Receiving a LinkedIn message can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it could be an exciting new job opportunity or a message from an old colleague looking to reconnect. On the other hand, it may be an unwanted solicitation or even harassment. In cases where a message is inappropriate or makes you uncomfortable, you may wish you could “unread” it and forget you ever saw it. Unfortunately LinkedIn does not have an “unread” feature for messages. Once you open and read a message, there is no going back. However, there are a few things you can do to mitigate the effects of an unwanted message.
Report or delete uncomfortable messages
If a message crosses the line and violates LinkedIn’s professional community policies, you can and should report it. On desktop, hover over the message and click the flag icon to report it. On mobile, tap the three dots next to the message and select “Report”. LinkedIn will review the message and take appropriate action if it breaks their rules. Reporting not only helps protect yourself but also helps keep the LinkedIn community a safe and professional space for all users.
Alternatively, you can simply delete the message if you do not wish to continue the conversation or no longer want to see the message in your inbox. On desktop, click the “X” icon next to the message. On mobile, swipe left on the message and tap “Delete”. While deleting does not report the sender, it does remove the message from your inbox so you no longer have to look at it.
Adjust your messaging settings
LinkedIn allows you to control who can message you directly. By adjusting your settings, you can filter out unwanted messages from people outside your network. On desktop, go to your Settings & Privacy page and look for the “Messages” section. Toggle “Allow messages from people I don’t know” to off. On mobile, tap your profile icon, go to Settings > Communications > Messages and disable “Receive messages from members not in your network”. With this setting disabled, only people in your 1st and 2nd degree network can directly message you.
You can take it a step further and change the default message setting from “All LinkedIn members” to “Only people you follow”. This will restrict messages to only your 1st degree connections that you actively follow. While very limiting, it prevents unwanted outreach from recruiters, salespeople, distant connections, and strangers.
Be selective about sharing your contact info
Some unwanted LinkedIn messages come from people who obtained your contact information from your profile. To prevent this, be wary about sharing your phone number, email address, or other contact details. Keep that information private or only visible to your 1st degree connections. You can also set your profile to only show a “LinkedIn message” button rather than personal contact info. Go to your profile edit page and adjust the contact info settings accordingly.
Also, carefully consider which groups you join. Some groups display members’ contact info to other members, allowing anyone in the group to message you directly. Avoid joining groups, especially large niche ones, if you are not comfortable with unsolicited outreach.
Pause notifications
Constant notifications pulling you back into the LinkedIn app can be distracting and stressful. The app allows you to temporarily pause notifications so you can focus without being bombarded with messages. On desktop, click the Me icon and select “Pause notifications”. On mobile, tap your profile icon, go to Settings > Notifications > Pause all notifications. You can pause for 8 hours, 24 hours, 2 days, 1 week, or indefinitely. Use this feature liberally when needed.
Avoid opening messages from unknown senders
Once you open a message, you cannot “unread” it. But before opening a message, look at who the sender is. If you do not recognize the name or the message seems suspicious, simply ignore it. Leave it unopened. Come back later and delete or report it. but by not opening it, you avoid being impacted by an inappropriate message.
On mobile in particular, preview the first few lines of a message without clicking into it fully. Swipe left on the message in your inbox to preview. If it seems dubious, do not click in. Erring on the side of caution can prevent you from reading messages you later wish you could “unread.”
Politely decline unwanted outreach
For messages that are unwelcome but not abusive, it may be appropriate to politely reply indicating you are not interested rather than just ignoring or deleting the message. For example, reply “Thanks for your message, but I am not interested in employment opportunities right now” to unsolicited recruiter messages. Or “Appreciate you reaching out, but I am not available for consulting work at this time” to sales inquiries.
Politely declining unwelcome but well-intentioned messages provides closure and prevents repeat messages. Just be cautious not to engage further or provide details that could prolong the conversation. A simple “No thank you” suffices in most cases.
Review messages on a computer first
The LinkedIn mobile app makes it very easy to quickly open and respond to messages with just a tap or swipe. This can lead to reacting too quickly to inappropriate messages before thinking it through. Whenever possible, avoid reviewing LinkedIn messages for the first time on your mobile device.
Instead, use the desktop website on a computer to go through messages initially. The extra steps of clicking into each message gives you more of a buffer to consider how to handle bad messages appropriately. You are less likely to have a knee-jerk reaction of anger or embarrassment. Plus, reporting unwanted messages is easier on desktop.
Turn off read receipts
Read receipts allow the sender to see when you have opened their message. To avoid notifying senders that you accidentally read their inappropriate message, turn off read receipts. On desktop, go to Settings & Privacy > Communications > Read receipts and disable them. On mobile, go to Settings > Communications > Read receipts. With them off, senders will not know if or when you read their message.
Practice self-discipline
At the end of the day, avoiding regret over reading an unwanted message requires self-control. Train yourself not to instantly open every new message that arrives. Let them accumulate and carefully evaluate each one before clicking in. Foster a habit of being cautious about who you engage with over messaging.
Also, do not feel obligated to always respond to messages. If communication is unwelcome, you have no duty to reply. Politely declining or reporting then moving on is perfectly acceptable.
Make use of alternative contact methods
If someone you trust invites you to connect on LinkedIn but you are concerned about unwanted messages, suggest alternate ways to communicate such as phone, email, or another platform. Keeping the relationship off LinkedIn entirely avoids exposing your inbox to unwanted messages should that connection ever go awry.
Similarly, if a long-lost colleague finds you on LinkedIn but you are uncertain about reconnecting, propose meeting for coffee instead of linking profiles. Meet in person first before linking accounts and sharing contact details.
Bottom line
While LinkedIn does not allow you to “unread” an inappropriate or uncomfortable message, you are not powerless to address the situation. Report, delete, adjust settings, pause notifications, decline politely, and exercise caution to mitigate unwanted messages. With discipline and some adjustments, you can maintain control over your LinkedIn messaging experience.