How to Put LinkedIn in Private Mode: Step-by-Step Guide 2025

We get it. 

Sometimes, you want to peek at someone’s LinkedIn profile and leave… quietly and unnoticed.  

The problem is, you can’t seem to figure out how to put LinkedIn in private mode. 

Well, fret not.

Because in this article, we’ll learn:

• How to view LinkedIn profiles anonymously 
• Tips to balance privacy and networking on LinkedIn
• How to check your current LinkedIn profile viewing mode
• Benefits of using private mode for sales and outreach teams 
• How you can combine Reply.io AI features with LinkedIn’s private mode to supercharge your sales and outreach efforts.

Ready?

Let’s dig in. 

What is LinkedIn private mode?  

LinkedIn private mode is a setting that hides your name, photo, phone number, and headline when you view someone’s profile. 

In other words, the platform displays you as “Anonymous LinkedIn Member,” so the person will never know who you are.

Public mode, by comparison, shows your identity whenever you visit a profile. 

When your account is in public mode, the person will see your name, job title, and company under their “Who’s viewed your profile” section.

Why would you want to view LinkedIn profiles anonymously? 

There are many reasons to learn how to view LinkedIn profile in private mode. 

For starters, it gives you more control over how much of your activity others can see. And more importantly, it allows you to choose when to reveal your interest.

That said, some of the reasons you’d want to view LinkedIn profiles anonymously include:

• Competitor research – It allows you to check what rival companies or professionals are doing without exposing your identity.
• Recruiter browsing – You can review potential candidates discreetly without alerting them.
• Quiet job search – It lets you explore roles and company profiles without tipping off your current employer.
• Discreet prospecting – You can look at potential leads without signaling your outreach intentions too early.

It is important to mention, though, that anonymous viewing comes with a trade-off. In private mode, you can’t see who viewed your profile, so keep that in mind.

How to put LinkedIn in private mode: step-by-step guide 2025  

You can switch your LinkedIn account to private mode in a few steps, as outlined below:

• Step 1: Log in to your LinkedIn account.
• Step 2: Click your profile picture in the top-right corner.

• Step 3:  Select Settings and Privacy.

• Step 3: In the left-hand menu, go to Visibility.

• Step 4: Find the option labeled profile viewing options.

• Step 5: Choose Private Mode (Anonymous LinkedIn Member) from the three options.

Once selected, your visits will appear as “Anonymous LinkedIn Member.” In addition, you’ll no longer see who viewed your profile until you switch back.

How to check your current LinkedIn profile viewing mode  

Knowing how to put LinkedIn in private mode is one thing.

However, making sure the setting is active is just as important.

Luckily, LinkedIn gives you an easy way to verify your current viewing mode and change it whenever needed. Here’s how you can check:

• Step 1: Go to your LinkedIn Settings and Privacy by clicking your profile picture in the top-right corner (as described in the section above)
• Step 2: In the left-hand menu, select Visibility (as described in the section above)
• Step 3: Under Profile viewing options, you’ll see which mode is currently active.

From here, you can toggle between:

• Public mode – This shows your full name, headline, and job title.
• Semi-private mode – The mode displays limited details like job title and industry, but hides your name.
• Private mode – This shows only “Anonymous LinkedIn Member.”

Pro tip: After switching, revisit the same section to confirm the mode you chose is active before viewing profiles anonymously.

Can you still see who viewed your profile in private mode?  

As stated, when you switch to private mode, LinkedIn changes how others see you and what you can see about them.

The platform treats profile view visibility as a two-way feature. So, if you hide your identity, you also give up access to visitor data.

Here’s how it works:

• From the viewer’s side (you): Once private mode is active, you will no longer see a list of people visiting your profile. LinkedIn simply shows a blank section or gives a limited summary instead of details such as names and job titles.
• From the viewed person’s side (the profile you visit): They will see only “Anonymous LinkedIn Member” in their “Who viewed your profile” feed. They won’t access details such as your job title, photo, or company name.

The limitation is intentional. 

You see, LinkedIn’s policy seeks to balance privacy and transparency. Therefore, if you choose to browse anonymously, the platform also removes your ability to track others’ visits.

You must be thinking, “Can I view who visited my profile in private if I sign up for a paid LinkedIn account?”

Sure, LinkedIn Premium offers extended visibility into profile views. However, even with a paid plan, the private mode overrides this feature. 

Thus, you cannot use private browsing and still expect to see who has looked at your profile.

The LinkedIn private mode functionality is simple: You either keep your identity visible and access insights into your visitors. Or, you protect your anonymity and lose access to that data.

