LinkedIn gives you two ways out: deactivation or deletion
If you want to leave LinkedIn, you have two paths. Deactivation hides your profile when ready but keeps your data on LinkedIn's servers for 30 days — you can reactivate during that window and get everything back. Deletion removes your account permanently after 30 days, though LinkedIn may keep some data (like messages you sent to others) in their systems longer.
Most people should deactivate first. It takes 30 seconds, your profile vanishes right away, and you keep the option to change your mind. Deletion is the right choice only if you are certain you will not want to return and you want LinkedIn to stop processing your data as actively as possible.
The 30-day waiting period exists because LinkedIn's systems are distributed — it takes time to remove your information from all their servers and backups. During those 30 days, your profile is invisible to other users, but the deletion is not yet final.
Key Takeaways
- Deactivation hides your profile when ready and is reversible for 30 days; deletion is permanent after 30 days and cannot be undone.
- To deactivate, go to Settings & Privacy, then Account, then Deactivate Account — you do not need to provide a reason.
- To delete permanently, you must first deactivate, wait for the confirmation email, then click the deletion link in that email within 30 days.
- LinkedIn will not delete messages you sent to other people, even after your account is gone — those remain in their inboxes.
- If you reactivate during the 30-day window, your connections, messages, and profile history return exactly as they were.
How to deactivate your account in four steps
Open LinkedIn on a desktop or laptop — the mobile app does not have a deactivation option. Go to your profile photo in the top right corner and select Settings & Privacy. Click the Account tab on the left side.
Scroll down to Account Management and click Deactivate Account. LinkedIn will ask you to confirm and may offer you a survey about why you are leaving — you can skip it. Click Deactivate again to finish. Your profile disappears from LinkedIn when ready, though the system takes a few minutes to remove you from search results and other users' connection lists.
You will receive a confirmation email at the address on your account. Keep this email if there is any chance you might reactivate — you will need it to log back in during the 30-day window.
How to permanently delete after deactivation
After you deactivate, wait for the confirmation email from LinkedIn. That email contains a link labeled Delete Account or similar. Click that link within 30 days of deactivation.
LinkedIn will ask you to confirm deletion one more time and may ask for your password. Once you confirm, the deletion process begins. You will receive another email confirming that your account is scheduled for deletion. After 30 days from the original deactivation date, your account and associated data will be removed from LinkedIn's active systems.
If you do not click the deletion link in the confirmation email within 30 days, your account will automatically reactivate. You will be able to log in again with your original password.
What happens to your data when you delete
LinkedIn removes your profile, work history, education, connections list, and messages you received from the platform. However, messages you sent to other people stay in their inboxes — LinkedIn cannot delete messages from someone else's account. If you sent sensitive information to connections, deletion will not erase it from their side.
LinkedIn may retain some data for legal, tax, or security reasons, even after deletion. They are required to keep records of transactions and account activity for a set period under financial regulations. Your data may also remain in backups for some time, though it will not be accessible to you or other users.
If you downloaded your data before deleting (through the Data read tool in Settings), that file is yours to keep — LinkedIn deletion does not affect files on your own computer.
Reactivating your account during the 30-day window
If you change your mind within 30 days of deactivating, log in with your original email and password. Your profile, connections, messages, and work history will return exactly as they were. There is no penalty for reactivating — LinkedIn treats it as if you never left.
After the 30-day window closes, reactivation is no longer possible. You would have to create a new account from scratch. This is why deactivation is safer than deletion if you are unsure — it gives you a month to decide without losing anything.
Why you might deactivate instead of delete
Deactivation is the right choice if you want to step away from LinkedIn but might need it later for job searching, professional networking, or reference checks. Many people deactivate for months or years, then reactivate when they change jobs or want to reconnect with colleagues.
Deactivation also protects you if you are not certain about your decision. Deletion is permanent — once the 30 days pass, there is no way to recover your account. Deactivation lets you test what life is like without LinkedIn before you commit to erasing it.
If your main concern is privacy, deactivation accomplishes most of what you need: your profile is hidden, you stop receiving notifications, and LinkedIn stops collecting data about your activity on the platform. Deletion adds the extra step of removing your historical data, but it takes longer and cannot be undone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete my account from the LinkedIn mobile app?
No. The mobile app only offers deactivation. To delete permanently, you must use a desktop or laptop browser, receive the confirmation email, and click the deletion link from that email.
What if I do not receive the confirmation email after deactivating?
Check your spam or junk folder — confirmation emails sometimes get filtered. If it is not there, wait a few hours and check again. If you still do not see it after 24 hours, you can log back in during the 30-day window and your account will reactivate automatically.
Will deleting my LinkedIn account remove me from job search sites that pulled my profile?
No. Other websites that indexed or saved your LinkedIn profile will not automatically update when you delete. You may need to contact those sites separately if you want your information removed from their systems.
Can my employer or connections see that I deleted my account?
They will see that your profile is no longer available, but LinkedIn does not send a notification saying you deleted it. Your connections will straightforward notice you are gone from their list.
What if I reactivate after 30 days — can I get my old account back?
No. After 30 days, deletion is final. You can create a new LinkedIn account with the same email address, but it will be a fresh account with no history, connections, or messages from your old profile.