What the default settings do
LinkedIn defaults to high visibility. Your profile is public and indexed by search engines. When you update your profile or engage with content, your network is notified through activity broadcasts. Your connections list is visible to your connections by default, and LinkedIn uses your data - including profile information, activity, and inferred interests - for ad targeting.
Read receipts are on by default in LinkedIn messaging, and your profile viewing mode shows your name and headline to people whose profiles you visit. LinkedIn also uses member data to train AI models and shares data with third-party apps you may have connected.
A reasonable privacy baseline
These settings are found in Settings & Privacy on the LinkedIn website or app.
Profile visibility
Profile Viewing Options → Private mode (Settings → Visibility → Profile viewing options)
LinkedIn offers three modes: your full name and headline, private profile characteristics (job title and industry only), or fully private mode. Private mode means people will not see that you viewed their profile, but you also lose the ability to see who viewed yours.
Who Can See Your Connections → Only you (Settings → Visibility → Who can see your connections)
By default, your connections can see your full connections list. Setting this to "Only you" prevents others from browsing your professional network, which protects both your contacts' privacy and your own.
Activity Broadcasts → Off (Settings → Visibility → Share profile updates with your network)
When enabled, your network sees notifications when you update your profile, such as changing your job title or adding skills. Turning this off lets you update your profile without broadcasting each change.
Messaging
Read Receipts and Typing Indicators → Off (Settings → Communications → Read receipts and typing indicators)
Disabling these prevents message senders from seeing when you have read their messages or are typing a response. As with other platforms, this is reciprocal - you lose the ability to see this information from others.
Messaging Preferences → InMail and Messages → Review (Settings → Communications)
LinkedIn allows various types of messages from recruiters, connections, and sponsored senders. Review and restrict these to reduce unwanted outreach. You can limit who can send you invitations and messages.
Data and advertising
Ad-Related Data Sharing → Off (Settings → Advertising data → various toggles)
LinkedIn has several individual toggles for ad-related data use, including: connections, location, demographics, companies you follow, job information, and education. Reviewing each and turning off those you are not comfortable with reduces the data used for ad targeting.
Non-LinkedIn Data and Affiliate Sharing → Off (Settings → Advertising data)
This section controls whether data is shared with Microsoft (LinkedIn's parent company) and other affiliates, plus third-party advertising partners, for ad targeting beyond LinkedIn itself. Turning it off limits LinkedIn's participation in off-platform ad networks. Changes can take up to 72 hours to fully apply, and ads already queued may still appear for a couple of days afterward.
Data for Generative AI Improvement → Off (Settings → Data privacy → Data for Generative AI Improvement)
This toggle is on by default worldwide, including in the EU, UK, and Canada since November 2025. LinkedIn uses your content and profile activity to train the AI models behind features like writing suggestions and post drafting unless you turn it off. Opting out only stops future training; content already used will not be removed from models already built on it.
Data Processing Objection Form → Submit if applicable (Settings → Data privacy, linked from the Generative AI help pages)
This is a separate form for objecting to your data being used in LinkedIn's other, non-generative machine learning models, such as personalization, security, and anti-abuse systems. It does not overlap with the Generative AI Improvement toggle above.
Third-Party App Connections → Review and revoke (Settings → Data privacy → Permitted services)
Apps and services you have signed into using LinkedIn retain access to your profile data. Review the list and remove any you no longer use or recognize.
Trade-offs
- Private profile viewing mode means you lose access to the “Who viewed your profile” feature, which many users find valuable for networking and job searching.
- Hiding your connections list may appear unusual to some contacts, though this is increasingly common.
- Turning off activity broadcasts means your network will not be passively reminded of your profile updates, which can reduce engagement with your profile changes.
- Disabling ad-related data sharing does not reduce the number of ads. Ads may become less relevant to your professional interests.
- Opting out of AI training means your insights and content will not contribute to improved LinkedIn AI features, which may be a trade-off you are willing to accept.
Who should not change these settings
- If you are actively job searching, profile visibility and activity broadcasts can signal to recruiters that you are active and open to opportunities. Private mode may reduce recruiter outreach.
- If you use “Who viewed your profile” as a networking tool, switching to private viewing mode removes that data entirely.
- If you rely on LinkedIn for sales, recruiting, or business development, high visibility and open messaging settings are often part of an effective workflow.
- If your connections list is part of your professional credibility (showing a strong network), keeping it visible may be a deliberate choice.
- If you want LinkedIn’s AI features to improve and find value in AI-powered suggestions, leaving AI training data on is a reasonable position.