What Does the Linkedin Message Check Mark Mean?

Linkedin Messages is the instant messaging and communication feature of the professional networking platform Linkedin. It is available as a cross-platform feature across the different versions of Linkedin. This includes its website, Android & iOS apps, the lite versions of mobile apps, as well as desktop apps. Linkedin Messages have read receipts, delivery receipts, and typing indicators to provide clarity on the status of any conversation. In this article, we will learn more about the check mark and profile icon in Linkedin Messages.

What is the meaning of the checkmark in Linkedin Messages?

Linkedin Messages has a read receipts and typing indicators setting. It can be toggled on or off by the user to suit their privacy preferences.

When the read receipt and typing indicator setting is "ON"

• Let's say that both the users have this read/delivery indicator setting turned ON. Then they both will see the profile icon at the bottom right after the other user has opened the message. This is called the read receipt or "Seen" indicator. Until the other person opens the message, you will keep seeing a grey checkmark icon. This grey check mark in Linkedin Messages is the delivery indicator or the "sent" confirmation signal. The checkmark is a confirmation that your message has been "sent" successfully, but not read yet.
• When a user is typing something to reply to a message, the other person can see the "typing..." indicator.
• This profile icon/"Seen" indicator can cause confusions and misunderstandings sometimes. Obviously, the Linkedin app cannot know for sure whether a person has actually "Read" the message. So use it only as an informal signal that the other person has opened your message.
• When you hover your mouse cursor over this grey check mark, or long press on it in a mobile app, you can see the "Sent" confirmation with the date and time when the message was successfully delivered.
• You will see a blank or empty circle for a few moments after you type and send a message. This is the "Sending message" indicator. Normally, it quickly turns into a grey checkmark to indicate successful delivery of your message in the recipient's inbox. In case of internet connection / network issues, when the message is not being delivered, this empty circle will instead turn into an error message.

When the read receipt and typing indicator setting is "OFF"

• On the other hand, let's say that either of the users has turned the read receipt and typing indicator setting OFF. In this case, there is no profile pic "seen" indicator. You can only see the grey checkmark, even after the person has read your message.
• In this case, even when the other person is actively typing to reply, the user cannot see the "typing..." indicator.

How to Change the Linkedin Message Read Receipts and Typing Indicators Privacy Setting?

In this section, we will see how to manage, change or toggle ON/OFF this setting. We will provide you the steps to follow for both website and mobile apps. This determines whether only the sent grey checkmark is shown, or profile pic icon "seen" indicator is given.

Where is the New Delivery Indicators Privacy Setting on Desktop?

1. Inside Linkedin website, click on your Profile Pic "Me" link on top right. From the dropdown menu, click on "Settings and Privacy".

2. From the left hand column menu, click on Data Privacy. In the main section, scroll down till you see the "Messaging experience" section. Here, click on "Read receipts and typing indicators".

3. On the next page, there is a single Toggle Button for Delivery Indicators. So when you turn it ON or OFF, it affects the presence of both the read receipt "profile icon" and typing indicator in Linkedin Messages.

What was the old way to get to the Read receipts setting on Linkedin Desktop Site?

Previously, this delivery indicators setting was in a different section:

Profile Pic "Me" Icon > Settings & Privacy > Communications > Messaging Experience > Read receipts and typing indicator > Toggle the setting

What is the New Way to Manage the Read Receipts and Typing Indicators in Linkedin Mobile Apps?

For both iOS and Android mobile and tablet apps, this is how you can get to the setting as follows:

1. Open the Linkedin app, login, and tap on your Profile Pic on top right. Tap on Settings. Go to Data Privacy.

2. Scroll down to the Messaging Experience section. Tap on Read receipts and typing indicators. On the next screen, toggle ON/OFF the option.

What was the old way to get to the Read receipts setting on Linkedin Mobile App?

Previously, this delivery indicators setting was in a different section in the mobile apps as well:

Profile Pic Icon > Settings & Privacy > Communications > Messaging Experience > Read receipts and typing indicator > Toggle the setting

Summary

 

Linkedin Messages have a grey checkmark that indicates the "Sent" delivery status of the message. It shows details like date and time of delivering the message successfully.

As we have seen in the first section, there is a sending indicator, sent indicator, and seen indicator in Linkedin Messages. The seen indicator is designed to be the profile pic icon of the receiver. When the read receipts and typing indicators setting is turned ON, we can see the typing status as well as the "seen" confirmation. But when it is turned OFF, we can only see the "sent" grey checkmark indicator.

In the second section, we saw how to manage this messaging experience privacy setting on both Linkedin desktop website and mobile apps. We provided both the new placement of this setting, as well as the old one. Earlier, the read receipts and typing indicators settings was in the "Communications" section. Now it is in the "Data Privacy" section.

Using the information in this article, you can be confident about what the different icons and indicators in Linkedin Messages signify. When you are well-aware about the meaning of various signifiers in a messaging environment, you can communicate skillfully, avoid unnecessary confusions or misunderstanding, and excel in your career. Let us know in the comments section if this article about read receipts & grey check mark in Linkedin messages clarified the concepts for you!