Does Blocking Someone on LinkedIn Delete Messages?

LinkedIn is the go-to platform for professional networking, job hunting, and business connections. But sometimes, you may encounter situations where you want to block someone on LinkedIn—whether to avoid spam, unwanted contact, or protect your privacy.

Related: How to Delete Experience on LinkedIn

A common question arises: does blocking someone on LinkedIn delete messages? Understanding how LinkedIn handles your messages and conversations after blocking a user is crucial to managing your privacy and digital footprint on the platform.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll answer your question in detail, explain what happens to your LinkedIn message history after blocking, and provide insights on how the LinkedIn blocking privacy features work. We’ll also share step-by-step instructions on how to block users and what to expect afterward.

Does Blocking Someone on LinkedIn Delete Messages?

No, blocking someone on LinkedIn does NOT delete your existing messages with that person.

When you block a LinkedIn user:

You will no longer see their profile or be able to interact with them.

They will be removed from your connections list (if connected).

They cannot send you new messages or view your profile.

However, the existing message history stays intact in your LinkedIn inbox unless you manually delete conversations.

In short, LinkedIn does not automatically delete chat history or messages when you block a user. Both you and the blocked person retain copies of the past messages on your individual accounts.

How LinkedIn Messaging and Blocking Work Together

LinkedIn’s messaging system is designed to keep message history separate from blocking actions. Here’s what happens technically:

Blocking restricts future contact and profile visibility.

It does not retroactively erase your conversation or message history.

You retain access to old messages and can delete them manually.

The blocked user also retains their copy of the conversation on their end.

This means that blocking on LinkedIn is primarily a privacy and interaction control tool, not a message deletion feature.

Privacy Features When You Block on LinkedIn

Blocking on LinkedIn is a strong privacy measure:

The blocked user cannot view your profile or posts.

They cannot message you or invite you to groups/events.

You are also removed from each other’s connections.

You won’t receive notifications about their activities.

But message deletion is not part of this blocking process. To remove conversations, you need to delete messages separately.

How to Block Someone on LinkedIn: Step-by-Step

Blocking a user is straightforward. Here’s how to do it and understand the messaging implications:

Step 1: Visit the User’s Profile

Go to the LinkedIn profile of the person you want to block.

Step 2: Click the “More” Button (•••)

You’ll see three dots near the “Connect” or “Message” button—click on it.

Step 3: Select “Report/Block”

In the dropdown menu, choose “Report/Block”.

Step 4: Choose “Block [User]”

Follow the prompts to confirm blocking.

How to Delete Messages After Blocking on LinkedIn

Since blocking does not delete messages, if you want to remove message history:

On Desktop:

Open LinkedIn and go to Messaging.

Find the conversation with the blocked user.

Click on the three dots (•••) inside the conversation.

Select “Delete conversation”.

Confirm deletion.

On Mobile:

Open LinkedIn app and go to Messages.

Swipe left on the conversation (iOS) or tap and hold (Android).

Tap Delete and confirm.

This deletes the conversation only from your inbox; the other person will still have their copy unless they delete it too.

What Happens to Messages After Unblocking?

If you unblock someone later:

You won’t regain past message threads if you deleted them.

New messages can be sent and received again.

You may need to reconnect as connections are removed upon blocking.

FAQs About Blocking and Messages on LinkedIn

Does LinkedIn notify someone when you block them?

No, LinkedIn does not send notifications when you block a user.

Can a blocked person still see my messages?

They keep the copies of past messages but cannot send new messages or see your profile.

Is it possible to block someone without deleting messages?

Yes, blocking does not affect message history.

Can I delete messages without blocking someone?

Yes, you can delete message conversations anytime without blocking.

How to unblock someone on LinkedIn?

Go to Settings & Privacy > Visibility > Blocking and remove the user from your blocked list.

Final Thoughts: Managing Privacy and Messages on LinkedIn

Blocking someone on LinkedIn is an effective way to stop unwanted contact and protect your privacy, but it does not delete your message history. To fully remove conversations, you must delete your messages manually.

Understanding this distinction helps you manage your LinkedIn messaging system better and keeps your professional profile clean and secure.

If you want to maintain privacy while keeping message history, consider hiding or archiving conversations instead of blocking.