LinkedIn deletion is permanent and takes 30 days
When you close a LinkedIn account, the company holds it for 30 days before erasing it completely. During those 30 days, you can change your mind and reactivate the account by logging back in. After 30 days, your profile, messages, connections, and all associated data are deleted and cannot be recovered.
LinkedIn does not offer a way to pause or deactivate your account without deleting it. If you want to stop using LinkedIn but might return later, you can straightforward stop logging in — your profile will remain inactive but intact. Only choose deletion if you are certain you will not need the account again.
The deletion process itself takes just a few minutes. You do not need to contact LinkedIn support or provide a reason. You can start the deletion from your account settings on any device with internet access.
Key Takeaways
- Deleted LinkedIn accounts enter a 30-day waiting period before permanent removal, during which you can log back in to cancel the deletion.
- After 30 days, your profile, messages, connections, and all data are permanently erased with no way to recover them.
- You can delete your account through Settings and Privacy on desktop or through the mobile app's Account menu.
- If you think you might return to LinkedIn later, leaving your account inactive is safer than deleting it.
- Downloading your data before deletion is optional but useful if you want to keep a record of your connections or messages.
How to delete your account on desktop
Open LinkedIn in your web browser and log in if you are not already signed in. Click your profile photo in the top right corner of the page. A dropdown menu will appear with several options.
Select Settings and Privacy from the dropdown. You will be taken to your account settings page. On the left side of the page, you will see a menu with different sections. Click Account preferences to expand that section.
Scroll down until you see the option labeled Close account. Click on it. LinkedIn will show you a warning that explains the 30-day waiting period and that all your data will be deleted. Read through this information carefully.
Click the button to confirm that you want to close your account. LinkedIn may ask you why you are leaving — this question is optional and you do not have to answer it. After you confirm, your account will enter the 30-day deletion window.
How to delete your account on mobile
Open the LinkedIn app on your phone and log in if needed. Tap your profile photo at the bottom of the screen. This takes you to your profile page.
Tap the three horizontal lines (called a hamburger menu) at the top of your profile. Scroll down through the menu options until you find Settings and Privacy. Tap it.
Tap Account preferences. Scroll down to find Close account and tap it. The app will show you the same warning about the 30-day waiting period. Tap to confirm that you want to proceed.
After confirmation, your account will be scheduled for deletion. You can close the app — the process is complete.
What happens during the 30-day waiting period
Your profile becomes invisible to other LinkedIn users when ready. No one can search for you, view your profile, or send you messages. Your name disappears from other people's connection lists.
You can still log into your account during these 30 days. If you change your mind, straightforward log in with your email and password, and your account will be restored with all your data intact. You do not need to do anything special — logging in automatically cancels the deletion.
After 30 days pass with no login, LinkedIn permanently deletes everything. Your messages are gone, your connections list is gone, and your profile cannot be recovered. The email address you used for the account becomes available to register a new LinkedIn account after the 30 days end.
read your data before deleting
LinkedIn lets you read a copy of your profile information, connections, and messages before you delete your account. This is optional but useful if you want to keep a record of your professional network or any important conversations.
To read your data on desktop, go to Settings and Privacy, then Account preferences, and look for read your data. Click it and follow the prompts. LinkedIn will prepare a file and send it to your email address within a few hours.
On mobile, the same option appears in Settings and Privacy under Account preferences. Tap read your data and confirm. You will receive an email with a link to read your information.
The downloaded file is a compressed folder containing your profile details, connection list, and message history in a format you can open on your computer. Save this file somewhere safe before you proceed with account deletion.
Reasons to deactivate instead of delete
If you are unsure whether you will need LinkedIn again, consider leaving your account inactive instead of deleting it. An inactive account takes up no space in your life — you straightforward do not log in. Your profile remains private and invisible to others, but it still exists.
Reactivating an inactive account is as straightforward as logging in again. All your data, connections, and message history remain exactly as you left them. You can return to LinkedIn months or years later without losing anything.
Deletion is the right choice only if you are certain you will never use LinkedIn again and you do not want your data stored on LinkedIn's servers. If there is any chance you might return, staying inactive is the safer option.
What to do with your LinkedIn email and password
After your account is deleted, the email address you used becomes available for someone else to register. If you want to prevent someone from creating a new account with your email, you can change your email address before you delete the account.
Go to Settings and Privacy, then Account preferences, and find Email addresses. Change your primary email to a different address that you control. Then proceed with account deletion.
You do not need to change your password before deleting. Once the account is gone, the password is useless. If you use the same password on other websites, this is a good time to change those passwords as a security measure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover my LinkedIn account after the 30 days are up?
No. After 30 days, LinkedIn permanently deletes all your data. There is no way to recover your account, messages, or connections after that point. If you think you might want your account back, log in during the 30-day window to cancel the deletion.
Will LinkedIn delete my account if I just stop using it?
No. LinkedIn keeps inactive accounts indefinitely. Your profile will remain on LinkedIn's servers even if you never log in again. Only accounts that you specifically close through the settings menu are deleted.
What happens to my messages after I delete my account?
Your messages are deleted from your account, but the people you messaged with still have copies of those conversations in their inboxes. They will see your messages, but your profile will no longer be linked to them.
Can I delete my LinkedIn account without downloading my data first?
Yes. Downloading your data is optional. You can delete your account when ready without saving anything. Just keep in mind that once the 30-day period ends, there is no way to get your information back.
If I delete my account, can I create a new one with the same email?
Not during the 30-day waiting period. After 30 days, your email becomes available and you can register a new LinkedIn account with it. You will start completely fresh with no connections or history from your old account.