Blocking someone on LinkedIn removes their ability to message you, see your profile, or add you as a connection

When you block a person on LinkedIn, they cannot send you messages, view your profile, see your posts, or find you in search results. The block is one-way — they won't receive a notification that you blocked them, but if they try to visit your profile or message you, they'll see an error. You can unblock someone at any time if you change your mind.

Blocking is different from removing a connection or ignoring a message request. Removing a connection just ends the relationship but doesn't prevent them from messaging you or viewing your public profile. Ignoring a message request hides their message but doesn't stop them from contacting you again. A block is the strongest privacy tool LinkedIn offers for a specific person.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking someone prevents them from messaging you, viewing your profile, or finding you in search — but they won't be notified that you blocked them.
  • You can block someone from their profile, from a message thread, or from a search result without opening their full profile.
  • Blocking removes any existing connection between you, so you won't see their posts or activity in your feed.
  • You can view your full block list at any time and unblock someone if you need to reverse the decision.

How to block someone from their LinkedIn profile

Open the person's LinkedIn profile in your browser or app. Look for the three-dot menu icon (⋯) near the top right of their profile card or header. Tap or click that menu, and you'll see a "Block" option. Select it, and LinkedIn will ask you to confirm — click "Block" again to finish.

After you block them, LinkedIn will automatically remove any existing connection between you. If you were connected, they'll no longer appear in your network. Any messages between you will remain in your message history, but they won't be able to send you new ones.

How to block someone from a message thread

Open the conversation with the person you want to block. At the top of the message thread, you'll see their name and a three-dot menu icon. Tap or click the menu, and select "Block." Confirm the action when prompted.

This method is faster if you're already messaging with someone and decide you don't want further contact. The block takes effect immediately, and any future messages they try to send will be rejected.

How to block someone from search results

If you find someone in LinkedIn's search results and want to block them without opening their full profile, hover over their name in the results list. A three-dot menu will appear on their card. Click it and select "Block." You don't need to visit their profile to complete this action.

This is useful if you're searching for someone else and a person you want to avoid appears in the results. You can block them directly from the list without giving them any indication that you viewed their profile.

What happens after you block someone

Once blocked, the person cannot message you, see your profile, or find you through LinkedIn search. If they try to visit your profile directly (by typing your URL), they'll see a message saying the profile isn't available. They won't see your posts, comments, or activity in their feed.

Your existing messages with them remain in your inbox, but they're read-only on your end. You can still see what was said, but you cannot send new messages. If you want to remove the conversation entirely, you can delete the thread from your message list.

How to view and manage your block list

To see everyone you've blocked, go to your LinkedIn settings. On the desktop, click your profile photo in the top right, then select "Settings and privacy." Click "Privacy" in the left menu, then scroll down to "Blocking and hiding." You'll see a section called "Blocked members" with a list of everyone you've blocked.

On the mobile app, tap your profile photo, then tap "Settings." Scroll to "Privacy," then tap "Blocking and hiding." Your blocked members list appears there. Next to each person's name, you'll see an "Unblock" button if you want to reverse the block.

How to unblock someone on LinkedIn

Go to your block list using the steps above. Find the person you want to unblock and click or tap the "Unblock" button next to their name. LinkedIn will ask you to confirm — select "Unblock" again to finish.

After you unblock someone, they can message you, view your profile, and find you in search again. However, unblocking does not automatically reconnect you if you were previously connected. They'll need to send you a new connection request, and you can accept or decline it as usual.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person know I blocked them?

No. LinkedIn does not send a notification when you block someone. If they try to visit your profile or message you, they'll see an error, but they won't receive an alert saying you blocked them. They may figure it out if they notice they can't find you anymore, but LinkedIn keeps the block itself private.

Can I block someone who isn't my connection?

Yes. You can block anyone on LinkedIn, whether you're connected or not. You can block someone from their profile, from a message request, or from search results. Blocking works the same way regardless of your relationship status.

What's the difference between blocking and removing a connection?

Removing a connection ends your relationship but doesn't prevent them from messaging you or viewing your public profile. Blocking prevents all contact and hides your profile from them. If you just want to clean up your network, remove the connection. If you want to stop someone from contacting you, block them.

If I unblock someone, will our old messages come back?

Yes. Your message history with that person remains in your inbox even while they're blocked. When you unblock them, the conversation is still there, and they can see it too if they saved it on their end. Unblocking restores their ability to message you going forward.

Can I block someone without them seeing that I viewed their profile?

If you block someone from their profile page, they may see that you viewed it before the block took effect, depending on your profile visibility settings. To avoid this, block them from search results or from a message thread instead — you don't need to open their full profile to block them that way.