How to delete your LinkedIn account

Table of contents

• Why people delete their LinkedIn accounts
• What happens when you delete your account
• Essential preparation steps
• Desktop deletion method
• Mobile app deletion method
• Managing duplicate accounts
• After deletion: what to expect
• Alternatives to deletion
• Common questions
• Making the right choice

LinkedIn might be the go-to platform for professional networking, but there are plenty of valid reasons why you might want to step away. Whether you’re drowning in spam messages, concerned about privacy, juggling duplicate accounts, or simply not getting value from the platform anymore - sometimes deleting your LinkedIn profile is the right move. This comprehensive guide walks you through everything you need to know about permanently removing your LinkedIn account in 2025. If you are looking for employee engagement, consider other options.

Why people delete their LinkedIn accounts

Before diving into the deletion process, it’s worth understanding the common reasons why professionals choose to leave LinkedIn. According to recent studies and user feedback, these are the most frequent motivations:

• Privacy concerns: With growing awareness about digital privacy, many professionals are taking control of their online data. The platform’s data collection practices and frequent data breaches have made users more cautious about their professional information
• Overwhelming spam: The platform’s increasing commercialization has led to an unprecedented volume of unsolicited messages, from connection requests to aggressive sales pitches
• Account confusion: LinkedIn’s integration with Google sign-in has resulted in many users accidentally creating multiple accounts, leading to fragmented professional networks
• Career transitions: As noted by career coaches on LinkedIn’s own platform, some professionals find the platform irrelevant after changing industries or career paths
• Digital fatigue: Managing multiple social networks can become exhausting, and many users are choosing to simplify their online presence
• Limited value: Despite its professional focus, some users report that the platform’s networking benefits don’t justify the time investment. Consider using Fidforward.com for better networking.

What happens when you delete your account

Before taking the final step, it’s crucial to understand the implications of account deletion. Here’s what you’ll lose access to:

• Your entire professional network and connections will be permanently removed
• All recommendations and endorsements will be deleted without recovery options
• Your content, including posts, articles, and comments, will be erased within 24 hours
• Group memberships and contributions will be lost
• Your personal data will be removed, though LinkedIn retains some information for legal compliance
• Your profile might remain visible in search engines temporarily until caches refresh

Before you delete: essential preparation steps

Taking a few important steps before deletion will help ensure you don’t lose valuable professional information and connections. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Download your LinkedIn data

Start by creating a backup of your professional history. This step is crucial as you won’t be able to access this information after deletion.

1. Click your profile picture and select “Settings & Privacy”
2. Navigate to “Data privacy”
3. Select “Get a copy of your data”
4. Choose which data you want to download
5. Request your archive

Pro tip: Make sure to save your connections list separately - you might want to reach out to important contacts through other channels later.

2. Cancel LinkedIn Premium subscription

If you’re a Premium member, you must cancel your subscription first to avoid billing issues: You can set smart goals to track progress.

1. Click your profile picture
2. Select “Settings & Privacy”
3. Under “Account Preferences,” find “Manage Premium account”
4. Follow the cancellation prompts

Important: According to LinkedIn’s billing policy, failing to cancel Premium before deletion might result in continued charges.

3. Notify your network

Before disappearing from the platform, consider these professional courtesies:

• Send a brief message to close professional contacts with alternative contact information
• Share your preferred communication methods (email, other social platforms)
• Consider posting a status update about your departure if appropriate
• Export important conversations you might need for future reference

4. Consider hibernation instead

Not quite ready for permanent deletion? LinkedIn offers a less drastic option: You can also use performance management.

Hibernation mode lets you:

• Temporarily hide your profile
• Preserve all connections and endorsements
• Maintain access to your data
• Return to the platform whenever you’re ready

Here’s how hibernation and deletion compare:

Feature	Deletion	Hibernation
Connections	Lost permanently	Preserved
Profile visibility	Removed completely	Hidden temporarily
Data retention	Deleted within 30 days	Fully preserved
Reversible	14-day window only	Any time
Endorsements	Lost permanently	Preserved

How to delete your LinkedIn account: desktop method

The process of deleting your LinkedIn account through a web browser is straightforward but requires careful attention to each step. Here’s a detailed walkthrough:

Step 1: Access settings & privacy

First, navigate to your account settings:

1. Log in to your LinkedIn account
2. Click your profile picture in the top right corner
3. Select “Settings & Privacy” from the dropdown menu

Note: Make sure you’re using the most recent version of your browser for the best experience.

