LinkedIn deletion is permanent and takes 30 days

When you delete your LinkedIn profile, the account closes when ready, but LinkedIn keeps your data for 30 days in case you change your mind. After those 30 days, your profile, messages, connections, and activity are gone for good. You cannot recover a deleted profile after the 30-day window closes.

Deletion is different from deactivation. A deactivated account hides your profile from search results and other users, but LinkedIn keeps everything — you can reactivate it anytime. Deletion actually removes your account from LinkedIn's systems, though the company retains some information for legal and safety reasons.

The deletion process takes about five minutes and requires you to be logged in. You do not need to contact LinkedIn support or provide a reason.

Key Takeaways

  • Deleted profiles cannot be recovered after 30 days, so read your data first if you want to keep any records of your connections or messages.
  • LinkedIn keeps your email address and phone number for 18 months after deletion to prevent spam accounts, even though your profile is gone.
  • Other users' screenshots, recommendations, and endorsements of you remain on their profiles even after you delete yours.
  • If you only want to hide your profile temporarily, deactivation is reversible and takes the same number of steps as deletion.

How to delete your profile in five steps

Open LinkedIn and sign in to the account you want to delete. Go to your profile by clicking your photo in the top right corner, then select "View profile."

Click the "Edit public profile" button near the top of your profile. In the top right of the page, click the three-dot menu icon and select "Close account." LinkedIn will ask you to confirm that you understand the account cannot be recovered after 30 days.

Choose a reason for leaving from the dropdown menu — this is optional, but LinkedIn uses the feedback to improve the platform. Enter your password to confirm the deletion request. Click "Delete account" and you are done.

Your profile disappears from search results when ready. Other users will see a message that the profile no longer exists if they try to visit your page. After 30 days, LinkedIn permanently removes all your data from its active systems.

read your data before the 30-day window closes

LinkedIn lets you read a copy of your profile data, including your connections list, messages, and profile information. This is useful if you want to keep a record of your professional network or any important conversations before the account closes.

To read your data, go to Settings and Privacy, then select "Data privacy." Click "Get a copy of your data" and LinkedIn will prepare a file. You will receive an email with a read link within a few hours. The file includes your profile details, connections, endorsements, and message history.

You can read this data even after you delete your account, as long as you do it within the 30-day recovery window. After 30 days, LinkedIn will not provide the data anymore.

What happens to your information after deletion

Your profile, photos, and activity history are removed from LinkedIn's public systems after 30 days. Other users cannot search for you or view your profile. Any posts you made are deleted, and your name no longer appears in other people's connection lists.

However, LinkedIn retains your email address and phone number for 18 months after deletion. This prevents someone from when ready creating a new account with the same contact information. The company also keeps logs of your activity for legal compliance and fraud prevention, though these are not tied to your name or profile.

Recommendations, endorsements, and comments that other users left on your profile remain on their accounts. If someone endorsed you for a skill or wrote a recommendation, that information stays visible on their profile even though your profile is gone. You cannot remove these from other people's profiles.

Deactivation as an alternative to deletion

If you are not sure about permanently deleting your account, deactivation hides your profile without removing it. A deactivated account does not appear in search results, and other users cannot message you or see your activity. You can reactivate the account anytime by logging back in.

Deactivation takes the same steps as deletion: go to Settings and Privacy, select "Data privacy," and choose "Close account." Instead of clicking "Delete account," select "Deactivate account." Your profile disappears from view, but all your data stays on LinkedIn's servers.

Deactivation is useful if you want to step back from LinkedIn temporarily — for example, during a job search where you do not want your current employer to see activity — but think you might return later. Deletion is the right choice if you have decided you no longer want a LinkedIn presence at all.

What to do if you change your mind within 30 days

If you delete your account and then change your mind, you can recover it within 30 days by logging back in with your email and password. LinkedIn will ask if you want to reactivate the account. Click yes, and your profile, connections, and messages return exactly as they were.

After the 30-day window closes, recovery is not possible. LinkedIn does not restore deleted accounts under any circumstances, even if you contact support. This is why downloading your data before deletion is important if you want to preserve any information.

If you are on the fence about deletion, deactivation is a safer first step. You can always delete later if you decide you do not want the account anymore.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting my LinkedIn profile affect my job or background check?

No. Employers and background check companies do not use LinkedIn deletion as a negative signal. If a company is checking your background, they typically do so through official channels like previous employers or background check services, not through LinkedIn. A deleted profile will not show up in those searches.

Can I delete my LinkedIn profile on mobile?

Yes. Open the LinkedIn app, tap your profile photo, go to Settings and Privacy, select "Data privacy," and follow the same steps as on a computer. The process is identical on mobile and desktop.

What if I have a LinkedIn message someone important needs?

read your data before deleting your account. The read includes your full message history, which you can save as a file. You can then share the relevant messages with the person directly through email or another platform.

Does LinkedIn notify my connections when I delete my profile?

No. LinkedIn does not send a notification to your connections when you delete your account. They will only notice if they try to visit your profile and see that it no longer exists. You can email important contacts separately if you want to let them know you are leaving the platform.

Can I delete my profile if I have a LinkedIn Premium subscription?

Yes. You can delete your account regardless of whether you have a free or paid subscription. If you have an active Premium subscription, you should cancel it first to avoid being charged again. Go to Settings and Privacy, select "Subscriptions," and cancel before deleting your account.