LinkedIn gives you two choices: deactivate temporarily or delete permanently
Deactivating your account hides your profile from view but keeps your data on LinkedIn's servers for 30 days. During that window, you can reactivate and get everything back. Deleting your account removes your profile, messages, and connections from public view, but LinkedIn retains some information for legal and safety reasons — things like payment records, dispute resolution data, and copies of messages other people saved.
The choice between the two depends on whether you might want to return. If you think you'll come back to LinkedIn in a few weeks or months, deactivation is reversible. If you're done with the platform, deletion is permanent after the 30-day window closes.
Key Takeaways
- Deactivating your account hides your profile for 30 days and is fully reversible if you log back in during that period.
- Deleting your account removes your profile permanently after 30 days, though LinkedIn keeps payment records and legal documents.
- You must log in to your account to start either process — LinkedIn does not delete accounts by email request.
- Downloaded copies of your messages, recommendations, and connections stay on your own device even after deletion.
- LinkedIn will not remove your profile from search engine caches or screenshots other people have taken.
How to deactivate your account temporarily
Log into LinkedIn on a web browser (not the mobile app). Go to your profile photo in the top right corner and select "Settings and privacy." Click "Account preferences" and scroll down to find "Account management." You will see the option to deactivate your account. LinkedIn will ask you why you are leaving — you can skip this or answer it. Click the deactivate button and confirm.
Your profile disappears when ready from search results and other people's view. Your messages are hidden, your connections cannot see you, and your profile picture vanishes from their networks. If you change your mind within 30 days, log back in with your email and password and your account reactivates with everything intact.
How to permanently delete your account
Log into LinkedIn on a web browser. Go to "Settings and privacy," then "Account preferences," then "Account management." This time, select "Close account" instead of deactivate. LinkedIn will warn you that this action cannot be undone and that it takes up to 30 days to fully process. You must confirm twice — once on the initial screen and again in a confirmation email LinkedIn sends to your registered email address.
After you confirm in the email, the 30-day deletion window begins. During this time, your profile is no longer visible, but the account technically still exists in LinkedIn's system. After 30 days pass, your profile and most associated data are removed. However, LinkedIn states it may retain information needed for legal compliance, fraud prevention, and to honor user requests to delete messages (since other people's copies of your messages are their data, not yours).
What happens to your data after deletion
Your profile, headline, work history, and connections list are deleted. Messages you sent are removed from your sent folder, but messages you received may remain in other people's inboxes — you cannot delete their copies. Any recommendations or endorsements you gave or received are deleted. Your profile photo, banner, and any documents you uploaded are removed from LinkedIn's public servers.
LinkedIn keeps records of payments you made (for job postings, LinkedIn Premium, or ads), tax information if you were a creator, and any data related to disputes or legal holds. These records are kept for accounting and legal reasons, not to rebuild your profile. If you downloaded your data before deletion, that copy stays on your computer — deletion only removes what LinkedIn hosts.
Why LinkedIn might not fully disappear from the internet
Even after deletion, your profile may still appear in Google search results for weeks or months because search engines cache web pages. You can ask Google to remove your LinkedIn profile from its search results by using Google Search Console, but this is a separate process from deleting your LinkedIn account. Go to google.com/webmasters, add your LinkedIn profile URL, and request removal.
Screenshots, archived versions of your profile on the Wayback Machine, or mentions of you in other people's posts will not be affected by your deletion. If someone took a screenshot of your profile or saved your information before you deleted, that copy belongs to them and you have no way to remove it.
Deactivate vs. delete: which should you choose
Choose deactivation if you are taking a break, worried you might need LinkedIn for a job search later, or want to see if you miss it. Deactivation is a low-risk pause. Choose deletion if you do not want any connection to LinkedIn, object to how the platform uses your data, or have no intention of returning. Deletion is final after 30 days, so be certain before confirming.
If you are deleting because of privacy concerns, understand that deletion does not undo past data sharing. LinkedIn may have already sold or shared your information with advertisers, recruiters, or data brokers before you deleted. Deletion stops future collection but does not retrieve what has already been shared.
What to do before you delete
read your data first. Go to "Settings and privacy," select "Data privacy," and choose "Get a copy of your data." LinkedIn will email you a file containing your profile information, connections list, messages, and recommendations. This gives you a record of your own information and lets you keep contact details for people you want to stay in touch with.
Tell people you want to stay connected that you are leaving. LinkedIn does not notify your connections when you delete, so if you want to exchange phone numbers or email addresses, do it before you go. After deletion, people will not be able to find you through LinkedIn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete my account on the LinkedIn mobile app?
No. LinkedIn only allows account deletion through a web browser. Open LinkedIn.com on a computer or phone browser, log in, and follow the deletion steps. The mobile app does not have this option.
What if I delete my account but want to rejoin LinkedIn later?
You can create a new account with the same email address after the 30-day deletion window closes. However, your old profile, connections, and message history will not return. You will start fresh with a new profile.
Will deleting my LinkedIn account affect my job or background checks?
Deletion will not remove your information from background check databases or employer records if they already have it. However, future employers or recruiters will not be able to find you on LinkedIn. If your job requires a LinkedIn presence, check your employment agreement before deleting.
Does LinkedIn delete my account if I do not use it for a long time?
No. LinkedIn does not automatically delete inactive accounts. Your profile will remain on the platform indefinitely unless you manually deactivate or delete it yourself.
Can I recover my account after the 30-day deletion period ends?
No. After 30 days, your account is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered. You would need to create an entirely new account if you wanted to use LinkedIn again.