In today’s world of digital networking, every LinkedIn message matters. Whether you’re sending a connection request, following up with a prospect, or trying to land a job through LinkedIn InMail, timing and engagement are everything.
But here’s the pain point: 74% of LinkedIn users say they dislike being “left on read” without a reply. You send a well-crafted note, you see the read receipt, but no response comes back. Frustrating, right?
This is where understanding LinkedIn read receipts and typing indicators becomes essential. Knowing how they work, how to manage them, and how to improve your LinkedIn messaging strategy can dramatically enhance your results in networking, sales outreach, and lead generation.
What Are LinkedIn’s Read Receipts?
A LinkedIn read receipt is a small indicator that shows whether the recipient has read the message you sent. Much like WhatsApp’s blue ticks or email tracking tools, LinkedIn introduced this read receipt feature to make its messaging system more transparent.
- When someone has read your message, a miniature profile picture of the recipient appears at the bottom right of the chat.
- If the recipient has read the message, you’ll know instantly that your note didn’t go unread.
- Along with this, LinkedIn also shows typing indicators (three dots) when someone is typing a response.
- When someone has read your message, a miniature profile picture of the recipient appears at the bottom right of the chat.
This makes the LinkedIn messaging experience more interactive, but also more anxiety-inducing if you feel ignored after seeing that your message was read.
What Is the Grey Check Mark on LinkedIn Messages?
If you’ve sent a message on LinkedIn and noticed a grey check mark, don’t panic—it doesn’t mean you’re blocked.
- A grey check mark means your message has been sent but not yet opened and read by the recipient.
- Once the recipient opens your message, the check mark is replaced with their profile picture, indicating that the message was seen.
- A grey check mark means your message has been sent but not yet opened and read by the recipient.
This simple icon is a powerful tool: it tells you whether messages have been read or if they’re still sitting unread in someone’s LinkedIn inbox.
How Do LinkedIn Read Receipts Work?
LinkedIn’s read receipts appear automatically when both the sender and the recipient have the feature turned on.
Here’s what happens step by step:
- You sent a message through the LinkedIn inbox or via InMail messages.
- When the recipient opens your message, a small miniature profile picture pops at the bottom right, showing that the message was read.
- If the recipient has turned off the feature, you won’t be able to see whether you’ve read or if someone has opened your message.
- You sent a message through the LinkedIn inbox or via InMail messages.
Key point: Read receipts show for all messages sent from cold messages to InMail credits used in outreach.
Reddit users joke that turning off LinkedIn read receipts can make you seem unresponsive or “out of the loop.”
InMail Messages and Connection Requests: Where LinkedIn Read Receipts Show Up
For InMail messages:
- LinkedIn read receipts are displayed on InMail messages just like regular messages in your LinkedIn inbox, provided both the sender and the recipient have the read receipt feature turned on.
- If someone has opened your message sent via LinkedIn InMail, you’ll see their miniature profile picture appear at the bottom right, indicating that the message was read.
- If the recipient has turned off LinkedIn read receipts and typing, you won’t be able to see whether your InMail was read, even if they opened it.
- LinkedIn read receipts are displayed on InMail messages just like regular messages in your LinkedIn inbox, provided both the sender and the recipient have the read receipt feature turned on.
For connection requests:
- LinkedIn does not show read receipts for pending connection requests or the notes you send along with them.
- You’ll only know if a recipient accepts your connection request—until then, you cannot track whether messages have been read in the request stage.
- LinkedIn does not show read receipts for pending connection requests or the notes you send along with them.
Reddit users clarify that if you turn off LinkedIn read receipts, others won’t know you’ve opened their message.
Steps to Turn LinkedIn Read Receipts On and Off
One of the most common questions is: Can you turn off read receipts on LinkedIn? The answer: Yes.
Here’s how to manage them across desktop and mobile.
On LinkedIn Website (Desktop):
- Log in to your LinkedIn account.
- Click on the ‘Me’ icon on the menu bar in the top right.
- Select Settings & Privacy.
- Go to Communications → Messaging experience.
- Switch Read receipts and typing indicators on or off.
- Log in to your LinkedIn account.
On LinkedIn Mobile App:
- Open the mobile app and go to your profile picture.
- Tap the settings icon and click on Data & Privacy.
