LinkedIn Private Mode: How to Browse Profiles Anonymously
Learn how to use LinkedIn private mode to browse profiles anonymously. Complete guide to privacy settings and who can see your profile views.
LinkedIn private mode lets you browse profiles anonymously without revealing your identity. When enabled, other users only see "LinkedIn Member" visited their profile instead of your name. Here's everything you need to know about LinkedIn's privacy settings and anonymous browsing.
Key Takeaways
- Private mode hides your identity when viewing other profiles—they'll only see "LinkedIn Member"
- Trade-off for free users: You lose access to seeing who viewed YOUR profile
- Premium users can browse privately AND still see their own profile viewers
- Three viewing modes are available: Public, Semi-Private, and Private
Does LinkedIn Show Who Viewed Your Profile?
Yes, by default LinkedIn shows profile visitors. According to LinkedIn's official documentation, when you view someone's profile in public mode, they can see:
- Your full name
- Your headline
- Your profile photo
- When you viewed their profile
However, you can change this by enabling private mode to browse anonymously.
LinkedIn's Three Viewing Modes
LinkedIn offers three profile viewing options according to LinkedIn Help:
| Mode | What Others See | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Public (Default) | Your full name, headline, and photo | Networking, letting prospects know you're interested |
| Semi-Private | Job title and company only (e.g., "Marketing Manager at Tech Company") | Light anonymity while showing general context |
| Private | Only "LinkedIn Member" | Complete anonymity when researching |
How to Make LinkedIn Private (Desktop)
Enable Private Mode
- Click your profile photo in the top-right corner
- Select "Settings & Privacy"
- Click "Visibility" in the left sidebar
- Under "Visibility of your LinkedIn activity," find "Profile viewing options"
- Click "Change"
- Select "Private mode"
- Click "Save"
Your changes take effect immediately.
Return to Public Mode
Follow the same steps and select "Your name and headline" to return to public viewing.
How to Make LinkedIn Private (Mobile App)
On iOS or Android:
- Tap your profile photo (top-left corner)
- Tap the gear icon (Settings)
- Select "Visibility"
- Tap "Profile viewing options"
- Choose "Private mode"
- Confirm your selection
The Private Mode Trade-Off
According to LinkedIn's privacy documentation, there's an important trade-off:
For Free (Basic) LinkedIn Users:
- When you enable private mode, you lose access to "Who's Viewed Your Profile"
- Your existing viewer history is erased
- After disabling private mode, it takes up to 24 hours to restore the feature
For Premium LinkedIn Users:
- You can browse in private mode AND still see your profile viewers
- This is one of the key benefits of LinkedIn Premium
| Feature | Free Account | Premium Account |
|---|---|---|
| Browse in private mode | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| See who viewed your profile | ❌ No (when private) | ✅ Yes (always) |
| 90-day viewer history | ❌ Lost when private | ✅ Preserved |
Can Premium Users See Anonymous Viewers?
No. According to LinkedIn Help, even Premium users cannot identify people browsing in private mode. The privacy setting overrides all other features:
"LinkedIn always respects a member's privacy settings. Even with a Premium account, you can't view the names of private mode viewers of your own profile."
When someone views your profile in private mode, you'll only see "LinkedIn Member - This person is viewing profiles in private mode."
When to Use LinkedIn Private Mode
Good Reasons to Browse Privately
- Job searching without alerting your current employer
- Competitive research on other companies or professionals
- Checking on former colleagues without awkward notifications
- Researching recruiters before responding to messages
- Investigating potential clients before a sales call
When to Stay Public
According to Typefully's research, staying in public mode has advantages:
- Networking: Letting prospects see you viewed their profile can start conversations
- Sales prospecting: Profile views can warm up leads before outreach
- Job hunting (strategically): Showing recruiters you're interested
- Authority building: Visibility contributes to your LinkedIn presence
Private Mode vs. Blocking
| Feature | Private Mode | Blocking |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Browse anonymously | Prevent all interaction |
| They can see you | Only "LinkedIn Member" | Not at all |
| You can see them | Yes | Yes |
| Connection status | Unchanged | Removed |
| Reversible | Instantly | Yes (48hr re-block wait) |
Use private mode for anonymous browsing. Use blocking to prevent someone from interacting with you entirely.
Additional LinkedIn Privacy Settings
Beyond private mode, LinkedIn offers other privacy controls:
Control Who Can See Your Connections
- Go to Settings & Privacy → Visibility
- Find "Who can see your connections"
- Choose between "Your connections" or "Only you"
Control Who Can See Your Activity
- Navigate to Settings & Privacy → Visibility
- Adjust "Manage active status" to control who sees when you're online
- Modify "Share profile updates with your network" for job changes
Limit Profile Visibility to Logged-In Users
- Go to Settings & Privacy → Visibility
- Find "Profile visibility off LinkedIn"
- Choose whether your public profile appears in search engines
The Inbound Alternative: Why Visibility Can Be Strategic
While private mode has its uses, consider this: being visible can actually help your LinkedIn strategy.
When you view someone's profile in public mode:
- They see your name and may check out YOUR profile
- This can spark connections with potential clients
- Profile views are a form of "warm outreach" without messaging
For inbound lead generation, strategic visibility beats hiding. When you:
- Comment thoughtfully on content
- Optimize your profile
- Engage with your target audience's posts
...prospects notice you, view your profile, and reach out when ready.
How ConnectSafely.ai Uses Strategic Visibility
ConnectSafely.ai helps you leverage visibility strategically:
- Strategic engagement puts you in front of ideal clients naturally
- Profile optimization ensures visitors become leads
- Authority building makes people want to connect with you
- Inbound approach means qualified prospects come to you
Rather than hiding, you become someone worth discovering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does LinkedIn show who viewed your profile?
Yes, by default LinkedIn shows profile visitors your name, headline, and photo. However, you can enable private mode to browse anonymously. Others will only see "LinkedIn Member" instead of your identity.
How do I make my LinkedIn profile private?
Go to Settings & Privacy → Visibility → Profile viewing options, then select "Private mode." This hides your identity when viewing other profiles, but free users lose access to seeing their own profile viewers.
Can LinkedIn Premium see anonymous viewers?
No. Even Premium users cannot identify people browsing in private mode. LinkedIn respects everyone's privacy settings equally. Premium users will only see "LinkedIn Member - This person is viewing profiles in private mode."
What's the difference between semi-private and private mode on LinkedIn?
Semi-private mode shows your job title and company (e.g., "Someone at Google") but not your name. Private mode shows only "LinkedIn Member" with no identifying information.
Does private mode affect my LinkedIn engagement or algorithm?
No, private mode only affects who sees your profile visits. It doesn't impact your content visibility, engagement rates, or how the LinkedIn algorithm treats your posts.
Can I browse LinkedIn completely anonymously?
Yes, private mode makes your profile browsing anonymous. However, your actual profile remains visible to others, and your posts, comments, and other activity are still public according to your sharing settings.
Ready to use strategic visibility to attract inbound leads? Start your free trial and build authority that makes prospects come to you.
