LinkedIn profile visits are a normal part of professional life. You may look at someone’s profile after meeting them, receiving a referral, reading a useful post or preparing to update your own profile. Other people may do the same when they want to understand your experience, role or professional background.
LinkedIn gives members some control over what others can see when they visit a profile. These settings are useful to understand, particularly if you are managing your own privacy preferences or wondering why a profile viewer appears as anonymous.
The important point is how to use LinkedIn with professional judgement, clear boundaries and respect for other people’s privacy.
What LinkedIn profile viewing settings do
When you visit another person’s LinkedIn profile, LinkedIn allows you to choose how much information they can see about you.
There are three profile viewing options:
- Your name and headline
The person can see your name and headline when you view their profile. - Private profile characteristics
The person can see limited information, such as your role, company, industry or education, without seeing your name. - Private mode
The person sees that someone viewed their profile in private mode, but no identifying information is shared.
LinkedIn describes private mode viewers as “LinkedIn Member – This person is viewing profiles in private mode.” (LinkedIn)
Private mode, semi-private mode and public viewing
Each option has a different purpose.
Public viewing can make sense when you are comfortable being visible. For example, you may have met someone at an event, been referred to them or want them to know you have taken an interest in their work.
Semi-private viewing may suit people who prefer some privacy but are comfortable sharing broad professional information, such as their industry or role.
Private mode may be useful when you are reviewing your own privacy settings, preparing for a career conversation, updating your profile or looking for general inspiration from others in your field.
None of these options is automatically better than the others. The right setting depends on the context and on the level of visibility you are comfortable with.
When private mode can be useful
Private mode can be useful in a small number of professional situations. You may choose it when you are:
- reviewing profiles for ideas before updating your own
- exploring a possible career direction or sector
- preparing for a role, interview or professional conversation
- trying to understand how peers describe similar work
- checking whether your own profile is clear in comparison with others in your field
The aim should be learning, preparation or reflection. It should not be used as a way to monitor individuals, create discomfort or avoid respectful professional communication. LinkedIn is a professional network, and profile visits are a normal part of how people learn about one another. The key is to use the platform in a way that is proportionate and appropriate.
Use profile research thoughtfully
Looking at profiles can be useful when you are trying to understand how people describe a role, career path or area of expertise.
For example, you may notice how senior leaders explain the scope of their work, how consultants describe the problems they solve or how board directors position their governance experience.
Use this as inspiration, not a template. Your profile should reflect your own experience, language and professional direction. Avoid copying someone else’s wording, structure or personal story. The strongest LinkedIn profile is one that helps people understand your work clearly and accurately.
For more guidance, read How to Make Your LinkedIn Profile Stand Out for the Right Reasons.
How to change your profile viewing setting
To review or change your setting on LinkedIn:
- Select your profile image or the Me icon.
- Choose Settings and Privacy.
- Select Visibility.
- Find Profile viewing options.
- Choose the option that feels most appropriate for you:
- your name and headline
- private profile characteristics
- private mode
LinkedIn saves the setting automatically once you select your preferred option. LinkedIn’s menus can change over time, so the wording may look slightly different depending on whether you are using the desktop site or mobile app.
What happens to “Who’s viewed your profile”
Your viewing setting affects what you can see about people who view your own profile. LinkedIn states that Basic members who browse in private mode cannot see the list of people who have viewed their profile. Premium members can browse in private mode and still see the list of profile viewers from the previous 90 days.
However, no one can see the names of people who have chosen private mode. This is one reason it is useful to decide what matters most to you: greater privacy when viewing others, or more visibility around who is viewing your own profile.
Professional visibility is not always a problem
Some people become concerned when they realise others can see they have visited a profile. In most professional contexts, this is not unusual.
People visit profiles after meetings, referrals, networking events, articles, comments, job applications and LinkedIn messages. A profile view can simply indicate professional curiosity or a desire to understand someone’s experience.
You do not need to overthink every visit. The more useful question is whether your profile is ready for people who may choose to look at it.
A clear profile helps clients, colleagues, recruiters, peers and future collaborators understand your background, expertise and current focus.
Looking for LinkedIn support in Australia?
Think Bespoke is a Melbourne-based LinkedIn consultancy supporting professionals, leaders and organisations across Australia.
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Understanding LinkedIn’s privacy settings can help you make more deliberate choices about how visible you want to be.
The goal is not to avoid professional connection. It is to use LinkedIn in a way that feels respectful, informed and right for your circumstances.
Karen Hollenbach helps thoughtful professionals, leaders and organisations show up with greater clarity, confidence and purpose.
Subscribe to How We Show Up, Karen's fortnightly newsletter featuring small observations from work, books and conversations on thoughtful visibility in a noisy world. You can also connect with Karen on LinkedIn.