How to Connect Your LinkedIn Account to PhantomBuster

To connect your LinkedIn or Sales Navigator account to PhantomBuster, the fastest way is using the browser extension, it detects your session automatically. You can also connect manually by copying your li_at session cookie and user agent from your browser's Developer Tools. If you need to connect a teammate's or client's LinkedIn account, you can either invite them to your workspace or send them a magic link that lets them share their session without needing a PhantomBuster login.

Connect your own LinkedIn account

Option 1: Connect with your email and password

Sign in with just your LinkedIn email and password, no session cookie or browser extension needed. PhantomBuster uses your credentials once to sign in and create a secure connection, then your account is added. Your credentials are not stored.

Before you start: LinkedIn, not PhantomBuster, decides whether to ask you to verify the sign-in, even if you've turned off two-step verification. Keep your phone and email inbox nearby: any verification code or app notification expires after about 3 minutes. If it expires, you're returned to the sign-in form to try again.

Steps:

1. In your Phantom setup, at the Connect to LinkedIn step, open Connect a LinkedIn account. 
   
2. Choose Connect with email and password.
   
3. Enter your LinkedIn email and LinkedIn password. Use a custom proxy (optional, but recommended): the connect screen includes a "Use a custom HTTP proxy" section (Address, Username, Password). You can leave it empty and connect without one. If you do add a proxy, use a stable one that matches your usual location — it helps the sign-in go through smoothly and keeps the connection stable afterwards. See How to Use a Proxy with PhantomBuster. Then click Connect.
   
4. You'll see a "Signing in to LinkedIn…" loading state.
   
5. Complete the verification if LinkedIn asks for one.
   
6. Once verification passes, or LinkedIn skips it, your LinkedIn account is added and your Phantom is ready to run.
   
   

What verification looks like

Depending on your LinkedIn account, one of these will appear:

• A code sent by email. LinkedIn emails you a code: enter it in the modal and submit.
• A code sent by SMS. If your 2FA is set to phone number (SMS), the code arrives by text: enter it and submit.
• An authenticator-app code. The "Two-factor code required" modal appears: enter the code from your authenticator app and submit.
• A notification in the LinkedIn app. The "Approve the sign-in on your phone" modal appears: open the LinkedIn app and tap Yes, and the connection completes on its own. Prefer a text instead? Click Verify using SMS (works only if SMS is set up as a 2FA method in your LinkedIn settings).

→ For troubleshooting and the full FAQ, see How to Connect Your LinkedIn Account with Your Email and Password.

Option 2: Use the PhantomBuster browser extension

The extension lets PhantomBuster detect your LinkedIn session automatically, so there's no need to copy cookies or type anything manually.

→ To install the extension and connect your session, follow the steps in our detailed extension guide. 
It covers:

• Supported browsers and install links
• How session detection works
• What the extension can do on LinkedIn (lead capture, CRM export, etc.)

Once installed, the extension works silently in the background. As long as you're logged into your social media platform in that browser, your session stays active and PhantomBuster can keep automations running smoothly.

Option 3: Connect manually with a session cookie and user agent

Use this method if you're using an unsupported browser, if the extension isn't working, or if you prefer a direct setup.

This tutorial is tailored for Chrome users:

You'll need:

• Your LinkedIn session cookie (li_at)
• Your user agent string (copied from the same browser)

Steps:

1. Open a window and log into your LinkedIn account.
2. Open Developer Tools: Right-click and select Inspect.
   
3. From the Developer Tools panel, select Application.
   
4. Look under Storage > Cookies dropdown > Cookies, find the li_at cookie and copy its Value.
   

5. In a new tab, search "What's my user agent" on Google and copy the full string.

   

6. Log in to your PhantomBuster workspace.
7. Whether you're setting up a new Phantom or updating an existing one, open the Phantom setup. At the Connect to LinkedIn step, click Add new LinkedIn account.
   
8. Paste the li_at cookie and user agent, then click Save.
   

You're now ready to finalize your setup and launch your Phantom.

Connect a teammate's LinkedIn account: workspace member

If the account belongs to someone in your PhantomBuster workspace:

1. Log in to your PhantomBuster workspace and hover over your name in the top-right corner.
2. Make sure the correct workspace is selected, then go to Users & accounts under the Workspace section.
   
3. Click + Add user, and send them an invite.
   
4. They log into PhantomBuster with their own credentials and connect their LinkedIn account using either the extension (recommended) or manual setup.
5. Once connected, their account will appear as an option in the Phantom setup.
   

