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LinkedIn is where professionals connect, network, and grow their careers. But sometimes, you need to set boundaries. Whether you’re dealing with spammy marketers, inappropriate messages, or just looking for some digital peace, knowing how to block someone on LinkedIn is an essential skill for maintaining your professional online space.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about blocking people on LinkedIn - from step-by-step instructions to understanding what happens after you hit that block button. I’ve designed this guide to be super practical and easy to follow, no matter what device you’re using.
Why you might want to block someone on LinkedIn
Before we dive into the how-to, let’s talk about why you might consider blocking someone on this professional platform. LinkedIn is different from other social networks - it’s focused on careers and business connections, which makes unwanted interactions even more disruptive.
Common reasons people block connections on LinkedIn include:
- Harassment or inappropriate messages: Unfortunately, some users misuse LinkedIn to send unwanted or inappropriate content. According to LinkedIn’s community guidelines, this is strictly against their terms of service.
- Spammy marketing messages: Those automated messages trying to sell you products or courses without even introducing themselves first.
- Dating proposals: Some people inappropriately use LinkedIn as a dating platform (yikes!).
- Privacy concerns: You might want to keep certain professional or personal information private from specific individuals.
- Unwanted attention: Persistent connection requests or someone constantly engaging with your content can feel intrusive.
- Severing professional ties: Sometimes, you just need a clean break from certain professional relationships.
- Cringe content creators: If someone consistently posts content you find inappropriate for a professional platform.
The good news? LinkedIn never notifies users when they’ve been blocked, so you don’t need to worry about awkward confrontations afterward.
What actually happens when you block someone on LinkedIn?
Understanding the effects of blocking helps you make an informed decision. When you block someone on LinkedIn:
- No profile access: The blocked person cannot view your profile anymore
- No messaging: You cannot send messages to each other
- No content interaction: You won’t see each other’s posts, comments, or other shared content
- No connection: If you were previously connected, that connection is automatically severed
- No notifications: You won’t receive notifications about each other’s activities
- No event participation: You won’t see each other’s LinkedIn events
- Search invisibility: You won’t appear in each other’s search results when searching by name
- Mutual connections: Any shared connections remain unaffected, though you won’t see the blocked person’s interactions with those connections
How to block someone on LinkedIn: step-by-step instructions
Let’s get to the practical part! Here’s how to block someone on LinkedIn across different platforms.
How to block on desktop
- Visit the profile: Navigate to the profile of the person you want to block
- Click on “More”: Find and click the “More…” button located below their profile picture
- Select “Report/Block”: Choose “Report/Block” from the dropdown menu that appears
- Choose “Block [member name]”: Select the block option from the pop-up menu
- Confirm Block: Click “Block” to confirm your action
How to Block on Mobile App (iOS and Android)
The process is quite similar on the mobile app:
- Open the LinkedIn App: Log in to your LinkedIn account on your phone
- Go to the Profile: Navigate to the profile of the person you want to block
- Tap on “More”: Tap the three dots (More) button below their profile picture
- Select “Report/Block”: Choose “Report/Block” from the list of options
- Choose “Block [member name]”: Select the block option
- Confirm Block: Tap “Block” to finalize the action
How to Block on Mobile Browser
If you’re using LinkedIn through your mobile browser rather than the app:
- Open LinkedIn in Browser: Use your mobile browser to log in to LinkedIn
- Go to the Profile: Navigate to the profile of the person you want to block
- Tap on “More”: Tap the “More…” button below the member’s profile picture
- Select “Report/Block”: Choose “Report/Block” from the list
- Choose “Block [member name]”: Select the block option
- Confirm Block: Tap “Block” to complete the process
How to Block Someone Without Them Knowing You Viewed Their Profile
Here’s a common concern: “If I visit someone’s profile to block them, will they know I viewed their profile?”
By default, yes - LinkedIn normally shows users who’s viewed their profile. But there’s a clever workaround using private mode:
Using Private Mode to Block Anonymously
- Access Settings: Tap on your profile icon at the top left (mobile) or click on “Me” (desktop)
- Go to Settings & Privacy: Tap on “Settings” at the bottom left on mobile or select “Settings & Privacy” from the dropdown menu on desktop
- Find Visibility Settings: In the Settings page, look for the “Visibility” section
- Adjust Profile Viewing Options: Tap on “Profile viewing options” at the top
- Switch to Private Mode: Change your setting from showing your name and headline to “Private mode”
- Return to Browsing: Now you can visit the profile you want to block without them knowing who viewed their profile
- Block the Person: Follow the standard blocking steps outlined above
- Switch Back: After blocking, you can switch back to public mode if you prefer
Important Note: When using private mode, you also won’t be able to see who’s viewed your profile. It’s a two-way street!
At FidForward, we always recommend using this approach when dealing with sensitive professional situations. It helps maintain boundaries while keeping your LinkedIn browsing activities private.
Comparison: LinkedIn Privacy Options
| Feature | Blocking | Removing Connection | Muting | Ignoring Messages |
|---|
| Prevents profile viewing | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Removes connection | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Stops direct messages | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Hides posts from feed | ✓ | Partially | ✓ | ✗ |
| Person is notified | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Can be reversed | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
How to Unblock Someone on LinkedIn
Changed your mind? Here’s how to unblock someone:
- Go to Settings & Privacy: Click the “Me” icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage and select “Settings & Privacy”
- Find Visibility Settings: In the “Visibility” section, select “Visibility of your LinkedIn activity”
- Access Blocking Options: Click “Blocking” and select “Change”
- Unblock Member: Find the person’s name in your blocked list and click “Unblock”
- Confirm Unblock: Enter your password if prompted and confirm by clicking “Unblock member”
Important notes about unblocking:
- After unblocking someone, you need to wait 48 hours before you can block them again
- Unblocking someone doesn’t automatically restore your connection – you’ll need to send or accept a new connection request if you want to reconnect
- LinkedIn allows you to block up to approximately 1400-1500 members in total
At FidForward, we recommend doing this audit quarterly to keep your network high-quality and relevant.
