The check mark that appears next to messages sent on LinkedIn indicates that your message has been successfully delivered to the recipient’s inbox. When you send a direct message to a connection or group on LinkedIn, a check mark will display once the message is sent on your end. This lets you know that your message is on its way and has been received by LinkedIn’s servers. However, it does not necessarily mean that the recipient has read or opened the message yet. There are a few key things to understand about the check mark and what it signifies when sending messages on LinkedIn:
Message Sent and Received by LinkedIn’s Servers
The check mark verifies that your message has been sent from your account and received by LinkedIn’s servers for delivery. It confirms the message was transmitted successfully on the backend. However, it does not confirm that the intended recipient has actively opened or read the message. It’s an acknowledgment that the message has been dispatched on your end. Think of it as getting a confirmation of delivery or “sent status” for the message.
Message May Still Be Unread by Recipient
Since the check mark confirms your message was received by LinkedIn’s servers, the recipient may not have actually opened and read the message yet. The message is now queued for delivery to their inbox. But whether they have seen it yet is unknown. The recipient may be offline or ignoring the message for the time being. So you cannot assume they’ve read it just because your message has the check mark.
No Guarantee Message Was Received if Issues on Recipient’s End
There’s also no guarantee that your message will be received if there are issues on the recipient’s end. For example, if their inbox is full, inbox filters block your message, or there are technical problems delivering to their account, the check mark would still appear on your sent message, even though it failed to be received on their end. The check mark only confirms your message was dispatched, not that it was actually delivered.
Two Check Marks Indicate Message Has Been Read
To confirm your LinkedIn message has actually been read by the recipient, look for a second check mark. LinkedIn will display two check marks next to sent messages once the recipient has opened and read the message. The first check verifies you sent it. The second check confirms they opened your message and read it. However, be aware the recipient can mark messages as read without opening them, so a second check does not guarantee they thoroughly read your message. But it does suggest they at least viewed and scanned it quickly.
When Does the Check Mark Display?
The check mark will display almost instantly after you hit send on a message. There is a slight lag as LinkedIn’s servers process the sent message and prepare it for delivery. But the check icon should appear within a few seconds in most cases. The brief delay is simply LinkedIn confirming the message and queuing it up to be dispatched to the recipient’s inbox. If a check never appears, it likely indicates a problem sending the message on your end.
Near Instant Delivery Confirmation
LinkedIn engineered their messaging system for fast delivery and confirmation. So you’ll see that visual cue confirming your message was received almost immediately once you send it. There is little noticeable lag or delay before the check appears in most scenarios.
Delayed Check Mark Points to Connection Issue
If you do notice an abnormal delay before the check mark pops up after hitting send, it may be indicative of a poor Internet connection on your end. The check icon will display once LinkedIn’s servers get the message, so any lag usually comes down to connectivity problems sending it. The check mark will be delayed if you have a spotty Wi-Fi or cellular signal.
No Check Mark Means Message Was Not Sent
If you do not see a check mark appear after sending a message, it indicates LinkedIn’s servers did not receive your message and it was not sent successfully. This points to an issue on your end preventing the message transmission through to LinkedIn’s infrastructure. You should double check your Internet connection and try sending the message again if the check never shows up.
Does the Check Mark Mean the Message Was Seen?
The short answer is no – the presence of a single check mark does not signify that your LinkedIn message was actually seen, opened, or read by the recipient. The check mark only confirms that you successfully sent the message on your end and LinkedIn’s servers received it for routing to the recipient’s inbox. There is no way to tell if they have actively opened the message based on the single check alone.
Confirmation of Initial Send, Not Delivery
Think of the initial check mark as getting a “sent” receipt when you send an email. It means your email was sent from your outbox, not that it was opened, read, or responded to. LinkedIn’s check works the same way – it’s a confirmation of your successful send, not definitive proof of delivery.
Double Check Mark Needed to Confirm Message Opened
To verify your message was actually seen by the recipient, you need to look for a second check mark next to the sent message. The first check verifies you sent it. The second check means they opened or read it. If you only see one check, they may not have read your message yet, even if was successfully delivered to their inbox by LinkedIn.
No Way to Force Recipient to Read Message
There’s also no way to make the recipient read your message, even if was received correctly in their inbox. The check mark system is designed to provide send confirmations, not force recipients to open messages. If you need to ensure important messages are read, follow up with recipients who do not mark your messages as read.
