When you block someone on LinkedIn, you prevent them from viewing your profile or sending you messages. However, if you later decide to unblock that person, you may be wondering if they will receive a notification letting them know they have been unblocked.
The Short Answer
No, users are not notified when someone unblocks them on LinkedIn. The unblocking action happens silently in the background without any alerts or notifications sent to the unblocked user.
Examining How Blocking Works on LinkedIn
To better understand why unblocking happens without notification, it helps to first look at what exactly occurs when you block another user on LinkedIn:
- They will no longer be able to view your LinkedIn profile or posts.
- Any connections between you and the blocked user will be removed.
- The blocked user will be prevented from sending you messages or interacting with any of your posts.
- You will no longer see any notifications or updates involving the blocked user.
In effect, blocking on LinkedIn acts as a one-way barrier preventing the blocked person from viewing your profile or interacting with you in any way. It essentially removes their access to you and your network.
What Changes When You Unblock Someone
When you decide to unblock another user, here is what happens:
- The user will once again be able to view your public LinkedIn profile and posts.
- Any previous connections will still be removed. You would have to actively reconnect with the user if you want to re-establish that connection.
- The user can interact with your public content and could potentially send you messages again.
- Notifications and updates involving the previously blocked user may begin appearing for you again if they engage with your profile.
Essentially, unblocking removes the one-way viewing restriction you had previously placed. It gives the unblocked user access to your public profile again. However, it does not automatically re-establish any connections or send out alerts.
Why No Notification Occurs
There are a few reasons why LinkedIn does not send a notification when you unblock someone:
- The block was one-sided – The blocking action only impacted what you can see. The other user was likely unaware they were blocked in the first place.
- It avoids potential confusion or conflict – If a notification was sent, the unblocked person may wonder why you blocked them initially or want to renew unwanted contact.
- Connections are not automatically restored
- Prevents misinterpretations – The other user may see a notification and assume you want to restore your previous relationship, even though that may not be the case.
Overall, the absence of notifications helps minimize the potential for confusion, mixed-signals, or conflict when you unblock someone. LinkedIn leaves it up to you on whether to actively reach out and reconnect after unblocking.
Will I Know if Someone Unblocks Me?
Since no alert is sent when you unblock someone else, you will not receive any notification if another user unblocks you on LinkedIn. The only way to know if you have been unblocked is to try viewing that user’s profile or sending them a message. If you can suddenly view their profile or message them again, then they likely removed the block on you.
Should You Notify Someone After Unblocking?
Whether to notify someone after unblocking them is a personal choice. Here are some things to consider:
- If your relationship ended positively, sending a quick note may be appropriate to reconnect.
- If there was conflict, it may be wise to wait and see if they reach out to avoid renewing tensions.
- Make your intentions clear if you do reach out to avoid sending mixed signals.
- Respect it if they do not respond or seem disinterested in engaging further.
- Focus on moving forward in a positive direction for both parties.
Ultimately, letting the other person know you have unblocked them can be situational. Proceed cautiously and thoughtfully if you want to reopen communication after removing a block.
Can You Tell Who Has Blocked You on LinkedIn?
Unlike unblocking, you cannot directly tell if someone has blocked you on LinkedIn. The platform does not provide any type of notification if another user blocks you. However, there are a few signs that may indicate you have possibly been blocked:
- The user’s profile is no longer searchable or viewable to you.
- Messages you send them are never shown as delivered or read.
- Connection requests to the user fail or are never accepted.
- You no longer see any posts or updates from that user.
If one or more of these situations occur when trying to interact with another LinkedIn member, blocking may have occurred. But there is no definitive confirmation without directly asking the user.
How to Manage Your Blocked List
LinkedIn provides a few ways to manage the list of users you have blocked on your account:
- On the desktop site, go to your Settings & Privacy page and view blocked accounts under the Blocking section.
- On the mobile app, go to your Settings page and tap Blocking to view your list of blocked accounts.
- You can unblock users directly from these lists to restore their access.
- The lists also allow you to see who you have blocked and continue managing those blocks.
Reviewing your blocked users regularly allows you to unblock contacts if needed or continue restricting unwanted connections.
Best Practices for Blocking on LinkedIn
Here are some recommended best practices when using the blocking feature on LinkedIn:
- Only block others when truly necessary, such as in cases of harassment, spam, or other unwanted contact.
- Be thoughtful about unblocking – ask yourself if renewal of contact will be positive.
- Block personal contacts only if you have no desire to reconnect in the future.
- Never block for anti-competitive or unethical reasons.
- Consider using anonymous mode if you want to limit visibility but avoid outright blocking.
- View blocking as a last resort measure to manage severe issues.
Blocking can be a useful tool on occasion but should be applied judiciously. Consider other options, such as unfollowing, before outright blocking professional contacts.
The Bottom Line
There are no notifications sent when someone unblocks you on LinkedIn. This absence of alerts is mainly to avoid confusion and minimize the potential for conflict or mixed signals. If you want to notify a connection after unblocking, proceed thoughtfully and make your intentions clear. Overall, blocking should be used sparingly and unblocking carefully considered. Apply both actions in a prudent manner when managing your LinkedIn relationships.
