Being blocked on LinkedIn can be an unsettling experience. You may have noticed that someone you were connected with has suddenly vanished from your network. Or you can no longer view their profile or see any of their activity updates in your feed. This likely means they have blocked you on LinkedIn. Getting blocked can leave you feeling confused, hurt or embarrassed. You may be wondering what it looks like from the other side when you block someone. Or what the person who blocked you can now see (or not see) about your profile and activity. Here is an overview of what happens when someone blocks you on LinkedIn and what each person will see before and after the blocking occurs.
What You See When You Get Blocked on LinkedIn
If someone has blocked you on LinkedIn, here are some signs you may notice:
Your connection disappears
The most obvious indication that you’ve been blocked is that your connection with the person is severed. When you go to their profile, it will no longer say “Connected” or show the 1st degree connection status.
Profile says “Not Found”
If you try to access the profile of the person who blocked you, it will display a “Profile Not Found” message. Their public profile is no longer visible to you.
Posts and activity hidden
You will no longer see any of that person’s posts or activity updates in your LinkedIn feed. It’s as if they no longer exist in your network.
Can’t send messages
Any attempt to send the person a message through LinkedIn will fail. The message will not be delivered to them, since you are now blocked.
Removed from contacts
In your contacts list, the blocked person will be removed and no longer appear as one of your connections.
Follow button instead of Connect
On their profile, you may see a “Follow” button instead of “Connect.” This indicates they have blocked you but their profile is still visible to the public.
What the Blocker Sees After Blocking You
For the person who initiated the block, here is how your profile and activity will appear on their end:
You are removed from connections
Just as you no longer see them as a connection, they will have you removed from their connections list.
Profile hidden
Your public profile will no longer be visible or accessible to them. If they try to view it, it will display “Profile Not Found.”
Posts and activity hidden
Any of your posts or updates will be removed from their LinkedIn feed. They will not see any of your future activity.
Can’t receive messages
They will be unable to receive any new messages or connection requests you may send them. These will automatically be blocked.
Appear as follower, not connection
If your profile is still set to public, they may see a “Follow” button for you rather than a “Connect” button. This indicates you are now simply a follower, not a direct connection.
What Remains Visible After Blocking on LinkedIn
While blocking someone on LinkedIn severs your connection with them, some visibility still remains between both parties:
Public profiles still viewable
Unless they also adjust their settings, both people can still view each other’s public profiles. The block only removes the direct connection.
Mutual connections still visible
You will both still show mutual connections in common. The block does not affect the connections you share.
Company pages remain visible
If you worked for the same company, you will still see each other listed as employees of that company through the company’s LinkedIn page.
Group activity still visible
If you are both members of the same LinkedIn groups, your respective activity within those groups will remain visible to each other.
How Blocking Works Differently for LinkedIn Premium Users
LinkedIn members who have Premium accounts have additional options when blocking other members:
Anonymous browsing
With a Premium account, you can browse in anonymous mode. This allows you to view blocked profiles without the other person knowing you visited them.
Remove follower
Premium members can block another user and also remove them as a follower. This means their public profile is completely invisible to you.
Private mode
Upgrading to Premium allows you to change your own profile visibility to private mode. This removes public access for anyone you’ve blocked.
LinkedIn Account Type | Blocking Capabilities |
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Free Account |
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Premium Account |
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How to Manage LinkedIn Relationships After Blocking
If you have blocked or been blocked by a LinkedIn connection, here are some tips for managing the changed relationship:
Reflect on why it occurred
Think about what factors may have led to the blocking. Was there a misunderstanding, disagreement or offense that can be resolved through an offline conversation?
Respect their wishes
If someone felt the need to block you, avoid trying to force contact and respect their boundaries. Continuing to connect can appear harassing.
Limit further contact
Beyond a single attempt to clarify any misunderstandings, it’s best not to try to message or follow each other further.
Reconnect through mutual contacts
If you share strong mutual connections, you can explain the situation and have them help mediate a discussion to clear the air.
Focus on other connections
Rather than dwell on the broken connection, put your energy into nurturing the many other productive relationships in your network.
Conclusion
Being blocked by a LinkedIn connection can feel jarring and confusing. But with the right perspective, it is possible to move past it smoothly. Maintain professionalism, reflect on what went wrong, and concentrate on growing the rest of your diverse network. With LinkedIn’s powerful blocking features, both parties can quickly sever contact when needed and feel secure that their privacy and boundaries are being protected.