You've been there. Maybe it’s an ex-colleague who landed a massive promotion, or perhaps you're doing some "recon" on a hiring manager before an interview tomorrow morning. You want to click that profile. But the dread hits: LinkedIn’s "Who’s Viewed Your Profile" notification is a snitch.
Honestly, it's awkward. Nobody wants to be the person who looked at someone's page six times in a week only for LinkedIn to broadcast that digital footprint. But there is a way to see linkedin profile anonymously that actually works, and it doesn't involve creating a fake account with a generic stock photo of a person in a suit.
The Settings Toggle Most People Miss
LinkedIn actually builds this feature right into the platform, though they bury it deep enough that most casual users never bother looking. It's tucked away in the privacy settings. If you go to your profile, click "Settings & Privacy," and then navigate to "Visibility," you'll find "Profile viewing options."
You have three choices here. The default is your name and headline. That's the "snitch" mode. The second is "Private profile characteristics," which might say something vague like "Someone at Google" or "Someone in the Education industry." Then there's the holy grail: Private Mode.
Once you select Private Mode, you become a "LinkedIn Member" to everyone else. Total ghost. No name. No photo. No job title.
There is a catch, though. LinkedIn operates on a "give and take" philosophy. If you are on a free account and you turn on Private Mode to browse others, LinkedIn retaliates by hiding the list of people who have viewed your profile. It’s a trade-off. You lose your own analytics to gain the power of invisibility. For many, that's a bargain they're willing to make.
Is Premium the Secret Weapon?
A lot of people think they need to shell out for LinkedIn Premium to stay hidden. That’s not quite right. You can see linkedin profile anonymously on a free account just fine. The real perk of Premium—specifically Career or Business tiers—is the ability to browse in Private Mode while still seeing the full list of people who looked at you over the last 90 days.
✨ Don't miss: How Do You Make a Plane Without Losing Your Mind or Your Savings
It’s the "invisible observer" status. You get the data, but you don't give any.
If you're job hunting, this is actually pretty tactical. You can research recruiters, check out the competition at a company you're eyeing, and see what the "ideal" employee's resume looks like without looking like a stalker. But remember, even with Premium, if you choose to show your name, you show your name. The setting isn't automatic; you have to flip the switch yourself.
The "Logged Out" Strategy (And Why It Fails)
Some people try to get clever. They think, "I'll just log out and search for them on Google."
It works... sometimes. If the person has their public visibility settings wide open, you can see a truncated version of their profile. You'll see their name, maybe their current job, and a few skills. But LinkedIn is smart. They want you logged in. Usually, after thirty seconds of scrolling, a giant pop-up will block the screen demanding you sign in to see more.
Plus, most high-level executives or privacy-conscious users have their "Public Profile" visibility turned off. If they've done that, you won't see a thing through a Google search. You’ll just get a "Profile Not Found" or a redirect to the login page. It's a clunky way to work.
Browser Extensions: A Word of Caution
You might see "hacks" or Chrome extensions promising to let you view profiles secretly.
Don't do it.
LinkedIn's security team, led by people who have dealt with massive scraping bots for years, is incredibly aggressive. Using unauthorized third-party tools to bypass their privacy settings can get your account "restricted" or permanently banned. It’s not worth losing a decade of professional networking just to see if your old boss is still at the same firm. Stick to the built-in settings. They are safer, and they actually work.
Why Browsing Anonymously Matters in 2026
Privacy isn't just about being shy. It’s about professional leverage.
Imagine you're a salesperson. You want to research a lead's background to find common ground before a call. If you view their profile five times, you look desperate. If you view it once anonymously, you go into that meeting with "intel" without the baggage of looking like you've been monitoring their every move.
The same applies to competitive intelligence. If you're a founder looking at what a rival CEO is posting, you don't necessarily want them to know you're watching.
Quick Steps to Toggle Private Mode:
- Click the Me icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage.
- Select Settings & Privacy.
- Click Visibility on the left rail.
- In the Visibility of your profile & network section, click Change next to Profile viewing options.
- Select Private mode.
The Social Engineering Aspect
There’s a middle ground that almost no one uses: the "Semi-Private" mode.
This shows your industry and title but not your name. It’s surprisingly effective for networking. If a recruiter sees "Someone in Product Management at [Your Company]" viewed their profile, it creates a sense of mystery. It might even prompt them to look you up. It’s a way to signal interest without being "that guy."
However, if your goal is 100% stealth, stick to the full Private Mode. Just remember to turn it back off when you're done if you're on the free tier, otherwise, you'll be flying blind regarding your own profile traffic for weeks.
Practical Next Steps for Total Privacy
If you are serious about browsing without a trace, do this right now. Go into your Visibility settings and set your "Profile viewing options" to Private. While you're there, check your "Discoverability" settings. You can control who can find you via your email address or phone number.
LinkedIn is a powerful tool, but it's also a two-way street of data. Taking control of how you see linkedin profile anonymously puts the power back in your hands. You can conduct your research, prepare for your meetings, and keep your professional curiosity to yourself. Just be aware that once you go dark, the platform's social feedback loop stops for you too. Use it when you need it, then flip it back when you're ready to be seen again.