LinkedIn has become the world’s largest professional social network with over 810 million members worldwide as of 2021. With its massive userbase, LinkedIn is often utilized for networking, recruiting, job searching, professional branding, and more. One of the key features of LinkedIn is the ability to search for and view other user profiles on the platform. However, a common question is whether LinkedIn will notify someone if you search for or view their profile without having a LinkedIn account yourself.
Does LinkedIn notify non-users of profile views?
The short answer is no, LinkedIn does not notify someone if you search for or view their profile without having a LinkedIn account. LinkedIn’s profile view notifications are only sent out to account holders who have their profile view settings enabled. If the person you searched for does not have a LinkedIn account, they will not receive any notification that their profile was viewed.
LinkedIn’s profile view notifications are an account feature intended to allow users to see who has been viewing their profile. It serves as a way for account holders to keep track of who may be interested in connecting with them professionally on the platform. But it does not extend to non-account holders who do not have access to account features and settings.
Step-by-step look at searching without an account
Here is a step-by-step look at how searching for someone works without having a LinkedIn account:
- Go to LinkedIn.com and use the search bar at the top of the page to search for someone’s name.
- You will be brought to a page with LinkedIn profiles matching that name.
- You can click on any of the profiles to view that person’s LinkedIn profile page.
- You can scroll through the full profile just like any public LinkedIn page.
- At no point will you be required to log in or sign up for an account to view profiles.
- The person whose profile you viewed will not receive any notification that you searched for or looked at their profile.
So in summary, anyone can search for and view public LinkedIn profiles without an account, and no notification will be sent to non-account holders about these profile views.
What triggers LinkedIn’s profile view notifications?
For LinkedIn members who do have accounts, there are specific triggers that will cause profile view notifications to be sent:
- Having account settings enabled to receive profile view notices.
- Someone with a LinkedIn account looking at your public profile.
- You appearing as a search result on someone else’s search.
- You showing up as a suggested connection or in other recommendations to members.
However, keep in mind that there are ways for LinkedIn account holders to view profiles anonymously without triggering notifications:
- Viewing in private browsing/incognito mode.
- Upgrading to a LinkedIn premium account which allows anonymous browsing.
- Viewing through third-party services or apps that access LinkedIn’s API.
Notification settings for LinkedIn members
For LinkedIn members who want to manage profile view notifications, here are the steps:
- Go to your account settings.
- Select “Privacy & Settings” in the menu.
- Go to the “Communications” tab.
- Under “Profile viewing options” you can choose who can see your profile was viewed.
- The options are to be notified when you’re viewed by:
- Your connections only.
- Everyone.
- Turn off notifications.
These settings allow members to limit or turn off profile view notices altogether. You can also choose to get notifications anytime your profile was viewed, not just when searched directly.
Benefits of viewing LinkedIn profiles anonymously
There are some potential advantages to being able to browse LinkedIn without an account and without triggering notifications:
- Privacy – You can maintain your own privacy by not having an account or signing in.
- Research – Look up people you may be interviewing, networking with, dating, or looking to hire without tipping them off.
- Competitive intelligence – Research competitors, partners or vendors without revealing yourself.
- Avoiding miscommunication – Prevents assumptions or awkwardness if someone gets an unexpected notification from you.
The ability to browse anonymously allows for discreet research and viewing of profiles without awkward notifications. This can be beneficial in many professional, personal or social contexts.
Potential issues with anonymous searching
However, there are also some drawbacks or risks to keep in mind when searching LinkedIn profiles without an account:
- You miss out on opportunities for connections, messaging, and relationship building.
- Repeated anonymous searches of someone may come across as “creepy” if discovered.
- You can’t fully participate in discussions or groups.
- Users may catch on if they notice repetitive anonymous profile hits.
- Paid account holders have access to more robust search filters than free browsing.
While occasional anonymous searching may be fine, if taken to an extreme or used inappropriately, it could damage professional relationships or reputation.
Conclusion
In summary:
- LinkedIn does not notify non-account holders when their profiles are viewed.
- Profile view notifications are account features that must be enabled.
- It’s possible to browse LinkedIn anonymously and discreetly without an account.
- Occasional anonymous searching can be beneficial but should not be abused.
- Frequent or inappropriate anonymous searches may have relational costs if discovered.
LinkedIn provides powerful public profile browsing features, both for account holders and non-account holders. While notifications can be useful networking tools, the ability to search discreetly also has advantages if used ethically. In the end, whether to browse anonymously comes down to an individual user’s specific needs and context.
LinkedIn Account Status | Receives Profile View Notifications? |
---|---|
Has LinkedIn account | Yes, if notifications enabled in settings |
Does not have LinkedIn account | No |
So in summary, if you want to browse LinkedIn profiles without the person knowing, simply search and view profiles while logged out without an account. No notifications will be sent. However, consider the context and motivations before viewing profiles anonymously, as potential downsides exist if misused.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can LinkedIn tell who views your profile?
Yes, LinkedIn can record who views member profiles, but only when the person viewing has a LinkedIn account. Profile views by non-account holders are anonymous and cannot be tracked. Members who enable profile view notifications will be notified when viewed by other members.
Does Incognito prevent LinkedIn notifications?
No, using Incognito or private browsing does not prevent profile view notices on its own. You must also change your LinkedIn account settings to turn off notifications or view profiles anonymously without logging in.
Can you see stalkers on LinkedIn?
LinkedIn does not have specific stalker detection features. However, members who receive frequent profile view notifications from the same user may be able to discern potential stalking behavior.
Is it creepy to look at LinkedIn profiles anonymously?
Occasional anonymous profile viewing is generally not considered creepy. But repeatedly looking up someone’s profile anonymously, especially if they have no relationship with you, could come across as inappropriate. Moderation is key.
Can LinkedIn tell your boss you looked them up?
If you view your boss’ LinkedIn profile while logged out, they will not receive any notification. If you view their profile while logged into your account, they will only be notified if their account settings have enabled profile view notices.
Key Takeaways
- LinkedIn does not notify non-account holders when searched.
- Profile views only trigger notifications for members who enable them.
- You can browse anonymously by staying logged out.
- Anonymous searching has advantages but should be used judiciously.
- Repeated anonymous searches may be perceived negatively if discovered.