Step 2: Navigate to account management

Find the account closure option:

1. Look for the “Account Preferences” tab on the left side
2. Scroll down until you see “Account management”
3. Click “Close account” in this section

Tip: If you can’t find the option, try using the settings search feature at the top of the page.

Step 3: Confirm your decision

LinkedIn will ask you to verify your choice:

1. Click “Continue” to move forward
2. Select your reason for leaving from the provided options
3. Click “Next” to proceed

At this point, LinkedIn might offer alternatives to deletion - consider them carefully before proceeding.

Step 4: Final verification

Complete the deletion process:

1. Enter your LinkedIn password to verify your identity
2. Consider checking the box to unsubscribe from LinkedIn emails
3. Click “Close account” to finalize the process

Important: Remember that you have a 14-day grace period to reactivate your account if you change your mind.

If you prefer using your smartphone, the process is similar but adapted for mobile interfaces. This guide works for both iOS and Android devices:

Step 1: Open settings

Begin by accessing your account settings:

1. Launch the LinkedIn app and sign in
2. Tap your profile picture in the top left corner
3. Select “Settings”

Note: The mobile interface occasionally updates its layout, but these basic steps remain consistent.

Step 2: Find account preferences

Navigate to the account section:

1. Tap “Account preferences” in the settings menu
2. Scroll down to locate “Account management”

Tip: If you’re having trouble finding options, use the search function at the top of the settings screen.

Step 3: Close your account

Initiate the deletion process:

1. Tap “Close account”
2. Select “Continue” when prompted
3. Choose your reason for leaving

Step 4: Complete the process

Finalize your account deletion:

1. Select your reason for closing the account
2. Tap “Next” to continue
3. Enter your password for verification
4. Tap “Done” to complete the process

Remember: Just like the desktop version, you have 14 days to reactivate your account if needed.

![Visual representation of mobile deletion steps](https://example.com/linaging Duplicate LinkedIn Accounts

A common issue with LinkedIn is the accidental creation of multiple accounts, especially when using Google’s auto-login feature. Here’s how to handle this situation effectively:

How to identify duplicate accounts

First, check if you have multiple profiles:

1. Search for your name on LinkedIn
2. Look for profiles with your information
3. Try logging in with different email addresses you commonly use

Pro tip: Check your email accounts for LinkedIn notifications - they might reveal forgotten accounts.

Options for handling duplicates

You have two main options for dealing with duplicate accounts:

Option 1: Merge your accounts

If you have access to both accounts, merging is the best solution:

1. Log in to the account you want to keep
2. Go to “Settings & Privacy” > “Account Management”
3. Look for “Merge accounts” option
4. Enter the email and password for the duplicate account
5. Follow the prompts to combine your connections and data

Important: Account merging will preserve your connections from both accounts, but some content might not transfer.

Option 2: Delete the unwanted account

If merging isn’t possible or you prefer a clean slate:

1. Decide which account to keep (usually the one with more connections and activity)
2. Follow the deletion steps outlined above for the unwanted account
3. Continue using your preferred account

Note: Before deleting, make sure to transfer any important connections or content to the account you’re keeping.

