So, you found a job. Or maybe you're just tired of getting random DMs from third-party recruiters who clearly didn't read your profile. Whatever the reason, you're ready for turning off open to work on linkedin and moving back into "stealth mode." It feels like it should be a simple toggle, but LinkedIn has a habit of hiding these settings behind three different menus.
Honestly, the "Open to Work" feature is a bit of a double-edged sword. When it launched, it was meant to destigmatize the job hunt. Then the green photo frame happened. Now, some recruiters love it because it signals a "warm lead," while others—unfairly—see it as a sign of desperation. If you've landed your next role or just want to clean up your professional digital footprint, getting rid of that badge is a priority.
Let's get into the mechanics of how this actually works.
The Step-by-Step for Turning Off Open to Work on LinkedIn
Most people think you have to go into your "Settings and Privacy" menu to change your hiring status. You don't. That’s actually a common mistake that leads to people clicking around for twenty minutes.
Everything happens right on your main profile page.
First, click on your profile picture at the top of your LinkedIn homepage. Once you’re looking at your own profile, look at the top section, right under your headline. You’ll see a box that lists your "Open to Work" preferences. There is a small pencil icon in the top right corner of that box. Click that.
Now, this is where it gets specific. If you want to stop the "Open to Work" feature entirely, look for the "Delete from profile" option at the bottom of the pop-up window. LinkedIn will ask you to confirm. Click it. It's gone.
If you just want to change who can see it—maybe you want recruiters to see you're looking, but you want that green ring off your photo—you can do that here too. You just switch the visibility from "All LinkedIn members" to "Recruiters only."
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The Desktop vs. Mobile Reality
Doing this on the mobile app is slightly different but follows the same logic.
- Tap your profile icon.
- View Profile.
- Find the "Open to Work" box.
- Hit the pencil.
- Tap "Remove from profile."
It takes about ten seconds if you know where you’re looking. If you don't, you'll end up in the notification settings or the account management tab, which is a total dead end for this specific task.
Why the Green Frame Might Be Hurting Your Personal Brand
There is a massive debate in the HR world about that green #OpenToWork circle. Recruiters like Amy Miller, who has worked for companies like Amazon and Google, have spoken openly about how recruiters view these signals.
The reality? It’s complicated.
Some hiring managers have a subconscious bias. They want the "passive candidate"—the person who is currently happy and successful elsewhere. When they see the green frame, they might think you’re in a rush to leave or that you were part of a mass layoff. It shouldn't matter, but in a competitive market, optics are everything.
Turning off open to work on linkedin is often a strategic move to regain that "passive" status. You want to look like you're available, but not like you're searching every thirty seconds. By removing the public badge and keeping the "Recruiters Only" setting on, you get the best of both worlds. You appear in recruiter search results (Recruiter Lite or the full Recruiter seat) without broadcasting your status to your current boss or your entire network.
Does it actually hide you from your current employer?
LinkedIn says they take steps to prevent people at your current company from seeing your "Open to Work" status if you select the "Recruiters Only" option.
But—and this is a huge but—they explicitly state they cannot guarantee 100% privacy. If your company uses a third-party recruiting firm or if your HR person has a LinkedIn account associated with a different company, they might still see you. This is a big reason why people choose to turn the feature off entirely once they start a new role or if they feel the "stealth" isn't stealthy enough.
What Happens to Your Data After You Turn It Off?
When you delete the "Open to Work" section, LinkedIn stops flagging your profile in specific "Ready to Hire" filters.
However, your "Job Preferences"—like the titles you're interested in and your preferred locations—might still be saved in the backend of your settings. If you’re truly done with the hunt, it’s worth a quick trip to your Data Privacy settings to ensure your "Job Seeking Preferences" are actually set to "No."
Beyond the Toggle: Cleaning Up Your Profile
Simply removing the badge isn't the end of the story. If you’ve just landed a job, you need to update your experience section too.
- Update your current role: Add your new company and title.
- Check your headline: If your headline was "Actively seeking roles in Marketing," change it to something that reflects your new expertise.
- Turn off notifications: Before you save these changes, make sure the "Share with network" toggle is set to your preference. If you want a big announcement, leave it on. If you want to sneak in quietly, turn it off.
Common Mistakes When Managing Your Availability
The biggest mistake? Leaving the "Open to Work" frame on for six months after you've already started a new job.
It looks disorganized. It tells people you aren't paying attention to your professional image. More importantly, it wastes everyone's time. You’ll get messages for roles you don't want, and recruiters will get frustrated when they realize you aren't actually available.
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Another weird glitch happens when people have multiple "Open to Work" entries. Sometimes LinkedIn saves old preferences from three years ago. When you click that pencil icon, make sure you're deleting the entire block, not just one of the job titles listed inside it.
Does it affect the LinkedIn Algorithm?
LinkedIn’s algorithm is a black box, but we know it prioritizes "completeness." Having a "current" job is a huge signal for the search engine. Once you turn off the "Open to Work" status and add a new employer, you’ll likely see a shift in the type of content and people appearing in your feed.
You’ll move from "job seeker" mode to "industry professional" mode.
Actionable Next Steps for a Clean Profile
If you’re ready to move on, follow this checklist to make sure you’ve fully transitioned your profile:
- Remove the Public Badge: Follow the steps above to hit the "Delete from profile" button.
- Toggle Recruiter Visibility: If you are 100% settled, ensure the "Recruiters Only" visibility is also disabled within the same menu.
- Refresh Your Headline: Move away from "Seeking opportunities" and toward "Specialist in [Your Field]."
- Audit Your Skills: Remove the "entry-level" skills you might have added during the hunt and replace them with high-level competencies relevant to your current level.
- Check Your Contact Info: Make sure your personal email is still there, but perhaps remove your phone number if you no longer want cold calls from headhunters.
Managing your LinkedIn presence is about control. The "Open to Work" feature is a tool, not a permanent tattoo. Use it when you need the boost, and turn it off the second it stops serving your career goals.
By keeping your profile updated and your availability status accurate, you maintain a level of professional credibility that a stagnant profile just can't match. Take the thirty seconds to flip the switch today.