LinkedIn is a powerful platform for professionals looking to connect, hire, or explore new career opportunities. With over 900 million users globally, it serves as a massive network for business professionals. But sometimes, curiosity strikes — maybe you’re researching competitors, checking out potential job candidates, or just seeing how your own profile stacks up. Whatever the reason, you may want to view LinkedIn profiles anonymously.
TLDR:
If you’d like to browse LinkedIn without revealing your identity, you can easily switch on anonymous viewing mode through your account settings. This prevents others from seeing your visit in their “Who’s Viewed Your Profile” section. However, turning on anonymous mode has trade-offs — such as losing access to who’s viewed your profile. Be mindful of how this choice affects both privacy and visibility when networking.
Why View LinkedIn Profiles Anonymously?
There are several reasons why someone might want to browse incognito on LinkedIn. Here are some common scenarios where anonymity could be helpful:
- Recruiters researching candidates discreetly before reaching out
- Job seekers exploring potential hiring managers’ profiles
- Professionals checking up on competitors or past colleagues
- Curious users viewing profiles without initiating engagement
While being anonymous might seem a bit secretive, it serves a practical function — enabling research and exploration without alerting others.
How LinkedIn Tracks Profile Views
By default, LinkedIn shows users exactly who has viewed their profile — along with the time and sometimes how they found their way there. This means your name, profile headline, and company could appear in somebody else’s notifications when you visit their page. LinkedIn Premium users even get detailed insights into who their viewers are.
If you want to prevent your name and details from appearing in their history, you’ll need to make a quick change in your settings.
How to Enable Anonymous Viewing Mode
Here’s a step-by-step guide to viewing LinkedIn profiles anonymously on both desktop and mobile:
On Desktop
- Log in to your LinkedIn account.
- Click on your profile picture (top right corner) and select “Settings & Privacy”.
- Choose the “Visibility” tab from the side menu.
- Scroll to “Profile viewing options”.
- Select “Private mode” to become anonymous. You can also choose “Semi-private” mode (e.g., Industry + Title only) if you want partial anonymity.
On Mobile App
- Tap your profile picture in the top-left corner to open the menu.
- Select “Settings”.
- Tap on “Visibility” and then “Profile viewing options”.
- Choose “Private mode”.
Once you turn this on, your visits to other profiles will not include any identifying information — not your name, job title, or company.
What Others See When You Go Anonymous
When you’ve enabled anonymous mode, LinkedIn lets profile owners know that “Someone viewed your profile,” but provides no additional information. If you selected semi-private mode, they might see labels like “Someone in the IT industry in New York viewed your profile.” You’re still a mystery, but with minor clues.
This can be useful when you still want to leave a subtle breadcrumb trail without revealing your identity fully — a teaser of sorts.
The Trade-Offs of Going Private
Using anonymous mode is effective, but not without drawbacks. Consider these cons before leaving a digital cloak on:
- You won’t be able to see who viewed your profile. LinkedIn makes it a two-way street: no visibility for them, no visibility for you.
- It may hinder networking opportunities. Being visible can initiate conversations or connections you might miss while anonymous.
- Some users may find repeated anonymous visits unsettling. If you’re checking in frequently, they may still be able to guess who you are based on behavior patterns.
Anonymity offers privacy, but that privacy also means shutting yourself off from potential professional engagement.
Use Cases for Anonymous Viewing
Let’s explore a few detailed scenarios to understand when and why you might prefer viewing profiles in stealth:
Recruitment Research
As a recruiter, you may want to quietly assess a candidate’s background before reaching out. Multiple profile views might appear intrusive if the candidate sees your company name repeatedly. Switching to private mode prevents unwanted attention in early-stage research.
Career Exploration
Looking into other industries or companies? View key employee profiles to understand backgrounds and experience without being flagged. This keeps your research confidential, especially if you’re currently employed and exploring discreetly.
Competitive Analysis
Keeping tabs on competitors’ teams, changes, or new hires can provide valuable insight. But these insights are best gathered anonymously, so your company’s interests and strategies remain under the radar.
How to Toggle Back to Public Mode
Want to resume seeing who viewed your profile or engage actively with others again? Here’s how to switch back:
- Return to “Settings & Privacy”.
- Navigate to “Profile viewing options” under “Visibility.”
- Select “Your name and headline” as your viewing status.
This makes you visible again, and allows you to benefit from LinkedIn’s mutual visibility features.
Can You Browse Anonymously Forever?
Technically, yes — but doing so full-time might not align with your goals. LinkedIn is about networking, visibility, and professional growth. Total anonymity could limit your exposure and ability to make meaningful connections. Use it as a tool, not a permanent strategy.
Alternatives to Going Anonymous
If you’d rather not lose the visibility of who views your profile, consider these less drastic alternatives:
- Create a separate research account (though it may go against LinkedIn policies)
- Use semi-private viewing mode to share limited information
- Leverage Incognito mode on your browser — note that this doesn’t mask your LinkedIn profile; it’s just for local privacy
These options provide varying degrees of discretion while maintaining some of your networking benefits.
Final Thoughts
LinkedIn’s anonymous browsing feature is a valuable tool for professionals wanting to conduct research, analyze industry peers, or scout talent without leaving footprints. It’s simple to activate, effective for privacy, but comes with limitations that can dampen your networking capabilities.
Use it when it serves your strategy best, but remember that part of LinkedIn’s strength lies in its transparent and reciprocal connections.
Use wisely, stay curious, and keep networking on your terms!