Pro tip: You can switch between modes depending on your goals. For example, you may use private mode during competitor research, then return to public mode when networking to see who’s checking your profile. 

We’ll discuss this in greater detail in the sections below.

How to view LinkedIn profiles anonymously (other than your own settings)  

Indeed, leveraging LinkedIn’s built-in private mode is the most straightforward way to stay anonymous. It’s not the only method, though.

You can use alternative options to put LinkedIn in private mode.

However, you want to be cautious when using other methods since LinkedIn has strict rules about how you can use the platform.

Below, we’ll look at alternative approaches, their pros and cons, and the best practices to keep your browsing safe.

Using your browser’s incognito mode

One common tactic is browsing LinkedIn through your browser’s incognito mode (Chrome), private browsing mode (Firefox), or InPrivate mode (Edge). These modes do not store cookies, browsing history, or login sessions when enabled.

Pros:

• It prevents LinkedIn cookies from tracking your activity across different sessions.
• It allows you to log into a different account temporarily without interfering with your main one.
• It ensures you leave fewer traces on shared or public computers.

Cons:

• Incognito mode doesn’t make you anonymous on LinkedIn itself. If logged into your account, the platform will still record your profile views according to your chosen viewing mode.
• It offers no additional anonymity beyond what LinkedIn already provides.

The bottom line is, incognito mode is great for privacy on your local device. However, it does not replace LinkedIn’s internal private browsing feature.

Third-party tools or extensions

Some browser extensions or third-party tools promise to let you view LinkedIn profiles anonymously or automate the process.

While these may sound appealing if you want to view many LinkedIn profiles, say, for lead generation or research, they come with serious risks, such as:

• Violation of LinkedIn Terms: Some of these tools operate against LinkedIn’s user agreement. If detected, your account could be restricted or permanently banned.
• Data Privacy Concerns: Granting extensions access to your LinkedIn account may expose your credentials or sensitive information.
• Unreliable Functionality: LinkedIn frequently updates its platform, which breaks the functionality of many of these tools.

So, despite the convenience, third-party tools can often create bigger problems than they solve. Therefore, be wary when using them.

Best practices for staying anonymous without breaking rules

Sure, you may know how to view LinkedIn profile in private mode. However, if you want to do so without putting your account at risk, here’s what you need to do:

• Use LinkedIn’s Built-In Private Mode: This remains the safest and most reliable method. It ensures anonymity without breaching the terms of service.
• Use Semi-Private Mode When Needed: The Semi-private mode is a practical middle ground if you want partial visibility but not full transparency.
• Create Separate Research Accounts: You may want to create secondary LinkedIn accounts for research purposes. But if you do so, keep the accounts genuine and professional.
• Switch Modes Strategically: Instead of staying in private mode all the time, toggle between modes based on your goals. You can, for example, use private mode for competitive research and public mode when actively networking.

Benefits of using private mode for sales and outreach teams

Research and direct engagement can be a tricky balancing act for sales and outreach teams.

On one hand, you want to understand your prospects’ backgrounds, career history, and professional activity before initiating a conversation. On the other hand, you must be careful not to reveal your intentions too early.

That said, here’s how LinkedIn private mode can help streamline sales and outreach.

It allows you to conduct anonymous research discreetly

Sales engagement begins with research.

As a sales rep, your job involves studying a prospect’s profile to understand their role, responsibilities, and potential pain points.

However, with LinkedIn’s public mode, your prospect receives a notification when you view their profile.

And in some cases, this can create unwanted pressure or suspicion before you’ve crafted an outreach strategy. You don’t want that.

Activating the private mode allows sales and outreach teams to:

• Avoid unnecessary attention
• Examine your lead’s work experience, endorsements, and shared connections without leaving a trace.

That way, the initial discovery phase is smoother. In addition, it prevents prospects from forming premature opinions about you or the company you’re representing.

It allows you to protect your competitive strategy

Any solid outreach strategy involves getting to know your competitors’ clients and employees.

For instance, when you launch a new product, your sales reps may monitor how competitors position themselves on LinkedIn.

So, if the rep browses profiles in public mode, competitors can easily see who is looking at their teams. And, this visibility can potentially jeopardize your market interest and sales strategy.

Private mode helps prevent such leaks.

When turned on, your competitor only sees “Anonymous LinkedIn Member,” while the sales team gains full access to visible data.

At a glance, this minor adjustment may seem inconsequential. However, it goes a long way in safeguarding your competitive intelligence gathering and ensures that research remains confidential.

It helps support a multi-touch sales process

A single message hardly moves the needle when it comes to sales engagement.

Therefore, teams must adopt a multi-touch process that includes LinkedIn profile visits, connection requests, emails, and calls.

