LinkedIn is an incredible platform for networking, job hunting, and building your professional brand. But not everyone wants their entire career history on display for the world to see. Whether you’re quietly job hunting, concerned about privacy, or just want more control over your professional online presence, making your LinkedIn profile more private is easier than you think.
This comprehensive guide walks you through everything you need to know about LinkedIn privacy - from basic settings adjustments to advanced privacy strategies. I’ve included step-by-step instructions, visual guides, and practical tips to help you find the perfect balance between visibility and privacy.
Table of contents
Understanding LinkedIn visibility layers
Before diving into specific settings, it’s important to understand that LinkedIn has several different visibility layers:
Public profile vs. LinkedIn profile
LinkedIn Profile: What other LinkedIn members see when they view your profile (subject to your privacy settings)
Public Profile: A simplified version visible to:
- Non-LinkedIn members
- Search engines like Google and Bing
- Users of connected third-party apps
- People browsing without logging into LinkedIn
Your public profile acts as your professional presence across the wider internet, while your LinkedIn profile functions within the platform’s ecosystem. Each has separate visibility controls that we’ll explore below.
How to access your LinkedIn privacy settings
There are two simple ways to access your privacy settings:
Desktop method:
- Click on the Me icon (your profile picture) in the top-right corner
- Select Settings & Privacy from the dropdown menu
- You’ll land on the main settings page with several categories
Mobile method:
- Tap your profile picture in the top-left corner
- Scroll down and tap Settings
- Select the relevant privacy category
Pro tip: You can directly access all settings by typing https://www.linkedin.com/psettings/ into your browser (you’ll need to be logged in).
Essential privacy settings everyone should review
With over 70 different privacy options available on LinkedIn, these are the critical ones you should manage first:
1. Controlling your public profile visibility
This is the most fundamental privacy setting that determines whether your profile appears in search engines and to non-LinkedIn users.
Step-by-step guide:
- While viewing your profile, click “Edit public profile & URL” (top right)
- On the right side under “Edit Visibility”
- Find the toggle switch for “Your profile’s public visibility”
- Turn it OFF to completely hide your profile from non-LinkedIn users and search engines
For those who still want some public presence but with limitations, you can keep the main toggle ON but selectively turn OFF specific sections:
| Profile Section | Why You Might Hide It |
|---|
| Profile photo | For privacy or security concerns |
| Headline | If it reveals job-seeking status |
| Experience | To limit information about specific roles |
| Education | For privacy reasons |
| Skills | To avoid revealing specialized expertise |
| Recommendations | To keep professional relationships private |
2. Controlling profile photo visibility
Your profile picture is often the most recognizable element of your LinkedIn presence:
- Go to Settings & Privacy
- Select “Visibility” from the left menu
- Under “Visibility of your profile & network”
- Choose “Profile photo visibility”
- Select your preferred audience:
- All LinkedIn members (most open)
- Your network (connections and people who share a group)
- Your connections only
- Only you (most private)
3. Protecting your connection list
By default, your connections can see who else you’re connected to. This might reveal professional relationships you’d prefer to keep private:
- From Settings & Privacy
- Select “Visibility” > “Visibility of your profile & network”
- Click “Connections”
- Set to “Only you”
4. Browsing in private mode
LinkedIn offers three options for how you appear when viewing someone’s profile:
- From Settings & Privacy
- Go to “Visibility” > “Profile viewing options”
- Choose from:
- Your name and headline (fully visible)
- Private profile characteristics (shows only your industry/title)
- Private mode (completely anonymous)
Important note for free users: When using Private Mode, you won’t be able to see who’s viewed your profile unless you upgrade to Premium.
5. Managing profile activity broadcasts
LinkedIn automatically notifies your connections when you make profile changes like updating your job, education, or when you celebrate work anniversaries:
- From Settings & Privacy
- Go to “Visibility” > “Visibility of your LinkedIn activity”
- Select “Share profile updates with your network”
- Switch to OFF position
Pro tip: This prevents notifications when you update your profile, follow companies, or make other changes - especially useful when preparing for a job search.
LinkedIn private mode: Incognito browsing
Private Mode allows you to view profiles without leaving a trace - perfect for researching competitors, checking out potential employers, or maintaining general privacy.
