LinkedIn shows read receipts, but only in certain situations and only to some people
LinkedIn does display read receipts — a notification that someone has opened your message — but the feature works differently depending on what kind of message you send and who you send it to. If you send a direct message to someone in your network, you will see a small icon showing whether they have read it. However, LinkedIn does not let you turn this feature off, and the person receiving your message will also see that you read theirs.
The read receipt appears as a small circle with the person's profile photo inside it, positioned next to your message. It shows up after they open the message, not when they receive it. This is different from some other messaging apps, where you can choose whether to share that information.
There is one major exception: if you send a message to someone who is not yet in your network — someone you have not connected with — LinkedIn does not show read receipts at all. Those messages sit in a separate "Pending" folder, and you will not know if the person opened them.
Key Takeaways
- LinkedIn shows read receipts automatically in direct messages between connected contacts, and you cannot turn this feature off.
- The read receipt appears as a small circle with the sender's profile photo, showing up only after the message is actually opened, not when it arrives.
- Messages sent to people who have not accepted your connection request do not show read receipts at all.
- Both people in a conversation see each other's read receipts, so the other person will know when you have read their messages too.
How to tell if someone read your LinkedIn message
When you send a direct message to someone in your network, look at the bottom right corner of the message bubble. If you see a small circle with their profile picture inside it, that means they have opened and read the message. If there is no circle, the message is still unread.
The read receipt only appears after they actually open the message in the LinkedIn app or website. straightforward having the message show up in their notifications or email does not trigger it. They have to click into the conversation and view the message itself.
On mobile, the read receipt works the same way — a small profile photo circle appears at the bottom of your message once they have read it. The timing can vary slightly depending on whether they are using the app or the web version, but the indicator is the same.
What read receipts do not tell you
A read receipt only confirms that someone opened the message. It does not tell you whether they actually understood it, agreed with it, or plan to respond. Someone might read your message and then forget about it, or read it and decide not to reply. The read receipt is just proof of opening, nothing more.
LinkedIn also does not show you when someone started reading your message or how long they spent looking at it. You only get the binary information: read or unread. If you send a long message, you will not know if they read the whole thing or just glanced at the first line.
Additionally, read receipts do not show up for messages sent in LinkedIn groups or in the comment sections of posts. They only work in one-on-one direct messages between people who have already connected.
Why LinkedIn uses read receipts and what it means for your privacy
LinkedIn built read receipts into its messaging system to match the behavior of other professional communication tools. The feature is meant to reduce uncertainty — you know whether your message reached someone and whether they have seen it. This can be useful in a work context when you need to know if someone has received important information.
The trade-off is that your contacts can see when you read their messages too. You cannot hide the fact that you have opened a message, even if you are not ready to respond. Some people find this pressure uncomfortable, especially if they receive a lot of messages and cannot reply to everything when ready.
LinkedIn does not sell read receipt data or use it for advertising purposes. The information stays between you and the person you are messaging. However, it is worth knowing that this transparency exists if you are concerned about appearing slow to respond or if you want to read messages without the sender knowing.
The difference between read receipts and typing indicators
LinkedIn also has a separate feature called a typing indicator — a small notification that shows when someone is actively typing a response to you. This is different from a read receipt. The typing indicator appears in real time while someone is composing a message, whereas the read receipt only shows up after they have finished reading.
Like read receipts, typing indicators are automatic and cannot be turned off. If you start typing a message, the other person will see that you are composing something. This can create awkward situations if you start typing, change your mind, and delete the message — they will have seen that you were typing but no message will arrive.
Both features are built into LinkedIn's core messaging system and explore to all direct messages between connected users. There is no setting to disable either one.
Messages that do not show read receipts
If you send a message to someone who has not accepted your connection request yet, that message goes into their "Pending" folder. LinkedIn does not show read receipts for pending messages. You will not know if they opened it, ignored it, or never saw it at all.
Messages in LinkedIn groups and comments on posts also do not have read receipts. Only direct one-on-one messages between connected contacts trigger the read receipt feature. If you are trying to reach someone through a group discussion or by commenting on their post, you will not get confirmation that they have seen your message.
Similarly, messages sent through LinkedIn's job process messaging system or through LinkedIn Events do not show read receipts. The feature is limited to the standard direct messaging interface.
What to do if you do not want people to see when you read their messages
LinkedIn does not offer a built-in way to hide your read receipts. You cannot turn off the feature, mark messages as unread after opening them, or use a privacy setting to prevent others from seeing that you have read their messages. The read receipt system is mandatory for all users.
If you want to avoid appearing to ignore someone, you have a few practical options. You can read messages on your phone's notification preview without opening the full conversation — though this only works if the message is short enough to display in full. You can also straightforward accept that people will see when you read their messages and respond when you are able to.
Some people choose to turn off LinkedIn notifications entirely if they find the pressure of visible read receipts stressful. This way, you can check messages on your own schedule without the expectation of an when ready response. However, this is a workaround rather than a true privacy setting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see read receipts on messages I sent before LinkedIn added the feature?
No. Read receipts only work on messages sent after the feature was enabled on your account. Older messages in your conversation history will not show whether they were read. The feature applies going forward from the point it was activated.
Does LinkedIn show read receipts if I read a message on my phone but not on my computer?
No. Once you read a message on any device — phone, tablet, or computer — it is marked as read across all your devices. The read receipt will show up for the sender regardless of which device you used to open it. LinkedIn syncs your read status in real time.
What if someone reads my message but does not have a profile photo?
The read receipt will still appear, but it may show a generic default image or placeholder instead of their actual profile photo. The important part — the confirmation that they read the message — is still there.
Do read receipts work the same way in LinkedIn's mobile app and on the website?
Yes, the read receipt system works the same way on both platforms. You will see the same profile photo circle indicator whether you are using the LinkedIn app or accessing LinkedIn through a web browser. The timing may vary slightly depending on connection speed, but the feature itself is identical.
If I delete a message after reading it, does the sender still see the read receipt?
Yes. Deleting a message on your end does not remove the read receipt from the sender's view. They will still see that you read the message, even if you delete it from your conversation history. The read receipt is recorded before you delete anything.