LinkedIn deletion is permanent and takes 30 days to complete

When you delete your LinkedIn account, the company keeps your data for 30 days in case you change your mind. During this window, you can sign back in and cancel the deletion. After 30 days, your profile, messages, connections, and all associated data are removed from LinkedIn's servers. This is different from deactivating, which hides your profile but keeps your account and data intact.

The deletion process itself takes only a few minutes — you do it through your account settings. The waiting period is automatic; you cannot speed it up. LinkedIn will send you a confirmation email when you request deletion and another when the 30 days have passed.

Key Takeaways

  • Deleting your account is permanent after 30 days, but you can undo it by signing back in during the waiting period.
  • You must be signed into your account to request deletion; you cannot delete an account you cannot access.
  • Deactivation hides your profile but keeps your data; deletion removes everything after 30 days.
  • LinkedIn will not delete your account if you do not confirm the request through the email they send you.

How to request account deletion from a computer

Sign into LinkedIn on a web browser. Click your profile photo in the top right corner and select Settings and privacy from the dropdown menu. On the left side, click Account preferences. Scroll down until you see How do you want to leave LinkedIn? and click that section to expand it.

You will see two options: Deactivate account and Close account. Click Close account. LinkedIn will ask you why you are leaving and offer you a text box to explain. You do not have to fill this in. At the bottom of the page, check the box that says I understand that my data will be deleted, then click Close account. A confirmation page will appear telling you the 30-day waiting period has started.

How to request deletion from the LinkedIn mobile app

Open the LinkedIn app and tap your profile photo at the bottom right. Tap the gear icon for Settings. Scroll down and tap Account preferences. Tap How do you want to leave LinkedIn? and then tap Close account. The same confirmation screen will appear as on the web version.

The mobile app sometimes takes longer to load the settings page. If you see a blank screen or the option does not appear, try closing the app completely and reopening it, or use a web browser instead.

What happens during the 30-day waiting period

Your profile will no longer appear in search results or in other people's networks. Your messages will be deleted from other users' inboxes. However, your account still exists on LinkedIn's servers, and you can still sign in with your email and password. If you sign in during these 30 days, you will see a message asking you to confirm that you want to delete your account, and you can cancel the deletion at that point.

After 30 days pass, LinkedIn will send you a final confirmation email. At that point, your account cannot be recovered. Your email address will be available to use for a new LinkedIn account after a waiting period, though LinkedIn does not specify how long that is.

If you cannot access your account

If you have forgotten your password or no longer have access to the email address linked to your account, you cannot delete it yourself through the settings menu. You will need to contact LinkedIn's support team. Go to linkedin.com/help and click Contact us at the bottom of the page. Select Account and login as the topic, then describe that you want to delete an account you cannot access.

LinkedIn's support team can take several days to respond. Be specific about which email address the account uses and include any other details you remember about the account. They will verify your identity before processing a deletion request.

Deactivation as an alternative to deletion

If you are not sure whether you want to delete your account permanently, you can deactivate it instead. A deactivated account hides your profile from search results and removes you from other people's networks, but LinkedIn keeps all your data. You can reactivate your account at any time by signing back in — there is no waiting period. Your profile, messages, and connections will all return exactly as they were.

Deactivation is useful if you want to step away from LinkedIn temporarily but might want to return later. Deletion is the right choice if you do not plan to use LinkedIn again and want your information completely removed from their servers.

What LinkedIn does not delete

When you delete your account, LinkedIn removes your profile and personal data from their active systems. However, they may keep backup copies of your data for legal or security reasons, and they may retain information about you that other users shared — such as messages they sent you or recommendations they wrote. You cannot control what other people have saved or screenshotted from your profile.

If you are concerned about your data privacy beyond LinkedIn, you can request a copy of all your data before you delete your account. In your account settings, go to Data privacy and select Get a copy of your data. LinkedIn will compile a file and email it to you within a few days. This file includes everything LinkedIn has stored about you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete my LinkedIn account if I have a pending job process?

Yes, you can delete your account at any time. However, employers may not be able to contact you about pending applications after your profile is gone. If you are actively job searching, consider deactivating instead, or wait until you have heard back from employers you are interested in.

What if I change my mind during the 30 days?

Sign back into your account with your email and password. You will see a message asking you to confirm the deletion. Click the option to cancel or undo the deletion, and your account will be restored with all your data intact. You must do this before the 30 days are up.

Will deleting LinkedIn delete my Microsoft account?

No. LinkedIn is owned by Microsoft, but deleting your LinkedIn account does not affect your Microsoft account, Outlook email, or any other Microsoft services. They are separate accounts even if you used your Microsoft login to access LinkedIn.

Can I delete just my profile picture or certain information instead of the whole account?

Yes. You can edit or delete individual parts of your profile — your photo, headline, work history, or connections — without deleting your entire account. Go to your profile and click the pencil icon next to any section you want to change. Full account deletion is only necessary if you want to remove everything.

How long does it take for my profile to stop appearing in Google search results?

Google usually removes deleted LinkedIn profiles from its search results within a few days to a few weeks, but the timing varies. You cannot control this directly. If your profile is still showing up after your account is fully deleted, you can request removal through Google Search Console, though this is rarely necessary.