How to Delete Account on LinkedIn: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

If you're searching for how to delete account on LinkedIn, you're probably ready to permanently close your LinkedIn profile.

LinkedIn provides a direct account-closure process through Settings & Privacy → Account preferences → Account management → Close account. Its current Help Center also provides separate instructions for iOS, Android and mobile browsers.

Before deleting your account, however, it's worth understanding what you will lose, what information you should save, whether hibernation is a better option, and how long you may have to change your mind.

This guide walks through the process and the important considerations step by step.

How to Delete Account on LinkedIn From a Computer

The current LinkedIn desktop process is:

Me → Settings & Privacy → Account preferences → Account management → Close account.

Step 1: Log In to LinkedIn

Open LinkedIn in your web browser and sign in to the account you want to close.

Step 2: Open the Me Menu

Click the Me icon at the top of the LinkedIn homepage.

Step 3: Select Settings & Privacy

Choose Settings & Privacy from the menu.

Step 4: Open Account Preferences

Go to Account preferences.

Step 5: Find Account Management

Look for the Account management section.

Step 6: Select Close Account

Click Change next to Close account.

Step 7: Choose Your Reason

LinkedIn asks you to select a reason for closing your account.

Step 8: Enter Your Password

Enter your account password when prompted.

Step 9: Confirm

Click Close account to complete the process.

How to Delete Account on LinkedIn From iPhone or Android

LinkedIn's current mobile instructions are very similar across iOS and Android.

The usual route is:

Profile picture → Settings → Account preferences → Account management → Close account.

Then:

1. Tap Close account.
2. Tap Continue.
3. Select your reason for leaving.
4. Tap Next.
5. Enter your LinkedIn password.
6. Tap Done.

The exact appearance of the menus may differ slightly depending on your app version.

How to Delete Account on LinkedIn From a Mobile Browser

LinkedIn also provides mobile-browser instructions.

A typical route is:

Profile icon → Settings → Close account under Account management → Continue → Reason → Next → Password → Done.

If you don't see the option immediately, check Account preferences and then Account management.

What Happens When You Delete Your LinkedIn Account?

Closing your LinkedIn account is much more significant than uninstalling the app.

LinkedIn says closing the account permanently deletes your profile and removes your access to LinkedIn information on its site. It also says that closing the account removes your connections and messages, as well as recommendations and endorsements you've given or received.

You may lose access to:

• Your profile
• Connections
• Messages
• Recommendations
• Endorsements
• Followings
• Group memberships
• Purchase history
• Other account information

LinkedIn specifically warns that some of this information cannot be restored even if you later reopen the account.

Does LinkedIn Delete Your Data Immediately?

Not necessarily.

LinkedIn's current Privacy Policy says personal data will generally stop being visible to others within 24 hours after account closure and that LinkedIn generally deletes closed-account information within 30 days, subject to exceptions.

LinkedIn may retain information when reasonably necessary for purposes such as:

• Legal obligations
• Regulatory requirements
• Security
• Fraud and abuse prevention
• Dispute resolution
• Enforcement of its User Agreement

LinkedIn also explains that information you've shared with other people may remain visible in certain circumstances, and content copied outside LinkedIn may remain outside its control.

Will Your LinkedIn Profile Disappear From Google Immediately?

Not always.

Search engines such as Google and Bing maintain their own indexes. Even after your LinkedIn profile is closed, search engines may temporarily display previously indexed information until those indexes are refreshed.

LinkedIn specifically notes that your profile may continue to appear in other services until their caches update.

So an old Google result shortly after closing your account does not necessarily mean your LinkedIn deletion failed.

Can You Recover a Deleted LinkedIn Account?

LinkedIn currently says that in most cases, you can reopen an account if it has been closed for less than 14 days.

To attempt recovery:

1. Go to LinkedIn.
2. Enter the email address associated with the account.
3. Enter your password.
4. Sign in.
5. Select Reactivate if the option is presented.
6. Follow the confirmation instructions.

After reopening, LinkedIn says some information cannot be recovered.

What Cannot Be Recovered After Reopening?

LinkedIn currently identifies several categories that may not return, including:

• Endorsements
• Recommendations
• Ignored or pending invitations
• Followings
• Group memberships

This is one of the most important reasons to prepare before deleting your account.

What Should You Do Before Deleting LinkedIn?

Don't rush straight to the Close account button.

Download Your Data

LinkedIn provides tools for requesting copies of your personal data.

Before closing your account, consider preserving information you may need for:

• Job applications
• Resume creation
• Professional records
• Contact management
• Business relationships

Save Important Contacts

LinkedIn may contain valuable professional relationships.

