There are a few main reasons why you may see the message “This profile is not available” when trying to view a LinkedIn profile:
The member restricted access to their profile
The most common reason for getting the “not available” message is that the LinkedIn member has restricted access to their profile. Members can choose to make their profile visible only to their 1st-degree connections, 2nd-degree connections, or connections outside their network. If you try to view a profile that has visibility settings more restrictive than your relationship with that member, you’ll see the “not available” message.
For example, if you are connected with someone as a 2nd-degree connection, but they set their profile to be visible only to 1st-degree connections, you would not be able to view their full profile. You would just see their name, headline, industry, location, and a message that the full profile is not available.
The member may have done this intentionally to limit who can view their full profile, or they may have neglected to adjust the default visibility settings after signing up for LinkedIn. Either way, if you want to view their full profile, you’ll need to send them an invitation to connect.
The profile is temporarily restricted
In some cases, LinkedIn will temporarily restrict access to a member’s profile if they are violating LinkedIn’s terms of service or professional community policies. For example, if a profile contains inappropriate content, spam, false information, or harassment, LinkedIn may restrict the profile visibility until the issues are addressed.
Getting the “not available” message when trying to view a profile you could previously access could indicate that the profile was reported to LinkedIn and is now under review. The restriction is meant to limit the visibility of potentially problematic content while LinkedIn investigates.
It’s a fake or spam profile
LinkedIn has automated systems that monitor the platform for fake accounts, bots, and spam profiles used for spreading malware, phishing scams, and other malicious activity. If one of these automated systems detects what appears to be a fake or spammy profile, it may restrict access to that profile.
Seeing the “not available” message when trying to view a sketchy-looking profile is actually a good sign that LinkedIn’s security systems are working to protect users. Legitimate members’ profiles should not be impacted by fake profile detection efforts.
Technical issues
Less commonly, technical problems could also cause the “not available” message to appear incorrectly. For example, rarely, a glitch could cause profile visibility settings to revert or display incorrectly. Server errors might also prevent profiles from loading properly.
Usually when there is a platform-wide technical issue on LinkedIn, it quickly generates many user complaints and is fixed within a few hours. But in theory, a more isolated or intermittent technical glitch could impact the availability of some profiles.
The profile was deleted
In some cases, you may find that a profile you previously were able to view now shows as unavailable because the member decided to delete their LinkedIn account. There can be many reasons for deleting a LinkedIn profile, such as leaving the workforce, wanting to disconnect from professional contacts, or concerns over privacy.
If someone deletes their account, their profile will no longer be accessible and will display the standard “not available” message if you try to view it. There is no way to access a deleted profile or determine why the owner removed their account.
Troubleshooting Tips
If you encounter the “profile not available” message for someone you want to view or connect with on LinkedIn, here are some troubleshooting steps:
Check your connection status
First, verify whether you are already connected to the member whose profile you want to see. If they have restricted visibility settings, you’ll need a direct connection to view their full profile.
You can check your connections list or search for the member’s name on LinkedIn and look for the “Connect” or “Remove Connection” button to confirm if you are connected.
Ask to connect
If you see a “Connect” button instead of a full profile, the next step is to send a connection invitation. Once the member accepts your request, you should be able to view their full profile.
When asking to connect, customize the invitation message with a brief reminder of who you are or where you met them. This gives the member more context for your request and makes them more likely to accept.
Try viewing the profile in an incognito window
If you suspect visibility settings are preventing you from seeing a profile, try viewing it in a private or incognito browsing window where you are not logged into LinkedIn. This will show you what public visibility the profile has.
If you can see the full profile when not logged in, then the “not available” message is definitely due to restrictive visibility settings that require a direct connection.
Look for other available info
Even if you can’t view someone’s full profile, you can still find some basic info like their name, current job title and company, location, and education. Look for available public information on the limited profile view.
This can help confirm it’s a legitimate profile and not a fake account that was restricted. Any details available can also give you clues for connecting offline.
Search for mentions by others
In some cases, you may be able to find bits of information the member has publicly shared by searching their name on LinkedIn and looking for posts, comments, and mentions by others in their network.
While you won’t have access to everything on their profile, if others have tagged them in posts or referenced them in articles, you may find helpful professional details.
Check other social media
Most LinkedIn members have accounts on other major social platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. Do a quick search on other channels to see if you can find the member’s public profile and confirm they are legitimate.
You might also be able to contact them directly through other social media if you still need to request a LinkedIn connection for full profile access.
Look up their company
If you know where the LinkedIn member works, look up their employer on the platform and see if you can find them listed on their Company Page. People who work for the same organization are often connected.
You may be able to message someone from the company whose profile you can view to ask for an introduction to the member whose profile is unavailable.
Research their name
Type the member’s full name into a search engine along with keywords like their company, job title, or industry. Look for professional footprints on other sites that may provide info or give context for reaching out.
You likely can’t get access to a restricted LinkedIn profile, but public information elsewhere could help you make a connection.
Reasons Members Restrict Profile Visibility
While frustrating when you want to view someone’s full profile, there are legitimate reasons why many LinkedIn members restrict full profile access:
Limit contact from recruiters
Some members limit visibility because they don’t want to be solicited with job offers and recruiting messages. Keeping their full profile private limits unwanted inquiries.
Avoid sales pitches
Similarly, restricting profile visibility can prevent salespeople from contacting them without an existing relationship. This avoids unsolicited sales outreach.
Prevent profile copying
Members may also want to limit full access to reduce the chance of someone copying their profile or plagiarizing their work samples and content.
Maintain privacy
Many members simply want to maintain separation between their professional and personal life. Limiting profile visibility allows controlling what details are shared.
Stay hidden from current employer
Those exploring new job options might restrict access so their current employer won’t stumble upon their LinkedIn profile and see they are looking.
Manage recommendations
Giving limited profile access means members can control who sees the recommendations they have written for others, which aren’t always positive.
Reasons aside
, the bottom line is that members have the right to set visibility restrictions on their own LinkedIn profile. The “not available” message is frustrating, but the best approach is to respect their settings and connect with them directly if you want full access.
Conclusion
LinkedIn’s “This profile is not available” message is most often just an indication that the member has set profile visibility settings that require a direct connection to view their full profile. Less commonly, it may mean the profile was restricted for violations or deleted by the member.
If you receive the “not available” notice when trying to view a LinkedIn profile, your best recourse is sending a customized connection request. Once accepted, you should then have access based on their confirmed settings. Respecting members’ visibility preferences helps maintain positive relationships on LinkedIn.