Blocking someone on LinkedIn removes them from your network and hides your profile from their view

When you block a person on LinkedIn, they can no longer see your profile, send you messages, or find you in search results. You won't see their profile either, and LinkedIn won't notify them that you blocked them — though they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile and get an error message. Blocking is permanent until you manually unblock the person, which you can do at any time.

The block applies only to LinkedIn itself, not to email or other platforms. If someone has your email address or phone number, they can still reach you outside LinkedIn. Blocking is different from removing a connection: when you remove a connection, you're no longer linked, but they can still see your public profile and send you a message request.

Key Takeaways

  • You can block someone from their profile page, from a message thread, or from your connections list, and the process takes about 10 seconds.
  • A blocked person cannot see your profile, message you, or find you in LinkedIn search, but they may realize they're blocked if they try to visit your profile directly.
  • Blocking does not delete past messages or connections — those remain in your account history unless you delete them separately.
  • You can unblock someone at any time by going to your blocked users list in Settings, and they will when ready regain access to your profile.
  • If someone is harassing you, blocking them is a first step, but you can also report them to LinkedIn for violating the platform's rules.

How to block someone from their profile page

The quickest way to block someone is from their profile. Visit the person's LinkedIn profile by searching for their name or clicking their profile link from a message or notification.

Look for the three-dot menu icon (•••) near the top right of their profile, just below your own profile photo if you're logged in. Click that menu. A dropdown list will appear with several options. Select "Block" from the list. LinkedIn will ask you to confirm — click "Block" again in the confirmation box. The block is now active.

How to block someone from a message conversation

If you're already messaging with someone and want to block them, you don't need to leave the conversation. Open the message thread with that person. Look for the three-dot menu icon at the top right of the conversation window.

Click the menu and select "Block" from the options. Confirm the block when prompted. The conversation will remain in your message history, but you won't receive any new messages from that person, and they won't be able to send you new ones.

How to block someone from your connections list

You can also block someone directly from your connections list without visiting their profile. Click "My Network" in the top navigation bar, then select "Connections." Search for the person's name or scroll through your list to find them.

Hover over their name and click the three-dot menu icon that appears. Select "Block" and confirm. This method is useful if you want to block someone without leaving a trace of visiting their profile.

What happens after you block someone

Once you block someone, they when ready lose access to your profile. If they try to search for you by name, you won't appear in results. If they try to visit your profile directly using a saved link, they'll see a message saying the profile isn't available. Any pending connection requests from them will be cancelled.

Your past messages with them remain in your message history, but they cannot send you new messages. If you had a connection with them before blocking, that connection is severed. They won't receive a notification that you blocked them, but if they try to access your profile or search for you and fail, they may suspect it.

How to unblock someone

If you change your mind, you can unblock someone at any time. Click your profile photo in the top right corner and select "Settings and privacy." Click "Settings," then scroll down to find "Blocking and hiding" on the left sidebar.

Click "Manage blocked users." You'll see a list of everyone you've blocked. Find the person you want to unblock and click "Unblock" next to their name. They will when ready regain access to your profile and can message you again. LinkedIn does not notify them that you unblocked them.

Blocking versus reporting: when to do each

Blocking stops someone from contacting you and seeing your profile, but it doesn't address rule violations. If someone is harassing you, sending unwanted sexual content, or impersonating someone, you should report them to LinkedIn in addition to blocking them. Reporting alerts LinkedIn's safety team and may result in the person's account being suspended or removed.

To report someone, visit their profile and click the three-dot menu. Select "Report" instead of "Block." Choose the reason for your report from the list — harassment, spam, fake profile, or other violations. LinkedIn reviews reports and takes action if the person has broken the platform's rules. You can block and report the same person.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person know I blocked them?

LinkedIn doesn't send a notification, but they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile and see an error message, or if they search for you and you don't appear. If you were previously connected, they might notice you're no longer in their connections list.

Can I block someone without them seeing that I visited their profile?

Yes. Blocking from your connections list or from a message thread doesn't require you to visit their profile page. If you do visit their profile before blocking, they may see you in their profile viewers list depending on your privacy settings, so blocking from a message or your connections list is more discreet.

What if I block someone but we have mutual connections?

Your mutual connections can still see both of your profiles and interact with both of you. Blocking only affects the relationship between you and that person. Your mutual connections won't be notified that you blocked someone.

Can I block someone and then connect with them again later?

Yes. When you unblock someone, you're back to the same state as before the block — you're not connected unless you send a new connection request and they accept it. Unblocking doesn't automatically reconnect you.

Does blocking delete our message history?

No. Your past messages with the blocked person remain in your message history. You can read old conversations, but you cannot send or receive new messages. If you want to delete the conversation entirely, you can do that separately from blocking.