How to View My LinkedIn Profile as Someone Else
When you spend hours fine-tuning your LinkedIn profile, it’s easy to assume people are seeing it the way you want.
But here’s the truth: your profile looks different depending on who’s looking at it.
- A recruiter sees one version.
- Founders might see recommendations and skill endorsements
- A 2nd-degree connection sees something else.
- Google’s search results? Totally different preview.
If you don’t know how others see you, you’re basically marketing yourself with blindfolds on.
Let’s fix that.
Quick answer: how to view my LinkedIn profile as someone else
You don’t need hacks or 3rd-party tools. LinkedIn already gives you the functionality if you know where to look.
Desktop (web) fastest path
- Log into LinkedIn.
- Go to your profile.
- On the right side, click “Edit public profile & URL.”
- Boom. You’re in the “public preview” mode.
From there, you’ll see exactly what the world (non-connections + search engines) can see.
Mobile (app) fastest path
- Open LinkedIn app.
- Tap your profile picture > View Profile.
- Look for “Edit public profile & URL” (buried under “Contact info & personal details”).
- You’re now previewing the stripped-down version.
Understand how others see your profile
Here’s the kicker: there isn’t just one view. LinkedIn filters your profile based on the relationship someone has with you.
Public, logged-out view (what anyone on the web sees)
This is what someone browsing LinkedIn without logging in sees. It’s also what Google indexes.
Default: bare-bones. Headline, photo (if you allow it), and maybe your About snippet.
Logged-in LinkedIn members who aren’t connected to you
They’ll see more: full headline, About, some Experience sections. But not everything some toggles matter.
1st- and 2nd-degree connections (what changes)
Connections see everything you’ve allowed: posts, followers, recommendations.
2nd-degree sees “more than public,” but less than your 1st-degree.
Recruiters and LinkedIn Recruiter view
Recruiters with LinkedIn Recruiter licenses see extra fields you can’t preview exactly. But remember: your Open to Work settings let you choose who sees it (recruiters only vs all members).
Step-by-step: Desktop walkthrough to preview and control visibility
Want to actually control what others see? Do this.
Open the public profile preview
- Go to your profile.
- Right sidebar → Edit public profile & URL.
Choose what’s visible on your public profile
You’ll see toggles: photo, headline, About, Experience, Education, Skills, etc.
Turn on what adds credibility. Turn off what looks like filler.
Customize your public profile URL
Make it clean:
linkedin.com/in/yourname → ✅
linkedin.com/in/yourname3489021 → ❌
Create a public profile badge
LinkedIn lets you generate an embed badge for your website, portfolio, or email signature. Looks sharp.
Manage visibility of your activity, followers, and mentions
Decide whether strangers can see your posts, who you follow, or your engagement. For creators, leave it public. For job seekers, sometimes private is safer.
Step-by-step: Mobile walkthrough (iOS and Android)
Yes, you can do all this from your phone.
Path to Edit public profile & URL on the app
- Tap your profile pic → View Profile.
- Scroll → Contact info & personal details.
- Tap Edit public profile & URL.
Adjust public visibility toggles from mobile
The toggles are all there just hidden deeper. Same functionality, smaller screen.
Preview as a LinkedIn member (beyond public view)
The public preview isn’t enough. To see how LinkedIn members see you, you’ll need workarounds.
Incognito window to simulate logged-out view
Chrome incognito + LinkedIn URL = the public view (no cookies). But remember, it won’t replicate a logged-in member.
Ask a trusted colleague to check from a member account
Have them screenshot what they see. Compare to your public preview.
Use a checklist and screenshots to compare views consistently
Run the same audit every time: top card, headline, About, Featured, Experience.
Avoid creating duplicate accounts (LinkedIn policy reminder)
Don’t make a “dummy” account to test. LinkedIn will nuke it.
View profiles anonymously or in private mode (for testing)
Sometimes you want to see others’ profiles without leaving footprints.
What Private Mode is and isn’t
Private Mode hides your name and headline when you view someone else’s profile.
How to switch to Private Mode and test with a colleague
Settings → Visibility → Profile viewing options → Private Mode.
Now you can view a colleague’s profile without showing up in their “Who viewed me” list.
Anonymous vs Private vs Semi-private
- Anonymous: LinkedIn User (no details).
- Semi-private: Industry + title, but not your name.
- Full: Your name + headline visible.
What to look for when previewing your profile (audit checklist)
Don’t just glance. Audit with intention.
Top card: photo, name, headline, location, follower count
Your top card is prime real estate. Does it look clean? Does your photo match your industry?
Headline and About preview
The first 80 characters of your headline and the first 2–3 lines of your About are what matter. Do they hook attention?
Featured section visibility
Do your links and case studies load properly? Are thumbnails attractive or broken?
Experience, Education, Licenses & Certifications
Are they in the right order? Are dates aligned?
Skills, endorsements, and recommendations
These are credibility signals. Weak or missing? Fix them.
Optimize your profile based on what others see
Once you’ve previewed, now optimize.
Headline formulas
Headline: Role + Outcomes + Keywords.
Example: Helping SaaS founders scale to $5M ARR | Fractional CMO | Demand Gen Expert
About section structure
About Section: Hook → Proof → Call to Action.
Don’t ramble. Make it scannable.
Featured: portfolio, media, and case studies
Don’t link random stuff. Link things that drive DMs.
Privacy and visibility settings to revisit after edits
Every edit may default back to “public.” Double-check toggles.
Turn off “Viewers of this profile also viewed”
This setting can send people to your competitors. Consider disabling.
Accessibility and name pronunciation tips
Record your name pronunciation. Add phonetic spelling. It’s inclusive and professional.
See who viewed your profile (and control what you reveal)
Half the value of LinkedIn is knowing who’s lurking.
Free vs Premium differences
Free: limited viewer history. Premium: see 90 days of data.
Turn viewer history on/off
In Settings → Visibility. Decide if you want to be discoverable or private.
Smart follow-up without being salesy
“Hey, noticed you stopped by my profile. Anything in particular catch your eye?” → Too aggressive.
Instead: engage with their content, then connect naturally.
Wrapping it up
Your LinkedIn profile isn’t static. It’s a living sales page for your career.
If you don’t preview it like your audience does, you’re leaving opportunity on the table.
So run the checks. Toggle the settings. Optimize for visibility.
Because the difference between a stale profile and a profile that wins opportunities?
It’s not effort. It’s awareness.
👉 Your move: Open LinkedIn right now. Preview your profile as someone else.
Then ask: If I were a recruiter or a potential client, would I reach out?
FAQs
I can’t find “Edit public profile & URL”
LinkedIn loves UI experiments. If it’s missing, check under Me → Settings & Privacy → Visibility.
Why does Google still show my old headline?
Because of caching. Wait it out or request re-indexing in Google Search Console.
Will people be notified if I view my own profile?
Nope.
Can I edit while previewing as someone else?
Yes, but you’ll have to toggle back and forth.
How often should I review my profile from another perspective?
Quarterly at minimum. Monthly if you’re job hunting or building a personal brand.
What’s the difference between public and connection views?
Public = strangers. Connections = richer details. Simple as that.
How to change profile photo visibility
Settings → Visibility → Edit your public profile → toggle photo visibility.
10-minute profile check template
Here’s a repeatable system.
Pre-flight: clear cache or use an incognito window
Otherwise, you’ll see cached data.
Run the desktop and mobile previews
Check both. Many people only check desktop, but 60%+ of LinkedIn is mobile.
Capture screenshots, note gaps, and plan quick wins
Fix broken links, update outdated job titles, refresh photos.