Save relevant contact details for:

• Clients
• Recruiters
• Employers
• Colleagues
• Business partners

Preserve Important Messages

If you have professional conversations you may need later, save the information you are entitled to retain before closing the account.

Save Your Profile Information

Your LinkedIn profile may contain:

• Employment history
• Skills
• Certifications
• Education
• Projects
• Professional summaries

These details can be useful when updating a CV or portfolio later.

What Happens to LinkedIn Connections?

When you close the account, you lose access to your LinkedIn connections.

LinkedIn explicitly states that closing the account means you won't have access to your connections or other information you've added to the account.

For anyone who relies heavily on LinkedIn networking, saving important contacts before deletion is especially important.

What Happens to LinkedIn Messages?

LinkedIn says that closing your account removes access to your messages.

However, LinkedIn's Privacy Policy also explains that information shared with other people may remain visible in certain circumstances.

So you shouldn't assume that every message or piece of content disappears everywhere the moment you close the account.

What Happens to Recommendations and Endorsements?

These are among the items you should think carefully about before deleting your profile.

LinkedIn says that recommendations and endorsements are deleted when you close the account and cannot be recovered if you later reopen it.

If they are important to your professional reputation, consider saving relevant information first.

What Happens to LinkedIn Purchase History?

LinkedIn's current Help Center says your purchase history will no longer be accessible after account closure.

If you need receipts for accounting or professional records, preserve them before deleting your account.

What If You Have LinkedIn Premium?

Review your Premium subscription before deleting the account.

LinkedIn says that if you have a Premium membership, own a LinkedIn group or have certain premium account relationships, those issues may need to be resolved before you can close the Basic account.

Don't assume closing the account is a substitute for understanding your current subscription arrangements.

What If You Own a LinkedIn Group?

Group ownership can affect the account-closure process.

LinkedIn specifically warns that group owners may need to address those responsibilities before closing a Basic account.

Check group settings before starting the deletion process.

What If You Have a LinkedIn Enterprise Account?

Enterprise-related accounts and products can have additional requirements.

LinkedIn's Help Center documents situations involving enterprise relationships and account closure, so if your account is connected to an organisation's LinkedIn products, check those arrangements before deleting your personal access.

Delete LinkedIn Account vs Hibernate Account

Permanent deletion isn't always the best solution.

LinkedIn provides hibernation as an alternative for people who want to step away from the platform without permanently closing the account.

If you think there's a reasonable chance you'll return, consider hibernation first.

What Is LinkedIn Hibernation?

Hibernation is designed to temporarily make your account inactive rather than permanently closing it.

This may be useful if you:

• Are taking a career break
• Don't want to use LinkedIn temporarily
• Want to reduce your online presence
• May return later

It can be a more appropriate choice than deletion when the problem is temporary.

Is Deleting LinkedIn the Same as Uninstalling the App?

No.

Deleting the app from your phone only removes the application from the device.

It does not close your LinkedIn account.

To remove the account itself, use LinkedIn's account-management controls.

What If You Forgot Your LinkedIn Password?

You generally need access to your account to complete the standard closure process.

If you forgot your password, use LinkedIn's official recovery or password-reset process first.

LinkedIn provides account-access support for users who cannot sign in.

Once access is restored, you can return to the account-management section and close the account.

What If You Can't Access the Email Address on the Account?

Don't give your password or recovery information to an unknown third-party service.

Use LinkedIn's official account-recovery options and follow the identity or account-access steps it provides.

LinkedIn's current Help Center specifically directs users who can't access the account toward its account-access support.

What If You Have More Than One LinkedIn Account?

If you've accidentally created multiple personal LinkedIn accounts, you may not need to delete everything.

LinkedIn provides guidance for duplicate accounts, including options for merging or closing a duplicate account.

Review those options before deleting the wrong profile.

Can You Delete Only Some LinkedIn Data?

Sometimes you don't need to close the entire account.

LinkedIn provides controls for deleting or managing certain types of personal information without necessarily closing the account. Its Privacy Policy explains that users have choices to access, correct and delete personal data.

This may be a better solution if you only want to remove outdated information.

When Should You Delete Your LinkedIn Account?

Permanent deletion can make sense when:

• You no longer use LinkedIn
• You want to leave the platform permanently
• You have another profile you intend to keep
• You no longer need your professional network on LinkedIn

But don't delete your account simply because you:

• Get too many emails
• Receive too many notifications
• Want to hide your profile temporarily

Those problems may be solvable through account settings or hibernation.

Common Mistakes When Deleting LinkedIn

Mistake 1: Deleting Without Saving Contacts

Important professional relationships may be difficult to rebuild.

Mistake 2: Forgetting to Save Your Profile

Your employment history and skills can be useful for your resume.

Mistake 3: Ignoring Premium Services

Check subscriptions and paid services before closing the account.

