LinkedIn shows message read status by default, which isn’t always ideal when you want to review a message without immediately signaling you’ve seen it.
This guide walks through exactly how to turn off read receipts on LinkedIn in 2026.
Step 1: Open LinkedIn Settings
- Open the LinkedIn app and tap your profile picture.
- Tap Settings.
Step 2: Access Messaging Settings
- Within Settings, tap Communications.
- Select Messaging experience or a similarly labeled option.
Step 3: Turn Off Read Receipts
- Look for Read receipts and typing indicators.
- Toggle this off.
What This Setting Actually Changes
Understanding the full scope helps clarify what to expect.
When disabled, this setting:
- Stops showing others when you’ve read their messages.
- Also stops showing you when others have read your messages, since this is typically a reciprocal setting.
- Removes the typing indicator that shows when you’re actively composing a response.
Action step: Understand this is generally an all-or-nothing, reciprocal setting — you can’t hide your own read status while still seeing others’, similar to how comparable settings work on WhatsApp and Messenger.
How This Setting Interacts With LinkedIn Premium Features
LinkedIn Premium subscribers have access to some additional messaging and visibility features that free users don’t.
Action step: If you’re a Premium subscriber, review whether any additional messaging privacy controls have been introduced specifically for your tier, since LinkedIn has periodically expanded Premium-exclusive features that may offer more granular control than the standard settings available to all users.
Managing Expectations With Frequent Contacts
If you regularly message the same colleagues or business contacts, disabling read receipts can occasionally create minor communication friction.
Action step: For contacts you message frequently and expect quick back-and-forth exchanges with, consider briefly mentioning that you’ve disabled read receipts, since this can prevent minor confusion about response timing expectations without requiring you to re-enable the feature broadly.
Combining This With Other LinkedIn Privacy Settings
Read receipts are just one part of LinkedIn’s broader privacy and visibility controls worth reviewing together.
Action step: While adjusting read receipts, also review your Profile viewing options and Active status settings under the same Communications and Privacy sections, since these related settings often get adjusted together by users seeking more comprehensive control over their professional visibility on the platform.
How to Turn Off Read Receipts on Desktop
Prefer using a browser? Here’s the process:
- Go to LinkedIn.com and log in.
- Click your profile icon, then Settings & Privacy.
- Select Communications → Messaging experience.
- Toggle off Read receipts and typing indicators.
Why LinkedIn Users Commonly Disable This Setting
Common reasons include:
- Reviewing messages during off-hours without signaling immediate availability
- Reducing perceived pressure to respond quickly after being seen reading a message
- General preference for more control over professional messaging expectations
Action step: Consider your specific professional context before disabling this broadly — in some roles, quick, visible responsiveness is valued and expected, so weigh whether this setting genuinely serves your professional communication goals.
Does This Affect InMail Messages Differently?
LinkedIn’s InMail feature, used for messaging people outside your immediate network, generally follows the same read receipt settings as standard messages.
Action step: Don’t expect separate settings for InMail specifically — this toggle applies broadly across your LinkedIn messaging experience regardless of whether you’re messaging a direct connection or someone reached via InMail.
Can You Disable This for Specific Conversations Only?
LinkedIn’s read receipts setting is generally applied account-wide rather than allowing per-conversation customization.
Action step: If you want more granular control for specific important conversations, manage expectations directly with that person instead, since LinkedIn doesn’t currently support disabling read receipts selectively for individual chats while keeping them active elsewhere.
Common Issues When Adjusting This Setting
Setting not saving?
Force close and reopen the app, then try again — this usually resolves temporary sync issues.
Still seeing “Seen” on old conversations?
The setting applies going forward; previously sent read statuses may still display until the conversation refreshes or a new message is exchanged.
Confused why you can no longer see when others read your messages?
This is expected — since the setting is reciprocal, disabling your own visibility also removes your ability to see others’ read status.
How This Compares to Similar Settings on Other Platforms
LinkedIn’s approach to read receipts closely mirrors how WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger handle the same feature.
Action step: If you’ve already adjusted similar settings elsewhere for consistency across your messaging habits, apply the same logic here — if you value the mutual visibility read receipts offer on other platforms, weigh that same tradeoff before disabling it on LinkedIn specifically.
Should You Disable This for Professional Networking Specifically?
LinkedIn’s professional context makes this decision slightly different from a personal messaging app.
Action step: Consider that recruiters, hiring managers, or business contacts messaging you may interpret visible read receipts as a sign of active engagement — weigh whether the privacy benefit of disabling this outweighs any potential professional signaling value in your specific situation.
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Final Thoughts
Turning off read receipts on LinkedIn takes just a couple of taps and gives you more control over your messaging privacy, though remember this is a reciprocal, account-wide setting rather than something adjustable per conversation. Consider your specific professional context before disabling it broadly, review related privacy settings like Active status at the same time, and weigh whether responsiveness signals matter differently on a professional networking platform compared to personal messaging apps.
