How to Block Someone on LinkedIn (and What They'll See)

LinkedIn's meant to be the polite end of social media, but anyone who's been on it for a while knows that isn't always the case. A pushy salesperson who won't take no for an answer, an ex-colleague who makes you uneasy, a stranger whose messages cross a line. You don't owe anyone access to your profile, and LinkedIn gives you a clean way to shut the door.

Here's how blocking works on LinkedIn on a computer, the app and a phone browser, what changes for both of you afterwards, and how to undo it. Everything below follows LinkedIn's Help Center articles on blocking and unblocking members.

How to block someone on LinkedIn from a computer

1. Go to the person's LinkedIn profile.
2. Click More, just below their profile picture.
3. Select Report/Block.
4. In the pop-up, choose Block [their name].
5. Click Block to confirm, or Back if you'd like to look at the other options first.

Blocking a LinkedIn member in the mobile app

1. Open the member's profile.
2. Tap the More icon in the top right.
3. Tap Report or Block.
4. Tap Block [their name].
5. Tap Block in the confirmation box.

If you use LinkedIn in your phone's web browser rather than the app, the route's almost the same: open the profile, tap More, choose Report or block, select Block [name] under What do you want to do?, then tap Submit.

What changes once you block someone on LinkedIn

According to LinkedIn, these are the effects:

• they can no longer view your profile, and you can't see theirs
• if you were connected, that connection is removed
• they go onto your blocked list, and only you can unblock them
• recommendations they wrote for you disappear from your profile

That last one is easy to overlook. If the person you're blocking once wrote you a glowing recommendation, it goes, and LinkedIn says it can't be restored even if you unblock them later. Make a note of the wording first if it matters to you, or ask another client or colleague for a fresh recommendation so that section of your profile doesn't look bare.

Will the person know you blocked them on LinkedIn?

Not from LinkedIn. Its help says blocked members aren't notified. There's one exception: if you currently share, or used to share, a LinkedIn Recruiter account with that person, LinkedIn reserves the right to tell them.

Of course, someone might work it out if your profile suddenly vanishes for them. That's the nature of blocking anywhere. If you'd rather stay low-key, there are softer options below.

Block, remove or report on LinkedIn: which one fits

People often reach for the block button when something gentler would do the job, or the other way round. Here's how I'd think about it:

What's happening	What I'd use on LinkedIn
Too many posts in your feed	Unfollow, so you stay connected but stop seeing their updates
A connection you no longer want	Remove the connection
Spam, scams, or harassment	Report the content or the member, then block
Someone you want completely out of view	Block

If anyone threatens you or you feel unsafe, report it to LinkedIn and, if you're in danger, contact the police. Blocking protects your profile, but reporting is what puts the behaviour in front of LinkedIn's safety team.

How to unblock someone on LinkedIn

On a computer:

1. Click the Me icon at the top of your homepage and choose Settings & Privacy.
2. Open the Visibility section.
3. Under Visibility of your profile & network, select Blocking.
4. Find the person in your blocked list and click Unblock.

In the app, tap your profile icon, tap the Settings & Privacy icon, choose Visibility of your LinkedIn activity, find them in your blocked list and tap Unblock.

Two rules to know before you do it. First, after you unblock someone, you'll have to wait 48 hours before you can block that same person again. Second, unblocking doesn't reconnect you, so you'd need to send a fresh invitation if you want them back in your network.

Limits on LinkedIn's block list

LinkedIn says you can block as many members as you like. The only snag comes at the high end: if you've blocked more than 2,000 members, you may find you can't unblock some of the earlier ones, and LinkedIn asks you to contact its support team for help.

Blocking on LinkedIn when you run a business

If you use LinkedIn to find clients, your profile is your shop window, and you'll naturally want as many of the right people as possible to see it. That's why I'd keep blocking for people who are causing a problem, not for competitors or people you simply don't click with. If you're curious about other things people can and can't see on LinkedIn, I've also covered whether LinkedIn tells someone when you screenshot their post.

And if you've tidied up who can see you, it's a good moment to make sure the right people can find you. My guide on sharing your LinkedIn profile with clients and leads walks through that side of it.

If the LinkedIn block option isn't working

1. Make sure you're on the person's own profile, not a post or a search result.
2. Update the LinkedIn app, or try a computer if the More icon is missing on your phone.
3. If you've just unblocked them, wait the 48 hours before blocking again.
4. If you're past 2,000 blocked members and stuck, contact LinkedIn support through the Help Center.

Frequently asked questions

Does LinkedIn tell someone when you block them?

No. LinkedIn says blocked members aren't notified, unless you share or used to share a LinkedIn Recruiter account with them.

Can a blocked person still see my LinkedIn profile?

No. After you block someone, neither of you can view the other's profile, and any connection between you is removed.

What happens to recommendations from someone I block?

They're removed from your profile. LinkedIn says they can't be restored, even if you unblock that person later.

How many people can I block on LinkedIn?

There's no set maximum. But if you've blocked more than 2,000 members, LinkedIn says you may not be able to unblock some of them.

Can I block someone again straight after unblocking them?

No. LinkedIn makes you wait 48 hours after unblocking before you can block the same member again.