How to Compare Two LinkedIn Connection Exports
Use two independently captured LinkedIn connection exports from the same account. Confirm which is older, then compare their profile URLs. The result separates added URLs, missing URLs, changed fields and rows that cannot establish identity.
Prepare two captures
- Keep a Connections.csv export now and obtain another export later. Two copies of today's file do not provide an earlier history.
- Open Compare snapshots. Load the newer export in the shared workspace and choose the older export in the comparison panel, or select previously saved connection snapshots.
- Supply capture dates and confirm that both exports belong to the same account and are in the intended order. Run Compare connection snapshots.
These results are calculated from our own fictional CSV records with the working parser and analysis functions. They are separate from your active export.
- Added profile URLs
- 1
- Missing profile URLs
- 1
- Unchanged
- 2
- Unidentified records
- 1
| Observed difference | Connection |
|---|---|
| Added profile URLs | Oliver Turner |
| Missing profile URLs | James Hughes |
Inspect the fictional source CSV
2025-10-01/Connections.csv
"First Name","Last Name","URL","Company","Position","Connected On"
"Daniel","Bennett","https://www.linkedin.com/in/example-person-1/","Station Studio","Product designer","12 Jan 2023"
"Emma","Wilson","https://www.linkedin.com/in/example-person-2/","Harbor Software","Frontend developer","17 Mar 2024"
"James","Hughes","https://www.linkedin.com/in/example-person-5/","Station Studio","Technical writer","10 Sep 2022"
2025-10-26/Connections.csv
"First Name","Last Name","URL","Company","Position","Connected On"
"Daniel","Bennett","https://www.linkedin.com/in/example-person-1/","Station Studio","Product designer","12 Jan 2023"
"Emma","Wilson","https://www.linkedin.com/in/example-person-2/","Harbor Software","Frontend developer","17 Mar 2024"
"Oliver","Turner","https://www.linkedin.com/in/example-person-3/","Riverside Research","User researcher","24 Oct 2025"
"Maya","Collins","","Harbor Software","Frontend developer",""
Read each result separately
The comparison requires supported complete connection coverage. Partial, missing or unsupported lists cannot establish a reliable change set. Explicitly empty supported lists are distinct from missing lists.
| Result | What changed in the supplied records |
|---|---|
| Added profile URLs | A usable URL appears only in the newer snapshot. |
| Missing profile URLs | A usable URL appears only in the older snapshot. |
| Changed connection records | The same usable URL has a different name, company or position label. |
| Unidentified or ambiguous records | A missing URL or repeated URL prevents a unique identity match. |
Can this identify who removed a connection?
A missing profile URL establishes an observed difference between the supplied snapshots. It does not establish who ended a connection, the exact date of removal or the cause. A changed URL, deactivated account, different account or export gap can also produce an absence.
The tool does not infer identity from names. Two people with identical names remain distinct source rows. A URL change can appear as one missing URL and one added URL rather than a verified rename.
Save an optional baseline
The private Snapshot Vault can save a connection-only snapshot when you explicitly choose it. Its backup contains connection fields and your label and capture date, without messages, job applications or searches. Browser storage is local, so keep a private backup if you need the baseline on another device.
Related LinkedIn guides
Sources and responsibility
LinkedIn's documentation describes the export request and the records it can supply. The worked examples use independent fictional inputs and InstaScope's current reader. Account coverage and upstream file formats can vary.