How to Change Post Visibility on LinkedIn

Controlling who sees your posts on LinkedIn is more than a simple privacy setting - it's one of the most underrated strategic tools you have. Different messages are meant for different audiences, and dialing in your visibility ensures your content hits the right people every time. This guide will walk you through exactly how to change your post visibility, both before and after you publish, and give you a framework for deciding which option to use for maximum impact.

A Quick Guide to LinkedIn’s Visibility Options

Before you adjust any settings, it helps to know what your choices are and what they mean. LinkedIn keeps it pretty simple, offering a few core options for your personal profile posts.

Anyone

This is the default setting for most users and the most public option available. When you set a post's visibility to Anyone, it means:

• Your post can be seen by absolutely anyone on or off LinkedIn, including people who aren't logged in.
• It can appear in search engine results (like on Google).
• It can be re-shared by other members, extending its reach far beyond your own network.
• Your name and headline will be visible alongside the post.

Use this for: Thought leadership articles, promoting a new service, sharing industry news, celebrating a company win, or any piece of content you want to have the widest possible reach.

Anyone + X (formerly Twitter)

This setting does everything the “Anyone” option does, but with an added push. If you've connected your X (Twitter) account to LinkedIn, selecting this option will share your post on both platforms simultaneously. Be mindful that link previews and character counts differ, so what looks great on LinkedIn might need adjustment for X's format.

Use this for: Posts with broad appeal that would also resonate with your audience on X. It’s an efficient way to cross-post but use it selectively.

Connections only

Think of this as your "inner circle" setting. When you choose Connections only, your post will only be visible in the LinkedIn feeds of your 1st-degree connections.

• It will not be visible to the public or discoverable via a Google search.
• People who aren't connected to you won't see it, even if they visit your profile directly.
• If one of your connections comments on or likes your post, their network would *not* see your post in their feeds.

Use this for: Asking for professional advice from trusted peers, sharing a personal work update (like a work anniversary), posing questions to your industry network, or sharing content that isn't intended for public consumption.

Group members

This option appears when you post directly within a LinkedIn Group you've joined. The visibility is automatically restricted to members of that specific group. It’s an effective way to engage with a niche community around a shared interest, industry, or profession. The conversation stays confined within that audience, leading to more focused and relevant discussions.

Use this for: Starting targeted discussions, sharing group-specific resources, or asking niche questions.

How to Set Your Post Visibility (Before You Publish)

Setting your audience before your post goes live is the easiest way to manage its visibility. LinkedIn makes this straightforward.

Here’s the step-by-step process:

1. On your LinkedIn homepage, click on the “Start a post” box at the top of the feed.
2. Directly below your name, you'll see a button that shows your current default visibility setting (it usually says Anyone ▾,). Click on this button.
3. A menu will pop up called “Who can see your post?”. From here, you can select from the available options: Anyone, Connections only, or any specific groups you belong to.
4. After choosing your desired audience, click “Save.”
5. Draft your content, add your image or video, and click “Post.” Your post will now go live, visible only to the audience you selected.

Setting Your Default Preference

If you find yourself always posting to "Connections only," you can save a step by making it your default. Go to your “Settings & Privacy” >, “Visibility” >, “Visibility of your posts, articles and network”. From there, you can change your default setting for all future posts.

The Big Question: Can You Change Visibility on a Live Post?

Yes, you can... but with one very important limitation. Changing the visibility of a post after it's been published isn't as flexible as setting it from the start. This catches a lot of people by surprise.

The golden rule is this: You can make a public post *more* private, but you cannot make a private post *more* public. In other words, you can change the visibility of a post from "Anyone" down to "Connections only." However, you cannot change a "Connections only" post to "Anyone".

This policy is in place for ethical reasons. If you shared something with your trusted connections, taking it public later would violate their engagement privacy, as their comments and likes were made under the assumption of a limited audience. So, get your visibility right the first time if you’re aiming for a broad audience.

How to Edit a Live Post’s Visibility

If your post is currently set to "Anyone" and you’d like to restrict it to just your connections, here’s how to make that change:

1. Find the post on your profile's activity feed.
2. Click the three dots (•••) in the top-right corner of the post.
3. Select “Edit post’s audience” from the dropdown menu.
4. A window will appear allowing you to switch the audience from "Anyone" to "Connections only".
5. Click “Save,” and the change will take effect immediately.

A Strategic Approach: Matching Your Audience to Your Goal

Knowing how to change the settings is one thing, knowing why is what separates basic users from savvy brand builders. Your choice of audience should be directly tied to the goal of your post.

When to Go Public with “Anyone”

Going broad is all about reach and building top-of-funnel awareness. Your goal here is to get your content in front of as many eyes as possible, including people who don't know you yet.

Choose "Anyone" when you are:

• Sharing thought leadership content: This includes articles, detailed posts, or videos where you’re offering industry insights. The goal is to establish your expertise.
• Promoting company or personal news: A product launch, a feature in a major publication, or landing a big client are all moments to share widely.
• Sharing content for brand building: Posts designed to explain who you are, what your company does, and the values you stand for should be public.
• Hoping for viral reach: If your post has broad appeal and is designed to be shared, this is your only option.

When to Keep it in the Network with “Connections only”

This setting is about nurturing your established professional network. It’s for conversations that have more context and trust baked in because you are speaking directly to people who already know you.

Choose "Connections only" when you are:

• Asking for specific recommendations or advice: Looking for a good tax accountant or a freelance video editor? Your direct connections are your best source for trusted referrals.
• Testing out an idea: Want to float a new business concept or thought-provoking opinion to a semi-private audience before sharing it with the world? This is a great way to get feedback.
• Sharing personal professional updates: A post about a work anniversary, congratulations to a coworker, or a more reflective post about your career path often feels more authentic when shared with the people who have been part of that journey.
• Posting about sensitive or niche topics: A detailed question about team management or industry-specific challenges may thrive in a smaller, more expert audience.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Adjusting your post visibility is pretty simple, but a few common missteps can limit your impact or lead to accidental oversharing.

• Forgetting to check the setting: It's easy to go on autopilot and hit "Post." Always take a second to glance at the visibility button before publishing. Posting a personal reflection to "Anyone" when you meant it for your connections can be embarrassing.
• Using "Connections only" for brand growth: If your main goal is to be discovered and build your professional brand beyond your immediate circle, restricting your best content to "Connections only" shoots your efforts in the foot.
• Misunderstanding engagement visibility: If your post is public ("Anyone") and a connection comments on it, their comment and your post may become visible to their network. While your original post setting is respected, engagement can amplify it in unexpected ways.
• Expecting to change from Private to Public later: As mentioned, don't post with a “Connections only” mindset thinking you can blow it up to "Anyone" if it starts getting traction. That door closes the moment you publish.

Final Thoughts

Mastering LinkedIn's post visibility settings is a small skill that brings big returns. By consciously choosing your audience for every post, you ensure your message is always delivered to the right people, whether you're building a massive public brand or nurturing relationships within your professional network.

When you get into a rhythm of strategic content creation, thinking about details like post visibility in advance becomes second nature. At Postbase, we built our visual content calendar specifically to help you plan this way. Seeing all your upcoming posts laid out for the week or month gives you the bird’s-eye view needed to ensure every piece of content - from its messaging to its visibility setting - perfectly aligns with your goals long before you ever hit publish.