There's no need for them to adjust any workspace settings, the session becomes available automatically.

Connect someone else's LinkedIn account: external contributor

If the account belongs to someone outside your PhantomBuster workspace, you can connect it in two ways:

Option 1: Use a magic link, no login required

This lets your contributors securely share their LinkedIn session without giving them access to your workspace.

Step 1: Generate, copy and share the magic link

1. Log in to your PhantomBuster workspace and hover over your name in the top-right corner.
2. Make sure the correct workspace is selected, then go to Users & accounts under the Workspace section.
3. Click Add LinkedIn account.
   
4. Copy the link and share it with your contact (valid for 24 hours only).
   

Step 2: Your contact shares their LinkedIn session

1. Your contact opens the link. They land on a page confirming you're requesting access to their LinkedIn account, with a summary of what your Workspace will be able to do (collect LinkedIn data, send connection requests, message prospects on their behalf). They click Connect my LinkedIn account.
   
2. On the next screen, Share access to your LinkedIn, they review the disclosure:
   "By adding your session cookies, you authorize their use for the execution of your automations and, if necessary, their access by our support team for the resolution of technical issues."
   This means their LinkedIn session cookie will be used to run your Phantoms, and PhantomBuster's Customer Care team may access it only when strictly necessary to diagnose and resolve technical issues (as covered in our Privacy Policy).
   
3. If they're using Chrome or Firefox, the PhantomBuster browser extension detects their LinkedIn session automatically and displays it as Connected. Otherwise, they can install the extension or paste their session cookie manually.
4. They tick I agree to share access to my LinkedIn account and click Connect my LinkedIn account to finalize.
5. Their LinkedIn session now appears in your workspace and can be used by your Phantoms. They keep full control: they don't have access to your Phantoms or data, only their LinkedIn session is shared, and they can revoke access anytime. 
   See How to Disconnect a LinkedIn Account From a Workspace.
   

Option 2: Connect manually with a session cookie and a user agent

You can manually connect your contributor's account using:

• Their LinkedIn session cookie (li_at)
• Their user agent string

You can collect these from your contributor and paste them into the Connect to LinkedIn step in the Phantom setup.

Refer to the manual connection steps above to complete the setup.

Where your connected LinkedIn accounts live

You can manage all your connected LinkedIn sessions from the Users & accounts section of your workspace.

Here, you can:

• View all connected LinkedIn accounts.
• Reconnect expired sessions (via new magic links).
• Disconnect accounts no longer in use.

This central view makes it easy to manage multiple reps, clients, or personas from one place.

Frequently asked questions

Can I connect my LinkedIn account without a session cookie or the browser extension?

Yes. You can connect using just your LinkedIn email and password: PhantomBuster signs in for you and creates the connection, with no cookie or extension needed. LinkedIn may ask you to complete a verification step during sign-in. See How to Connect Your LinkedIn Account with Your Email and Password.

What's the difference between the extension and the manual method?

The browser extension detects your LinkedIn session automatically, no copying or pasting needed. The manual method requires you to open Developer Tools, find the li_at cookie and your user agent, and paste them into the Phantom setup. Both achieve the same result, but the extension is faster and less error-prone.

Does the magic link give my contact access to my PhantomBuster workspace?

No. The magic link only lets them share their LinkedIn session with your Workspace. They won't have access to your Phantoms, data, or settings. If they want to revoke access later, they can do so through the disconnect guide linked in the confirmation page.

How long does the magic link stay valid?

Magic links expire after 24 hours. If your contact doesn't use it in time, you'll need to generate a new one from the Users & accounts section of your Workspace.

Do I need a user agent for Sales Navigator?

Yes. Both LinkedIn and Sales Navigator connections require a session cookie (li_at) and a user agent. This is different from other platforms like Instagram or X, which only need a session cookie.

My account is showing as Basic or Free in PhantomBuster, but I have an active Sales Navigator subscription, why?

This usually means your browser was logged into standard LinkedIn (not the Sales Navigator interface) when the PhantomBuster extension captured your session. 
To fix it:

1. Open linkedin.com/sales directly in your browser.
2. Confirm you're viewing the Sales Navigator interface, not standard LinkedIn.
3. Open the PhantomBuster browser extension and refresh your session.

If your account still shows as Basic after doing this, contact our support team.