Special Cases in LinkedIn Blocking
Some blocking scenarios require special handling:
Blocking Event Organizers or Participants
- Event Organizer: If the member is the organizer of an event you’ve attended or plan to attend, you need to leave the event before you can block them
- Page Admin: If the member is a page admin of an event, leave the event organized by the page before blocking
- As an Event Organizer: If you’re an event organizer and want to block an attendee, you can remove them from the event before blocking them
Blocking Group Admins or Members
- Group Admin or Owner: If the member is an admin or owner of a group you’re part of, leave the group before blocking them
- As a Group Admin: If you’re a group admin or owner and want to block a member, remove them from the group first before blocking them
Blocking a Company on LinkedIn
Yes, you can block entire company pages on LinkedIn too. The process is similar to blocking an individual:
- Go to the company page you want to block
- Click on “More” (three dots)
- Select “Report/Block”
- Choose the block option and confirm
This is useful if you’re getting too many notifications or ads from a particular company, or if you simply want to remove them from your LinkedIn experience.
FAQ: Common Questions About LinkedIn Blocking
Can people tell if they’ve been blocked on LinkedIn?
LinkedIn doesn’t send notifications when someone gets blocked. However, there are some signs that might indicate to someone that they’ve been blocked:
- They can’t access your profile; it appears to no longer exist
- Previously sent messages to you no longer appear
- You don’t appear in their search results when searching by name
- Mutual connections or shared content no longer show interactions with you
- You no longer appear in their “People You May Know” suggestions
Can you block someone without visiting their profile?
Unfortunately, you can’t block someone on LinkedIn without visiting their profile first. However, you can use the private mode workaround mentioned earlier to visit their profile anonymously before blocking them
How many people can you block on LinkedIn?
LinkedIn allows you to block up to approximately 1400-1500 members
Will blocking someone remove them from my connections?
Yes, blocking automatically removes any connection between you and the blocked person
If I block someone, will they know I viewed their profile?
If you visit their profile normally and then block them, they may receive a notification that you viewed their profile before you blocked them. That’s why using private mode first (as explained earlier) is recommended
LinkedIn Connection Audit: A Practical Template
Sometimes a full-on block isn’t necessary, but your LinkedIn network could use some cleaning. Here’s a simple checklist to audit your connections periodically:
□ Review connections who haven’t interacted with your content in 6+ months
□ Check for connections sending spam or promotional content
□ Identify connections with whom you have no professional relationship
□ Review connections whose content doesn’t align with your professional values
□ Check for connections who’ve changed industries/roles and are no longer relevant
□ Identify accounts that appear fake or suspicious
□ Review connections with whom you’ve had negative interactions
At FidForward.com, we recommend doing this audit quarterly to keep your network high-quality and relevant.
Best Practices for Maintaining a Healthy LinkedIn Network
While blocking is sometimes necessary, here are some proactive steps to maintain a healthy LinkedIn presence:
1. Be selective with connection requests
- Only accept connections from people you know professionally or who are relevant to your industry
- Check if you have mutual connections before accepting
- Read their message (if any) explaining why they want to connect
2. Review profiles before connecting
- Check their complete profile including experience and education
- Look at their activity and the type of content they post
- See how they engage with others’ content
3. Set clear boundaries from the start
- Use LinkedIn primarily for professional purposes
- Keep communication appropriate and professional
- Don’t share excessive personal information
4. Use privacy settings effectively
- Control who can see your email address
- Adjust who can send you connection requests
- Manage your activity broadcasts
5. Be intentional with your LinkedIn strategy
- Define what you want to get out of the platform
- Connect with people who align with those goals
- Regularly assess if your network is helping you achieve those goals
When Blocking Isn’t Enough: Advanced LinkedIn Security
In some serious cases, blocking may not be sufficient. If you’re experiencing harassment or threats on LinkedIn, consider these additional steps:
- Report the user to LinkedIn: After clicking “Report/Block,” choose the appropriate reason for reporting
- Document everything: Take screenshots of problematic messages or posts
- Adjust your privacy settings: Make your profile less visible to people outside your network
- Consider legal advice: In cases of severe harassment or threats
- Take a break: Sometimes stepping away from the platform temporarily is the best option
While LinkedIn itself doesn’t offer third-party tools for blocking, there are several tools that can help you manage your overall LinkedIn experience better:
- LinkedIn Premium: Gives you more insights into who’s viewed your profile and additional privacy controls
- Social media management tools: Services like Hootsuite or Buffer can help you schedule and manage LinkedIn content
Conclusion: maintaining professional boundaries
LinkedIn is an incredible tool for professional networking, job searching, and career development. However, like any social platform, managing your boundaries is essential for a positive experience.
Blocking someone on LinkedIn is straightforward and private - the person won’t be notified, but they will no longer be able to view your profile or interact with you on the platform. Whether you’re dealing with unwanted messages, inappropriate behavior, or simply maintaining your professional boundaries, LinkedIn’s blocking feature helps ensure your networking experience remains positive and productive.
Remember that periodic audits of your connections and thoughtful consideration of who you connect with in the first place can reduce the need to block people later on. Being intentional about your LinkedIn presence not only enhances your professional brand but also creates a more meaningful network that serves your career goals.
