When you see “LinkedIn Member” instead of a name or profile photo on LinkedIn, it typically means the user has blocked you or restricted their profile visibility. There are a few reasons why you might see “LinkedIn Member” on someone’s profile:
They blocked you
If someone has blocked you on LinkedIn, you will see “LinkedIn Member” instead of their name and photo anywhere their name would normally appear. This includes search results, mutual connections, comments, group discussions, etc. When you are blocked by someone, it limits your ability to view and interact with their profile and presence on LinkedIn.
They adjusted their profile visibility
LinkedIn members can control who can see their full profile and network information. Under the Privacy & Settings option, members can limit profile visibility to their 1st-degree connections only, 2nd-degree connections, or anyone on LinkedIn. If someone has their profile visibility set to 2nd-degree connections only, and you are a 3rd-degree connection or beyond, you would see “LinkedIn Member” instead of their name and photo.
They are not in your network
If you come across someone’s profile that you are not connected to in any way on LinkedIn, you may see “LinkedIn Member” instead of their name and photo. LinkedIn limits how much profile information is visible to members who are completely outside of your network.
How to tell if someone blocked you
It can be unclear at times if you are seeing “LinkedIn Member” on someone’s profile because they blocked you specifically. Here are some signs that can help identify if someone has blocked you on LinkedIn:
- You are no longer connected to them
- You cannot view their full profile
- You cannot message or contact them
- You are removed from any common LinkedIn groups
- You cannot see any of their posts or activity
- You disappear from their connections list
If you are experiencing several or all of these issues when viewing someone’s profile, there is a good chance they have blocked you on LinkedIn.
Why would someone block you on LinkedIn?
There are a few common reasons why someone may decide to block your profile on LinkedIn, including:
- They don’t know you and want to limit profile access
- You have sent too many connection requests
- You have messaged them inappropriately
- They find your activity or posts unprofessional
- They wish to limit a previous professional relationship
- Personal reasons unrelated to LinkedIn
In most cases, being blocked on LinkedIn is not meant as a personal attack. It is simply someone exercising control over their privacy and online presence. If you are blocked by a close connection, it may be worth reaching out through another method to understand why and see if it can be resolved. But in general, it is best to respect if someone does not wish to connect on LinkedIn.
What happens when you block someone?
When you block another member on LinkedIn, here is what they will experience:
- They will see “LinkedIn Member” instead of your name/photo
- They will no longer see your posts and activity
- You will be removed from any common groups and feeds
- They will be unable to view your full profile
- They cannot send you messages or invitations
- You will disappear from their connections
Blocking someone is permanent unless you choose to later unblock them. So be thoughtful about when and who you block, as in most cases it severs the online connection entirely.
How to unblock someone on LinkedIn
If you change your mind and want to unblock someone on LinkedIn, follow these steps:
- Go to your LinkedIn profile
- Click on the “More” icon in the top navigation bar
- Select “Settings & Privacy”
- Go to the Privacy tab
- Click “Blocking”
- Locate the person you want to unblock and click “Unblock”
This will remove the block so they can view your profile and send invitations again. You can also block and unblock connections directly from their profile page.
Limits to unblocking
In some cases, you may be unable to directly unblock someone on LinkedIn, such as:
- They have you blocked – Mutual unblocking is required
- Court/legal restrictions
- LinkedIn compliance action
- Someone reported you as spam
If you cannot unblock someone due to one of these restrictions, you will need to contact LinkedIn support for assistance resolving the block.
Best practices for managing blocks
Here are some tips on thoughtfully managing who you block and unblock on LinkedIn:
- Only block true harassers or spammers
- Consider less severe options like hiding posts first
- Be selective – blocking eliminates visibility
- Don’t block simply because of disagreements
- Unblock if requested and it seems reasonable
- View blocking as a last resort in most cases
Blocking should not be an emotional knee-jerk reaction, as it has consequences to your visibility. Take time to determine if it’s the right option before blocking LinkedIn connections.
What to do if you are blocked
If you discover someone has blocked you on LinkedIn, here are some recommended actions:
- Respect their decision and move on
- Do not attempt to contact them elsewhere
- Reflect on if you may have caused offense
- Ask common connections if they have insight
- Only escalate if absolutely necessary
Unless it is a key business connection, it’s usually best to accept being blocked and give that person their space. Avoid trying to circumvent the block or reach out through other means.
Being blocked on LinkedIn can be disappointing but is usually not done out of malice. With over 850 million members, people need tools to manage interactions. Try to understand their reasoning and focus on all your other productive LinkedIn relationships.
