Removing a connection takes two minutes and the person won't be notified
To delete a connection on LinkedIn, open your connections list, find the person's name, click the three dots next to their profile, and select "Remove connection." The person will not receive a notification that you removed them, though they may notice you are no longer on their connections list if they check. Once removed, you will both disappear from each other's connection lists when ready.
LinkedIn does not send a message to the other person, does not ask you to explain why, and does not prevent you from connecting with them again later. The removal is private — only you and the other person will know it happened, and only if one of you notices the change.
Key Takeaways
- The person you remove will not receive a notification, but they can see you are no longer connected if they visit your profile or check their connections list.
- Removing a connection is when ready and permanent until you choose to connect again.
- You can remove connections from your phone or computer using the same method.
- If you remove someone by mistake, you can send them a new connection request and explain what happened.
How to remove a connection on desktop
Start by going to your LinkedIn profile. Click "Connections" near the top of your profile page — this shows everyone you are currently connected to. You will see a list of names and small profile photos.
Find the person you want to remove. You can scroll through the list or use the search box at the top that says "Search connections" to type their name. Once you find them, look to the right of their name for a small icon with three dots stacked vertically (called a menu button). Click that icon.
A small menu will appear with two options: "Message" and "Remove connection." Click "Remove connection." LinkedIn will ask you to confirm — click "Remove" again. The person is now removed from your connections, and the change takes effect when ready.
How to remove a connection on your phone
Open the LinkedIn app and tap your profile picture at the bottom right. Tap "Connections" to see your full list. Find the person you want to remove by scrolling or by tapping the search icon and typing their name.
Tap the three dots next to their name. Select "Remove connection" from the menu that appears. Confirm by tapping "Remove" when LinkedIn asks you to verify. The connection is deleted right away.
What happens after you remove someone
Once you remove a connection, that person can no longer see your profile updates, your full profile, or your connections list — unless you are connected again. They will not see a notification about the removal. However, if they visit your profile directly or check their own connections list, they will notice you are no longer there.
You can still message them through LinkedIn if you have an existing conversation thread, but you cannot start a new message with them unless you connect again. If you remove someone and then want to reconnect, you can send them a new connection request just as you would with anyone else.
Removing connections in bulk
LinkedIn does not have a built-in tool to remove multiple connections at once. You must remove each person individually using the three-dot menu. If you have a large number of connections you want to remove, this will take time — there is no faster method within the app or on the website.
Some third-party tools claim to remove connections in bulk, but LinkedIn's terms of service do not allow these tools to access your account. Using them risks your account being suspended or locked. The safest approach is to remove connections one at a time.
Why you might want to remove a connection
People remove connections for many reasons: they no longer work together, the relationship has ended, they want to clean up an old or inactive account, or they straightforward do not want certain people seeing their updates. LinkedIn does not require a reason, and the removal is private.
If you are concerned about someone seeing your profile or updates, removing them is one option. You can also adjust your privacy settings so that only your connections can see certain information, or you can block someone if they are harassing you — blocking is stronger than removing and prevents them from finding your profile at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I removed them?
No, LinkedIn does not send a notification. However, they may notice on their own if they check their connections list or visit your profile. There is no way to remove someone without them potentially discovering it themselves.
Can I remove someone and then connect with them again?
Yes. Once you remove a connection, you can send them a new connection request at any time. You can include a message with the request explaining that you removed them by mistake or that you would like to reconnect.
What is the difference between removing a connection and blocking someone?
Removing a connection means you are no longer connected, but they can still find your profile and send you a message. Blocking prevents them from finding your profile, viewing your information, or contacting you. Use blocking if someone is harassing you; use removal if you straightforward want to disconnect.
If I remove someone, can they still see my old posts?
No. Once you remove a connection, they lose access to your profile and cannot see your posts, updates, or full profile information. However, if your posts were shared publicly or in groups you both belong to, they may still see those posts in the group or public feed.
Does removing a connection affect my profile visibility?
No. Removing connections does not change how visible your profile is to other people or affect your search ranking on LinkedIn. It only changes what that specific person can see about you.