Disable read receipts in LinkedIn messaging settings
To turn off read receipts on LinkedIn, open the app or website, go to your account settings, find the messaging preferences, and toggle off the option that lets others see when you have read their messages. The exact steps differ slightly between the mobile app and desktop version, but the setting lives in the same place on both.
On desktop, click your profile photo in the top right corner, select "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." Look for "Messaging" in the left sidebar and click it. You will see a checkbox next to "Show read receipts." Uncheck that box and the change takes effect when ready. People who message you will no longer see a timestamp or indicator showing that you opened their message.
On the LinkedIn mobile app for iPhone or Android, tap your profile icon at the bottom, scroll down and tap "Settings," then tap "Messaging." Toggle off "Show read receipts." The setting syncs across all your devices, so you only need to change it once.
Key Takeaways
- Read receipts on LinkedIn let other users know the exact moment you open and read their messages.
- Turning off read receipts prevents others from seeing when you have read their messages, but you will still see when they read yours.
- The setting is found in Messaging preferences under Settings and privacy on both desktop and mobile.
- Disabling read receipts takes effect when ready across all devices where you use LinkedIn.
What read receipts show other people
When read receipts are turned on, anyone who sends you a message on LinkedIn can see exactly when you opened and read it. The timestamp appears next to your name in the conversation thread. This is useful if you are coordinating with someone and need to know whether they have seen your message, but it also means people know you have read their message even if you have not responded yet.
Some people find this pressure uncomfortable — it creates an expectation to reply quickly once you have opened a message. Others use read receipts as a way to track whether someone is ignoring them. Turning off read receipts removes that visibility in both directions: others cannot see when you read their messages, but you also cannot see when they read yours.
Why you might want to turn off read receipts
The main reason people disable read receipts is to avoid the pressure of an when ready response. If someone can see you have read their message, they may expect you to reply right away, even if you are busy or need time to think. Without read receipts, you can read a message, take your time, and respond when you are ready without anyone knowing you have already seen it.
Read receipts can also feel invasive in professional contexts. You might read a message from a recruiter or hiring manager and want to think about your response without them knowing you have already opened it. Disabling the feature gives you more control over how much of your attention and availability you reveal.
What happens after you turn off read receipts
Once you disable read receipts, people who message you will no longer see when you have read their messages. The timestamp that normally appears next to your name in the conversation will disappear. However, the person will still know you received their message — they just will not know when you opened it.
Your own experience changes too. You will no longer see read receipts from people who message you. If someone sends you a message, you will not see a timestamp showing when they opened it. This is a trade-off: privacy for you means less information about whether others have seen your messages.
The setting applies only to one-to-one messages, not to messages in LinkedIn groups or comments on posts. If you participate in group conversations or comment threads, those interactions do not have read receipt settings.
How to turn read receipts back on
If you change your mind and want to see read receipts again, the process is the same as turning them off. On desktop, go to Settings and privacy, click Messaging, and check the box next to "Show read receipts." On mobile, go to Settings, tap Messaging, and toggle "Show read receipts" back on.
You can turn read receipts on and off as many times as you want. The change takes effect when ready, so if you turn them off today and back on tomorrow, people will start seeing your read receipts again from that point forward.
Read receipts on LinkedIn versus other messaging platforms
LinkedIn's read receipt system works similarly to Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, where a timestamp or checkmark shows when someone has read your message. However, LinkedIn does not have the double-checkmark system that WhatsApp uses — it straightforward shows a timestamp next to your name when you open a message.
Unlike some other platforms, LinkedIn does not let you turn off read receipts for only certain people. The setting is all or nothing: either everyone can see when you read their messages, or no one can. If you want to hide your read status from one specific person, you would need to disable read receipts entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn off read receipts for just one person?
No. LinkedIn's read receipt setting applies to all your messages at once. If you turn off read receipts, no one can see when you have read their messages. There is no way to disable them for a specific contact while keeping them on for everyone else.
Will people know I turned off read receipts?
No. People will straightforward stop seeing the timestamp next to your name when they send you messages. They will not receive a notification that you have disabled read receipts, and there is no way for them to tell the difference between you having turned them off and you just not opening their message.
If I turn off read receipts, can I still see when others read my messages?
No. Turning off read receipts is a two-way setting. When you disable it, you stop seeing read receipts from others, and they stop seeing them from you. You cannot see their read status while hiding your own.
Do read receipts work the same way on the LinkedIn app and desktop?
Yes. The setting syncs across all devices. If you turn off read receipts on your phone, they will be off on desktop too. You only need to change the setting once, and it applies everywhere you use LinkedIn.
What if someone messages me after I turn off read receipts?
They will not see a read receipt when you open their message. The timestamp that normally appears next to your name will not show up. They will still know you received the message through the normal message delivery system, but they will not know when you actually opened and read it.