Mistake 4: Assuming Search Engines Update Instantly

Search-engine indexes can take time to refresh.

Mistake 5: Assuming Everything Can Be Restored

Some data cannot be recovered even when an account is reopened within the 14-day window.

Mistake 6: Confusing App Uninstallation With Account Deletion

Removing the app doesn't close the account.

Mistake 7: Deleting a Duplicate Account Without Reviewing the Merge Option

Check LinkedIn's duplicate-account guidance first.

LinkedIn Account Deletion Checklist

Before closing your account, review this checklist:

How to Delete Account on LinkedIn: Quick Reference

Desktop

Me → Settings & Privacy → Account preferences → Account management → Close account

Then:

Choose reason → Next → Enter password → Close account.

iPhone / Android

Profile picture → Settings → Account preferences → Account management → Close account

Then:

Continue → Reason → Next → Password → Done.

Mobile Browser

Profile icon → Settings → Close account → Continue → Reason → Next → Password → Done.

Is LinkedIn Account Deletion Reversible?

Only for a limited period in most cases.

LinkedIn currently says an account can generally be reopened if it has been closed for less than 14 days.

However, reopening does not restore everything.

That makes the decision more significant than simply logging out.

A Better Way to Decide Whether to Delete LinkedIn

Ask yourself:

Do I want to leave LinkedIn permanently?

Do I need my professional connections later?

Have I saved my important profile information?

Do I have any Premium, group or enterprise relationships?

Would hibernation solve the problem instead?

If your answer to the first question is uncertain, permanent deletion may be premature.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I delete account on LinkedIn?

Go to Me → Settings & Privacy → Account preferences → Account management → Close account, select a reason, enter your password and confirm the closure.

How do I delete my LinkedIn account on mobile?

In the LinkedIn app, tap your profile picture, open Settings → Account preferences → Account management, choose Close account, continue, select a reason, enter your password and confirm.

Is deleting a LinkedIn account permanent?

Account closure is intended to permanently delete the profile and remove your access to LinkedIn information, although some information may be retained for legitimate reasons.

Can I reopen my LinkedIn account after deleting it?

In most cases, yes, if the account has been closed for less than 14 days. Some data cannot be recovered.

What happens to my LinkedIn connections after deletion?

You lose access to your connections when the account is closed.

What happens to my LinkedIn messages?

LinkedIn says account closure removes access to messages and other account information. Information previously shared with other people may remain visible in some circumstances.

What happens to recommendations and endorsements?

LinkedIn says they are deleted and cannot be recovered after reopening the account.

How long does LinkedIn take to delete account information?

LinkedIn's current Privacy Policy says personal data generally stops being visible within 24 hours and closed-account information is generally deleted within 30 days, subject to exceptions.

Will my LinkedIn profile disappear from Google immediately?

Not necessarily. Search engines can continue displaying previously indexed information until their indexes are refreshed.

Should I download my LinkedIn data before deletion?

Yes. Saving important data, connections and professional information before closure can prevent unnecessary loss.

Is uninstalling LinkedIn enough to delete my account?

No. Uninstalling the app does not close your account.

Can I hibernate LinkedIn instead of deleting it?

Yes. LinkedIn provides hibernation as an alternative to permanent closure.

What if I have LinkedIn Premium?

Review your Premium subscription and related account requirements before closing the account. LinkedIn notes that certain Premium relationships may need to be resolved first.

What if I own a LinkedIn group?

Check your group ownership because LinkedIn says group ownership may need to be addressed before closing the account.

Can I delete only certain LinkedIn information?

LinkedIn provides options to manage or delete some personal information without necessarily closing the entire account.

What if I have two LinkedIn accounts?

Review LinkedIn's duplicate-account options and consider merging or closing the duplicate rather than deleting the account you want to keep.

What if I forgot my LinkedIn password?

Recover access through LinkedIn's official account-recovery process before attempting to close the account.

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to delete account on LinkedIn is straightforward once you know where the account controls are located.

The current process is:

Desktop:
Me → Settings & Privacy → Account preferences → Account management → Close account

Mobile:
Profile picture → Settings → Account preferences → Account management → Close account.

The more important part is preparing before you confirm the deletion.

Save important professional information, download useful account data, preserve essential contacts, check Premium or enterprise relationships, and consider whether hibernation might be better for your situation.

LinkedIn currently says most closed accounts can be reopened within 14 days, but endorsements, recommendations, followings, group memberships and certain invitations may not be recoverable.

LinkedIn's Privacy Policy also says personal data generally stops being visible within 24 hours and closed-account information is generally deleted within 30 days, subject to legitimate exceptions.

Because LinkedIn can update its interface, check the current LinkedIn Help Center if your menu labels differ.

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