Does LinkedIn Have Read Receipts? What They Are and How to Disable Them

Yes, LinkedIn has read receipts. And honestly? They're kind of making everyone weird about messaging.

These little "read" indicators mess with people's heads and it's pretty fascinating. We're all suddenly playing this strange game of professional hot potato with our messages. Since LinkedIn rolled this out in 2017, following apps like WhatsApp, it's created this whole new layer of workplace anxiety that nobody really asked for.

This guide explains how LinkedIn’s read receipts work, how to turn them off, how to tell if someone viewed a message, and how to deal with it without losing your mind.

What are LinkedIn read receipts and typing indicators?

Read receipts are simple signals showing a message has been opened. On LinkedIn, the common visual cue is the recipient’s small profile photo or a “Seen” indicator next to the message. Typing indicators show when someone is actively composing a reply. They make messaging feel immediate, similar to consumer chat apps, but on a professional platform.

Read receipts change the dynamics of digital conversations. For recruiters, salespeople and hiring managers, a “seen” signal can confirm a candidate received a time-sensitive request. For high-volume networkers, receipts can create unwanted pressure to reply instantly. 

Understanding how read receipts work (and how to control them) helps one craft communication policies, avoid embarrassing moments, and use LinkedIn branding more strategically.

Does LinkedIn show read receipts?

Yes. LinkedIn triggers read receipts when a recipient opens a message thread, not merely when it’s delivered. However, receipt visibility depends on settings on both sides: if either sender or recipient has disabled the “Read receipts and typing indicators” setting, the read indicator will not be shown. 

The whole “does LinkedIn show read receipts thing” becomes way less stressful once you understand how it actually works:

• LinkedIn does show read receipts, but only if both people have them turned on

• You can't spy on others without revealing your own reading habits

• Premium users get extra features that free users don't

• There are ways to preview messages without triggering the "read" status

• Most people are overthinking this way more than they should

Some message types (e.g., certain InMails, group messages, or sponsored messages) may behave differently, so one should test those formats in their account if exact behavior matters.

How LinkedIn Actually Tracks Your Messages

LinkedIn tracks way more than just whether you opened a message. They know exactly when you read it, what device you used, and probably what you had for breakfast (okay, maybe not that last one).

LinkedIn doesn't just track "read" or "unread." They're collecting precise timestamps, device information, and your interaction patterns. So when you read that message at 2:47 PM on your phone while hiding in the bathroom at work, they know.

This gets messy when you use multiple devices. You might read something on your phone but it still shows as unread on your laptop, which can lead to those awkward "I know you saw my message" conversations.

According to LinkedHelper, "In the LinkedIn mobile app, if notifications are enabled, a recipient can read your message from the preview without opening the chat—meaning you won't receive a read receipt." This is actually useful to know.

How to turn off read receipts on LinkedIn

Short direct answer: Turn off the “Read receipts and typing indicators” toggle in Messaging/Communications settings.

Step-by-step (desktop / web):

1. Sign in and click the profile icon → Data Privacy.

2. Open Messaging experience in the sidebar.

3. Find Read receipts and typing indicators (sometimes labeled “Delivery indicators”) and toggle it off.
   
   

4. Note: The change applies going forward — if receipts are off for either participant, LinkedIn won’t show that person as having read messages.

Step-by-step (mobile app):

1. Open the app → tap profile picture → Settings.

2. Tap Communications → Messaging experience.

3. Toggle Read receipts and typing indicators off.

Practical note: Exact menu names vary slightly by client and version. If the option is hard to find, using the Settings search box for “read receipts” usually surfaces it.

Can someone see if I read their message on LinkedIn?

Short: Only if both participants have the read receipts setting enabled. If either participant disables receipts, the other will not receive a “seen” indicator.

That mutual requirement is important: it gives both sides a measure of control over presence information. If someone does not want senders to know when they opened messages, they should disable receipts; senders will then see no “seen” signals from that account.

Here's the catch with LinkedIn message read receipts: you can't see others' read status without showing your own. It's like a digital version of "you show me yours, I'll show you mine."

Your options are basically:

• Turn them on: You see everything, but so does everyone else

• Turn them off: Nobody sees anything (including you)

• One of the advantages of going Premium on LinkedIn is you get extra info, (but you'll still visible to others). 

How can you tell if a message has been viewed on LinkedIn?

Typically, one sees a small circular thumbnail of the recipient’s profile photo under (or beside) the last message in the conversation. On desktop, hovering over that indicator may show a timestamp. If there is no thumbnail and the message appears only as “Sent” or with no extra indicator, it probably has not been opened, or receipts are disabled.

How to Preview Without Triggering Read Receipts

This is the good stuff - ways to read messages without the sender knowing:

1. Email notifications - LinkedIn sends the full message to your email, so you can read it there first

2. Mobile preview - The notification preview often shows enough to understand the message

3. Browser tricks - Some people use incognito mode, though this doesn't always work

Marketing consultant James has this down to a science. He reads everything in his email notifications first, which gives him time to research the sender and plan his response before the person knows he's even seen it.

