Seeing someone’s full size profile picture on LinkedIn can be useful to get a better look at what they look like, especially if the thumbnail image is small. However, LinkedIn doesn’t make full size profile pictures available to just anyone for privacy reasons. There are a few different ways you may be able to see a full size profile photo on LinkedIn, depending on your relationship with the person and both users’ privacy settings.
Ways to See Full Size LinkedIn Profile Pictures
Here are some ways you can see the full size version of someone’s profile picture on LinkedIn:
If They’ve Enabled the Setting
LinkedIn gives users the option to enable a setting that allows anyone to see their full profile photo, regardless of your connection status. If the person you want to see the full size picture of has this setting turned on, you’ll be able to view their full profile photo when visiting their profile.
To check if someone has this enabled, go to their profile and look for a “Show full profile photo” link below their profile picture thumbnail. If you see this, you can click it to view their uncensored profile photo in its full size.
If You Are Connected
If you are directly connected to someone on LinkedIn, you should be able to see their full profile picture when you visit their profile. Being a 1st-degree connection gives you access to some additional profile information, including the ability to see their full profile photo.
So if you want to see the full size profile picture of someone you’re connected with, simply go to their profile and their uncensored picture should be visible.
If You Are in The Same Company or Group
Even if you are not directly connected to someone on LinkedIn, you may still be able to see their full profile picture if you are in the same company or LinkedIn group. LinkedIn gives members of the same company or group the ability to see each other’s full profile photos, even if not connected.
So if you want to see the full profile picture of a coworker or someone in your industry groups that you are not connected to, visit their profile and you should be able to view the uncensored version.
If You Have a Paid Subscription
LinkedIn Premium subscribers have access to view full profile pictures of anyone on LinkedIn, regardless of connection status or privacy settings. So if you have a Premium account, you can see the full size version of anyone’s profile photo.
To do so, simply visit their profile page and their uncensored picture will be visible to you as a Premium member. This can be useful for getting a better idea of what connections, prospects, and leads look like.
If They Approve Your Request
If none of the above options work, you can send a request to view the full profile picture of someone you’re not connected to. To do this, go to their profile and send them a connection request.
In the note, explain you would like to see their full profile photo and request permission to view it. If they approve your request, their full profile picture will then be visible to you, even without connecting.
Steps to View Full Profile Pictures on LinkedIn
Here is a quick summary of the steps to view full profile photos on LinkedIn:
If You Are Connected
1. Go to the profile of the person you are connected to
2. Their full profile picture should be visible
If They Allow Full Photo Access
1. Go to the profile of the person
2. Look for a “Show full profile photo” link under their picture
3. Click the link to view their full profile photo
If You Share a Company or Group
1. Go to the profile of the person in your company or group
2. Their full profile picture should be visible
If You Have a Premium Account
1. Go to the profile of anyone on LinkedIn
2. Their full profile picture will be visible to you as a Premium subscriber
If You Request Approval
1. Go to the profile of the person
2. Send them a connection request
3. In the note, request to view their full profile picture
4. If they approve, their full picture will be visible
Troubleshooting Tips
If you are having trouble viewing someone’s full profile picture on LinkedIn, here are some things to check:
– Make sure you are logged into your LinkedIn account. You need to be logged in to view full profile photos.
– Check that you are connected to the person, or fit into one of the other categories that grants photo access.
– Try viewing their profile on desktop if you are on mobile. Some features are limited in the mobile app.
– Make sure the person has not restricted access to their full profile photo. They could have adjusted their privacy settings.
– Ask the person to double check their photo privacy settings if connections cannot see the full picture.
– For Premium subscribers, check that your account is still valid and you have not dropped down to a free version.
Why Full Profile Pictures May be Restricted
There are a few key reasons why LinkedIn restricts full profile photo access:
– Privacy – Many members want to control who can see their full profile picture for privacy and safety reasons. The default setting respects this preference.
– Reduced distraction – Viewing thumbnail photos reduces visual distractions while browsing LinkedIn profiles and keeps the focus on content.
– Professional appearance – Full profile pictures are more casual. Thumbnails look more professional.
– Control inappropriate content – Full profile pics are more likely to contain inappropriate content, which LinkedIn restricts.
– Promote connections – Giving connection-only access encourages more networking and relationship building between members.
Conclusion
Viewing full size LinkedIn profile pictures allows you to put a face to a name and have a better sense of your connections. While privacy settings limit access, there are several ways to view the full profile pictures of your connections and other members based on your relationship and account type. If needed, requesting permission and explaining why you would like to view someone’s uncensored photo can also grant you access in some cases. With the proper approach, you can view full profile pictures of most LinkedIn members that you would like to see.
