Quick Answer
Yes, you can view someone’s LinkedIn profile without them being notified or seeing who viewed their profile. There are a few different ways to do this anonymously:
- View profiles in anonymous/private browsing mode in your browser
- Use the LinkedIn mobile app
- Change your viewer settings to anonymous
- Use a LinkedIn Recruiter account
LinkedIn does not notify members when you view their profile anonymously. However, if you view someone’s profile while logged into your LinkedIn account, they will be able to see your name and headline under “Who’s viewed your profile.”
Explanation
LinkedIn gives you the option to browse member profiles discreetly without notifying the member or revealing your identity. This allows you to research people and companies without tipping them off.
There are a few different ways to view a LinkedIn profile anonymously:
Anonymous/Private Browsing Mode
The easiest way is to use your browser’s anonymous or private browsing mode. In Chrome, this is known as Incognito mode. In Firefox, it’s Private Browsing mode. And in Safari, it’s called Private Browsing.
When you enable anonymous browsing, your activity is not saved in your browser history or cookies. As far as LinkedIn is concerned, you are a new, anonymous visitor.
To use this method:
- Open an anonymous/incognito browser window
- Go to LinkedIn and navigate to the profile you want to view
- LinkedIn will not track this activity back to your account
The profile owner will have no indication that you viewed their profile.
LinkedIn Mobile App
The LinkedIn mobile app also allows anonymous profile viewing in some circumstances.
When you view someone’s profile in the LinkedIn app without being logged in, it does not show up in the “Who’s viewed your profile” section of that user’s account.
So if you want to quickly check someone’s profile on the go without leaving a trace, use the LinkedIn mobile app while logged out of your account.
Change Viewer Settings
Within your LinkedIn account settings, you can control whether your name appears when you view someone else’s profile.
To adjust this setting:
- Go to your Settings & Privacy page
- Under the Privacy tab, find Profile viewing options
- Uncheck the box next to “Let others know you viewed their profile”
With this setting disabled, profiles you view will not be notified or be able to see your name or profile information.
Use a Recruiter Account
LinkedIn Recruiter accounts allow anonymous browsing by default. When you view a profile using a Recruiter account, the other user is unaware.
Recruiter licenses come with various tracking, searching, and messaging capabilities for a monthly fee. But even a basic Recruiter account permits discreet profile viewing.
Companies often provide Recruiter access to HR staff and talent acquisition teams for sourcing candidates. If you have a Recruiter license available, it guarantees anonymous browsing.
What Shows Up Publicly?
While the methods above allow private browsing, LinkedIn does show some profile viewers publicly.
If you view someone’s profile while logged into your account (without anonymous browsing), it will show up under “Who’s viewed your profile.” This section is visible to profile owners when they check who has been looking at their profile.
This viewer list shows people who have viewed your profile, along with their name, headline, and industry.
So if absolute discretion is important, make sure to use private browsing or the mobile app. Otherwise, a savvy LinkedIn user may notice your name popping up after you viewed their profile. They can then click through to view your profile and identity.
Does Looking at Profiles Help Your Visibility?
No. Simply viewing LinkedIn profiles does not help increase your own profile’s visibility in search.
Some people think that looking at lots of profiles will signal to LinkedIn’s algorithms that you are more active, thus boosting your own ranking. This is not the case.
The LinkedIn profile views that impact search ranking and visbility are:
- Getting viewed by hiring managers and recruiters in your industry
- Getting viewed by decision-makers at companies you want to work for
In other words, having the right people view your own profile can improve visibility. But simply viewing other people’s profiles does not help boost your own ranking.
Is There Any Risk of Getting Caught?
When using the private browsing tricks mentioned earlier, there is virtually no risk of detection. Third-party LinkedIn monitoring tools also make anonymous viewing straightforward.
However, there are some risks to be aware of:
- Using a personal LinkedIn account without anonymous browsing enabled – This publicly shows you viewed someone’s profile
- Viewing very senior executive profiles – They likely have account monitoring tools
- Repeatedly viewing the same profile – This activity can appear suspicious
As long as you view profiles using the anonymous browsing methods above, avoid excessive repeat profile views, and do not stalk senior executive accounts, you can browse without being caught.
Limitations of Anonymous Browsing
While the techniques above do allow discreet viewing, there are some limitations to note:
- No messaging – You cannot message people anonymously
- Limited profile data – Certain sections may be gated for connected users only
- No notifications – You will not see notifications if they update their profile
- No searching – Keyword searches require being logged in
- No tracking – You cannot build lists or track prospects
So anonymous browsing is good for occasional viewing, but lacks some functionality. To leverage the full power of LinkedIn for outreach, you need a registered account.
Conclusion
Viewing LinkedIn profiles anonymously is definitely possible. The easiest way is using your browser’s private or incognito mode. The LinkedIn mobile app also permits anonymous viewing when logged out.
This allows occasional, discrete profile viewing without the member receiving any notification or visibility into who looked at their profile. However, functionality is limited compared to having an actual LinkedIn account.
Anonymous profile viewing is acceptable for viewing the occasional profile as needed. But be aware that excessive, repeated anonymous profile checks can sometimes appear suspicious if noticed. Use common sense and discretion when browsing profiles to maintain professionalism.
Method | Member Notified? | Your Identity Visible? |
---|---|---|
Private browsing mode | No | No |
LinkedIn mobile app | No | No |
Change viewer settings | No | No |
Recruiter account | No | No |
In summary, you can anonymously view LinkedIn profiles easily without leaving any trace by using incognito/private browsing mode, the mobile app, adjusting your account visibility settings, or using a Recruiter account. This allows discreetly researching people and companies without showing up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can LinkedIn tell who views your profile?
Yes, LinkedIn does track profile views when you are logged into your account. It shows the names of these viewers under “Who’s viewed your profile.” However, anonymous browsing prevents profile views from being tracked.
Is there a way to see who views my LinkedIn profile?
LinkedIn members can see the names of logged in members who have viewed their profiles under the “Who’s Viewed Your Profile” section. For anonymous visitors, their identities and activity are hidden.
Can you tell if someone looks at your LinkedIn 2021?
In 2021, the same LinkedIn profile viewing rules apply. Members are notified when logged-in users view their profiles. Anonymous browsing remains possible and identity-hidden using private/incognito browsing modes.
Why can’t I see who viewed my LinkedIn profile?
There are a couple possible reasons:
1. The profile visitors are using anonymous browsing settings. Their views will not show up.
2. You don’t have a Premium account. Free accounts only show the last 5 profile viewers. Premium shows all viewers.
Does LinkedIn notify a person when you look at their profile 2022?
As of 2022, LinkedIn still notifies members when other logged-in members view their profiles. Anonymous browsing methods prevent the LinkedIn member from being notified of a profile view.
Key Takeaways
– Use private browsing mode in your web browser to view LinkedIn profiles anonymously.
– The LinkedIn mobile app also permits anonymous viewing when logged out.
– Adjust your account settings to stop displaying your name when you view profiles.
– Recruiter licenses let you browse anonymously as a default feature.
– Anonymous browsing has limits, so use an actual account if you need messaging or tracking.
– Repeated anonymous profile views of the same person can raise suspicions if noticed.