LinkedIn is one of the most popular professional social media platforms, with over 810 million members worldwide as of 2022. On LinkedIn, users create profiles to network, connect with others in their industry, search for jobs, and more. One useful feature on LinkedIn is being able to see the last time another user was active on the platform.
What does the “Last active” status mean on LinkedIn?
On LinkedIn user profiles, you may notice under the user’s name and headline there is a “Last active” status. This tells you the last time the user accessed LinkedIn through any device. For example, it may say “Last active 2 hours ago” or “Last active 3 days ago.”
This status updates any time the user visits LinkedIn on desktop or mobile, messages someone, shares an update, posts an article, applies to jobs, and more. Basically any activity on LinkedIn will trigger an update to the “Last active” time.
The “Last active” status does not mean the user is currently online or active at that very moment. It simply shows the last interaction they had on the platform. They could have logged off immediately after and not visited LinkedIn since.
Who can see your “Last active” status on LinkedIn?
By default, your connections on LinkedIn can see when you were “Last active.” However, you can control who sees this status through your account settings:
- Public – All LinkedIn members can see when you were last active
- Connections only – Just your 1st-degree connections can see it
- Only you – No one else can see your last active status
To update this setting, go to your account settings and select “Privacy.” Then edit the “Your activity and connections visibility” section.
How to see someone’s last active time on LinkedIn
If another user has their “Last active” status set to be visible to you, it’s easy to find. Simply:
- Go to their LinkedIn profile
- Look under their name and headline for the “Last active” time
For example, “Last active 3 hours ago.”
As mentioned above, you can only see another user’s last active time if you are connected to them or if they have the setting enabled for all LinkedIn members.
Can you see if someone viewed your LinkedIn profile?
Unlike other social networks like Facebook, LinkedIn does not notify you if someone views your profile. The only way to know if someone visited your page is through LinkedIn Premium account features.
With a Premium account on LinkedIn, you can see the following information:
- Who’s viewed your profile – See the names of users who have viewed your profile in the last 90 days
- Viewers by industry – See what industries your profile viewers work in
- Profile view statistics – See summary data on your profile views, like total number of views
So in summary, with a free LinkedIn account you cannot see who’s looked at your profile. Only Premium members can access information on profile viewers.
Pro tips for using LinkedIn’s last active feature
Here are some tips on making the most of LinkedIn’s “Last active” status feature:
Update your settings for privacy control
As described above, you can limit your last active status to be visible to only certain people. Use this setting to control your privacy.
Check statuses strategically when messaging
If you want to message someone, first check if they’ve been active recently. This can give you an idea if they will see your message soon versus messaging someone who was last active weeks ago.
Connect the dots when job hunting
Pay attention to when companies you’re interested in working for were last active. This can give you clues on when they might be reviewing applicants.
Gauge engagement before sharing content
Before posting an article or update, look at when your key connections were last active. If they haven’t been on LinkedIn in weeks, your post may not reach them.
Limitations of LinkedIn’s last active status
While LinkedIn’s last active indicator is useful, keep these limitations in mind:
- Not fully accurate – The time shown may not be exact. Activations can take a bit to register.
- Easily misinterpreted – The status only shows platform activity, not if a user is active elsewhere online.
- Privacy concerns – Some users may not want to broadcast when they are checking LinkedIn.
Use your best judgment when factoring in someone’s last active status on LinkedIn. Don’t assume they are glued to the platform 24/7. And respect other users’ privacy if they choose to keep this information hidden.
Conclusion
LinkedIn’s “Last active” status indicator provides valuable insight into other users’ activity on the platform. You can see when your connections were last active, which can help inform your messaging and overall networking strategy. But keep in mind the limitations of this feature and respect other users’ privacy preferences.
