Does LinkedIn show all mutual connections?

LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 800 million members. As a relationship-based platform, LinkedIn allows you to connect with other professionals in your industry or location. One of LinkedIn’s key features is the ability to see your shared connections with other members.

What are mutual connections on LinkedIn?

Mutual connections refer to LinkedIn members that you are both connected to. For example, if you are connected to John and Mary is also connected to John, then John would be a mutual connection between you and Mary.

Seeing mutual connections on LinkedIn can be beneficial for several reasons:

• It allows you to identify shared relationships and potentially warm introductions for networking.
• It builds trust and credibility when you share mutual connections with someone.
• It helps expand your network by motivating you to connect with 2nd-degree connections.

How does LinkedIn determine mutual connections?

LinkedIn’s algorithm looks at all the 1st-degree connections in your network and cross-references them with the 1st-degree connections of other members you interact with. Here is a step-by-step look at how it works:

1. LinkedIn maps out your entire network of 1st-degree connections.
2. It does the same for the other LinkedIn member’s 1st-degree network.
3. It then compares the two networks to find connections that exist in both networks.
4. These shared connections are identified as 2nd-degree “mutual connections.”

So in essence, mutual connections are the overlapping parts of your individual networks on LinkedIn.

Does LinkedIn show all mutual connections?

No, LinkedIn does not show all mutual connections between you and another member. Here are some limitations:

• LinkedIn only shows up to 10 mutual connections at any given time.
• The 10 connections shown are selected algorithmically based on relevance.
• You can click “See all” to view the full list, but this is capped at 100 connections.
• There may be hundreds of additional mutual connections beyond what LinkedIn displays.

There are a few reasons why LinkedIn restricts the number of mutual connections displayed:

• To reduce clutter on the platform and only show the most relevant connections.
• To encourage users to click “See all” which promotes engagement.
• To incentivize users to upgrade to premium accounts to see unlimited connections.

How many mutual connections does LinkedIn show for free users?

For free LinkedIn members, the number of mutual connections displayed is limited as follows:

• On profile preview popups – up to 10 mutual connections shown
• On “People Also Viewed” – up to 10 mutual connections
• On search results – up to 5 mutual connections
• On the “Manage Connections” page – up to 100 mutual connections

In all cases, LinkedIn selects the 10 or 5 most “relevant” mutual connections to display, out of all the possible connections.

How to see all mutual connections on LinkedIn

As a free user, there are still a few ways to uncover more of your mutual connections on LinkedIn beyond the basic limits:

1. Upgrade to a Premium account – This provides unlimited mutual connections.
2. Export your network connections – The exported file will list all connections.
3. Install a LinkedIn browser extension – Some extensions show expanded networks.
4. View connections in common on Group pages – This can surface new mutuals.
5. Repeat searches and network views – Mutuals shown change each time.

However, even with the above approaches, LinkedIn’s API does not provide full access to all mutual connections programmatically. The only guaranteed way is through a paid Premium account.

How many mutual connections are shown for Premium users?

One of the main benefits of LinkedIn Premium is the ability to see all your mutual connections with other members, with no limits. This unrestricted view of mutual connections is available on Premium plans as follows:

Having an unlimited mutual connection view enables Premium users to:

• Discover hidden relationships for networking.
• Identify better recommendations and warm introductions.
• Evaluate the closeness of connections.
• Assess credibility based on large shared networks.

Is the “See all” premium feature useful?

The ability to “See all” mutual connections beyond the initial 10 connection view is one of LinkedIn Premium’s main perks. But how useful is this feature? Here are some key benefits:

• It allows discovery of mutual connections you didn’t know existed.
• Can identify better shared contacts for introductions vs. the top 10.
• Helps thoroughly evaluate someone’s credibility if networks overlap.
• Allows assessment of the closeness of a mutual connection.
• Provides a way to uncover hidden relationships and opportunities.

However, users with massive networks may find thousands of mutual connections for some profiles, making the expanded list overwhelming. Overall, the feature is extremely helpful but requires filtering to be manageable at scale.

