Curious whether LinkedIn reveals who viewed your profile? Discover how profile views work, what free and premium users can see, and how to manage your privacy settings.
LinkedIn is the leading platform for professionals aiming to expand their network, explore career opportunities, and establish their personal brand. A common question among users is: Does LinkedIn show who viewed your profile?
Being able to track profile visits can provide valuable insights, whether you’re a job seeker, recruiter, or business professional. However, the level of access depends on your account type and privacy preferences.
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Does LinkedIn Show Who Viewed Your Profile?
Yes, LinkedIn offers a “Who’s Viewed Your Profile” feature, which lets users see who has checked their profile. This insight can help track interest from recruiters, potential clients, or employers. However, what you can see depends on your account type.
- Free users get a limited view, showing only a few recent visitors.
- Premium users get full access to a 90-day history, along with insights on how visitors discovered their profile.
If a visitor has enabled Private Mode, their visit will appear as “Anonymous LinkedIn Member”, preventing you from seeing their details.
Visibility Settings: Who Can See When You View Their Profile?
LinkedIn allows users to control how much information is visible when they visit other profiles. There are three main settings:
1. Public Mode
In this mode, your name, profile picture, and headline are visible when you check someone’s profile. This is useful for professionals who want to be noticed by recruiters or business prospects.
2. Semi-Private Mode
This setting displays limited information, such as your job title and company, while keeping your name hidden. It offers some level of anonymity while still hinting at your industry.
3. Private Mode
With Private Mode enabled, your visits appear as “Someone viewed your profile”, keeping your identity completely hidden. However, when using this setting, you also lose access to see who visited your profile.
Free vs. Premium LinkedIn Accounts: What’s the Difference?
Your access to profile view data depends on whether you have a free or premium account.
Free Account:
- Can only see a limited number of recent profile visitors.
- No access to older data or additional insights.
- Cannot view details of visitors in semi-private mode.
Premium Account:
- Full access to a 90-day history of profile views.
- Insights into how visitors found your profile (search, recommendations, direct clicks).
- Ability to view all semi-private profile viewers.
- Extra features like InMail messaging and advanced search filters.
For users serious about networking or job searching, upgrading to LinkedIn Premium provides better visibility and data insights.
How to Manage Your Profile Viewing Options
You can adjust your visibility settings based on your preferences. Follow these steps:
1. Open Profile Settings
- Click your profile picture (top right corner).
- Select “Settings & Privacy” from the dropdown menu.
2. Adjust Visibility Options
- Go to the “Visibility” tab.
- Locate “Profile Viewing Options”.
3. Choose Your Preferred Mode
- Public Mode (Your full details are shown).
- Semi-Private Mode (Only job title or company is visible).
- Private Mode (Your visit remains completely anonymous).
4. Save Changes
The changes apply instantly, and your profile visits will be shown according to your new settings.
If you’re researching competitors, recruiters, or companies, Private Mode may be ideal. However, for job seekers and professionals looking to boost their visibility, keeping Public Mode enabled is a better strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Can someone see if I viewed their LinkedIn profile without an account?
No. LinkedIn requires users to be logged in for profile views to be tracked. If you browse without an account, your visit won’t appear in their “Who’s Viewed Your Profile” section.
Q2. Does LinkedIn notify users every time someone views their profile?
No, LinkedIn does not send real-time notifications. Users must manually check their “Who’s Viewed Your Profile” section.
Q3. How can I view LinkedIn profiles anonymously?
Go to Settings & Privacy → Visibility → Profile Viewing Options and select Private Mode to browse profiles anonymously.
Q4. What are the benefits of a premium account regarding profile views?
Premium users get a 90-day profile view history, insights into visitor sources, and full access to semi-private viewers. They also gain networking tools like InMail messaging.
Q5. If I switch to Private Mode after viewing profiles, will my previous views disappear?
No. If you initially viewed a profile in Public Mode, they will still see it. However, once you switch to Private Mode, all future views will be anonymous.
Final Thoughts
So, does LinkedIn show who viewed your profile? The answer depends on your settings and account type. Free users see only a few recent visitors, while premium users get a 90-day view history and deeper insights. For those aiming to expand their network, keeping a public profile can increase visibility. However, if privacy is a priority, Private Mode ensures anonymity. By adjusting your settings wisely, you can make the most of LinkedIn’s features while maintaining control over your visibility.