The green circle that sometimes appears on LinkedIn profile pictures indicates that the user is available and ready to network on LinkedIn. It signals to other users that the person is actively using LinkedIn at that moment.
What does the green dot mean on LinkedIn?
The green dot specifically shows that the LinkedIn user is currently online and active on the platform. It appears when the user is browsing LinkedIn, looking at profiles, posting updates, messaging connections, or using any other LinkedIn features. Some key things to know about the LinkedIn green dot:
- It only shows you are currently active on LinkedIn, not other sites or apps.
- It does not necessarily mean you are available to message or network. You may be busy doing other tasks.
- It is visibility optional and users can turn it on or off.
- It times out after a period of inactivity on LinkedIn.
- It is only visible to your 1st degree connections.
So in summary, the green dot indicates a LinkedIn member is presently online and using the LinkedIn platform in that moment. It can signal availability for networking but does not guarantee it. Think of it as similar to being logged in to a messaging platform – presence, but not necessarily readiness for a conversation.
Who can see your green circle status?
Your LinkedIn connections can only see your green “Active Now” status if they are directly connected to you as a 1st degree connection. It will not be visible to 2nd or 3rd degree connections, Group members, or anyone else you are not directly connected to. A few additional points on who can see it:
- 1st degree connections see it when viewing your profile or posts.
- You can only see the green dot for your own 1st degree connections.
- Members must be over age 18 to view other’s online status.
- Paying Job Seeker members can remain hidden while viewing profiles.
- LinkedIn Recruiters with active recruiter seats can remain hidden.
So in most cases, the only people that will ever see your online status are connections you have already accepted and directly connected with on LinkedIn. It remains private from the wider public view. The main exception is paid job seekers looking at your profile while job hunting privately.
How to turn your green status on or off
The LinkedIn green status circle is optional and you can control whether it displays or not. Here is how to toggle it on or off:
- Go to your LinkedIn profile.
- Click on the “Me” icon at the top of your LinkedIn feed.
- Go to “Settings & Privacy”.
- Choose “Settings”.
- Go to the “Visibility” tab.
- Under the “Profile viewing options” section toggle “Let others know you’re online”.
Turning the status on will make the green circle show whenever you are active on LinkedIn. Turning it off will remove the ability for others to see it. You can change this setting at any time for complete control over your online visibility.
How long does the green status last?
The LinkedIn active now status remains visible for as long as you are actively using LinkedIn. Once there is no activity for a period of time, the green circle will disappear:
- On desktop, it times out after 10 minutes of no activity.
- On mobile, it times out after 30 minutes of no activity.
This means if you step away from browsing LinkedIn or put your phone down, the green status will turn off fairly quickly. It is designed to show real-time availability rather than longer term presence. You can simply perform any LinkedIn action to trigger it again. Some examples that will make it reappear:
- Viewing a profile.
- Liking or commenting on a post.
- Updating your own profile or posting.
- Sending a message.
- Accepting an invite.
Essentially, anything that actively engages with LinkedIn will turn the green circle back on for your connections to see. It acts just like an instant messaging presence indicator in that way – visible when active, hidden when idle.
Does the green status mean you want to network?
While the green circle indicates you are presently active on LinkedIn, it does not necessarily mean the person wants to chat or network at that moment. Reasons they may appear active now but be unavailable include:
- Reading content in the LinkedIn feed.
- Catching up on notifications.
- Checking notifications.
- Looking at profiles or LinkedIn groups.
- Casually browsing without intention to message.
- stepped away briefly while still active.
So while the green dot signals presence, do not assume immediate availability. The user may just be casually browsing rather than looking to chat. It is safest to still send a message first before expecting a networking conversation.
Can you appear offline when you are active?
Yes, it is possible to browse LinkedIn while preventing the green status from appearing. There are a couple of ways to do this:
- Turn off the “Let others know you’re online” setting. You will show no status at all.
- Use LinkedIn in an anonymous or private browser window. Your activity will not be associated with your account.
- View profiles using LinkedIn Recruiter or Job Seeker paid accounts. This hides your viewing activity.
So while the green status normally gives your real-time presence away, there are still ways to be active anonymously. These options are good if you want to maintain some privacy while browsing.
Who can you see the green dot for?
You can only see the green “Active Now” status indicator for LinkedIn members who:
- Are 1st degree connections in your network.
- Have opted to enable their online visibility setting.
This means you will not see green status circles for those who have disabled the feature. You also won’t see it for 2nd or 3rd degree connections, Group members, or general public profiles – only your direct connections. So if you notice someone shown as “Active Now”, that means they are online and have the visibility setting turned on.
Is the green dot always accurate?
In most cases, the green dot status does accurately reflect whether a user is currently active on the LinkedIn platform. However, there are some exceptions where it may show inaccurately:
- A false positive where the dot remains after they stopped usage.
- They disabled the setting but it shows briefly due to cache delays.
- They are actively using the mobile app which has a longer timeout.
- It disappears while they are still viewing LinkedIn on a second device.
So while the green presence is mostly accurate, occasional inconsistencies can occur. Don’t assume 100% reliability if you see unusual or outdated information.
Is the green status a distraction?
Some LinkedIn users feel the “Available Now” green dot creates unnecessary noise and distraction. Reasons they may consider disabling it include:
- Feeling pressured to talk when they do not intend to.
- Find it disruptive when all connections show as active.
- Do not want networking availability public.
- Prefer to control conversations on their terms.
- Like to browse quietly without signaling presence.
On the other hand, advocates argue the green dot helps facilitate networking by indicating when members are available. In the end, it comes down to personal preference based on your style.
Can you appear offline when you are active?
Yes, it is possible to browse LinkedIn while preventing the green status from appearing. There are a couple of ways to do this:
- Turn off the “Let others know you’re online” setting. You will show no status at all.
- Use LinkedIn in an anonymous or private browser window. Your activity will not be associated with your account.
- View profiles using LinkedIn Recruiter or Job Seeker paid accounts. This hides your viewing activity.
So while the green status normally gives your real-time presence away, there are still ways to be active anonymously. These options are good if you want to maintain some privacy while browsing.
Conclusion
The LinkedIn green dot provides a real-time presence indicator to show when you are active on the platform. It can facilitate networking opportunities by letting connections know you are available. However, it does not guarantee readiness for a conversation and some users prefer to disable it. Ultimately, the visibility setting gives control over balancing privacy with the desire for networking transparency.