The fastest way to remove a connection

Open LinkedIn and go to your profile. Click My Network at the top, then select Connections. Find the person you want to remove, hover over their name, and click the three dots that appear. Select Remove connection from the menu. LinkedIn will ask you to confirm — click Remove again, and the connection is gone.

The person you removed will not get a notification that you did this. They will straightforward no longer see you in their connection list, and you will no longer see them in yours. If they visit your profile, they will see a Connect button instead of your current connection status.

This process takes about 30 seconds and works the same way on desktop and mobile. You do not need to message the person first or give them a reason.

Key Takeaways

  • Removed connections do not receive a notification, but they will notice you are no longer connected if they check your profile.
  • You can remove a connection from your Connections list or directly from their profile page using the three-dot menu.
  • Removing a connection is permanent — if you want to reconnect later, you will have to send a new connection request.
  • Removing someone does not delete past messages or shared content; it only breaks the connection going forward.

Removing a connection from their profile page

If you are already viewing someone's profile, you can remove them without going to your Connections list. Look for the Connected button near the top of their profile (usually next to their name and headline). Click that button and select Remove connection.

This method is useful if you are browsing profiles and decide you want to remove someone as you go. The result is identical — the connection is removed when ready, and they will not be notified.

What happens to your messages and activity after removal

Removing a connection does not erase your message history with that person. Your past conversations will remain in your LinkedIn inbox, and you can still read what you discussed. However, you will no longer be able to send them direct messages unless you reconnect or they send you a message first.

Any posts or comments you made on their profile or they made on yours will stay visible. Removing the connection does not delete shared content — it only changes your relationship status on the platform.

If you want to hide past interactions, you would need to delete individual messages or ask LinkedIn support to remove specific content, which is a separate process.

Reconnecting with someone you removed

If you remove someone and later change your mind, you can send them a new connection request just as you would with any other person. They will see your request in their inbox and can choose to accept or decline it. There is no penalty for removing and reconnecting — LinkedIn treats it as a fresh request.

When you send the new request, you have the option to include a note explaining why you want to reconnect. This can be helpful if the removal was accidental or if circumstances have changed.

Removing connections in bulk

LinkedIn does not have a built-in feature to remove multiple connections at once. You must remove each person individually using the three-dot menu or the Connected button on their profile. If you have a large number of connections to remove, this will take time.

Some third-party tools claim to offer bulk removal, but LinkedIn's terms of service restrict what these tools can do, and using them may put your account at risk. The safest approach is to remove connections one at a time through LinkedIn's official interface.

Why you might want to remove a connection

People remove connections for different reasons. You might want to clean up your network if you no longer work with someone, if a connection is inactive, or if you straightforward want to reduce the size of your list. Some people remove connections before a job search to keep their network focused on relevant contacts.

You might also remove someone if they are posting content you do not want to see, or if you prefer to keep your professional network separate from certain people. LinkedIn does not require you to explain your choice, and removal is a private action.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person know I removed them?

LinkedIn does not send a notification when you remove someone. However, if they check your profile or their own connections list, they will notice you are no longer there. There is no way to hide the removal itself.

Can I remove someone without them seeing my profile first?

Yes. Removing a connection does not require any action from them or any notification to them. You can remove someone whether or not they have visited your profile recently.

What if I accidentally removed someone?

Send them a new connection request. Explain in the note that it was accidental, and most people will accept. There is no record of the removal on their end, so they will straightforward see a fresh request from you.

Does removing a connection affect my LinkedIn recommendations or visibility?

Removing a connection does not change how LinkedIn's algorithm shows your profile to others or what recommendations you receive. Your visibility and recommendations are based on your activity, skills, and endorsements, not on your connection count.

Can I remove a connection and then block them?

Yes, but they are separate actions. Removing breaks the connection; blocking prevents them from sending you messages or viewing your profile. You can do both if you want to completely cut off contact with someone.