How to Delete LinkedIn Account (Permanently, Step-by-Step)
- Sophie Ricci
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Table of Contents
So you’ve decided to delete your LinkedIn account. Maybe you’re drowning in spam messages. Maybe you’re just done with the platform. Either way — you want out, and you want it done fast.
Good news: it takes less than 5 minutes.
This guide walks you through exactly how to delete your LinkedIn account permanently, what happens after you do it, and a few things to consider before you pull the trigger.
Let’s get into it.
What Happens When You Delete Your LinkedIn Account?
Before you delete, here’s what you’re signing up for:
- Your profile disappears from LinkedIn entirely — no one can find or view it.
- Your connections are gone — permanently. They won’t be notified, but they won’t be able to find you either.
- Your messages are deleted — all your LinkedIn DMs vanish.
- Your content is removed — posts, articles, comments — all gone.
- You lose your recommendations — written and received.
- Your LinkedIn URL is released — someone else can claim it.
Here’s something important: LinkedIn gives you a 20-day grace period. If you change your mind within 20 days, you can reactivate your account and get everything back. After 20 days — it’s gone for good.
📊 Stat check: LinkedIn has over 1 billion members across 200+ countries (LinkedIn, 2024). That’s a lot of people staying. But if it’s not working for you, deleting makes total sense.
How to Delete LinkedIn Account (Desktop)
Here’s the fastest way to do it on desktop:
Step 1: Go to linkedin.com and log in.
Step 2: Click your profile picture in the top-right corner.
Step 3: Select “Settings & Privacy” from the dropdown.
Step 4: On the left sidebar, click “Account preferences.”
Step 5: Scroll down to find “Account management.”
Step 6: Click “Close account.”
Step 7: LinkedIn will ask you why you’re leaving — pick a reason and click “Next.”
Step 8: Enter your password to confirm.
Step 9: Click “Close account” — and you’re done.
That’s it. Your account is now in the 20-day deactivation window before permanent deletion.
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How to Delete LinkedIn Account (Mobile App)
If you’re on your phone, the steps are slightly different:
Step 1: Open the LinkedIn app and tap your profile photo in the top-left.
Step 2: Tap “Settings” (gear icon).
Step 3: Scroll down and tap “Account preferences.”
Step 4: Tap “Account management.”
Step 5: Tap “Close account.”
Step 6: Choose a reason, enter your password, and confirm.
Done. Same result — account enters the 20-day grace period.
Before You Delete: Save Your Data First
LinkedIn lets you download a copy of your data before you leave. This includes your connections list, messages, profile info, and more.
Here’s how:
Step 1: Go to Settings & Privacy.
Step 2: Click “Data privacy.”
Step 3: Click “Get a copy of your data.”
Step 4: Select what you want — connections, messages, profile, etc.
Step 5: Click “Request archive.”
LinkedIn will email you a download link within 24 hours (sometimes faster). It’s worth doing — especially if you want to keep your connections list or reach out to people through other channels later.
📊 Stat check: The average professional has 400+ LinkedIn connections (LinkedIn Internal Data). That’s a lot of relationships to potentially lose if you don’t export first.
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What If You Just Want a Break? (Deactivate vs. Delete)
LinkedIn doesn’t have a standard “deactivate” option like Facebook. Closing your account IS the deactivation — you have 20 days to come back before it’s permanent.
But if you just want to go quiet without deleting, here are your options:
- Hide your profile from search engines (Settings → Visibility → Edit your public profile)
- Turn off notifications so LinkedIn stops emailing you
- Set your profile to private so only connections can see it
- Pause your Premium if you’re paying for a subscription
None of these delete your account, but they give you breathing room without losing everything.
How to Cancel LinkedIn Premium Before Deleting
If you have a LinkedIn Premium subscription, cancel it BEFORE deleting your account. Otherwise you might still get charged.
Here’s how to cancel Premium:
Step 1: Click your profile photo → “Premium features.”
Step 2: Click “Manage subscription.”
Step 3: Click “Cancel subscription.”
Step 4: Follow the prompts to confirm cancellation.
Do this first — then delete your account.
📊 Stat check: LinkedIn Premium costs between $39.99 and $159.99/month depending on the plan. That’s money you don’t want to keep losing after you’ve left.
How to Reactivate Your LinkedIn Account
Changed your mind? You have 20 days to bring it back.
Step 1: Go to LinkedIn.com and try to log in with your old credentials.
Step 2: LinkedIn will show you a message saying your account is scheduled for deletion.
Step 3: Click “Reactivate” and confirm.
That’s it. Everything comes back — profile, connections, messages, the lot.
After 20 days, reactivation is no longer possible. You’d have to start fresh.
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Common Questions Before You Delete
Will my connections know I deleted my account? No. They won’t receive a notification. They’ll just notice your profile no longer exists if they search for you.
What happens to my LinkedIn recommendations? They’re deleted with your account — both ones you gave and ones you received.
Can I use the same email address to create a new account? Yes — once your account is fully deleted (after 20 days), you can sign up again with the same email.
Does deleting LinkedIn affect my Google search results? Your LinkedIn profile may still appear in Google results for a few days or weeks after deletion. Eventually, Google’s bots re-crawl and remove it.
What if I forget my password to confirm deletion? Use the “Forgot password” option to reset it first, then come back and complete the deletion.
Conclusion
Deleting your LinkedIn account is straightforward — it takes under 5 minutes and you have a 20-day window to reverse the decision if you change your mind.
Quick recap:
- Export your data before deleting (connections, messages, profile)
- Cancel Premium if you have it
- Go to Settings → Account preferences → Account management → Close account
- Confirm your password and you’re done
If you’re leaving because LinkedIn just wasn’t delivering the leads or conversations you were hoping for — that’s worth solving, not running from. A well-built outbound strategy changes the game entirely.
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