What blocking does on LinkedIn
When you block someone on LinkedIn, that person can no longer see your profile, send you messages, or find you in search results. They cannot view your posts, your connections list, or any of your activity. If you were already connected, blocking removes the connection when ready.
The blocked person will not receive a notification that you blocked them, but they may notice they can no longer find your profile or that a previous connection has disappeared. LinkedIn does not tell them why the connection ended.
Blocking is different from removing a connection — when you straightforward remove someone, they can still see your public profile and send you messages. Blocking cuts off all contact and visibility.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking someone removes them from your connections and hides your entire profile from them, including past posts and your connections list.
- The blocked person will not receive a notification, but they may notice they can no longer find your profile or message you.
- You can block someone from their profile page, from a message thread, or from your connections list.
- You can unblock someone at any time by going to your blocked users list in settings.
- Blocking does not delete messages you have already exchanged — those remain in your message history unless you delete them separately.
How to block someone from their profile
Open the profile of the person you want to block. Look for the three dots (called a menu icon) near the top right of their profile card or header section. Click or tap those three dots.
A dropdown menu will appear with several options. Select "Block" or "Block [person's name]" from that menu. LinkedIn will ask you to confirm — click "Block" again to finish. The person is now blocked, and their profile will no longer appear in your search results or feed.
How to block someone from a message
Open the message thread with the person you want to block. Look for the three dots at the top right of the message window. Tap or click those three dots to open a menu.
Select "Block" from the options shown. You may see a checkbox asking whether you also want to report the person for spam or harassment — check that box only if the reason for blocking is unwanted contact or abuse. Confirm the block when prompted.
How to block someone from your connections list
Go to your profile and click "Connections" to see everyone you are connected with. Search for or scroll to find the person you want to block. Click the three dots next to their name.
Select "Block" from the menu. LinkedIn will confirm that you want to block this person and remove the connection. After you confirm, they will be blocked and the connection will be removed from both sides.
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 at the top right and selecting "Settings and privacy." Then click "Settings."
On the left side, click "Privacy." Scroll down to find "Blocking and hiding" and click "Manage blocked users." 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 no longer be blocked, and you can interact with them again.
What happens to old messages when you block someone
Blocking someone does not automatically delete your message history with them. The old messages remain in your inbox and theirs, but neither of you can send new messages to each other while the block is active.
If you want to delete the message thread entirely, you can do that separately by opening the conversation, clicking the three dots at the top, and selecting "Delete chat." This removes the thread from your inbox but does not affect whether the person is blocked.
When blocking might not be the right choice
If someone is harassing you or sending unwanted messages, blocking is the right move. But if you straightforward want to limit what someone sees without cutting off all contact, removing the connection instead might work better — they will no longer see your activity, but they can still message you if needed.
If the contact is abusive or threatening, consider reporting the person to LinkedIn in addition to blocking. Click the three dots on their profile or in a message thread and select "Report." LinkedIn takes reports of harassment, spam, and threats seriously and may take action against the account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I blocked them?
LinkedIn does not send a notification when you block someone. However, they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile and cannot find it, or if they notice a previous connection has disappeared. There is no way to block someone completely invisibly.
Can a blocked person still see messages I sent before blocking them?
Yes. Blocking stops future messages but does not erase past ones. The old messages stay in both inboxes unless one of you deletes the entire conversation. If you want those messages gone, you must delete the chat thread yourself.
What if I block someone by mistake?
You can unblock them anytime through your blocked users list in Settings. Go to Settings, click Privacy, then "Manage blocked users," and click "Unblock" next to their name. They will be able to see your profile and contact you again.
Does blocking someone remove them from my connections list?
Yes. Blocking automatically removes the connection on both sides. If you were connected before, that connection disappears when ready when you block them.
Can I block someone without them seeing that I removed the connection?
Not completely. If they check your profile or their connections list, they will notice the connection is gone. Blocking does not hide the fact that you are no longer connected — it just prevents them from contacting you or seeing your activity.