How to block a person on LinkedIn

To block someone on LinkedIn, open their profile, click the three dots in the top right corner, and select "Block" from the menu. LinkedIn will when ready prevent that person from seeing your profile, sending you messages, or viewing your posts and activity. The block is one-way — they won't receive a notification that you blocked them, but if they search for your name, they'll see a message saying the profile isn't available.

You can block someone whether or not you're connected to them. If you're already connected, blocking will automatically remove the connection. The person can still see posts you've made public outside LinkedIn (like on a website or in search results), but they cannot interact with your LinkedIn account in any way.

Blocking is different from unfriending or muting. When you unfriend someone, they can still see your public profile and send you messages. When you mute someone, you straightforward stop seeing their posts in your feed, but they can still message you and see your activity. Blocking cuts off all contact and visibility.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking someone on LinkedIn prevents them from viewing your profile, messaging you, or seeing your posts and activity.
  • The person will not be notified that you blocked them, but they will see an error message if they try to visit your profile.
  • If you're connected to the person, blocking will remove the connection automatically.
  • You can unblock someone at any time by going to your blocked users list in Settings and selecting "Unblock."
  • Blocking is permanent until you choose to unblock — LinkedIn does not automatically expire blocks after a set time.

Step-by-step: blocking from their profile

The fastest way to block someone is directly from their profile page. Search for their name or navigate to their profile using a link you have. Once you're on their profile, look for the three horizontal dots (called a "more" menu) in the top right area of their profile header, near the "Message" or "Connect" button.

Click those three dots. A dropdown menu will appear with several options. Select "Block" from the list. LinkedIn will ask you to confirm — click "Block" again in the confirmation window. The block takes effect when ready. If you were connected to this person, LinkedIn will remove the connection at the same time.

After you block someone, their profile will no longer appear in your search results, and you won't see their posts, comments, or activity anywhere on LinkedIn. If they try to visit your profile, they'll see a message saying "You don't have permission to view this profile."

Blocking someone who has messaged you

If someone has sent you a message and you want to block them, you can do it directly from the message thread. Open the conversation in your LinkedIn messaging inbox. At the top of the conversation, you'll see the person's name and a three-dot menu on the right side of the screen.

Click the three dots and select "Block" from the options that appear. LinkedIn will block the person and remove the message thread from your inbox. You won't see any future messages from them — they'll be unable to send you new messages at all. The old messages will be deleted from your view, though LinkedIn stores them on their servers.

This method is useful when you're dealing with unwanted contact, spam, or harassment through LinkedIn's messaging system. Blocking stops the behavior when ready without having to navigate to their profile.

Managing your blocked list and unblocking

LinkedIn keeps a record of everyone you've blocked. You can view this list at any time by going to your Settings. Click the "Account" tab, then scroll down to find "Blocking and hiding" or "Privacy." Click "Manage blocked users" to see the full list of people you've blocked.

If you change your mind about blocking someone, you can unblock them from this same list. Find their name and click "Unblock." Unblocking restores their ability to see your profile, send you messages, and interact with your posts. It does not automatically reconnect you if you were previously connected — you'll need to send a new connection request if you want to reconnect.

There is no limit to how many people you can block on LinkedIn. You can block as many users as needed, and each block remains in place until you manually unblock them. LinkedIn does not notify you when someone you've blocked tries to contact you or view your profile — the block straightforward prevents the action from going through.

What happens when you block someone

When you block someone on LinkedIn, several things happen when ready. They lose the ability to see your profile, even if they search for your name directly. They cannot send you messages, connection requests, or endorsements. They cannot see your posts, comments, or activity. If you comment on a mutual connection's post, the blocked person won't see your comment or be able to interact with it.

The blocked person will not receive a notification saying you blocked them. However, if they try to visit your profile or search for you, they'll see a message indicating the profile isn't available. This may make them aware that you've blocked them, but LinkedIn doesn't send an explicit notification.

If you and the blocked person have mutual connections, those connections can still see both of your profiles and activity. Blocking only affects the relationship between you and that specific person — it doesn't hide you from their friends or colleagues.

Blocking vs. other privacy options on LinkedIn

LinkedIn offers several ways to control who sees your activity and can contact you. Muting is the lightest option — you stop seeing someone's posts in your feed, but they can still message you and see your profile. Unfriending (or removing a connection) removes the connection but allows them to still see your public profile and send you messages. Blocking is the strongest option and cuts off all contact and visibility.

You can also adjust your messaging settings to limit who can message you. In Settings under "Messaging," you can choose to accept messages only from people you're connected to. This prevents strangers from messaging you without blocking them individually. You can also report someone for harassment or spam, which alerts LinkedIn's safety team — this is separate from blocking and may result in LinkedIn taking action against the person's account.

Choose blocking when you want complete separation from someone. Choose muting if you straightforward don't want to see their posts but are comfortable with them contacting you. Choose unfriending if you want to end the connection but remain visible to them. Choose messaging restrictions if you want to prevent unsolicited contact from strangers without blocking specific people.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone tell if I blocked them on LinkedIn?

LinkedIn doesn't send a notification when you block someone, but they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile and see an error message, or if they notice you've disappeared from their connections list. There's no way for them to know for certain without trying to access your profile.

What if I block someone and then want to reconnect later?

You can unblock them at any time through your Settings under "Manage blocked users." Unblocking restores their ability to see your profile and contact you, but it does not automatically reconnect you. You'll need to send a new connection request if you want to be connected again.

If I block someone, can they still see my posts on other people's profiles?

If you comment on a mutual connection's post, the blocked person won't see your comment or be able to interact with it. However, if your post is shared publicly outside of LinkedIn (like on a website), they could still see it there. Blocking only affects what they can see within LinkedIn itself.

Does blocking someone on LinkedIn block them on other platforms?

No. Blocking on LinkedIn only affects that platform. If you want to block someone on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or other social media, you'll need to block them separately on each platform.

Can I block someone without them being my connection?

Yes. You can block anyone on LinkedIn, whether you're connected to them or not. You can block someone from their profile page, from a message they sent you, or from search results. Blocking a non-connection works the same way as blocking a connection.