LinkedIn deletion removes your profile and all your data from their servers
When you delete your LinkedIn profile, the company removes your account, your connections list, your work history, your messages, and your photo from their system. This is permanent — you cannot undo it after 30 days. If you want to keep your professional network but step back from the platform, deactivation is a different option that hides your profile without erasing it.
Deletion takes effect when ready, though LinkedIn keeps some data for legal and safety reasons. Your name will no longer appear in search results, and people who try to visit your profile will see an error. Messages you sent to others remain on their accounts, but your profile information attached to those messages disappears.
Key Takeaways
- You have 30 days to change your mind after deletion — after that, your profile and data are gone permanently.
- Deletion and deactivation are different: deletion erases everything, while deactivation hides your profile but keeps your data.
- You must sign in to your account to delete it; you cannot delete an account you no longer have access to.
- Downloaded copies of your profile data, recommendations, and connections are your responsibility — LinkedIn does not send these automatically before deletion.
How to delete your profile through account settings
Open LinkedIn in a web browser and sign in to your account. Click your profile photo in the top right corner, then select Settings and privacy from the dropdown menu. On the left side, click Account preferences, then scroll down to find Account management.
Click Deactivate account. LinkedIn will show you two options: deactivate or close your account. Select Close account to delete permanently. The site will ask you why you are leaving — this is optional, but your answer helps LinkedIn understand what is driving people away. Click Continue, then confirm that you understand your data will be deleted.
LinkedIn will send a confirmation email to the address on file. Open that email and click the link to confirm deletion. Your profile will be removed when ready, though the system may take a few hours to fully process the request across all of LinkedIn's servers.
What happens to your data after deletion
Your profile, photo, work history, education, skills, and recommendations all disappear from LinkedIn's public view. Connections you made will no longer see you in their network. Any messages you sent remain in their inboxes, but they will not be able to click through to your profile.
LinkedIn retains some information for legal compliance, fraud prevention, and security — this data is not visible to other users and is kept separate from your deleted profile. If you are concerned about what LinkedIn keeps, you can read a copy of your data before deletion by going to Settings and privacy > Data privacy > Get a copy of your data. This read includes your profile information, connections, and message history.
The 30-day window to undo deletion
After you confirm deletion, you have 30 days to change your mind. If you sign back in with your email and password during this window, LinkedIn will offer to reactivate your account. Your profile, connections, and messages will be restored exactly as they were.
After 30 days, reactivation is no longer possible. Your account is permanently erased. If you want to return to LinkedIn after that point, you will need to create a brand new account from scratch.
Deactivation as an alternative to deletion
If you want to step away from LinkedIn without losing your data, deactivation is the middle ground. Your profile becomes invisible to other users and to search engines. You will not appear in anyone's network or search results. Your messages, connections, and work history remain stored on LinkedIn's servers.
When you deactivate, you can reactivate at any time by signing back in — there is no time limit. Your profile returns exactly as it was. This option works well if you are unsure whether you want to leave permanently, or if you want to take a break without erasing your professional history.
Preparing before you delete
Before you delete, read your data. Go to Settings and privacy > Data privacy > Get a copy of your data. LinkedIn will email you a file containing your profile information, connections list, and message history. This gives you a record of your professional network and any recommendations you received.
If you have recommendations or endorsements you want to preserve, take screenshots or copy the text to a document. You may also want to note your connections' email addresses or other contact information if you plan to stay in touch outside of LinkedIn. Once your profile is deleted, you will not be able to access this information through the platform.
What to do if you cannot access your account
If you have forgotten your password or no longer have access to your email address, you cannot delete your account through the normal process. LinkedIn requires you to sign in to confirm deletion. Try resetting your password by going to the LinkedIn login page and clicking Forgot password? Enter your email address, and LinkedIn will send a reset link.
If you cannot access your email either, contact LinkedIn Support through their help center. Explain that you want to delete your account but cannot sign in. LinkedIn may ask you to verify your identity by providing information from your profile or answering security questions. The process can take several days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone else delete my LinkedIn account?
No. Only you can delete your account by signing in and confirming the deletion through email. If someone has access to your email and password, they could delete it, but LinkedIn requires email confirmation to prevent unauthorized deletion. If you believe your account has been compromised, change your password when ready and contact LinkedIn Support.
Will deleting LinkedIn affect my job or background checks?
Deleting your LinkedIn profile will not affect your employment or background checks. Employers and background check companies do not rely on LinkedIn as an official record. However, some employers do check LinkedIn during hiring, so deletion might make you harder to find. If you are job searching, deactivation may be a better choice than deletion.
What if I delete my account but want to rejoin later?
You have 30 days to reactivate by signing back in. After 30 days, you must create a new account. You will not be able to recover your old connections list or profile history, so you will need to rebuild your network from scratch.
Does LinkedIn delete my data when ready?
Your profile disappears from public view when ready after you confirm deletion through email. However, LinkedIn's servers may take a few hours to fully process the deletion across all systems. Search engines like Google may continue to show a cached version of your profile for days or weeks, but clicking the link will show an error.
Can I delete just part of my profile instead of the whole account?
No. Deletion removes your entire account. If you want to keep your account but hide specific information, you can edit your profile to remove work history, education, or recommendations before deletion. You can also make your profile private so only your connections can see it, without deleting anything.