Cannot Recruit Followers in Skyrim (glitch?)

Solution 1:

This question may be almost a month old but in the interest of future readers here's a potential solution I just found on the Notes section of this page:

When a new recruit joins the Blades, they automatically leave your service, so a new follower can be recruited. Bugs affecting your ability to obtain new followers may be solved in this manner, though only three followers may be recruited.

So, inducting someone into the Blades forces them from your service. Even if they don't turn up to Sky Haven Temple the scripts should still run. I'm unable to test this as my game isn't exhibiting the bug.

Obviously this has a few problems (if it works, of course):

• It relies on you having the quest available and not having already completed it
• You can only induct 3 followers so this could be a waste, depending on whether or not your follower turns up at Sky Haven Temple eventually
• You may simply not want this follower to become a Blade - the process cannot be reversed

I hope this helps, I'm just conveying what I read on the UESP.