Knowing how to view LinkedIn profiles anonymously enhances this process by separating the research and outreach phases.

For example, a rep may review ten prospect profiles in private in one session. And, after gathering insights, switch back to public mode and send connection requests to the most relevant prospects.

That way, the sequencing makes outreach appear more intentional and less intrusive.

It allows you to build research accounts for broader campaigns

The private mode setting gives a leeway that enables you to create secondary LinkedIn accounts strictly for research.

These accounts are legitimate but separate from the main sales profiles. They allow teams to browse anonymously without mixing research activity with personal branding or public engagement.

When set up correctly, these accounts comply with LinkedIn’s policies because they represent real professionals within the organization. 

In addition, if properly managed, LinkedIn research accounts allow large sales teams to divide tasks so that one group gathers intelligence while another focuses on direct outreach.

It helps preserve credibility and trust

Prospects expect outreach and sales teams to be professional. And if they see repeated profile visits with no follow-up, they may form a negative impression. 

But by leveraging private mode, sales teams prevent this misstep.

The approach preserves trust and ensures that outreach feels deliberate rather than random or premature. 

It also aligns the timing of visibility with the messaging strategy, which increases the chances of a positive response.

How to combine LinkedIn private mode with Reply.io

Indeed, private mode gives sales teams a quiet, discreet way to view your prospect’s profile.

Indeed, private mode gives sales teams a quiet, discreet way to view your prospect’s profile.

However, research alone does not win new business. That’s why you need to use a sales engagement tool like Reply.io.

Here’s how it works.

A sales rep first turns on private mode and checks a decision-maker’s profile. They can see work history, current role, and interests without sending alerts.

Once they know enough, they switch to Reply.io. Then, they use the tool to automatically send follow-up emails, LinkedIn messages, or even phone calls.

The power comes from using both together.

LinkedIn’s private mode protects the early research stage. Meanwhile, Reply.io then makes outreach fast and consistent.

Think of it this way. 

LinkedIn private allows your team to become “invisible” when they want to learn about a prospect. Reply, on the other hand, helps your team to run an efficient outreach campaign when it becomes “visible.”

The combination streamlines your sales process by ensuring prospects only notice the rep at the right time—when the message is ready and valuable.

More on Reply.io tools that support discreet prospecting in the sections below. 

Tips to balance privacy and networking on LinkedIn

Knowing how to view a LinkedIn profile in private mode has a host of benefits. However, this doesn’t mean sacrificing visibility altogether.

To get the most out of LinkedIn private mode, you must figure out when to stay hidden and when to show up.

Here are some tips to strike that balance.

• Use private mode for research: Keep private mode active when checking competitor profiles, exploring job opportunities, or researching prospects. That way, you can prevent premature signals while you gather insights.
• Switch to public mode for networking: Be sure to turn visibility back on when sending connection requests, following up with leads, or applying for jobs. Remember, showing your identity builds trust and encourages engagement.
• Maintain a polished profile: Even if you browse privately, make sure your profile has a headline, updated work history, and relevant activity. The idea is to make sure prospects see a credible professional when you appear in public mode.

How can sales and outreach teams use these strategies in their workflows? 

By now, you know that balancing privacy with visibility is crucial when your job revolves around regular prospecting or recruiting.

That said, sales reps should start by researching in private mode, quietly reviewing profiles to understand roles, pain points, and connections.

Once the research is complete, they can switch to public mode for outreach, making their engagement appear deliberate.

Recruiters, on the other hand, can browse candidates discreetly, then show their identity when presenting opportunities.

After all, perfect timing makes outreach professional and effective.

Troubleshooting common issues with LinkedIn private mode  

LinkedIn private mode usually works without a hitch. You can easily toggle the settings on, and your visits will appear as “Anonymous LinkedIn Member.”

However, sometimes, you can run into problems where the feature doesn’t activate properly, glitches in visibility occur, or LinkedIn applies restrictions that aren’t immediately obvious.

Below, we’ll break down the most common issues and what you can do to fix them.

Private mode doesn’t activate properly

You can turn on LinkedIn’s private mode, but your profile still appears publicly in a prospect’s “Who viewed your profile” section. This can happen for a few reasons:

• Browser cache issues: Old session data may override your new settings. The fix is simple: log out, clear your browser cache and cookies, and log back in to LinkedIn.
• App sync delays: If you use LinkedIn on both desktop and mobile, changes sometimes take a few minutes to sync. Therefore, you need to confirm that you’ve selected private mode on both devices.
• Not saving the setting: After choosing private mode, make sure you actually click out of the menu and see the green confirmation check.

If you’ve done all three and the issue persists, log in from another device to double-check whether it’s a local app bug or an account-level issue.

