LinkedIn shows read receipts, but only in direct messages and only to the sender
When you send a direct message on LinkedIn, you can see whether the other person has opened it. A small checkmark appears next to your message once they've read it. This works similarly to read receipts on text messages or email — it tells you the message was seen, not just delivered.
The person receiving your message does not see that you read theirs. LinkedIn only shows read status one direction: from the sender to the recipient. If someone sends you a message, they can see when you open it, but you cannot see when they opened your messages to them.
Read receipts appear only in one-on-one conversations. They do not work in LinkedIn group messages, event chats, or any other messaging format on the platform. If you are messaging multiple people at once, you will not see individual read receipts.
Key Takeaways
- LinkedIn displays a checkmark next to your message once the recipient opens it, visible only to you as the sender.
- The other person cannot see when you read their messages — read receipts are one-way only.
- Read receipts work only in direct messages between two people, not in group chats or other messaging features.
- You cannot turn off read receipts or hide whether you have read a message on LinkedIn.
Where you see the checkmark and what it means
Open any direct message conversation on LinkedIn. After the other person opens your message, a small checkmark icon appears to the right of the message text. On desktop, this checkmark is gray and sits next to the timestamp. On the mobile app, it appears in the same location but may be slightly smaller.
One checkmark means the message was delivered to LinkedIn's servers. Two checkmarks mean the person has opened the message and read it. Some messaging apps use this two-checkmark system; LinkedIn uses a single checkmark for read status. The checkmark does not tell you whether the person has responded or taken any action — only that they opened the conversation and saw the message.
The checkmark appears within seconds of the other person opening the message, though there can occasionally be a slight delay of a few seconds depending on your internet connection and theirs.
What read receipts do not tell you
A read receipt means the message appeared on the person's screen. It does not mean they understood it, agreed with it, or will respond. Someone might open a message, see it is from a recruiter, and decide not to reply — but the read receipt still shows.
Read receipts also do not tell you how long someone spent reading the message. If you send a three-paragraph message and it shows as read five seconds later, you cannot know whether they read all of it carefully or glanced at the first line. The checkmark only confirms the message was opened.
Similarly, a message without a checkmark does not necessarily mean the person ignored you. They might not have opened LinkedIn that day, or they might be on a platform or device where notifications do not sync properly. A missing read receipt is not proof of anything except that the message has not been opened yet.
How read receipts work across devices
If someone has LinkedIn open on their phone and their computer at the same time, opening the message on either device will trigger the read receipt. You will see the checkmark appear regardless of which device they used. LinkedIn syncs read status across all devices logged into the same account.
If someone logs out of LinkedIn on all devices and then logs back in later, opening an old message will not generate a new read receipt. The read receipt appears only the first time the message is opened after it was sent. Opening it again later does not change the checkmark.
Why LinkedIn uses read receipts
Read receipts serve two purposes on LinkedIn. For the sender, they reduce uncertainty — you know whether your message reached someone and whether they have seen it. For LinkedIn as a company, read receipts encourage more frequent use of the messaging feature, which keeps people on the platform longer.
LinkedIn does not offer a setting to disable read receipts or to hide your read status from others. Unlike some messaging apps, you cannot turn this feature off. If you send a message on LinkedIn, the sender will always be able to see when you read it.
Differences from email and other messaging platforms
Email services like Gmail offer read receipts, but they are optional and the recipient can refuse to send one. LinkedIn does not give you this choice. Your read status is always visible to the person who sent you the message.
Text messaging apps like iMessage and WhatsApp show read receipts by default but allow you to turn them off in settings. Slack, used by many workplaces, shows read receipts in direct messages but lets you disable them. LinkedIn has no such setting.
Some messaging platforms show typing indicators — a notification that someone is currently typing a response. LinkedIn does not have this feature. You only see the checkmark once the message has been fully opened and read.
What happens with notifications and read receipts
If you receive a notification about a LinkedIn message but do not open the app to read it, the sender will not see a read receipt. Notifications are separate from actually opening the message. You must open the LinkedIn app or website and view the message in the conversation for the checkmark to appear.
If you have notifications turned off for LinkedIn, you will not receive an alert when someone sends you a message, but the read receipt system still works the same way. Opening the message manually will still show the checkmark to the sender.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see if someone read my message if I sent it to a group?
No. LinkedIn does not show read receipts for group messages or event chats. Read receipts work only in direct one-on-one conversations. If you need to know whether multiple people have seen a message, you would need to ask them directly or send individual messages instead.
Does opening a LinkedIn notification count as reading the message?
No. Opening a notification preview does not trigger the read receipt. You must open the LinkedIn app or website and view the full message in the conversation thread. Some people read message previews in notifications without opening the app, and those do not count as read.
What if someone screenshots my message before reading it?
The read receipt appears only when they open the message in the LinkedIn app or website. Taking a screenshot of a notification or preview does not trigger it. They would need to actually open the conversation to generate the checkmark.
Can I turn off read receipts so people do not see when I read their messages?
No. LinkedIn does not offer a setting to hide your read status. When you open a message, the sender will see the checkmark. You cannot disable this feature or make your read status private on LinkedIn.
If I read a message on my phone, will the sender see it if I also have LinkedIn open on my computer?
Yes. LinkedIn syncs read status across all your devices. Reading a message on your phone will show the checkmark to the sender, even if you also have the app open on your computer. The read receipt appears as soon as any device logs into your account and opens the message.