- Navigate to Messaging experience.
- Switch read receipts and typing indicators on or off.
- Open the mobile app and go to your profile picture.
Reddit users say LinkedIn read receipts can be turned off in privacy settings, but email previews of full messages are no longer supported in the same way.
Can I turn read receipts off for one person?
No. When you turn them off, it applies to every message and all recipients. You can’t selectively hide them from one person.
What happens if I turn on read receipts after viewing status?
The feature only works going forward. If you forget to respond to a message before turning it on, it won’t retroactively show you’ve read the message.
Tactics to Improve Your LinkedIn Messaging (So You Don’t Get Left on Read!)
Being “left on read” is every salesperson’s nightmare. But the truth is, you can improve your messaging to increase replies and ensure your messages are sent and don’t go unread.
Here are tips and tricks to enhance your LinkedIn messaging strategy:
- Personalize Every LinkedIn Message
Cold messages rarely work. Instead of blasting cold email style notes, craft personalized messages mentioning the recipient’s work, achievements, or recent activity. - Use LinkedIn InMail Wisely
Since InMail messages cost InMail credits (and often require a LinkedIn Premium subscription), use them for high-value prospects. This ensures your sales outreach has impact. - Leverage Connection Requests Smartly
Don’t send a blank connection request. Add a short, human-centered note. That way, when your message requests hit their LinkedIn inbox, they’re more likely to read the message. - Follow Up Thoughtfully
A follow-up is crucial when someone has opened your message but didn’t reply. Keep it value-driven, not pushy. - Enhance Your Messaging with Sales Navigator
Sales Navigator helps filter LinkedIn members, track who opened and read your message, and generate more LinkedIn lead generation opportunities.
- Personalize Every LinkedIn Message
By following these steps, you’ll improve your messaging, reduce the number of messages sent that go unanswered, and generate more leads.
Boosting Your LinkedIn Messaging Strategy with LeadCRM and AI-Powered Responses
Building a reliable prospecting pipeline on LinkedIn isn’t just about knowing whether a message was read. The real game-changer is how fast and effectively you respond after the recipient has read the message. A delayed or generic follow-up can make your messages go unread in the future. This is where LeadCRM, combined with AI-powered responses from leadership or team members, creates a significant edge.
Here’s how LeadCRM helps:
- Instant, Contextual Replies
With AI assistance, leaders and sales teams can generate personalized messages instantly, referencing the recipient’s profile, recent activity, or industry updates. This ensures your LinkedIn messaging experience feels authentic—even at scale. - Consistent Tone of Voice from Leadership
Prospects value when outreach feels like it’s truly coming from a decision-maker. AI helps replicate the natural tone of a leader’s response, making every LinkedIn message sound intentional rather than robotic. This builds trust and increases reply rates. - No Missed Opportunities
When someone has opened your message but you’re too busy to reply, LeadCRM can assist by drafting a thoughtful follow-up. Leaders can quickly approve, edit, and send, ensuring no valuable connection slips away. - Data-Driven Optimization
LeadCRM tracks your messages sent, how often a message was read, and the recipient’s acceptance rate on connection requests. This feedback loop helps refine your LinkedIn messaging strategy and improve overall engagement. - Scalable Prospecting Pipeline
By combining LinkedIn read receipts and typing indicators with AI-driven suggestions, LeadCRM ensures your sales outreach isn’t just automated—it’s intelligent. Leaders can maintain a human touch while scaling lead generation across multiple LinkedIn accounts and inboxes.
- Instant, Contextual Replies
The combination of LeadCRM’s automation and AI-powered leader responses strikes the perfect balance between efficiency and authenticity, helping you generate more leads while building genuine professional relationships.
Conclusion
LinkedIn read receipts can feel like a double-edged sword—useful for knowing whether messages have been read, but stressful when you’re “left on read.”
The key is to:
- Understand how the read receipt feature works,
- Decide whether to turn off LinkedIn read receipts or leave them on.
- And focus on improving your LinkedIn messaging strategy so that every message on LinkedIn builds real connections.
- Understand how the read receipt feature works,
By combining smart messaging with tools like Sales Navigator and LinkedFusion, you can transform “seen and ignored” into opened and read your message → engaged and replied.
