LinkedIn deletion is permanent and cannot be undone
When you delete your LinkedIn account, the company removes your profile, connections, messages, and all associated data from its servers within 30 days. You cannot recover a deleted account after that window closes. If you simply want to hide your profile temporarily or stop receiving notifications, deactivation is the reversible option — deletion is not.
LinkedIn distinguishes between deactivation (pause your account, reactivate later) and deletion (permanent removal). Most people who think they want to delete actually want to deactivate. Read through both paths before you proceed, because the consequences are different.
Key Takeaways
- Deleting your account removes your profile, messages, and all data permanently after 30 days, and you cannot undo it after that period ends.
- Deactivation hides your profile and pauses your account but keeps your data intact; you can reactivate anytime within a certain window.
- To delete, go to Settings & Privacy, select Account, then scroll to Account Management and click "Close your account."
- LinkedIn will ask you to confirm your reason for leaving and may offer you the deactivation option again before processing the deletion.
- After deletion is complete, your profile will no longer appear in search results, but it takes up to 30 days for all traces to leave LinkedIn's systems.
The difference between deactivation and deletion
Deactivation hides your profile from view and pauses your account. Your connections cannot see you, your messages disappear from their inboxes, and you stop receiving notifications. However, your data remains on LinkedIn's servers. You can reactivate your account by logging back in, and your profile, connections, and messages return exactly as they were. LinkedIn does not publicly state how long you can wait before reactivating, but the company has historically allowed reactivation for extended periods.
Deletion removes your account and all its contents permanently. Your profile disappears from search results immediately. LinkedIn then purges your data from its active systems within 30 days. After that 30-day window, you cannot recover anything — no messages, no connection list, no profile history. If you want to use LinkedIn again, you must create a brand-new account from scratch.
Choose deactivation if you want to step away but might return. Choose deletion only if you are certain you will not use LinkedIn again and want your data removed entirely.
Steps to delete your LinkedIn account
Log into your LinkedIn account on a web browser (not the mobile app). Go to your profile photo in the top right corner and select Settings & Privacy. Click the Settings tab.
On the left sidebar, click Account. Scroll down to the section labeled Account Management. You will see an option that says Close your account. Click it.
LinkedIn will show you a page explaining what happens when you delete your account. Read the warnings carefully. The company will ask you why you are leaving — select a reason from the dropdown menu. This step is required, but your answer does not affect whether deletion proceeds.
LinkedIn may then offer you the deactivation option again, emphasizing that it is reversible. If you are certain you want permanent deletion, click the button to continue. You will be asked to enter your password to confirm your identity. Type it in and submit.
Once you confirm, your account enters deletion mode. Your profile becomes invisible to other users immediately. LinkedIn then removes your data from its systems over the next 30 days. During this period, you cannot undo the deletion.
What happens to your data after deletion
Your profile, photo, headline, and work history are removed from LinkedIn's public search results within hours. Connections you had will see that your profile no longer exists. Any messages you sent remain in their inboxes, but they cannot reply to you or see your profile when they click your name.
LinkedIn keeps your data on backup servers for up to 30 days in case of system errors or legal holds. After 30 days, the company deletes it from those backups as well. You cannot request your data back after this window closes.
If you were part of LinkedIn groups or had posted articles, those posts may remain visible if they were shared publicly or if other users saved them. LinkedIn does not remove content you created from other people's saved items or from archived versions of web pages.
Deactivation as an alternative
If you want to step away from LinkedIn without losing your account, deactivate instead. Log in, go to Settings & Privacy, click Settings, then Account. Scroll to Account Management and select Deactivate account.
LinkedIn will ask you to confirm and may offer incentives to stay (such as premium trial periods). If you proceed, your profile becomes hidden immediately. Your connections see that you are no longer on LinkedIn. You stop receiving emails and notifications.
To reactivate, simply log back into your account with your email and password. Your profile, connections, and messages return exactly as they were. There is no time limit stated by LinkedIn for how long you can keep an account deactivated before reactivating, though the company reserves the right to change this policy.
What you should do before deleting
Download a copy of your data if you want to keep records. Go to Settings & Privacy, click Settings, then Data privacy. Select Get a copy of your data. LinkedIn will email you a file containing your profile information, connections list, and message history. This process can take several hours.
Notify your connections if your professional relationships matter to you. Send a message or email to people you want to stay in touch with, and share your personal email or phone number. Once your account is deleted, they will have no way to contact you through LinkedIn.
Remove your LinkedIn URL from your resume, website, or other professional materials. After deletion, any link to your LinkedIn profile will return a "page not found" error.
Troubleshooting deletion problems
If the delete button does not appear in your Account Management section, you may have a business account or a restricted account type. LinkedIn does not allow deletion of certain organizational accounts. Contact LinkedIn Support through the Help Center to ask whether your account type can be deleted.
If you receive an error message during the deletion process, try again in a different web browser or clear your browser cache and cookies. If the error persists, wait a few hours and try again — LinkedIn's servers may be experiencing temporary issues.
If you forgot your password and cannot log in to delete your account, use the "Forgot password?" link on the login page. LinkedIn will send you a reset link to your email address. Once you reset your password, you can log in and proceed with deletion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete my LinkedIn account from the mobile app?
No. LinkedIn only allows account deletion through the web browser version. Open LinkedIn.com on a computer, log in, and follow the steps in Settings & Privacy. The mobile app does not have a delete option.
What happens if I delete my account and then change my mind?
You have 30 days to contact LinkedIn Support and request that your account be restored. After 30 days, your data is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered. Support may restore your account during that window, but there is no may provide.
Will my LinkedIn profile still show up in Google search results after I delete it?
Your profile will disappear from LinkedIn's own search within hours, but Google's cache may still show an old version of your profile for days or weeks. You can request removal from Google's search results through Google Search Console, but this is separate from LinkedIn deletion.
Do I need to cancel a LinkedIn Premium subscription before deleting?
No. Deleting your account automatically cancels any active subscriptions. LinkedIn will not charge you further after deletion. If you paid for Premium, you will not receive a refund for unused time.
Can someone else delete my LinkedIn account?
No. Only you can delete your account, and only by logging in with your password. If you believe someone has unauthorized access to your account, change your password immediately and enable two-factor authentication before proceeding with deletion.