Third-party tools to show all LinkedIn mutual connections

In addition to LinkedIn Premium, there are also external browser extensions and services that can surface more of your mutual LinkedIn connections beyond the standard limits, including:

• Connections for LinkedIn – Browser extension that exposes unlimited mutuals.
• LinkedIn X-Ray Search – Chrome extension providing expanded search data.
• Octopus for LinkedIn – Browser tool for managing LinkedIn networks.
• Linkclump – Uncovers 2nd and 3rd degree mutual connections.

However, most third-party tools have usage limits or eventually require a Premium account authorization. They can provide partial access beyond basic limits, but not full visibility into all mutual connections possible.

Are third-party tools allowed by LinkedIn?

Technically, most third-party tools that surface additional LinkedIn data violate LinkedIn’s terms of service. LinkedIn aims to limit data access to promote Premium subscriptions. So while some tools may temporarily provide more access, LinkedIn works actively to limit third-party data scraping and access.

Why doesn’t LinkedIn show all mutual connections?

LinkedIn intentionally limits the mutual connections displayed as part of its business model and platform strategy. Here are some of the main reasons why:

1. To incentivize Premium subscriptions by making it an exclusive perk.
2. To control data access and prevent unauthorized data harvesting.
3. To reduce clutter and only surface the most relevant mutuals.
4. To encourage users to expand networks by connecting with 2nd-degree contacts.
5. To enable innovative products like LinkedIn’s “People You May Know” recommendations.

Essentially, LinkedIn uses mutual connection visibility limits to encourage engagement, connections, and premium subscriptions on the platform strategically.

Is LinkedIn limiting mutuals user-friendly?

Opinions are mixed on whether restricting the mutual connection view is good for users. Here are some perspectives:

• Pro – It reduces clutter and focuses users on most relevant connections.
• Con – It hinders users from evaluating networks fully or identifying useful connections.
• Pro – It pushes users to expand networks by connecting more.
• Con – Users shouldn’t be “forced” to upgrade to Premium to see full connections.

Overall, while LinkedIn’s strategy makes sense business-wise, some users see the limited connection visibility as a detriment to the user experience. Balancing business goals and user experience is an ongoing challenge.

How many mutual connections make a good LinkedIn connection?

When evaluating LinkedIn connection requests, the number of mutual connections is often used as a benchmark for relevance. Here are some general guidelines on what makes a “good” mutual connection count:

• 1-2 mutual connections – Often irrelevant or distant connections.
• 3-5 mutuals – Potentially promising but still weak or indirect ties.
• 5-10 mutuals – A reasonably strong connection worth approving.
• 10+ mutuals – A very strong connection with close networking potential.

However, the specific context also matters. Fewer mutuals may be fine for connecting with someone in a new industry or location. But a wider base of mutuals is expected when connecting closer to home.

Will connecting with no mutuals benefit my network?

Accepting connection requests from members with zero mutual connections is risky but can occasionally be beneficial. Potential upsides include:

• Gain exposure to new industries or geographies.
• Build connections with up-and-coming professionals.
• Increase network reach and size.

However, risks like spam and low relevance/engagement are common. Thoroughly vetting profiles and intentions first is crucial before connecting without shared connections.

Pro tips for checking mutual connections

Here are some pro tips when it comes to effectively checking mutual connections on LinkedIn:

1. Always view mutuals before accepting a new connection.
2. Sort the “Manage Connections” page by connections in common to uncover hidden mutuals.
3. Customize your LinkedIn feed to show 2nd degree activities to surface mutuals.
4. Join Groups related to your industry or school to uncover group-specific mutuals.
5. Consider premium tools if you manage a large network and need to identify key mutuals.
6. Before sales outreach, look for leadership mutuals to improve response rates.

Taking the time to research mutual connections helps ensure every LinkedIn connection strengthens your professional network meaningfully.

Conclusion

In summary, LinkedIn intentionally limits the number of mutual connections displayed in order to drive premium subscriptions, network growth and strategic product features. While third-party tools can help surface more mutuals, premium access is required to view all connections in full.

Understanding how mutual connections work on LinkedIn enables users to send more relevant connection invites, uncover hidden relationships, and evaluate the credibility of connections more accurately. While restricting full access has business justification, finding the right balance for users remains an ongoing discussion.