LinkedIn Auto Connect

PhantomBuster's LinkedIn Auto Connect sends personalized invitations to targeted profiles, runs entirely in the cloud, and respects LinkedIn's weekly limits (about 100 connection requests per week).

Build relationships at scale while keeping your account safe. Check out the Tutorial for step-by-step setup.

Important: LinkedIn limits connection requests to 100 per week. To automate efficiently and protect your account, we recommend sending 20 connection requests per working day with this Phantom, spread across several launches during business hours.

What you give / What you get

You provide the list of LinkedIn profiles. PhantomBuster handles the connection requests.

The Phantom runs in the cloud and does not require your browser or computer to stay on. Set it, launch it, and let it run automatically.

What you can automate with LinkedIn Auto Connect

Here's what PhantomBuster's LinkedIn Auto Connect Automation does automatically for you:

• Send connection requests at scale: Automatically invite LinkedIn profiles from your target list without manual clicking.

• Personalize every invitation: Use placeholder tags like #firstName# to customize messages for each recipient.

• Run on autopilot in the cloud: Schedule daily launches and let the Phantom work 24/7 without keeping your browser open.

• Respect LinkedIn limits safely: Stay within the 100 connection requests per week cap to protect your account.

• Chain with other Phantoms: Combine with list-building tools to automate end-to-end prospecting flows.

Perfect for sales teams, recruiters, and marketers automating LinkedIn prospecting while staying compliant.

How teams use PhantomBuster's LinkedIn Auto Connect Automation

Sales reps, recruiters, and growth teams rely on LinkedIn Auto Connect to scale relationship-building and prospecting without manual work.

• Build warm prospecting lists: Connect with leads who commented on relevant posts or joined industry groups to improve acceptance rates.

• Expand your network daily: Send 20 connection requests per working day, steadily growing your LinkedIn presence over time.

• Target company employees: Export employee lists from target accounts and send personalized invites to decision-makers.

• Automate event follow-ups: Capture attendee profiles from LinkedIn events and send connection requests with contextual messages.

Workflow Ideas to Get You Started

PhantomBuster Automations become more effective when combined into Workflows. Here are proven sequences that turn LinkedIn Auto Connect into a complete prospecting engine. Try it free to start building your first workflow today.

Workflow Example: Find and engage with ICPs who are members of relevant LinkedIn groups

LinkedIn Group Members Export → Filter for ICP → LinkedIn Auto Connect → LinkedIn Outreach

Why this works

LinkedIn groups are full of people discussing topics relevant to your industry. This workflow automatically extracts up to 2,500 members, allowing you to filter for your ideal customer profile and initiate targeted outreach to genuinely interested prospects.

Who it's for

SDRs and BDRs targeting niche communities, sales managers building account-based prospecting lists, and recruiters sourcing candidates from industry groups.

How to build it

1. Use LinkedIn Group Members Export to extract members from a relevant group where your ICP gathers.

2. Filter the extracted list in your leads database based on relevant keywords (headline, title, company size) to pinpoint your Ideal Customer Profiles.

3. Use LinkedIn Auto Connect to send personalized connection requests to your filtered ICP list.

4. Chain with LinkedIn Outreach to send up to three follow-up messages to those who accept.

Outcome

You spend less time searching and more time connecting with prospects who are already engaged in your industry. This workflow delivers higher acceptance rates and warmer conversations.

See full playbook →

Workflow Example: Warm up your leads on LinkedIn before you reach out to them

LinkedIn Profile Visitor → LinkedIn Auto Follow → LinkedIn Auto Liker → LinkedIn Auto Connect

Why this works

Cold connection requests get ignored. This workflow builds familiarity first by visiting profiles, following prospects, and liking their recent posts before sending connection requests. Acceptance rates can jump from 10% to 50% with proper social warming.

Who it's for

Sales reps running account-based prospecting, marketers building relationships with influencers, and anyone looking to improve connection acceptance rates.

How to build it

1. Use LinkedIn Profile Visitor to subtly appear in prospects' "Who's Viewed Your Profile" list, creating initial visibility.

2. Chain LinkedIn Auto Follow to add another touchpoint in their notifications and increase recognition.

3. Use LinkedIn Auto Liker to like a selected number of their recent posts, showing genuine interest without overdoing it.

4. Finally, use LinkedIn Auto Connect to send personalized connection requests to prospects who now recognize your name.

Outcome

You become a familiar name before formally reaching out, dramatically improving acceptance rates and starting conversations with prospects who already know who you are.

See full playbook →

Workflow Example: Target company employees for account-based prospecting

LinkedIn Company Employees Export → Filter by role → LinkedIn Auto Connect → LinkedIn New Connection Welcome Message

Why this works

Account-based prospecting requires reaching multiple decision-makers within target companies. This workflow extracts employee lists from company pages, filters for relevant roles, and automates personalized connection requests followed by welcome messages.

Who it's for

AEs running account-based sales, SDRs targeting enterprise accounts, and sales managers building multi-threaded outreach strategies.

