What does a locked message mean in LinkedIn?

A locked message on LinkedIn indicates that the sender has restricted who can view the message. When a member sends a private message to another member, they have the option to “lock” the message. This prevents the recipient from forwarding or sharing the message with others.

There are a few reasons why someone may want to lock a message:

• To share confidential information
• To send a private message without risk of it being leaked
• To control who can view the message

A locked message icon appears next to the message in the recipient’s inbox. The icon looks like a little padlock. This is a visual indicator to the recipient that the message is locked and cannot be shared.

When Would Someone Lock A Message?

Here are some common scenarios when LinkedIn members choose to lock a message:

Sharing confidential company information

Employees may need to share confidential product specs, financial data, or strategy details with partners and vendors. Locking these messages prevents the information from being leaked.

Private correspondence

Members may want to send a private note to close connections without worrying about it getting forwarded around. Locking personal messages allows them to remain private.

Job application tips

A recruiter may want to share insider advice with a promising job candidate without it getting out to others. Locking this type of message keeps the info exclusive to the recipient.

Sending feedback

Managers often need to give sensitive feedback to employees. Locking these performance-related messages keeps the conversation discreet.

Making introductions

When making a warm introduction between connections, it helps to lock the connecting messages. This limits visibility and keeps the exchange focused.

What Happens When You Try To Share A Locked Message?

If the recipient tries to forward or share a locked message, they will see an error note that says “Unable to share” or “Message locked.”

Technically, there are no restrictions on taking screenshots of locked messages. However, LinkedIn discourages this practice as it violates the intent of the lock.

Members who try to workaround the lock and share info anyway may have their accounts restricted or banned by LinkedIn. This is because it compromises the privacy of the sender.

Example Error Trying To Share Locked Message

Who Can See A Locked Message?

The visibility of a locked message depends on the privacy settings:

• Only visible to recipient – No one else, including LinkedIn, can see the message.
• Visible to recipient’s company – Others at the recipient’s company may see the message.
• Visible to anyone – The message can be seen by anyone the recipient is connected to.

So a locked message could be visible to different audiences based on what the sender configures. But only the direct recipient has the ability to view the message.

How Do I Know A Message Is Locked?

There are a couple ways to identify a locked message on LinkedIn:

• Padlock icon – There will be a padlock displayed next to the message in your inbox.
• Unable to share error – If you try to forward a locked message, you’ll get a notice that sharing is disabled.
• Message settings – View the message settings and see if “Allow forwarding” is toggled off.

Example Of A Locked Message In Inbox

The padlock icon clearly indicates the message is locked and not shareable.

Can The Sender Unlock A Message?

Yes, the sender has the ability to unlock messages they previously locked.

Here are the steps to unlock a message:

1. Click on the sent message to open it.
2. In the right side Details panel, click “Message settings.”
3. Toggle the switch for “Allow forwarding” to the on position.
4. Click “Save” to confirm unlocking.

Once unlocked, the recipient will be able to forward and share the message like any regular message. The padlock icon will be removed.

Unlock Message Settings

Can The Recipient Unlock A Message?

No, only the original sender of the message has the ability to unlock it. The recipient can request for the sender to unlock the message, but cannot directly unlock it themselves.

Even LinkedIn’s support team cannot unlock a locked message. The control lies entirely with the sender.

How Long Do Locked Messages Stay Locked?

There is no time limit or expiration date for a locked message. It will remain permanently locked until the sender proactively unlocks it.

If the sender does nothing, the message will stay locked and restricted from sharing indefinitely.

Pros And Cons Of Locking LinkedIn Messages

Locking messages has both advantages and potential drawbacks:

Pros

• Prevents confidential info leaks
• Allows private conversations
• Sender maintains full control
• Signals importance of message

Cons

• Appears distrustful if overused
• Extra steps to unlock if needed later
• Recipient cannot refer back to locked message easily
• Lock icon may generate curiosity

Best Practices For Locking LinkedIn Messages

To get the most out of LinkedIn’s message lock feature, keep these tips in mind:

• Only lock messages when truly necessary
• Be selective – don’t overuse the lock function
• Let the recipient know the message is confidential
• Remember to unlock if no longer time-sensitive
• Never lock messages out of retaliation or spite

Locking messages can be useful in the right context. But be thoughtful about when to apply this extra security.

Conclusion

A locked message on LinkedIn provides an added layer of security and privacy for sensitive communications. When used properly, it allows members to have candid conversations and share confidential details without worrying about leaks.

The padlock icon signals to recipients that forwarding is disabled, so they should treat the message with discretion. While locking isn’t suitable for all situations, it’s a useful tool for anyone that needs to tightly control message visibility.