Getting random connection requests on LinkedIn can be annoying and make you feel like your privacy is being invaded. However, there are steps you can take to reduce or stop these requests entirely. In this article, we’ll go over why you get random requests, how to adjust your settings to reduce them, and strategies for stopping them completely.
Why Do I Get Random Connection Requests on LinkedIn?
There are a few main reasons you may get connection requests from people you don’t know on LinkedIn:
- They found you through search. LinkedIn’s search makes it easy for people to find and connect with others in their industry or location. You may get requests from strangers who came across your profile this way.
- They want to grow their network. Some LinkedIn users try to connect with as many people as possible to grow their own networks. They may send invites to anyone they can find, with no discretion.
- They’re trying to sell you something. Unfortunately, some people use LinkedIn connection requests as a way to pitch their businesses, products, or services. Once connected, they may send direct messages or spam your feed.
- It’s a bot or scammer. Bots and scammers often send automated connection requests in hopes that people will connect back. This gives them access to spam or steal personal info.
Essentially, random requests happen because LinkedIn makes it so easy to find and connect with others. Some people take advantage of this to make sales, spread spam, or steal information.
How to Adjust LinkedIn Settings to Reduce Random Requests
Luckily, LinkedIn gives you some control over who can connect with you. Here are some settings you can adjust to reduce random connection requests:
Choose your preferred network
LinkedIn allows you to select a “Preferred Network.” This is who can send you invitations without any additional screening or permissions. Set this to “Only people who know your email address or appear in your “Imported Contacts” list.” This will ensure only people you actually know already can directly connect with you.
Manage your profile visibility
Make your profile less visible in search results by going to Settings & Privacy > How others see your LinkedIn activity. Uncheck the boxes for “Let others know you viewed their profile” and “Let LinkedIn display that you’ve viewed some articles on LinkedIn.”
You can also go to Settings & Privacy > Profile visibility and adjust who can see your profile and network information. For example, you may want to exclude your photo and current position from public view.
Review invitation preferences
Go to Settings & Privacy > Communications > Review invitation preferences. Here you can uncheck options like “Let anyone on LinkedIn send you InMail messages.” Disable features that allow open communication to reduce unsolicited outreach.
Block specific users
If certain users continually send you connection requests, you can block them specifically. Go to their profile and select More > Block or report. Enter why you’re blocking them, then confirm. They will no longer be able to connect with or contact you.
Strategies for Completely Stopping Random Requests
Adjusting your settings can reduce random connection requests, but you may still get some from very determined or sneaky users. Here are some additional strategies for stopping requests completely:
Only accept requests from those you know
Before accepting any connection request, be sure to recognize the name and company of the person trying to connect with you. If you don’t know them, feel free to ignore or delete the request.
Avoid publishing your email
Don’t display your email address anywhere in your profile. This prevents people from identifying and targeting you specifically for connection requests.
Be selective about skills and endorsements
Listing certain in-demand skills or having lots of endorsements can make you more searchable. Consider leaving these sections blank or only listing skills that aren’t hot keywords.
Use LinkedIn anonymously
If you want to remain anonymous, create a LinkedIn account without your real name or photo. Use it only to consume content, not network. You won’t get connection requests if no one can identify you.
Delete your LinkedIn account
If random requests annoy you to the point you no longer want a LinkedIn presence, delete your account completely. Be aware this means losing access to all your connections and content.
Automated Ways to Stop Random Requests
In addition to manual settings adjustments, there are some automated tools that can help stop random LinkedIn requests:
Tool | How It Works |
---|---|
LinkedIn Connection Manager | Browser extension that lets you pre-screen requests and automatically accept or ignore them based on criteria. |
Report as Spam Chrome Extension | Browser extension that adds a “Report as Spam” button to LinkedIn for quick spam reporting. |
Cleaner for LinkedIn | Chrome extension that automatically deletes your rejected invitations to keep your notifications clean. |
The key benefit of tools like these is they allow you to automate screening and cleaning up random requests, saving you manual effort.
Should You Report Random Requests as LinkedIn Abuse?
You may be tempted to report random connection requests as LinkedIn abuse. However, LinkedIn’s definition of abuse is very specific. For something to qualify as abuse, it must:
- Come from a fake or parody account impersonating you or someone else.
- Contain threatening, offensive, or illegal content.
- Promote illegal activities like spam, phishing, or pyramid schemes.
By this definition, most random connection requests do not qualify as abuse. LinkedIn states explicitly that receiving an unwanted request does not constitute abuse on its own.
That said, if a particular user is persistently harassing you with multiple unwanted requests, you may be able to make a case for abuse. Contact LinkedIn customer support to explore your options.
Conclusion
Receiving random LinkedIn requests from strangers can be disruptive and concerning. Fortunately, you have options to manage these requests. Adjust your profile settings to be more private, screen every connection carefully, and leverage automation tools. With some effort, you can keep your LinkedIn connections focused on people you actually want to network with.