Blocking on LinkedIn is more permanent than you think.
Unlike unfollowing (which is invisible and reversible), blocking someone on LinkedIn has real consequences. Before you hit that button, here's exactly what happens.
What blocking does
When you block someone on LinkedIn:
You disappear from each other. They can't see your profile. You can't see theirs. It's like neither of you exists on the platform for each other.
You're disconnected. If you were connected, that connection is removed. Any endorsements or recommendations between you are also removed.
Messages disappear. Your entire message history with that person is deleted from both sides. You can't retrieve it.
No more interactions. They can't see your posts, comments, or activity. You can't see theirs. If you're both in the same LinkedIn group, you still won't see each other's contributions.
They can't find you in search. Your profile won't appear in their search results. If they have a direct link to your profile, they'll see a generic "LinkedIn Member" page with no details.
Does the person get notified?
No. LinkedIn does not send a notification when you block someone. They won't receive an email, an alert, or any indication that you blocked them.
However, they might figure it out. If they try to visit your profile and see "LinkedIn Member" instead of your name, or if they notice your connection disappeared, they can put it together. There's no official confirmation though.
How to block someone
Go to the person's profile. Click the "More" button (three dots). Select "Report / Block." Choose "Block." Confirm.
You can also block someone from a message thread by clicking the three dots in the conversation.
How to unblock someone
Go to Settings > Visibility > Blocking. You'll see a list of everyone you've blocked. Click "Unblock" next to their name.
Important: unblocking doesn't restore the connection. You'll need to send a new connection request if you want to reconnect. Your old message history is gone permanently.
When to block vs. when to unfollow
Blocking is a big step. For most situations, unfollowing is a better choice. Here's how to decide:
Unfollow when: someone's content is irrelevant or annoying, you want to clean up your feed, or you just don't want to see their posts anymore. Unfollowing is invisible, reversible, and keeps the connection intact.
Block when: someone is harassing you, sending inappropriate messages, or making you feel unsafe. Block when you need a clean break and don't want any possibility of interaction.
Don't block just because someone is annoying. If a connection posts too many motivational quotes or sends occasional sales pitches, unfollowing is enough. Save blocking for situations where you genuinely need to cut off contact.
A better way to control your experience
Most people consider blocking because their LinkedIn experience feels overwhelming or cluttered. Before going nuclear, try these alternatives:
Unfollow people whose content doesn't add value. They won't know, and your feed improves immediately.
Use "I don't want to see this" on irrelevant posts to train the algorithm.
Build custom feeds with MyFeedIn. Instead of removing what you don't want to see (one person at a time), choose exactly who you do want to see. Create feeds of the people who matter to your goals. Ignore everything else.
Blocking is a last resort. For most feed problems, there are better solutions.
Quick answers
Does blocking notify them? No.
Can they find out? Possibly, if they notice the connection is gone or can't view your profile.
Is it reversible? You can unblock them, but the connection and message history are permanently lost.
Can they still see my posts? No. You're completely invisible to each other.
Should I block or unfollow? Unfollow for feed cleanup. Block only for harassment or safety concerns.