How to remove a connection on LinkedIn
You can remove a connection from LinkedIn in two clicks. Open your profile, find the person's name in your connections list, click the three dots next to their name, and select "Remove connection." LinkedIn will delete them from your network when ready. They will not receive a notification that you removed them, though they may notice over time if they check their own connection count.
The person you remove can still see your public profile if your settings allow it. Removing them from your connections does not hide your past messages, posts they have liked, or comments they have made on your content. If you want to prevent them from seeing your activity going forward, you may need to adjust your privacy settings separately.
Key Takeaways
- Removing a connection takes seconds and happens silently — the other person will not be notified.
- Your message history with that person stays in your inbox even after you remove them.
- They can still view your public profile unless you have restricted who can see it in your privacy settings.
- You can remove connections one at a time from your profile or use LinkedIn's bulk removal tool if you have many to remove.
Step-by-step: removing a single connection
Start by going to your LinkedIn profile. Click the "My Network" icon in the top navigation bar, then select "Connections" from the dropdown menu. This takes you to a list of everyone in your network.
Search for the person's name using the search box at the top of your connections list, or scroll through manually if you prefer. Once you find them, hover over their name and you will see a three-dot menu icon appear on the right side of their entry. Click those three dots.
A small menu will pop up with the option "Remove connection" at the bottom. Click it. LinkedIn will ask you to confirm — click "Remove" again in the confirmation box. The person is now removed from your connections list.
What happens to your messages and interaction history
Your direct messages with this person remain in your inbox after you remove them. You can still read old conversations, but you will no longer be able to send them new messages through LinkedIn's messaging system. If you want to contact them again later, you would need to reconnect first.
Any comments they have left on your posts, likes on your content, or endorsements they gave you will stay visible on your profile. Removing a connection does not erase the history of your interaction on the platform — it only removes them from your active network list.
Controlling what they can see about you after removal
By default, removed connections can still view your public profile, see your headline, location, and education history. They cannot see your full work history, recommendations, or endorsements unless you have made those public in your privacy settings.
If you want to prevent someone from seeing even your basic profile after removing them, you need to block them instead of straightforward removing them. To block someone, go to their profile, click the three dots at the top, and select "Block." A blocked person cannot search for you, view your profile, or send you messages. Blocking is more restrictive than removal and should be used when you want to completely cut off contact.
Removing multiple connections at once
If you need to remove many connections, doing them one at a time is slow. LinkedIn does not have a built-in bulk removal tool in the main interface, but you can speed up the process by opening your connections list and removing several in quick succession — each removal takes only a few seconds once you know where to click.
Some third-party tools claim to offer bulk connection removal, but Housing Basics does not recommend using them. These tools require you to give them access to your LinkedIn account, which carries security risk. Your account credentials should stay with you alone. The manual method, though slower, keeps your account safe.
When you might want to remove a connection instead of blocking
Remove a connection when you straightforward want to clean up your network or distance yourself from someone without being harsh. The person will not know you removed them unless they actively check their connection count. This is useful for people you met professionally but no longer work with, or connections that accumulated over time but no longer matter to your network.
Block someone when they are harassing you, sending unwanted messages, or you want to may support they cannot contact you at all. Blocking is visible to the other person in the sense that they will not be able to find you — they will see a message saying the account does not exist or the person is not available. Use blocking for safety or serious boundary issues, and removal for routine network maintenance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I removed them?
No. LinkedIn does not send a notification when you remove someone. They will only know if they manually check their connection count or search for your name and notice you are no longer listed. Most people never notice.
Can I message someone after I remove them?
No. Once removed, you cannot send them direct messages. If you want to contact them again, you must send a new connection request and wait for them to accept it before messaging becomes available.
Do my old messages disappear when I remove a connection?
No. Your message history stays in your inbox. You can read past conversations anytime, but you cannot reply to them or start new conversations until you reconnect.
What is the difference between removing and blocking?
Removing a connection straightforward takes them off your network list — they can still see your public profile and search for you. Blocking prevents them from viewing your profile, searching for you, or contacting you. Blocking is more restrictive and should be used only when necessary.
Can I undo a removal?
Yes. You can send them a new connection request at any time. They will see it as a fresh request, not as a reconnection. If they accept, you are connected again and can message each other.