How to Erase Your LinkedIn Account Permanently

So you’ve made up your mind — you want to erase your LinkedIn account for good.

Maybe you’re drowning in recruiter messages. Maybe you just want a clean break from the platform. Or maybe you’ve built a new brand and want to start fresh. Whatever the reason, you’re in the right place.

The good news? Deleting LinkedIn is way simpler than most people think. This guide walks you through every step — from closing your account to removing your data — so you can be done with it in under 10 minutes.

Before you jump in, here are a few things worth knowing:

• LinkedIn has over 1 billion members across 200+ countries (LinkedIn, 2024). You’re definitely not the first to want out.
• Once you delete your account, your profile, connections, endorsements, and messages are gone permanently after a 20-day grace period.
• LinkedIn holds your data for a limited time even after deletion — but you can request a full data export before you go.

Let’s get into it.

So you’ve made up your mind — you want to erase your LinkedIn account for good.

Maybe you’re drowning in recruiter messages. Maybe you just want a clean break from the platform. Or maybe you’ve built a new brand and want to start fresh. Whatever the reason, you’re in the right place.

The good news? Deleting LinkedIn is way simpler than most people think. This guide walks you through every step — from closing your account to removing your data — so you can be done with it in under 10 minutes.

Before you jump in, here are a few things worth knowing:

• LinkedIn has over 1 billion members across 200+ countries (LinkedIn, 2024). You’re definitely not the first to want out.
• Once you delete your account, your profile, connections, endorsements, and messages are gone permanently after a 20-day grace period.
• LinkedIn holds your data for a limited time even after deletion — but you can request a full data export before you go.

Let’s get into it.

How to Erase Your LinkedIn Account

Here’s everything you need to do, step by step.

Step 1 — Back Up Your Data First

Before you delete anything, save a copy of your LinkedIn data. This includes your connections list, messages, profile info, and activity history.

Here’s how to download your data:

1. Go to your LinkedIn profile and click on “Me” (top-right corner).
2. Click “Settings & Privacy.”
3. Under the “Data Privacy” section, click “Get a copy of your data.”
4. Select the data you want — or click “Want something in particular? Select the data files you’re most interested in” for a full export.
5. Hit “Request archive.”
6. LinkedIn will email you a download link within 10 minutes to 24 hours, depending on how much data you have.

💡 Pro tip: Download your connections list before deleting. That’s your network — people you’ve built relationships with. Having their emails means you don’t lose those relationships forever.

Step 2 — How to Close Your LinkedIn Account (Desktop)

Once you’ve saved your data, here’s how to permanently close your account on a desktop:

1. Click “Me” at the top of your LinkedIn homepage.
2. Select “Settings & Privacy” from the dropdown.
3. Scroll down to the “Account Management” section (at the bottom of the Account tab).
4. Click “Close account.”
5. LinkedIn will ask you to select a reason for leaving — pick whichever fits best.
6. Click “Next.”
7. Enter your LinkedIn password to confirm.
8. Click “Close account.”

That’s it. Your account enters a 20-day deactivation window. During this time, your profile won’t be visible — but it’s not fully deleted yet. If you log back in within 20 days, your account gets reactivated automatically.