LinkedIn Sign-In

LinkedIn Sign In lets users authenticate to third-party applications using their LinkedIn account. It’s built on OAuth 2.0 for authorization and OpenID Connect (OIDC) for federated identity. Apps can request basic profile details (e.g., name, email, profile picture) and, with approved permissions, access professional data via LinkedIn’s APIs.

Key Capabilities

• Standards-based protocols: Implements OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect (OIDC) to enable federated login, issue access tokens, and retrieve verified user profile information.

• User attributes: Returns core identity claims such as sub (subject), name, and email. Access to additional profile fields—like headline, company, or connections—requires specific LinkedIn API permissions.

• App registration and consent: Applications are registered through the LinkedIn Developer Portal, where developers configure redirect URIs, OAuth scopes, and permissions. Users must explicitly consent to each scope during the login flow.

• API ecosystem: Once authentication succeeds, apps can access LinkedIn REST APIs to retrieve user profiles, posts, or organization data, subject to API tier and developer approval.

Limitations

• Attribute scope restrictions: Default APIs expose limited user data; extended scopes such as r_liteprofile or r_emailaddress require LinkedIn Partner Program approval.

• Commercial API access: Many LinkedIn APIs are restricted, rate-limited, or require paid access depending on compliance with LinkedIn’s commercial API policies.

• Not an IAM platform: LinkedIn Sign-In provides authentication and basic identity data only—it does not support user provisioning, role management, or lifecycle automation (no SCIM support).

• Brand dependency: Authentication requires users to have a LinkedIn account and accept LinkedIn’s OAuth and privacy policies.

• Short token lifespan: Access tokens typically expire within 60 minutes, requiring secure refresh mechanisms or user re-authentication for continued access.