What Does the Second Check Mark Mean on LinkedIn Messages?
The second check mark that appears next to sent LinkedIn messages indicates the recipient has actively opened and read your message. If two check marks display, it means your message was not just sent successfully on your end, but it was received and opened by the intended recipient as well.
Confirmation Message Was Opened and Read
That second check serves as a form of read receipt – proof that your sent message reached the recipient’s inbox and they opened and looked at it. One check mark confirms you sent it. Two check marks mean it was successfully delivered and viewed.
Recipient Marked Message as Read
In some cases, the second check may appear even if the recipient did not thoroughly read your message. On LinkedIn, users can mark messages as read without opening them. So recipients may quickly scan messages and mark them as read. But the second check generally signals they opened the message and read at least part of it.
No Guarantee of Response
A second check mark does not necessarily mean the recipient will respond to your message. They may read it without feeling the need to reply. The two checks simply confirm the message was received and opened on their end. It does not obligate them to act or respond in any particular way. You’ll need to follow up separately if you require a response.
Can You Remove or Undo the Check Mark on LinkedIn Messages?
Unfortunately, there is no way to remove or undo the check mark once it appears on a sent LinkedIn message. The check mark is automatically added by LinkedIn to confirm that the message was successfully transmitted by their servers. It cannot be manually removed or erased after the fact.
Check Marks Are Permanent and Automatic
LinkedIn designed the check mark system to provide permanent send and read confirmations that cannot be altered or erased later. The checks are automatically added instantly when a message is sent or opened. Members do not control when they appear.
Can’t Manually Remove or Undo Checks
Because the check marks are system-generated, there are no options provided to manually remove or undo them. Even message senders cannot erase or eliminate the check marks once they display. The confirmations are permanently affixed to sent messages on both ends.
Workaround: Delete and Resend Message
If you want to remove the check mark indicating a message was sent, the only option is to delete the message and completely resend it. Deleting the message erases the history and check mark on your end. But this does not remove any checks or messages already received by recipients. There is no true way to undo check marks after sending.
Why You May Not See Check Marks on LinkedIn Messages
There are a few reasons why check marks may not appear on messages you have sent within LinkedIn:
Recipient Has Restricted Message Viewing
If the recipient has adjusted their LinkedIn settings to only receive messages from trusted connections, you will not see any check marks when messaging them. Their account settings hide the delivery confirmations.
Recipient Blocked You
No check marks will display if the recipient has blocked you or restricted you on LinkedIn. Your messages will be unable to deliver to a blocked contact.
LinkedIn Feature Settings
The recipient may have disabled read receipts in their LinkedIn settings. This prevents the second “read” check from appearing, even when they view messages.
Technical Errors or Glitches
On very rare occasions, technical errors on LinkedIn’s end may prevent check marks from showing up as expected. Usually cycling the chat window fixes any glitches.
Testing or Fake LinkedIn Accounts
Check marks may not appear reliably when messaging fake test accounts or bots. For accurate delivery confirmations, ensure you are messaging real active LinkedIn members.
Troubleshooting Missing Check Marks on LinkedIn
If you’ve sent a LinkedIn message but notice the check mark never appears, here are some troubleshooting tips:
Refresh Page and Reopen Chat
Glitches can prevent check marks from loading. Try refreshing the page or closing and reopening the message window to reload the chat.
Check Internet Connection
Spotty Internet can delay check marks from appearing. Make sure you have a strong Wi-Fi or cellular signal when messaging.
Restart Computer or App
If refreshing the page doesn’t add the missing check, try fully restarting your computer or LinkedIn mobile app.
Message Again During Business Hours
Recipients away from LinkedIn outside of business hours may not receive check marks right away. Try messaging again during normal business times.
Verify Recipient’s Settings
Make sure the recipient has not restricted message viewing or delivery confirmations in their account settings.
Contact LinkedIn Support
If missing check marks persist across multiple messages and recipients, contact LinkedIn customer support for troubleshooting assistance.
Conclusion
The check mark on LinkedIn serves as a handy visual cue confirming your messages are being successfully sent and received. A single check indicates your message is on its way. A double check signals the recipient has actively opened and read your message. While check marks don’t guarantee responses or engagement, they provide send and read receipts to take some of the uncertainty out of messaging. Knowing your messages are being delivered can give you peace of mind that your communications are landing as intended.