How to build it

1. Use LinkedIn Company Employees Export to extract employee profiles from target company pages.

2. Filter your leads database by job title, seniority, or department to identify decision-makers and relevant contacts.

3. Use LinkedIn Auto Connect to send personalized connection requests referencing their company or role.

4. Chain with LinkedIn New Connection Welcome Message to automatically send a welcome message to new connections.

Outcome

You build multi-threaded relationships within target accounts, increasing your chances of closing deals by reaching multiple stakeholders systematically.

Do you first need to collect LinkedIn profile URLs?

LinkedIn Auto Connect works best when paired with list-building Automations. Source 1000+ LinkedIn profile URLs by targeting specific searches, groups, or companies:

1. Extract profiles from a LinkedIn search

Our LinkedIn Search Export Automation extracts every profile found in the results of a LinkedIn search. Build targeted lists based on job title, location, industry, or keywords.

2. Export members from a LinkedIn group

The LinkedIn Group Members Export Automation exports the most recent 2500 members of a LinkedIn group you're part of. Perfect for niche communities and industry-specific targeting.

3. Collect employees from company pages

Using the LinkedIn Company Employees Export Automation, you can extract employee profiles from any LinkedIn company page. Ideal for account-based prospecting.

Tip: Automate the entire connection sequence in one workflow — from extracting profiles from a LinkedIn search, Sales Navigator search, or LinkedIn group, to sending invitations and monitoring who accepts — with our LinkedIn Search to Lead Connection Flow.

How to auto-connect on LinkedIn

This Phantom automatically sends connection requests to a list of LinkedIn profiles in just a few easy steps.

Here's how to set it up:

1. Add your LinkedIn cookie to authenticate the Automation.

2. Upload a spreadsheet with LinkedIn profile URLs, select one of your Leads lists, paste a URL of a single LinkedIn profile, or choose one of your active Phantoms.

3. Optional: Write a personalized message using placeholder tags (see below).

4. Set a launch schedule (we recommend daily launches with 20 requests per working day).

5. Launch the Phantom and let it run in the cloud.

Check out the Tutorial tab for a detailed written guide with screenshots.

Best practice: The best results come steadily over time, not through spamming. To protect your account, we strongly recommend sending 20 connection requests per working day with this Phantom, spread out across several launches within business hours. LinkedIn limits you to 100 connection requests per week, and moderate usage keeps your account safe.

How to send a personalized message within your connection request

LinkedIn is a competitive network. Including a personalized message in your connection requests can help you stand out and improve acceptance rates.

You can use placeholder tags to customize your message for every recipient. For example:

Hello #firstName#, I noticed that you're working in sales and thought it would be good to get connected.

The Phantom automatically replaces #firstName# with each person's actual first name from their profile. This keeps your outreach personal at scale.

It's also worth knowing that you can send invitations without a message. Sometimes this even increases acceptance rates, especially when targeting people who already engage with your content or industry.

Find more information about message customization, placeholder tags, and best practices in the Tutorial tab.

Understanding LinkedIn limitations

LinkedIn implements different limitations for different users. Here's what you need to know to stay compliant and protect your account.

Connection request limits

LinkedIn limits most users to 100 connection requests per week. Some users are also limited to only 5 connection requests with a message per month, depending on their account type and activity history.

Users with LinkedIn Premium or Sales Navigator accounts have higher limits than free LinkedIn users. If you're running high-volume prospecting, consider upgrading your account to access higher weekly caps.

Message character limits

Free plan users have a 200-character limit for messages, whereas Premium users can extend their messages to 300 characters.

Staying safe

To keep your account safe, send connection requests at a steady, moderate pace. Avoid sending all 100 weekly invites in one batch. Instead, spread them across the week (20 connection requests per working day) and launch the Phantom during business hours to mimic natural activity.

For more on LinkedIn limits and safe automation practices, read our guide: New LinkedIn Limits 2025: Connections, Messages, Views & How to Scale Safely.

Note: If you'd like to auto connect with Sales Navigator profiles, you can use our Sales Navigator Auto Connect Phantom.

Best practices

Get the most out of LinkedIn Auto Connect while staying safe and compliant.

• Start slow and scale gradually: Begin with 10–15 invites per day, then increase to 20 connection requests per working day once you're comfortable.

• Use personalized messages wisely: Test acceptance rates with and without messages. Sometimes a blank invite converts better.

• Spread launches throughout the day: Schedule 2–3 launches per day during business hours to mimic natural activity.

• Monitor your pending invites: Use the LinkedIn Sent Request Extractor to track how many invites you've sent and avoid hitting limits.

• Withdraw old pending requests: Use the LinkedIn Auto Invitation Withdrawer to clean up stale invites and make room for new ones.

• Pair with warming Automations: Visit profiles, like posts, or follow users before sending invites to improve acceptance rates. See our playbook: Warm up your leads on LinkedIn before you reach out to them.