What happens after you delete your LinkedIn account

After completing the deletion process, several changes take effect at different times. Here’s what to expect:

Immediate effects

As soon as you confirm deletion:

• Your profile becomes invisible to other LinkedIn users
• You lose access to your account and its contents
• Your connections can no longer interact with your profile

Timeline for data removal

LinkedIn follows a specific schedule for removing your data:

• 24-hour mark: Most of your information is removed from LinkedIn’s active systems
• 30-day period: Complete deletion of all backups and logs
• Variable time: Third-party search results may take longer to update

Search engine visibility

Your digital footprint will fade gradually:

• Public profile listings may appear in search results temporarily
• Search engines typically refresh their caches within a few weeks
• You can request removal directly from search engines for faster results

The 14-day grace period

LinkedIn provides a two-week window for second thoughts:

• You can reactivate your account during this period, but remember to consider why you deleted it in the first place.
• Some data may not be fully restored after reactivation
• After 14 days, the deletion becomes permanent and irreversible

Alternatives to deletion

Before making the final decision to delete your account, consider these less drastic options that might better suit your needs:

1. Hibernate your account

A temporary solution that preserves your professional network:

1. Follow the same initial steps as deletion
2. Look for the “Hibernate account” option
3. Confirm your choice

Your profile will be hidden, but your data and connections remain intact. According to LinkedIn’s documentation, you can reactivate anytime.

2. Minimize your LinkedIn presence

Take control of your profile without leaving the platform:

• Adjust your privacy settings:
  • Control who can see your profile
  • Limit email notifications
  • Manage connection requests
• Clean up your profile:
  • Remove unnecessary personal information
  • Unfollow overly active connections
  • Leave groups that don’t add value
• Reduce engagement:
  • Turn off most notifications
  • Limit your time on the platform
  • Use the “Do Not Disturb” feature

3. Use professional alternatives

If LinkedIn isn’t meeting your needs, consider these alternatives:

• Industry-specific professional networks
• Personal professional website or portfolio
• FidForward’s talent platform for targeted professional networking
• Direct email networking with key contacts, or try structured feedback.

Remember: You can always return to LinkedIn later if your professional needs change. The key is finding the right balance for your current situation.

Frequently asked questions

Here are answers to the most common questions about deleting a LinkedIn account:

Can I recover my account after deletion?

Yes, but only within a 14-day window. After this period, deletion becomes permanent and you’ll need to create a new account from scratch. Some data may not be recoverable even during the grace period.

What happens to my recommendations?

All recommendations and endorsements are permanently deleted with your account. According to LinkedIn’s policy, these cannot be recovered even if you create a new account later.

Will my connections be notified?

No, LinkedIn doesn’t send notifications when you delete your account. Your profile simply becomes unavailable to your connections, similar to if you had blocked them.

How long until my data is completely removed?

The process happens in stages:

• Most data is removed within 24 hours
• Complete purging of backups and logs takes up to 30 days
• Search engine results may take several weeks to update

Can I delete specific parts of my LinkedIn data?

Yes, LinkedIn offers granular control over your data. Visit Settings > Privacy to manage individual elements such as:

• Connection history
• Post history
• Profile information
• Activity data

What about my Premium subscription?

You must cancel your Premium subscription before deleting your account. LinkedIn provides a step-by-step process for this in your account settings.

Is deleting LinkedIn right for you?

Before making your final decision, consider these key factors:

Evaluate your needs

• Professional visibility: How important is online professional networking in your field?
• Career stage: Are you actively job hunting or well-established in your role?
• Industry norms: Is LinkedIn a standard tool in your industry?
• Networking alternatives: Do you have other effective ways to maintain professional connections?

Consider the implications

• Future opportunities: Will removing your profile impact potential job prospects?
• Professional relationships: Have you saved important contact information?
• Digital presence: Is this aligned with your overall online visibility strategy?
• Data preservation: Have you backed up all necessary information?

Making an informed choice about your LinkedIn presence isn’t just about deletion - it’s about finding the right balance for your professional needs. Whether you choose to delete your account, hibernate it, or simply adjust your usage, make sure the decision aligns with your long-term career goals.

Managing your online presence

If you’re concerned about your broader online presence, consider these helpful tools:

• DeleteMe - Helps remove your personal information from data brokers
• PrivacyDuck - Specializes in removing information from public records
• BrandYourself - Tools for managing your online reputation
• FidForward - Professional networking platform focused on meaningful connections

Remember that managing your online presence is an ongoing process. Whether you choose to maintain, minimize, or delete your LinkedIn profile, the key is making intentional choices about your professional digital footprint.