How to turn off “viewed” on LinkedIn

Turning off the “Read receipts and typing indicators” setting stops LinkedIn from sending a “viewed” signal. In short: turn off read receipts → LinkedIn will not mark your messages as “viewed” to others.

Workarounds people use to read messages without triggering receipts

Some professionals want to read a message without the corresponding “seen” notification. Legal and safe methods include:

• Disable read receipts first (the recommended approach).

• Read via notification preview on mobile; some message previews don’t trigger full opens.

• Airplane mode trick: enable airplane mode, open the message, close the app, then disable airplane mode — this can sometimes prevent the open event from syncing. It is unreliable and depends on platform behavior.

• Third-party tools or extensions claim to let users view messages without triggering receipts; these can conflict with LinkedIn’s terms of service and risk account security. Use caution.

The most reliable and compliant approach is the Settings toggle. Other tricks can be inconsistent and may stop working with platform updates.

Are LinkedIn messages private?

LinkedIn messages are private between participants, not public. However:

• LinkedIn can access message content for abuse detection, moderation, or legal reasons.

• Applications with granted permissions may access message data.

• Group messages and posts are not private.
  One should avoid sharing highly sensitive data (financial information, private health data, passwords) over DMs.

Practical etiquette and recommended policies

For professionals and teams, these simple rules reduce friction:

• Recruiters: Consider enabling receipts for scheduling messages; it helps confirm that candidates saw interview invites. But include time expectations in the message (e.g., “Please confirm within 48 hours”).

• Sales & outreach: Decide whether receipts help or pressure prospects. If outreach volume is high, disabling receipts can reduce perceived pressure.

• Individuals who value asynchronous work: Disable receipts to avoid the “immediate reply” culture.

• Follow-up etiquette if a message is read but not replied: Wait 48–72 hours before a concise follow-up. Avoid calling out a read receipt publicly.

Using Read Receipts to Actually Help Your Networking

Nobody asked for this extra layer of workplace anxiety. But since we're stuck with it, here's how to make it work for you instead of against you.

Figure Out Who Actually Cares About Your Messages

Read receipts on LinkedIn can actually tell you something useful: who in your network is genuinely engaged with what you're sharing. Some people read everything immediately, others batch their LinkedIn time, and some people apparently never check their messages at all.

This isn't about stalking people - it's about understanding communication preferences so you can be more effective.

Timing Your Messages Better

Once you notice patterns in when people typically read and respond to messages, you can time your outreach better. If someone always reads messages in the morning but responds in the afternoon, don't panic when you don't hear back immediately.

The key is matching your communication style to their preferences, not trying to force immediate responses.

Making Your Content and Messages Work Together

People who consistently read your messages are often your best content amplifiers too. This makes sense - if someone cares enough to read your direct messages, they're probably interested in your public content.

Test Your Message Approach

Use read receipt data to test different message styles. Are people more likely to read and respond to:

• Short, direct messages?

• Longer, detailed explanations?

• Questions vs. statements?

• Messages with attachments?

This aligns with post optimization strategies - test what works and do more of that.

Quality Over Quantity

Not everyone who reads your messages quickly will become a valuable business connection. Some people are just fast readers, others are procrastinating their actual work. Focus on the people who read AND respond with substance.

Don't Let It Control You

Here's the most important part: read receipts are just one tiny piece of information. They don't tell you:

• How busy someone is

• What their priorities are

• Whether they're interested in what you're offering

• If they're a good fit for collaboration

Bottom line: Use read receipt info to be more strategic, but don't let it drive you crazy. The goal is better professional relationships, not perfect response timing.

Edge cases and technical nuances worth knowing

• Cross-device behavior: Some users report slight delays or differences between web and mobile. A preview pane may not count as a full “open,” while opening the conversation does. The safest assumption is: a full open of the conversation thread triggers the read event.

• Message types: Sponsored messages, some InMails, or company-managed messaging may behave differently. Professionals using paid features should test specific message formats.

• False positives/negatives: Notifications, cached data, or third-party integrations can sometimes make receipts appear erroneously. Relying on receipts alone for critical workflows (legal notices, termination notices) is unwise.

Quick decision guide (should one enable receipts?)

• Enable if: timing sensitivity matters (interview scheduling, urgent client messages).

• Disable if: they create pressure to reply immediately, or if the professional prefers asynchronous work norms.

• Company policy: large teams should pick one stance and inform clients/candidates to avoid inconsistent expectations.

Final Thoughts

LinkedIn read receipts aren't going anywhere, so we might as well figure out how to live with them. The key is using them as one small piece of information about your professional relationships, not as the main driver of your communication strategy.

They are useful in time-sensitive contexts but can create pressure for instant responses. Because LinkedIn makes read receipts mutual and controllable, professionals can choose the level of presence information they share. 

For professionals looking to maximize their LinkedIn effectiveness, tools like comprehensive content creation platforms can help you create the type of valuable, engaging content that makes people excited to read your messages rather than avoiding them. 

When your content consistently provides value, read receipts become positive signals of engagement rather than sources of anxiety.

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