How to Block Someone on LinkedIn Without Them Knowing

Summary:

Learning how to block someone on LinkedIn can help protect your professional space from unwanted attention, harassment, or spam. In this comprehensive guide, we explain the step-by-step process of blocking someone discreetly, what happens after you block them, and tips to maintain a healthy LinkedIn network.

Why You Might Need to Block Someone on LinkedIn

LinkedIn is designed for professional networking, but like any online platform, it can be misused. You might encounter people who:

• Spam your inbox with irrelevant messages
• Harass or bully you in comments or DMs
• View your profile repeatedly without engagement
• Are former colleagues or clients you’d rather avoid
• Try to gather information for competitive or malicious reasons

Understanding how to block someone on LinkedIn can give you peace of mind and allow you to curate a positive professional experience.

How to Block Someone on LinkedIn: Step-by-Step

1. Go to the Person’s Profile

Start by visiting the LinkedIn profile of the individual you want to block. You can search their name using the search bar or access their profile from your connections list, recent views, or messages.

2. Click the ‘More’ Button

On their profile, locate the “More” button. It’s usually next to the “Message” or “Connect” button, depending on your connection status.

3. Select ‘Report/Block’

From the dropdown, choose ‘Report or block’. A new pop-up window will appear.

4. Click ‘Block [Name]’

In the pop-up, select the ‘Block [person’s name]’ option. LinkedIn will display a message outlining what will happen after blocking.

5. Confirm the Block

Click ‘Block’ again to confirm your action. The user will be instantly blocked from viewing your profile, messaging you, or seeing your activity.

What Happens After You Block Someone on LinkedIn?

Blocking someone on LinkedIn creates a digital boundary that affects both accounts. Here’s what happens:

• You and the blocked person cannot view each other’s profiles
• You can no longer message each other
• Endorsements and recommendations between both profiles will disappear
• If you were connected, the connection is automatically removed
• They are not notified that they’ve been blocked

Can Someone Tell If You’ve Blocked Them?

LinkedIn does not notify users when they are blocked. However, the person may notice:

• They can no longer view your profile
• Your messages disappear from their inbox
• You are missing from their connection list

This is why knowing how to block someone on LinkedIn without attracting attention can be important for maintaining professionalism.

How to Unblock Someone on LinkedIn

If you change your mind, unblocking someone is just as easy:

1. Click on ‘Me’ (top menu bar) > Settings & Privacy
2. Go to ‘Visibility’ > Blocking
3. Find the name in your blocked list
4. Click ‘Unblock’ next to their name
5. Enter your LinkedIn password to confirm

Note: You will need to wait 48 hours before blocking the same person again.

Does Blocking Work the Same for Recruiters or Company Pages?

Blocking on LinkedIn is user-to-user. You cannot block company pages or recruiters directly, but you can:

• Limit your profile visibility by adjusting your Privacy Settings
• Use Private Mode when viewing others’ profiles
• Turn off the “Let recruiters know you’re open to work” feature

While it won’t block company pages, this minimizes exposure to people or entities you prefer to avoid.

How to Block Someone Without Viewing Their Profile

Sometimes, you don’t want to trigger a “You viewed their profile” notification. To avoid this:

1. Switch to Private Mode under Profile > Settings > Visibility > Profile viewing options
2. Then view and block the person as normal

This method ensures anonymity before you block them.

Alternative Actions to Consider Before Blocking

Blocking is a strong step, but it’s not always necessary. Consider these alternatives first:

• Remove connection: This keeps your profile public but ends any professional tie
• Restrict messages: Adjust message settings so only connections or select people can reach you
• Mute notifications: Stop updates from certain users without removing them
• Report behavior: If someone is abusive or harassing you, report their activity

Understanding how to block someone on LinkedIn should come with the knowledge that other gentler actions exist.

How to Report Someone Without Blocking

You can report inappropriate messages, content, or profiles without blocking them:

• Go to the message or content
• Click ‘More’ (three dots or ellipsis)
• Select ‘Report’
• Follow the on-screen instructions

LinkedIn will review the report, and if the behavior violates guidelines, action will be taken.

How Blocking Impacts Group Interactions

If you’re in the same LinkedIn group with a blocked person, you’ll still be able to:

• See their content in the group
• View their comments
• Participate in the same threads

However, direct interactions are limited. If that becomes an issue, consider leaving the group or reporting the user’s behavior to the group admin.

How to Maintain a Safe and Positive LinkedIn Experience

Here are some proactive steps to reduce the need for blocking:

1. Review Connection Requests Carefully

Only accept invites from people you know or those who provide context.

2. Update Privacy Settings

Regularly review and adjust what others can see or do with your profile.

3. Use Two-Factor Authentication

Keep your account secure from suspicious logins.

4. Be Selective With Sharing

Think before you post – is this something you’d want your entire network or potential employers to see?

5. Use Mute and Unfollow Wisely

You don’t need to block everyone – sometimes muting is enough.

Common Questions About Blocking on LinkedIn

Can I block more than one person?

Yes. You can block up to 1400 people on LinkedIn.

Will the person be notified?

No, blocking is completely silent and discreet.

Can I re-block someone I’ve unblocked?

Yes, but you must wait 48 hours before re-blocking them.

Can a blocked person still find me through Google?

No. If blocked, they won’t be able to view your LinkedIn profile even via external search.

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to block someone on LinkedIn is essential for maintaining a professional, safe, and comfortable online networking environment. Whether you’re protecting yourself from harassment, spam, or just managing your digital space, blocking is a powerful feature — and LinkedIn makes it easy and private.

If you ever feel uncomfortable or disrespected, don’t hesitate to use this feature. Your peace of mind is worth it.