Blocking someone on LinkedIn removes them from your network and hides your profile from them
When you block someone on LinkedIn, that person can no longer see your profile, send you messages, or view your posts and activity. They won't receive a notification that you blocked them, but if they search for your name, they won't find your profile in the results. Blocking is permanent until you manually unblock the person — there's no time limit.
The block works both ways on LinkedIn's platform. The blocked person cannot find you through search, cannot see content you share, and cannot interact with anything you post. However, they may still see your name mentioned by others or in shared documents if you're both connected to the same people.
You might block someone because they're harassing you, because you want to end a professional relationship cleanly, or simply because you don't want them viewing your activity. LinkedIn doesn't ask you to explain why, and the person won't know the reason.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking someone on LinkedIn hides your entire profile from them and prevents them from messaging or viewing your posts.
- The blocked person will not receive a notification that you blocked them, but they may notice they can no longer find your profile.
- You can block someone from their profile page, from a message thread, or from a connection request.
- Unblocking is just as simple as blocking and can be done anytime from your blocked list in settings.
- Blocking is different from removing a connection — removing only ends the relationship, while blocking hides your profile entirely.
How to block someone from their profile page
The most direct way to block someone is to visit their profile and use the block option there. Open LinkedIn in your web browser or app and search for the person's name. Once you're on their profile, look for the three-dot menu icon (usually in the top right corner of their profile card or near their name).
Click or tap the three-dot menu and select "Block" from the dropdown options. LinkedIn will ask you to confirm — click "Block" again to finalize it. The person's profile will immediately disappear from your view, and you'll be returned to your own feed or home page.
If you're using the LinkedIn mobile app, the steps are the same. Open the person's profile, tap the three-dot menu at the top, and select "Block" from the list. Confirm when prompted.
How to block someone from a message or connection request
You can also block someone without visiting their full profile. If someone has sent you a message you don't want to respond to, open the message thread. Look for the three-dot menu icon within that conversation and select "Block" from the options shown.
Similarly, if you receive a connection request from someone you want to block, you don't have to accept or decline it. Open the connection request notification, and you'll see options to accept, decline, or block. Choose "Block" to prevent that person from contacting you or viewing your profile.
Blocking from a message or request is faster than navigating to the person's full profile, especially if you're trying to stop unwanted contact quickly.
What happens after you block someone
Once the block is in place, the person cannot search for you by name and won't see your profile in any results. If you were previously connected, that connection is automatically removed. Any messages you sent to each other remain in your message history, but the person cannot send you new messages.
The blocked person may eventually realize they can't find you, but LinkedIn doesn't send them a notification saying "You've been blocked." They might assume you deleted your account or changed your name. If they try to visit your profile directly through an old link, they'll see a message saying the profile isn't available.
Your posts, articles, and activity are completely hidden from the blocked person. If you comment on someone else's post, the blocked person won't see your comment. If you're both in the same LinkedIn group or event, you'll still technically be in the same space, but they won't see your activity there either.
The difference between blocking and removing a connection
Removing a connection is not the same as blocking. When you remove someone from your connections, you're simply ending the relationship — they can still see your profile if it's set to public, they can still message you (depending on your settings), and they can still view your posts if they're visible to the public.
Blocking is much more restrictive. It hides your entire profile from that person and prevents any contact. Use "Remove connection" if you just want to clean up your network. Use "Block" if you want to prevent someone from seeing or contacting you at all.
To remove a connection without blocking, visit their profile, click the three-dot menu, and select "Remove connection" instead of "Block." The person won't be notified, but they'll be able to find you again if they search for your name.
How to unblock someone if you change your mind
If you block someone and later decide you want to unblock them, you can do so from your LinkedIn settings. On the web, click your profile photo in the top right corner and select "Settings and privacy." Then click "Privacy" in the left menu and scroll down to find "Blocking and hiding." Click "Manage blocked members" to see your full list of blocked people.
Find the person you want to unblock and click the "Unblock" button next to their name. Confirm when prompted. Once unblocked, that person can search for you again, view your profile, and send you messages — the block is completely reversed.
On the mobile app, go to your profile, tap the three-line menu, select "Settings and privacy," then "Privacy," and scroll to "Blocking and hiding." Tap "Manage blocked members" and unblock the person you want to restore access for.
When to block versus other options
Block someone if they're harassing you, if you want to completely end contact, or if you're uncomfortable with them viewing your professional information. Blocking is the strongest action LinkedIn offers and is appropriate when someone's behavior is unwelcome.
If someone is just annoying but not harmful, you might instead adjust your privacy settings to limit who can message you or see your posts. If you simply don't want to stay connected but don't mind them viewing your public profile, just remove the connection.
LinkedIn also lets you mute notifications from specific people without blocking them — this hides their activity from your feed but doesn't hide your profile. Choose the action that matches the situation: mute for noise reduction, remove for a clean break, and block for complete separation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I blocked them?
LinkedIn doesn't send a notification saying you blocked someone. However, if they search for your name and can't find you, or if they try to visit your profile through an old link and see an error, they may figure it out. There's no way to block someone completely invisibly, but LinkedIn doesn't explicitly tell them.
Can I block someone and then unblock them later without them knowing?
Yes. Unblocking is silent — the person won't be notified that you unblocked them. They'll simply be able to find your profile again if they search for you. There's no record of the block or unblock on their end.
What if I block someone who's in my LinkedIn group or event?
You'll still be in the same group or event, but the blocked person won't see your posts, comments, or activity within that space. You won't see theirs either. It's a one-way hide from their perspective and a mutual hide from yours.
Can I block someone without removing them as a connection first?
No, you don't have to remove them first. Blocking automatically removes the connection. When you block someone, they're removed from your network and your profile is hidden from them all in one action.
Does blocking someone on LinkedIn block them on other Microsoft products?
No. LinkedIn blocking only affects LinkedIn. If you use other Microsoft services like Outlook or Teams, blocking on LinkedIn doesn't carry over. You'd need to block them separately in those applications if needed.