If someone has blocked you on LinkedIn, you will not be able to view their profile or send them messages. There are a few ways to check if you have been blocked by another LinkedIn user.
Your Connection Request is Rejected
If you try to connect with someone on LinkedIn and your request is rejected, this could mean you have been blocked. When you are blocked, the user will not see your connection request at all. So if you’ve sent a request and it seems like it’s being ignored, there’s a good chance you are blocked.
However, just because a connection request is rejected does not definitively mean you are blocked. The user may have just declined your request for other reasons. But if you are certain the person got your request and it was rejected, being blocked is a likely reason.
Your Messages are Not Being Delivered
Another sign you may be blocked is if your messages to a contact are not being delivered. On LinkedIn, you can see when a message has been read. If your messages are not being marked as read, and you are sure the person is active on LinkedIn, then they may have blocked you.
Similarly, if you notice your messages are being marked as “sent” but never “delivered,” this indicates the blocking filters are preventing them from reaching the recipient. Again, this points to you probably being blocked.
Your Profile View Counts Seem Off
LinkedIn shows you who has viewed your profile in the last 90 days. If you notice someone you’d expect to check your profile hasn’t, you may be blocked. For example, if you have messaged someone but they are not showing up in your list of profile viewers, this could mean you are blocked.
However, profile view data isn’t completely foolproof. Sometimes LinkedIn’s algorithms can exclude people even if they did view you. But if you definitely feel the profile view data is off, it’s something to be aware of.
Your Shared Content Isn’t Getting Engagement
When you share content on LinkedIn, you can see which of your connections have liked, commented, and shared your posts. If you notice someone who normally engages with your content has suddenly stopped, it’s possible they have blocked you.
That said, lack of engagement doesn’t definitively indicate blocking. The person could have just changed their habits or be less active on LinkedIn lately. But combined with the other signs, it can contribute to the possibility you are blocked.
You Can’t Find Their Profile
The most definite way to know if you’re blocked on LinkedIn is if you can no longer find the person’s profile when searching. If you try searching their name and get no results, then this is a clear sign they have blocked you.
LinkedIn removes blocked users’ profiles from your search results. So if you distinctly remember connecting with someone but now cannot find them in search, they most likely blocked you.
Use an Alternative Account
One way to confirm if you’re blocked is to check from a different LinkedIn account. Try viewing the profile or messaging the person from a coworker or friend’s account that is connected to them. If your alternative account can see the profile and message the user, then you know for sure your original account has been blocked.
You’ll Get No Notification of Being Blocked
LinkedIn does not notify users if they have been blocked by another account. So the only way to know if you’ve been blocked is by being aware of the signs above.
Unlike other social networks, you won’t get an explicit indication from LinkedIn that you’ve been blocked. You’ll have to figure it out based on the behaviors outlined here.
Why You Might Be Blocked on LinkedIn
There are a few common reasons someone may have blocked you on LinkedIn:
- Harassing or inappropriate messages
- Too many connection requests
- Annoying messaging habits
- Bad relationship history
- Offensive or problematic content
Essentially, if you did anything the user found bothersome, that could have triggered them to block you. Spamming someone with connection requests or messages is a common reason for getting blocked.
What to Do If You’re Blocked
If you determine someone has blocked you on LinkedIn, there are a couple options of what to do next:
- Respect their wishes and leave them alone. Continue networking with other contacts.
- Send an apology or explanation message from an alternative account.
- Ask a mutual connection to facilitate communication.
- Wait a while then try sending a new connection request.
The best approach is usually to just respect the blocking and seek connections elsewhere. But if you think it was a mistake or misunderstanding, you could try having a mutual contact explain the situation.
Can You Unblock Yourself?
There is no way to unblock yourself on LinkedIn once someone has blocked you. The blocking is entirely under the control of the user who blocked you.
Your only option is to have the person who blocked you unblock you themselves. You’ll need to communicate with them through an alternative method and request they unblock you.
Does Blocking Remove Connections?
Blocking someone does not remove your existing LinkedIn connection with them. You will stay connected, but all communication will be restricted.
The only way to remove a connection is to actively remove them from your connections list. So if you want to disconnect from someone after blocking them, be sure to also remove the connection.
Can You Tell Who Viewed Your Profile?
As mentioned earlier, LinkedIn does show you limited information about who has viewed your profile recently. You can see the names of connections who have viewed you in the past 90 days.
However, LinkedIn does not show you a full list of everyone who has viewed your profile. It selectively picks a sample to show you, mainly based on relevance of those viewers.
In Summary
Being blocked on LinkedIn can be frustrating, but it happens. The main ways to know if you’re blocked include undelivered messages, rejected requests, lack of engagement, and not seeing someone in search.
If you are blocked, respect the user’s wishes and refrain from contacting them further. Focus on expanding your other LinkedIn connections and networking opportunities.