How private mode works
LinkedIn lets you control how your profile appears when visiting someone else’s profile:
Your name and headline (Public mode):
- Most transparent option
- Shows your full name, job title, and profile picture
- Great for networking as it often encourages reciprocal profile views
Private profile characteristics:
- Middle-ground option
- Shows generic information like “Someone in Marketing from New York”
- Gives people just enough information to pique curiosity
Private mode:
- Full stealth mode
- Appears only as “Anonymous LinkedIn Member” with no other details
- Perfect for complete anonymity
To activate Private Mode:
- Go to Settings & Privacy > Visibility
- Select “Profile viewing options”
- Choose “Private mode”
Step-by-Step: Limiting Profile Discovery
Control how easily people can find your profile with these additional settings:
Managing Email and Phone Discovery
- Go to Settings & Privacy > Visibility
- Under “Visibility of your profile & network”
- Select “Profile discovery using email address” or “Profile discovery using phone number”
- Choose your preferred option:
- Everyone on LinkedIn
- 2nd-degree connections
- Nobody
Controlling Profile Visibility Off LinkedIn
- Go to Settings & Privacy > Visibility
- Under “Visibility of your profile & network”
- Select “Profile visibility off LinkedIn”
- Toggle to OFF to prevent your profile from appearing on third-party services
Privacy for Job Seekers: How to Search Discreetly
If you’re looking for a new job while employed, these privacy settings become essential:
Open to Work Settings
LinkedIn’s “Open to Work” feature lets you signal to recruiters that you’re open to opportunities - with privacy options:
- Visit your profile
- Click the “Open to” button beneath your headline
- Select “Finding a new job”
- Choose who can see this status:
- All LinkedIn members (visible green frame around profile picture)
- Recruiters only (only visible to recruiters who aren’t at your current company)
Job Application Settings
Control who knows about your job applications:
- Go to Settings & Privacy > Data Privacy
- Under “Job seeking preferences”
- Toggle “Let others know you’re open to opportunities” to your preference
- Adjust “Job application settings” to control sharing with the LinkedIn network
Advanced Privacy Management Techniques
For those who want maximum control over their LinkedIn privacy:
Managing Third-Party Application Access
Review and restrict which applications have access to your LinkedIn data:
- Go to Settings & Privacy
- Navigate to “Data privacy” > “Other applications”
- Review the list of connected applications
- Remove any unnecessary connections
Controlling Data Collection and Use
Limit how LinkedIn uses your information:
- From Settings & Privacy
- Go to “Data privacy” > “How LinkedIn uses your data”
- Review each setting including:
- Data collection and use
- Interest-based advertising
- Research invitations
- Data shared with researchers
Blocking Specific Individuals
When you need to restrict specific people from viewing your profile:
- Visit their LinkedIn profile
- Click the “More” button (three dots) below their name/headline
- Select “Report/Block”
- Choose “Block [name]”
- Confirm your decision
When you block someone:
- They can’t view your profile
- They can’t send you messages
- You won’t appear in their search results
- Your existing connections are removed
The Privacy vs. Networking Trade-Off
Before making your LinkedIn completely private, consider these pros and cons:
Benefits of Enhanced Privacy:
- Protection from unwanted attention
- Control over professional information sharing
- Ability to job search discreetly
- Reduced data exposure
- Peace of mind
Potential Drawbacks:
- Reduced visibility to potential employers
- Fewer networking opportunities
- Less engagement on your content
- Potential impression of having something to hide
- Difficulty building your personal brand
Practical Privacy Strategies for Different Scenarios
Different situations call for different privacy approaches:
For Active Job Seekers
- Use “Recruiters only” for Open to Work
- Turn off activity broadcasts
- Browse in Private Mode when researching companies
- Limit email/phone discoverability
For Entrepreneurs and Business Owners
- Keep public profile visible but limit personal details
- Control connection visibility
- Use semi-private browsing (private profile characteristics)
- Manage who can message you
For Executives and High-Profile Professionals
- Limit profile photo visibility to connections only
- Control last name visibility
- Restrict connection visibility
- Be selective about skill endorsements and recommendations
For Those Concerned About Digital Privacy
- Turn off all public visibility
- Use Private Mode for browsing
- Disable data sharing with third parties
- Regularly audit connected applications
LinkedIn Privacy Checklist: Regular Maintenance
To maintain optimal privacy on LinkedIn, conduct these checks regularly:
While LinkedIn’s native privacy settings are comprehensive, these tools can offer additional protection:
Password managers
- LastPass - Industry-leading password manager for secure credentials
- 1Password - Robust password management with team features
VPN services
- NordVPN - Advanced security features and global server network
- ExpressVPN - Fast, reliable VPN service with strong privacy focus
Privacy-focused browsers
- Brave Browser - Built-in ad and tracker blocking
- Firefox - Highly customizable with privacy extensions
Email alias services
FAQ: Common LinkedIn privacy questions
Can I make my LinkedIn completely invisible?
Not entirely. While you can make your profile invisible to the public and search engines, it will still be discoverable by LinkedIn members to some degree. You can significantly limit what information is visible, but maintaining a completely invisible profile while keeping an active account isn’t possible.
Will people know if I view their profile in private mode?
No. When using Private Mode, the person will only see that “an anonymous LinkedIn member” viewed their profile. However, as a free user, you’ll lose the ability to see who’s viewed your profile when using this setting.
Can my employer see if I’m using “Open to work”?
Not if you select the “Recruiters only” option. LinkedIn has built safeguards to hide this information from recruiters at your current company (based on the company listed on your profile) and affiliated companies.
How do I know if my privacy settings are working correctly?
Test your settings by viewing your profile as others see it:
- Go to your profile
- Click the “More” button below your name
- Select “View profile as”
- Choose between viewing as “Your connections” or “Public” to see how different audiences view your profile
Step-by-step: Creating a complete LinkedIn privacy plan
For those who want to methodically address all privacy concerns, here’s a comprehensive approach:
- Assess your goals: Define why you’re on LinkedIn and what level of privacy you need
- Adjust public visibility: Control what non-LinkedIn users can see
- Manage in-platform visibility: Set who on LinkedIn can see your profile and details
- Configure activity settings: Control notifications about your actions
- Set browsing preferences: Choose how you appear when viewing others
- Review messaging settings: Manage who can contact you and how
- Audit third-party access: Control data sharing with external apps
- Set up regular reviews: Calendar reminders to check settings quarterly
Conclusion: Finding your personal LinkedIn privacy balance
LinkedIn privacy isn’t one-size-fits-all. The right approach depends on your professional goals, industry, and personal comfort level. For most users, the key is finding the balance between being discoverable to the right people while maintaining control over personal information.
Remember that LinkedIn regularly updates its privacy features, so make it a habit to review your settings periodically. By taking a thoughtful approach to LinkedIn privacy, you can enjoy the professional benefits of the platform while protecting your digital boundaries.
Whether you’re job hunting, building a business, or simply maintaining a professional presence online, these privacy strategies will help you navigate LinkedIn with confidence and control.
