LinkedIn does send read receipts, but only in direct messages and only if both people have the feature turned on
When you send a direct message on LinkedIn, you can see whether the recipient has read it — but only if they haven't disabled read receipts in their settings. A small "Seen" indicator appears below your message once someone opens the conversation. This works similarly to read receipts on text messaging apps, though LinkedIn gives you more control over whether others can see that you've read their messages.
The read receipt appears as soon as the other person opens the message thread, not necessarily when they've finished reading your specific message. If someone has turned off read receipts in their privacy settings, you won't see any indicator at all, even if they've read what you sent.
Read receipts do not work on LinkedIn posts, comments, or connection requests — only on one-to-one direct messages. Group conversations also do not show read receipts.
Key Takeaways
- LinkedIn shows a "Seen" indicator below direct messages when the recipient opens the conversation, but only if they have read receipts enabled.
- You can turn off read receipts in your LinkedIn privacy settings so others cannot see when you've read their messages.
- Read receipts only work in direct messages between two people, not in group chats, comments, or on posts.
- Opening the message thread triggers the read receipt — you do not have to read the entire message for it to show as seen.
How to turn off read receipts on your own account
If you don't want others to see when you've read their messages, you can disable read receipts in your account settings. On the LinkedIn website or app, go to your profile photo in the top right corner and select "Settings and privacy." Then choose "Privacy" from the left menu.
Look for the section labeled "How others see your profile" or "Messaging" (the exact name varies by device and app version). You should see an option for "Read receipts" or "Show read receipts." Toggle this off, and LinkedIn will no longer show others when you've opened their messages.
Turning off read receipts is a one-way change — it only hides your own read status. You will still be able to see read receipts from people who have the feature enabled.
What the "Seen" indicator actually tells you
The "Seen" indicator means the recipient has opened the direct message conversation, not that they have read your specific message word-for-word. If someone opens their messages and scrolls past your message to read an older one, the "Seen" status will still appear under your newer message.
This distinction matters if you're waiting for a response. A "Seen" indicator does not mean the person has understood your message, agreed to it, or plans to reply soon. They may have opened the app, glanced at the list of conversations, and closed it again.
LinkedIn does not show you how long someone spent reading your message or whether they scrolled through a longer message in full.
Read receipts on LinkedIn mobile versus desktop
Read receipts work the same way on both the LinkedIn mobile app and the desktop website. The "Seen" indicator appears in the same location — directly below your message — regardless of which device you're using to check.
However, the mobile app may show read receipts slightly faster than the desktop version, since the app runs in the background and can notify you more quickly when someone opens a message. On desktop, you only see the read receipt when you refresh the page or return to the conversation.
Why someone might not show a read receipt
If you don't see a "Seen" indicator under your message, it could mean the recipient has disabled read receipts, they haven't opened the message yet, or they are using an older version of LinkedIn that doesn't support the feature. You cannot tell which of these is true just by looking at the message.
Some LinkedIn users disable read receipts because they want privacy, prefer not to feel obligated to respond immediately, or simply don't want others tracking their activity. This is a legitimate privacy choice and does not mean they are ignoring you.
If you need to know whether someone has seen your message and they have read receipts off, your only option is to ask them directly.
How read receipts compare to other messaging platforms
LinkedIn's read receipt system is similar to Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, which also show when someone has opened a conversation. However, LinkedIn gives you more granular control — you can turn off read receipts without affecting other privacy settings, and the feature is not tied to your "active status" or online indicator.
Email does not have built-in read receipts, though some email clients like Outlook allow you to request a read receipt when you send a message. The recipient can choose to deny the request, so email read receipts are less reliable than LinkedIn's system.
Text messaging on iPhone (iMessage) shows read receipts by default and requires turning them off in settings, which is the opposite of LinkedIn's approach. Android's default messaging app does not show read receipts unless you use a third-party app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see read receipts on messages I sent before I knew about the feature?
No. Read receipts only show for messages sent after the feature was enabled on your account. If you sent a message months ago, you cannot go back and see whether someone read it. The feature only works going forward.
Does turning off read receipts hide my online status too?
No. Read receipts and online status are separate settings on LinkedIn. You can turn off read receipts while still showing when you are actively using the platform, or vice versa. Check your privacy settings to control each one independently.
What if someone reads my message on mobile but I'm checking on desktop?
The read receipt will still appear on your desktop version, but you may not see it immediately. Refresh the conversation or close and reopen the message thread to see the updated status. The "Seen" indicator syncs across all devices once it's triggered.
Can I see read receipts in group messages on LinkedIn?
No. LinkedIn does not show read receipts in group conversations, only in direct messages between two people. If you need to know whether multiple people have seen a message, you will have to ask them or check their responses.