The check mark next to a LinkedIn message indicates that your message has been read by the recipient. When you send a message on LinkedIn, it will initially show just a sent icon. Once the recipient opens and reads your message, a check mark will display to confirm it has been viewed.
Understanding LinkedIn Message Status Indicators
There are a few different status indicators you may see next to messages on LinkedIn that give information about whether a message has been successfully sent, delivered, read, or if there was an error. Here’s an overview of what each LinkedIn message status icon means:
- Sent Icon – This shows your message has been sent from your account. The recipient has not yet received it.
- Delivered Icon – Indicates your message has been delivered to the recipient’s inbox. They have not opened or read it yet.
- Read Receipt Check Mark – This check mark confirms your message has been opened and viewed by the recipient.
- Error Icon – An error occurred delivering your message. This could happen if the recipient’s inbox is full or their account is restricted.
The check mark read receipt is the only way to know for sure if your LinkedIn message has been seen. The other status icons simply show your message is in the process of being sent and delivered to the recipient’s inbox.
When Does a LinkedIn Message Get a Read Receipt?
A LinkedIn message will display a check mark once the recipient opens the message thread and views the contents of your message. Just receiving a notification about your message or having it show up in their inbox is not enough – they need to actually open it.
Here are some examples of when a read receipt check mark will show up:
- The recipient opens your LinkedIn message on the desktop website and reads it.
- They view your message in the LinkedIn mobile app.
- They look at a preview of your message in a LinkedIn notification email.
- They use the LinkedIn Messaging browser extension and read your message there.
Essentially any time the contents of your specific message are displayed to the recipient, the check mark will indicate it was viewed.
Read Receipts and Multiple Recipients
If you send a message to multiple LinkedIn connections, you may notice different status icons next to each person’s name. This is because read receipts show up on an individual basis.
For example, if you message 5 people, 3 may display a checkmark after opening your message, 1 could still just show delivered, and 1 may not have a status if there was an error sending to them. The read receipts let you see who specifically has read your message vs just having it delivered.
Turning Off LinkedIn Read Receipts
Some LinkedIn users may find read receipts annoying or unnecessary. If you do not want messages to show check marks after you view them, you can disable read receipts in your LinkedIn account settings:
- Go to your LinkedIn Settings
- Select “Communications” in the left sidebar
- Uncheck the box for “Show that you’ve viewed messages”
- Save Changes
When you turn off read receipts, your messages will display delivered icons to senders, but never the check mark even after you read them. You can still see read receipts on messages you send to others as usual.
Read Receipts and LinkedIn Etiquette
Though they can be useful, some people argue LinkedIn read receipts go against proper business etiquette. Some drawbacks include:
- Recipients may feel pressure to respond immediately when a sender sees a check mark.
- Read receipts could enable senders to “spam” recipients with frequent messages.
- Recipients lose some privacy when senders can monitor if a message was read.
However, read receipts also have benefits:
- Senders can see messages are getting through to contacts.
- You can ensure important messages are actually read by recipients.
- They hold recipients mildly accountable to tend to messages.
Overall, LinkedIn read receipts are intended to make messaging more transparent. But they also introduce some nuances around etiquette and privacy. Turn them off if they do not suit your style.
Troubleshooting LinkedIn Message Read Receipts
In some cases, read receipts on LinkedIn may not show up as expected. Here are some things to check if you are not seeing message check marks:
- Recipient has turned off read receipts – They will not display checks if disabled in settings.
- You are blocked – No read receipts from people who have blocked you.
- Restricted account – Read receipts limited for restricted accounts.
- Recipient is ignoring you – People may read without the check on purpose.
- Technical issues – Bugs or glitches in LinkedIn could prevent read receipts.
If you are sure a contact has read your message but not see the check, politely ask if they disabled read receipts. If there are no technical problems, they may have intentionally turned off the feature.
Read Receipts vs Other LinkedIn Notifications
Besides read receipts, LinkedIn will send email and in-app notifications about messages in other scenarios that do not indicate a message was actually read.
You may get notifications when:
- A new message arrives in your LinkedIn inbox.
- Someone replies to a thread you are involved in.
- A connection updates their LinkedIn profile.
- You are mentioned in a post or comment.
These just tell you there is new activity, but not that a specific message has been read. Only the in-thread check mark icons signify a recipient actually opened and viewed the contents of a message.
Are LinkedIn Read Receipts Always Accurate?
While read receipts are generally reliable, they may not always update instantly or precisely:
- There can be a delay before the read receipt checks show up.
- Previewing messages may not trigger read receipts.
- Technical issues could prevent checks from appearing.
- The recipient can quickly open and close messages without it registering as read.
- Mobile read receipts may not be as accurate as desktop.
So while read receipts are a helpful indicator, they should not be taken as the absolute definitive proof of whether a message was read or not. Allow some leeway in case the technology does not work perfectly every time.
Limits of LinkedIn Message Read Receipts
While LinkedIn read receipts provide useful delivery confirmation, there are some limits to what they reveal:
- They only show a message was displayed, not understood or acted upon.
- Recipients may quickly skim without thoroughly reading messages.
- You cannot tell if links/attachments were opened.
- Does not account for distractions while recipients have messages open.
- No insight into how recipients actually feel about messages.
The core purpose of read receipts is just to confirm your message reached the recipient’s screen, not anything deeper. Manage expectations appropriately about the insights read receipts provide on their own.
Alternatives to LinkedIn Read Receipts
If you find LinkedIn read receipts problematic, there are some alternative techniques you could use to achieve similar benefits:
- Ask recipients to quickly “like” or reply to important updates.
- Follow-up on critical messages to confirm they were received.
- Phone or meet in-person if you need to ensure communication.
- Consider using email or other channels to avoid tracking.
The right medium depends on your priorities and the recipient’s preferences. Tailor your communication strategies accordingly.
Best Practices for Using LinkedIn Read Receipts
Here are some best practices as a sender and recipient using LinkedIn read receipts:
- As sender, don’t obsessively monitor every checkmark.
- As recipient, quickly acknowledge important messages when possible.
- Disable read receipts if they do not suit your preferences.
- Do not assume checks mean action – follow-up if needed.
- Account for delays and inaccuracies in read receipts.
- Concentrate on your messages, not just checkmarks.
Keep the focus on meaningful communication and relationship-building rather than just back-and-forth messaging and notifications.
Conclusion
LinkedIn message read receipts enable senders to see when their messages are opened by recipients. The checkmark provides useful delivery confirmation in many cases. However, recipients should not feel pressured to instantly respond when senders receive read receipts. It is also important for senders not to obsess over every read receipt icon. Ultimately, quality conversations matter more than checkmarks. Use read receipts as helpful indicators of message status rather than the sole focus.
With the right etiquette and expectations, read receipts can improve the LinkedIn messaging experience. They add transparency without going too far if all parties are mindful. Concentrate on building connections through great communication, not just tracking deliveries.
