide.

GDPR, Privacy, and Legal Considerations

Exporting your LinkedIn contacts is legal. What you do with that data afterward determines whether you stay compliant.

Your Right to Export (GDPR Article 20)

Under the General Data Protection Regulation, data portability is a protected right. LinkedIn is legally required to provide your data in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format (CSV qualifies). This applies to all users, not just EU residents, though GDPR provides the strongest legal framework.

LinkedIn's official help documentation confirms this right and provides the export mechanism described in this guide.

What You Can Legally Do

• Personal relationship management: Keeping track of your professional network
• CRM organization: Importing contacts for relationship tracking
• Warm outreach: Contacting people you already have a connection with
• Data backup: Maintaining a copy of your own network data

What Gets Legally Complicated

• Cold email marketing: Emailing exported contacts without consent may violate GDPR (EU), CASL (Canada), or CAN-SPAM (US) depending on the context and jurisdiction
• Selling contact data: Reselling exported LinkedIn data violates both LinkedIn's Terms of Service and most privacy regulations
• Automated outreach at scale: Using exported data to power mass outreach campaigns enters gray territory under multiple regulations
• Third-party data sharing: Sharing your exported contacts with other organizations may require explicit consent from each individual

Compliance Checklist

Before using exported LinkedIn data for outreach:

• Confirm the outreach is B2B and relates to the contact's professional role
• Verify you have a legitimate interest or consent basis under applicable law
• Include a clear opt-out mechanism in every communication
• Include your physical business address in email footers
• Document your legal basis for processing the data
• Review privacy requirements for each contact's geographic jurisdiction

How ConnectSafely.ai Changes the Equation

Exporting contacts assumes you need to push outreach to your network. ConnectSafely offers a different model: building visibility so your network comes to you.

Traditional export-and-outreach approach:

1. Export 2,000 LinkedIn connections
2. Import into email tool
3. Send campaign to contacts
4. Get 40 opens (2% response rate)
5. Generate 4 conversations

Inbound authority approach with ConnectSafely:

1. Build consistent LinkedIn presence
2. Engage strategically with target audience
3. Attract inbound interest from qualified prospects
4. Generate 50+ meaningful conversations monthly
5. Convert at 15-30% because prospects already trust you

ConnectSafely automates the visibility and engagement layer -- strategic commenting, content distribution, and audience interaction -- so prospects discover you organically. Instead of exporting contacts and hoping they respond to cold outreach, you create conditions where prospects reach out because they already recognize your expertise.

The contacts you would have exported still matter. But instead of cold-emailing them, you're building familiarity in their feed so that when a business need arises, you're the first person they think of.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I export all my LinkedIn connections to a CSV file?

Go to LinkedIn on desktop, click your profile photo, then Settings & Privacy. Navigate to Data Privacy and click "Get a copy of your data." Select "Connections" and click Request archive. LinkedIn will email you when the Connections.csv file is ready to download, typically within 10 to 24 minutes. The CSV includes first name, last name, email address (if shared), company, position, and connection date for all your 1st-degree connections.

Why are email addresses missing from my LinkedIn contacts export?

Email addresses only appear in the export if your connections have enabled email visibility in their LinkedIn privacy settings. Most LinkedIn users restrict this to "Only me" or limit visibility to direct connections. As a result, roughly 30-50% of exported connections will have email addresses, while the rest show blank email fields. There is no way to force inclusion of hidden email addresses through the native export.

Can I export my LinkedIn contacts from the mobile app?

No. LinkedIn's full data export feature is only available through the desktop web version at linkedin.com. The mobile app includes basic account settings but does not provide the "Get a copy of your data" functionality. You must log in via a desktop browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) to access the data export. Once the export is processed and the CSV is downloaded, you can open it on any device.

What is the difference between exporting LinkedIn connections and downloading a full LinkedIn data archive?

The connections export downloads only your 1st-degree connection data as a single CSV file with six fields. The full data archive includes everything LinkedIn stores about your account: messages, posts, comments, search history, profile information, ad targeting data, and invitation history. The connections export typically processes in 10-24 minutes, while the full archive can take 24 to 72 hours. Choose the connections-only option if you only need contact data; choose the full archive for complete data portability or account backup.

Is it legal to export LinkedIn contacts and use them for email marketing campaigns?

Exporting your data is legal under GDPR Article 20 (data portability). However, using exported contact data for email marketing requires separate legal analysis. Under GDPR, you need a lawful basis such as legitimate interest or explicit consent before emailing EU contacts for marketing purposes. Under CAN-SPAM in the US, commercial emails require accurate headers, opt-out mechanisms, and your physical address. Under CASL in Canada, you need express or implied consent. The safest approach is to treat exported contacts as relationship data, not marketing leads, and only email contacts where you have a clear professional relationship and legal basis.

---

Ready to stop exporting contacts for cold outreach and start attracting qualified leads instead? Try ConnectSafely free and build the LinkedIn authority that makes prospects come to you.