Who This Is For / When to Use
This guide is for users running LinkedIn Message Ads or Conversation Ads who cannot proceed because no sender is available.
Use this article when:
Creating a LinkedIn Messaging Ad for the first time
The “Add sender” option appears during ad creation
A campaign cannot be launched due to missing sender approval
What Is a Sender in LinkedIn Messaging Ads
A sender is the LinkedIn profile that messages are sent from in Message Ads or Conversation Ads.
LinkedIn requires:
A real LinkedIn member profile
Explicit approval from that profile before ads can send messages
The sender to be a 1st-degree connection
Without an approved sender, Messaging Ads cannot run.
Requirements Before Adding a Sender
Before adding a sender, confirm the following:
The sender is a 1st-degree LinkedIn connection
The sender has access to:
The LinkedIn Ad Account
The LinkedIn Company Page
The sender is willing to approve the messaging request
If any requirement is missing, the sender will not appear in the selection list.
How to Add a Sender in LinkedIn Campaign Manager
Step 1: Open LinkedIn Campaign Manager
Sign in to LinkedIn Campaign Manager
Select the correct Ad Account
Step 2: Navigate to the Correct Campaign
You must be inside an ad creation flow to add a sender.
Go to the Campaign Groups tab and select the relevant group
Go to the Campaigns tab and select the campaign
Go to the Ads tab
If no ads exist yet:
Click Create
Select Ad
Choose Message Ad or Conversation Ad
Step 3: Create or Edit a Messaging Ad
Click Create new ad (or edit an existing one)
Step 4: Click “Add sender”
While setting up the Message Ad:
Locate the Sender section
Click Add sender
Step 5: Send Sender Approval Request
In the Add sender dialog, search for the sender’s name
Select the sender from the list
Click Send request
The sender will receive a LinkedIn notification to approve the request.
What Happens After the Sender Is Approved
Once the sender approves:
The sender becomes selectable in Message Ads
You can complete ad creation
Messaging campaigns can be launched normally
No additional setup is required.
Common Issues and Fixes
I can’t find the sender in the list
This usually means:
The sender is not a 1st-degree connection
The sender lacks ad account or Company Page access
Fix by adding the sender as a connection and granting access.
The sender hasn’t approved the request yet
Messaging Ads cannot run until approval is granted.
Ask the sender to:
Check LinkedIn notifications
Look for a sender approval request
Approve the request from Campaign Manager
I don’t see the “Add sender” option
This usually means:
The ad format is not a Message Ad or Conversation Ad
You are not in the ad creation or edit flow
Confirm the campaign type supports Messaging Ads.