For more on safe automation practices, read: LinkedIn Automation Tool Warning: What You Need to Know.

Frequently asked questions

Here are the most common questions about using LinkedIn Auto Connect, from setup and compliance to performance and workflow chaining.

How do I get started with LinkedIn Auto Connect?

Setting up LinkedIn Auto Connect takes just a few minutes. First, add your LinkedIn cookie to authenticate the Automation. Then, upload a spreadsheet with LinkedIn profile URLs, select one of your Leads lists or one of your Phantoms, or paste a URL from a single LinkedIn profile. Optionally, write a personalized message using placeholder tags like #firstName#. Set a launch schedule (we recommend daily launches with 20 requests per working day), and launch the Phantom. It runs entirely in the cloud, so you don't need to keep your browser or computer on. Check out the step-by-step tutorial for detailed setup instructions with screenshots.

Does LinkedIn Auto Connect extract fresh, live data or use static databases?

LinkedIn Auto Connect extracts live data directly from LinkedIn profiles in real time. Unlike static databases that become outdated quickly, this Phantom captures current profile information (LinkedIn Profile URL, Description, and 48+ additional fields) every time it runs. You're always working with the most accurate, up-to-date prospect data available.

Is LinkedIn Auto Connect safe, and how do I stay compliant?

Yes, LinkedIn Auto Connect is safe when used responsibly. To protect your account, follow LinkedIn's limits: send no more than 100 connection requests per week, and we recommend 20 connection requests per working day, spread across several launches during business hours. This mimics natural activity and keeps your account in good standing. Users with LinkedIn Premium or Sales Navigator accounts have higher limits than free LinkedIn users. For detailed safety guidelines, read: New LinkedIn Limits 2025: Connections, Messages, Views & How to Scale Safely.

How fast can I send connection requests with LinkedIn Auto Connect?

LinkedIn Auto Connect respects platform limits to keep your account safe. You can send up to 100 connection requests per week, which translates to about 20 connection requests per working day when spread across five business days. The Phantom runs in the cloud and can process your list automatically, but we strongly recommend spreading launches throughout the day (2–3 launches during business hours) to mimic natural activity. Speed matters less than consistency and account safety.

Can I use LinkedIn Auto Connect with Sales Navigator profiles?

If you want to auto connect with Sales Navigator profiles specifically, we recommend using our Sales Navigator Auto Connect Phantom instead. It's designed for Sales Navigator URLs and respects the platform's unique structure.

Can I automate the entire prospecting sequence, from finding profiles to sending follow-ups?

Yes. You can chain LinkedIn Auto Connect with other Phantoms to automate end-to-end prospecting flows. For example, use LinkedIn Search Export to collect 1000+ LinkedIn profile URLs, then feed that list into LinkedIn Auto Connect to send personalized invites. After connections are accepted, use LinkedIn New Connection Welcome Message to send follow-ups automatically. For a pre-built solution, try our Find and engage new LinkedIn leads daily playbook.

What are the character limits for personalized messages in connection requests?

Free users are limited to only 200 characters in their invitation messages, while Premium users can use up to 300 characters. Free users are also limited to only 5 connection requests with a message per month. We recommend testing your character limit manually in LinkedIn before setting up the Phantom to avoid errors. You can also send connection requests without a message, which sometimes improves acceptance rates.

How does LinkedIn Auto Connect compare to manual prospecting?

LinkedIn Auto Connect saves hours of manual work by automating repetitive connection requests while maintaining personalization at scale. Instead of clicking through profiles one by one, you can send 20 connection requests per working day automatically, running in the cloud without needing your browser open. The Phantom respects LinkedIn limits to keep your account safe, and you can customize messages using placeholder tags like #firstName# to keep invites personal. It's faster, safer, and more consistent than manual outreach, and it scales without adding headcount.

Can I track who accepts my connection requests?

Yes. You can use the LinkedIn Sent Request Extractor to monitor pending invites and track acceptance rates.

What if I hit LinkedIn's weekly limit or get restricted?

To avoid restrictions, follow our recommended pace: 20 connection requests per working day, mimicking human behavior, spread across 2–3 launches during business hours. If your account gets restricted, read our guide: LinkedIn Account Restricted? Here's How to Fix It. You can also use the LinkedIn Auto Invitation Withdrawer to clean up pending invites and make room for new ones.

How much does PhantomBuster cost for LinkedIn Auto Connect?

PhantomBuster offers flexible pricing plans based on usage. LinkedIn Auto Connect is included in all plans, and you can start with a free trial to test it out. For a detailed breakdown of pricing and plan comparisons, visit: PhantomBuster Pricing Plans Explained.

Ready to try it?

Start prospecting smarter today.

Try the LinkedIn Auto Connect Automation free, no setup or coding required. Automate connection requests, personalize messages at scale, and grow your LinkedIn network safely while respecting platform limits. Get started in minutes.

Start your free trial now or read the full tutorial to see exactly how it works.