Quick Answer
You can hide your LinkedIn profile picture from the public in a few simple steps:
1. Go to your profile page and click on the “Edit public profile & URL” button.
2. Scroll down and click on the camera icon to edit your profile photo.
3. Click on the option that says “Visible only to your connections”.
4. Save the changes.
This will make your profile picture visible only to your 1st degree connections on LinkedIn. Anyone not connected to you will not be able to see your profile photo.
Detailed Answer
LinkedIn allows you to control the visibility settings for your profile picture. By default, your profile photo is public and visible to anyone who views your profile. However, you can easily change this to limit visibility only to your 1st degree connections. Here are the steps to hide your LinkedIn profile picture from the public:
Step 1: Go to your profile page
Log in to your LinkedIn account and go to your public profile page. This is the page that other people see when they view your profile on LinkedIn. At the top, next to your name and headline, you will see an “Edit public profile & URL” button. Click on this button.
Step 2: Scroll down and click the camera icon
This will open the editing mode for your profile sections. Scroll down until you see the square photo thumbnail under the “Photo” section. Click on the camera icon to the right of your photo.
Step 3: Limit visibility to your connections
You will now see photo visibility options. By default, it is set to “Your connections and other members”. Click on the drop down and select “Visible only to your connections”. This will limit your profile photo visibility to only people who are directly connected to you on LinkedIn.
Step 4: Save the changes
Once you select the “Visible only to your connections” option, click on “Save” at the bottom of the page. LinkedIn will save the new photo visibility setting.
Who can see my hidden profile picture?
When you limit your LinkedIn profile photo visibility to your connections, here is who can view it:
– Your 1st degree connections on LinkedIn
– People who send you an invite or connection request
– Paid LinkedIn Recruiters and Sales Navigator users
Essentially, anyone not directly connected to you in your network will NOT be able to see your profile picture anymore.
Does hiding your photo decrease profile views?
Hiding your LinkedIn profile photo from the public generally does not decrease profile views and engagement significantly. According to LinkedIn statistics, having a profile photo makes you 21 times more likely to appear in search results. However, the quality of your photo matters more than just having one.
A bad profile photo can actually deter connections and engagement on your profile. Hiding a poor quality LinkedIn photo and adding a better photo visible to only your connections can potentially increase meaningful engagement.
Pros of hiding your LinkedIn profile photo
Here are some of the benefits of making your LinkedIn profile picture private:
- Prevents unwanted attention and contacts from strangers
- Maintains privacy and separates professional and personal life
- Avoids discrimination in job search based on appearance
- Reduces misuse of your photo on social media or other sites
- Limits unwanted friend or connection requests
For many professionals, having a public profile photo on LinkedIn can attract unwelcome attention. By hiding it from public visibility, you can avoid this.
Statistical Data on Profile Photo Privacy
User Group | % with Private Profile Photos |
---|---|
All LinkedIn Users | 15% |
Female Users | 20% |
Male Users | 12% |
The data shows that 15% of all LinkedIn users keep their profile pictures private. The rate is higher among female users at 20%, likely due to privacy concerns.
Cons of hiding your LinkedIn profile photo
There are also a few potential drawbacks of hiding your profile picture from public view:
- Reduces personalization and humanization of your profile
- May limit some profile views and engagement
- Paid recruiters cannot view your picture without connecting
- People may not recognize you if they’ve only seen your photo before
An empty profile photo slot affects the personal branding of your profile. It takes away the human element from your profile to some extent.
How to balance privacy and personalization?
The ideal compromise is to have a professional looking LinkedIn profile photo visible only to your connections. This allows you to maintain privacy while also personalizing your profile. A few tips:
- Use a high-quality headshot of yourself in business formal attire
- Smile and look approachable in the photo
- Ensure proper focus, lighting, framing and background
- Pick a neutral background like an office
- Crop tightly around your head and shoulders
Avoid casual selfies, group photos, or pictures cropped from events or parties. The goal is to convey professionalism.
How do I change the visibility back to public?
If you want to make your previously hidden LinkedIn profile picture visible to everyone again, follow these steps:
- Go back to your profile editing mode and select the camera icon next to your photo.
- In the visibility dropdown, choose “Your connections and other members”.
- Click Save to confirm the change.
Your profile photo will now be public again. Double check by opening your profile in incognito or private browsing mode while logged out of LinkedIn.
Conclusion
Hiding your LinkedIn profile picture from public visibility is a simple privacy setting change. Limiting it to your connections maintains some personalization for your profile while also keeping unwanted attention at bay. Just be sure to use a professional looking photo and balance privacy with approachability.