Fixing visibility glitches

Sometimes private mode seems to “flicker.”

For example, you view profiles anonymously, but the next session unexpectedly shows your full details. The glitch can be unsettling, especially if you’re in the middle of competitor research or job hunting.

Here’s how to stabilize visibility:

• Check for app updates: Outdated versions of the LinkedIn mobile app can cause the settings to reset. Update to the latest version.
• Reapply the settings after updates: Occasionally, LinkedIn reverts your preferences after a major update. Get into the habit of verifying your visibility mode after every app or browser update.
• Avoid rapid switching: Toggling between private, semi-private, and public mode too quickly sometimes confuses the system. Stick to one mode per session to minimize errors.

If glitches continue, take screenshots of your settings and contact LinkedIn support so they can confirm if there’s a platform-side issue.

LinkedIn limits to be aware of

Even when private mode works, LinkedIn enforces certain limits that you should understand.

• No “who viewed your profile” data: As covered earlier, you lose access to seeing who visited your own profile while in private mode. This is not a bug but a policy.
• Restricted guest views: LinkedIn limits what you can see if you log out to browse profiles as a guest. You’ll often get partial profiles with fewer details compared to logged-in viewing.
• Premium visibility settings still blocked: LinkedIn Premium includes more detailed visitor analytics, but private mode overrides them. Paying for Premium won’t let you bypass this rule.
• Profile view caps: If LinkedIn detects unusual viewing activity (such as visiting hundreds of profiles in a short time), your account may be temporarily restricted. Therefore, recruiters and sales reps should spread their research sessions.

When to contact LinkedIn support

If private mode repeatedly fails despite troubleshooting, it may be an account-specific issue. Signs you should escalate include:

• Your account continues showing up publicly even when private mode is enabled.
• Visibility settings reset every time you log in.
• You receive warnings or restrictions without a clear explanation.

In such cases, contact LinkedIn support through the Help Center. Provide details such as your device, browser version, and screenshots of your settings. 

Tips to help you use LinkedIn private mode smoothly 

To avoid most issues altogether, here are a few simple habits:

• Always double-check your visibility mode before starting research.
• Use the same device for extended sessions instead of constantly switching between mobile and desktop.
• Limit excessive profile viewing in a short time frame. LinkedIn’s algorithm flags unusual activity quickly.
• Keep your LinkedIn app and browser updated.

How to view LinkedIn profiles anonymously made simple (the bottom line)

If you’ve made it to this point, you now know how to put LinkedIn in private mode.

The process is easy and shouldn’t take you more than a minute.

So, is anonymous profile viewing essential anymore? Yes. In fact, it’s more important now, more than ever.

The thing is, LinkedIn has become the default research hub for recruiters, sales teams, and job seekers alike.

And, it makes perfect sense to “hide your identity” to avoid awkward situations, whether you’re checking competitors, exploring job opportunities, or reviewing candidates.

That’s why private mode gives you the best of both worlds. You gain the freedom to research. At the same time, it ensures you don’t send signals that you’re not ready to share.

Still, private mode works best when combined with well-calculated visibility. So use it for discreet research, then switch back to public mode when networking or sending outreach messages. 

The balance ensures you look professional while protecting sensitive intentions.

How Reply.io complements your LinkedIn outreach while respecting privacy 

Reply.io comes with a suite of features designed to turn your LinkedIn research into structured, timely outreach.

 While private mode keeps your activity hidden during the research phase, Reply.io ensures that your outreach is consistent, automated, and relevant when ready to engage.

Top Reply.io AI-powered features to enhance LinkedIn sales engagement without exposing your searches include:

• LinkedIn Automation: Allows you to automate actions like sending connection requests, messages, profile views, endorsing skills, following profiles, and liking recent posts.
• Multichannel Conditional Sequences: Enables you to build outreach flows that combine LinkedIn steps with email, calls, SMS, etc., and use conditional logic to manage engagement. 
• Jason AI SDR: This is an AI agent that personalizes outreach at scale using data like company information, LinkedIn activity, recent news, role, etc. You can also use it for lead generation thanks to Reply.io’s 1+ billion B2B database.
• AI Variables: Allows you to insert dynamic, personalized elements into email or LinkedIn message templates for tailored outreach messages.
• Email Deliverability Toolkit: This helps ensure your messages reach inboxes, which helps make outreach more reliable.

So, if you’re already using LinkedIn’s private mode to keep your research discreet, the natural next step is to make your outreach just as seamless. That’s where Reply.io comes in, it helps you automate those follow-ups on LinkedIn and beyond, so you can stay hidden when you want and visible when it counts.