Blocking stops someone from viewing your profile and contacting you
When you block a person on LinkedIn, they lose access to your profile, cannot send you messages or connection requests, and cannot see your posts or activity. The block is one-way — they may not know you blocked them, though they will notice if they try to visit your profile and see a message saying they cannot view it. LinkedIn does not notify the blocked person that you took this action.
Blocking is different from removing a connection or ignoring a message request. Removing a connection straightforward ends the relationship but leaves your profile visible to them. Blocking is stronger and is the right choice when someone is harassing you, repeatedly contacting you after you have declined, or when you want to prevent them from seeing your activity altogether.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking someone on LinkedIn prevents them from viewing your profile, sending you messages, or seeing your posts and activity.
- You can block a person from their profile page, from a message thread, or from your connections list.
- A blocked person will see an error message if they try to visit your profile, but LinkedIn does not send them a notification that you blocked them.
- You can unblock someone at any time by visiting your blocked users list in your privacy settings.
- Blocking does not delete past messages or connections — those records remain in your account history.
How to block someone from their LinkedIn profile
The most direct way to block is to visit the person's profile and use the menu at the top. Open their profile page, then look for the three dots (•••) or the "More" button in the upper right corner of their profile card. Click it to open a dropdown menu.
From that menu, select "Block and report" or "Block" depending on your LinkedIn version. A confirmation window will appear asking you to confirm the block. Click the confirmation button, and the block takes effect when ready. You will be returned to your own profile or feed.
How to block someone from a message or connection request
If someone is messaging you repeatedly or sending unwanted connection requests, you can block them directly from the message thread or request. Open the message conversation or the pending connection request, then look for the three dots menu at the top right of that conversation or request card.
Select "Block" from the menu. LinkedIn will ask you to confirm. Once you confirm, that person is blocked, and the message thread or request disappears from your inbox. Any future messages from them will not reach you.
How to block someone from your connections list
If you want to block someone you are already connected to, you can do so from your connections list. Go to your profile, click "Connections," and find the person you want to block. Click the three dots next to their name, then select "Block" from the menu.
Confirm the block when prompted. The connection will be removed, and the person will be blocked from viewing your profile or contacting you going forward.
What happens after you block someone
Once blocked, the person cannot see your profile, posts, or activity. If they search for you by name, your profile will not appear in their results. They cannot send you messages, connection requests, or InMail. If they try to visit your profile directly, they will see a message saying the profile is not available or that they do not have permission to view it.
Past messages between you and the blocked person remain in your message history, but they cannot send new messages. If you were connected before the block, that connection is removed. The block does not affect your other connections or their ability to see your profile.
How to unblock someone on LinkedIn
If you change your mind, you can unblock someone at any time. Go to your profile and click "Settings and privacy." Select "Privacy" from the left menu, then scroll down to find "Blocking and hiding." Click "Manage blocked users" to see your full list of blocked people.
Find the person you want to unblock and click "Unblock" next to their name. Confirm when prompted. Once unblocked, they can see your profile again and send you messages or connection requests, just as before. Unblocking does not automatically reconnect you — they will need to send a new connection request if they want to connect again.
When to block versus other privacy options
Blocking is the strongest action and is best for people who are harassing you, repeatedly contacting you after you have said no, or whose presence on your profile makes you uncomfortable. If someone is just annoying but not harmful, you might instead remove the connection, mute their posts so you do not see their activity, or adjust your privacy settings so fewer people can see your profile.
If someone is sending you unwanted messages but you are not ready to block them entirely, you can ignore their message requests, which moves them to a separate folder. You can also report someone to LinkedIn if they are violating the platform's terms of service — harassment, spam, or impersonation — and LinkedIn will investigate independently of whether you block them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I blocked them?
LinkedIn does not send a notification when you block someone. However, if they try to visit your profile or search for you, they will see that your profile is not available to them, which may signal that you blocked them. They will not receive a message saying "you have been blocked."
Can I block someone and then unblock them later without them knowing?
Yes. Unblocking is private — the person will not be notified that you unblocked them. They will straightforward regain access to your profile and the ability to message you. There is no record of the block or unblock visible to them.
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. It does not change what your mutual connections can see or do.
Does blocking delete our past messages?
No. Your message history with the blocked person remains in your account. You can still read past conversations, but they cannot send you new messages. If you unblock them later, the old messages will still be there.
Can I block someone without removing them as a connection first?
No. When you block someone, LinkedIn automatically removes the connection. You do not need to remove them separately — the block handles it. If you want to keep the connection but prevent them from messaging you, you would need to use message filtering or privacy settings instead of blocking.