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

When you block someone on LinkedIn, they can no longer see your profile, send you messages, or find you in search results. You will not appear in their feed, and they cannot view your posts or comments. 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. However, if you were previously connected, they will see that connection disappear from their list. If you want to remove someone without blocking them, you can straightforward disconnect instead — this removes the connection but does not hide your profile from them.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking prevents someone from viewing your profile, messaging you, or finding you in search results, and the block is permanent until you remove it.
  • You can block someone from their profile page, from a message thread, or from your connections list using the three-dot menu.
  • If you block someone you are connected with, the connection is removed and they will see it disappear from their network.
  • LinkedIn does not tell the blocked person that you blocked them, but they will see an error if they try to visit your profile directly.
  • You can unblock someone at any time by going to your privacy settings and finding them in your blocked list.

How to block someone from their profile page

The simplest way to block someone is to visit their profile and use the menu at the top. Click the three dots (more options) button in the upper right corner of their profile. A dropdown menu will appear with several choices, including "Block [name]". Click that option, and LinkedIn will ask you to confirm. Select "Block" again in the confirmation window.

After you block them, their profile will no longer appear in your search results, and any previous messages between you will remain in your inbox but you will not be able to reply. If you were connected, that connection will be removed when ready.

How to block someone from a message or connection request

If someone is messaging you and you want to block them, open the message thread. At the top of the conversation, you will see their name and a three-dot menu button on the right side. Click the three dots and select "Block [name]". Confirm the block when prompted.

You can also block someone who has sent you a connection request without accepting it. When you see their request in your notifications or connection requests list, click the three dots next to their name and choose "Block". This prevents them from sending you future requests.

How to block someone from your connections list

If you want to block someone you are already connected with, go to your "My Network" section and find "Connections" in the left menu. Search for the person's name or scroll through your list. When you find them, click the three dots next to their name and select "Block [name]". Confirm the action.

This method is useful if you want to remove someone from your network and prevent them from seeing your activity at the same time. The connection will be removed, and they will no longer have access to your profile.

What happens after you block someone

Once you block someone, they cannot send you messages, connection requests, or see your profile when they search for you. Any previous messages in your inbox will stay there, but you cannot reply to them. If you had mutual connections, those people will still be able to see both of your profiles — blocking only affects the blocked person's view of you.

The blocked person may eventually realize they cannot find you or view your profile, but LinkedIn does not send them a notification saying you blocked them. If they try to visit your profile directly using an old link, they will see a message saying the profile is not available to them.

How to unblock someone

If you change your mind, you can unblock someone at any time. Go to your LinkedIn settings by clicking your profile photo in the top right corner and selecting "Settings and privacy". Then click "Privacy" in the left menu. Scroll down to find "Blocking and hiding" and click "Manage blocked members".

You will see a list of everyone you have blocked. Find the person you want to unblock and click "Unblock" next to their name. They will when ready be able to see your profile and send you messages again. LinkedIn will not notify them that you unblocked them.

The difference between blocking, disconnecting, and muting

LinkedIn offers three different ways to manage your network, and each one does something different. Blocking hides your profile from someone and prevents them from contacting you. Disconnecting removes the connection but leaves your profile visible to them — they can still see your posts and send you messages if you are not connected. Muting keeps the connection but removes their posts from your feed without them knowing.

Choose blocking if someone is harassing you or if you want complete privacy from them. Choose disconnecting if you straightforward want to clean up your network but do not need to hide from the person. Choose muting if you want to stay connected but do not want to see their activity in your feed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone tell if I blocked them on LinkedIn?

LinkedIn does not send a notification when you block someone. However, if you were previously connected, they will notice the connection disappear. If they try to visit your profile directly, they will see a message saying it is not available to them, which may tip them off that you blocked them.

What if I block someone and then want to connect with them later?

You must unblock them first before you can send a connection request. Go to your blocked members list in privacy settings, unblock them, and then you can search for their profile and send a request as normal.

Will blocking someone remove our previous messages?

No. Your message history with them will remain in your inbox, but you will not be able to reply to their messages. They will still see the conversation on their end unless they delete it.

Does blocking someone on LinkedIn affect other platforms?

No. Blocking on LinkedIn only affects that platform. If you are connected with someone on Facebook, Twitter, or other social media, blocking them on LinkedIn does not block them elsewhere.

Can I block someone without them noticing?

Mostly yes. LinkedIn does not notify them, but if you were connected and they check their connections list, they will see you are no longer there. If they try to find your profile, they will get an error message.