What Are LinkedIn Message Read Receipts & How Do They Work?

Key Takeaways

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• LinkedIn message read receipts show when your message has been opened, using the double check mark feature.
  
  
• A single check = sent, double check = delivered, double check + profile = read.
  
  
• Read receipts are on by default for both free and Premium LinkedIn accounts.
  
  
• You can turn off read receipts in Settings → Communications → Messaging → Read Receipts & Typing Indicators.
  
  
• Read receipts only confirm a message was seen — they don’t guarantee a reply.
  
  
• For sales outreach, tracking engagement with read receipts is helpful, but success comes from consistent, thoughtful follow-ups.

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When you think of LinkedIn, the first thing that comes to mind is usually networking. But over the years, it’s become much more than just a place to connect, it’s now a powerful communication hub for professionals.

Whether you’re reaching out to a prospect, following up with a client, or staying in touch with your network, LinkedIn messaging has quickly become one of the most important tools for business conversations.

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With so many professionals using messages instead of email, knowing if your LinkedIn outreach is being seen becomes incredibly valuable. That’s where LinkedIn message read receipts come in.

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These small indicators may look simple, but they play a big role in helping you understand if your message is cutting through the noise.

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In this blog, we’ll break down what LinkedIn read receipts are, how they work, and why they matter for your professional outreach.

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What Are LinkedIn Message Read Receipts?

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If you’ve ever wondered whether the person you messaged on LinkedIn actually saw your note, that’s exactly what LinkedIn message read receipts are designed to tell you. 

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A read receipt is a small indicator inside LinkedIn messaging that shows when your message has been opened by the other person.

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On LinkedIn, this feature is represented by a simple “double check mark” symbol:

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• One check mark = your message was sent.
  
  
• Two check marks = your message was delivered.
  
  
• Two check marks with a small profile picture next to it = your message was read.
  
  

This may sound familiar if you’ve used WhatsApp or other chat apps that rely on ticks to show delivery and read status. The main difference is that, unlike instant messaging apps, LinkedIn read receipts are tailored to professional communication. 

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They’re not just about casual chatting — they help you track the engagement of important conversations with prospects, colleagues, or clients.

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It works a bit like an email read receipt, but with fewer steps. Instead of requesting confirmation or relying on tracking pixels, LinkedIn gives you a direct, built-in way to see if your message reached its audience and whether it was opened.

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LinkedIn message read receipts are your quiet little signal that says: “Yes, your message was seen.”

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How Do LinkedIn Read Receipts Work?

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The way LinkedIn read receipts work is pretty straightforward once you know what each check mark means. These small symbols act as a visual status update for your message:

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• Single check mark (✓) – Your message has been sent.
  
  
• Double check mark (✓✓) – Your message has been delivered to the recipient’s inbox.
  
  
• Double check mark with the recipient’s profile picture – Your message has been read.
  
  

It’s important to note that LinkedIn read receipts only apply to 1:1 conversations. If you’re messaging in a group chat, you won’t see the same read indicators for everyone in the conversation.

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Another thing to keep in mind is the timing. Read receipts show up almost instantly once the other person opens your message.

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However, just because your message was marked as “read” doesn’t mean you’ll get a response. It only confirms visibility, not intent.

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So while LinkedIn read receipts are useful for knowing your message reached someone’s eyes, they don’t guarantee the next step — a reply, follow-up, or action. Think of them as a signal, not a promise.

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Does LinkedIn Show Read Receipts by Default?

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A common question we hear is: does LinkedIn show read receipts automatically? The short answer is yes — read receipts are enabled by default in LinkedIn messaging. 

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This means that unless you’ve turned them off in your settings, the people you message will usually be able to see when you’ve opened their note, and vice versa.

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This default applies across the board — whether you’re using a free LinkedIn account or any of the LinkedIn Premium plans. There’s no paywall for this feature; it’s built into the platform to keep professional communication transparent.

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That said, there are a few exceptions where you might not see a LinkedIn read receipt:

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• The recipient has disabled read receipts in their privacy settings.
  
  
• The conversation is happening in a group chat (LinkedIn doesn’t track reads for every participant).
  
  
• Technical issues, like a weak internet connection or app glitches, might delay the receipt showing up.
  
  

So, while the default setting is “on,” keep in mind that not every message you send will always display a read indicator.

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How to Turn Off Read Receipts on LinkedIn

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Not everyone likes the idea of others knowing when they’ve opened a message. If you’re wondering how to turn off read receipts on LinkedIn, the good news is you can easily manage this in your settings. 

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Here’s how:

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Step-by-step process:

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1. Go to your LinkedIn profile and click on the Me icon at the top.
   
   
2. Select Settings & Privacy from the dropdown.
   
   
3. Under the Communications tab, choose Messaging experience.
   
   
4. Find the option for Read Receipts & Typing Indicators.
   
   
5. Toggle the setting off.
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Once you do this, read receipts are disabled in both directions. That means:

• Other people won’t see when you’ve read their messages.
  
  
• You also won’t be able to see if your messages have been read.
  
  

So why would you want to turn them off? A few reasons:

• Privacy – You may prefer not to signal when you’re active.
  
  
• Less pressure – No expectation to respond immediately once a message is opened.
  
  
• Focus – Especially if you get a lot of outreach, turning off receipts helps you reply on your own schedule.
  
  

Whether you keep LinkedIn read receipts on or off really depends on your communication style. If you’re in sales or B2B lead generation, keeping them on usually works in your favor. 

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But if you’d rather keep your activity private, toggling them off is a quick fix.

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Final Thoughts: Making the Most of LinkedIn Read Receipts

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By now, you know exactly what LinkedIn message read receipts are, how they work, and when to use them.

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These small check marks may seem simple, but they can give you valuable insight into whether your message has reached and been opened by the other person.

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Just remember: a read receipt doesn’t guarantee a reply. Your message being seen is only the first step. Consistent follow-ups, thoughtful messaging, and genuine engagement are still what drive conversations forward.

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When used mindfully, LinkedIn read receipts can help you time your outreach better, manage expectations, and improve your communication flow.

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And if your business relies on LinkedIn messaging as part of your sales outreach, that’s where we come in. 

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At Cleverly, we make sure your messages don’t just get read — they get replied to. We’ve helped over 10,000 B2B companies generate leads with some of the world’s biggest names, including:

• Amazon
  
  
• Google
  
  
• Uber
  
  
• PayPal
  
  
• Slack
  
  
• Spotify
  
  

Our campaigns have generated $312M in pipeline revenue and $51.2M in closed revenue through LinkedIn outreach alone.

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So while read receipts tell you when someone’s seen your message, we help you craft the kind of outreach that actually sparks conversations and drives results.

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