You can delete LinkedIn messages one at a time or clear entire conversations

LinkedIn lets you remove messages in two ways: delete individual messages within a conversation, or delete the entire conversation thread. When you delete a message, it disappears from your inbox but the other person still sees it on their end — LinkedIn does not offer a way to unsend or retract messages after they are sent. If you want to remove a conversation completely, deleting the thread removes it from your view, though the other person's copy remains.

The steps differ slightly depending on whether you are using LinkedIn on a computer or phone, and the timing matters: you can only delete messages you have already sent, not messages you received from someone else.

Key Takeaways

  • Deleting a message on LinkedIn removes it only from your inbox; the person who received it still sees it on their screen.
  • You can delete individual messages by hovering over them on desktop or long-pressing on mobile, then selecting the delete option.
  • To remove an entire conversation, use the archive or delete conversation feature in your messaging inbox.
  • LinkedIn does not offer an unsend feature, so once a message is delivered, the recipient will see it even if you delete your copy.

How to delete a single message on desktop

Open LinkedIn in a web browser and go to your messaging inbox by clicking the messaging icon at the top of the page. Find the conversation containing the message you want to delete and click to open it. Hover your mouse over the message you sent — a three-dot menu icon will appear to the right of the message text.

Click the three-dot menu and select "Delete" from the dropdown options. The message will disappear from your inbox when ready. The other person in the conversation will not see this deletion; their copy of the message remains in their inbox.

How to delete a single message on mobile

Open the LinkedIn app and tap the messaging icon at the bottom of the screen. Select the conversation that contains the message you want to remove. Find the message you sent and press and hold on it until a menu appears with options.

Tap "Delete" from the menu that appears. The message will be removed from your view. As with desktop, the other person will continue to see the message in their conversation thread.

How to delete an entire conversation

If you want to remove a whole conversation thread from your inbox rather than individual messages, the process is faster. On desktop, go to your messaging inbox and find the conversation you want to remove. Hover over the conversation name and a trash or delete icon will appear on the right side. Click it to delete the entire conversation from your inbox.

On mobile, open the conversation list, find the thread you want to remove, and swipe left on it (iPhone) or press and hold it (Android). A delete option will appear. Tap it to remove the conversation. Again, this only removes it from your view — the other person's copy of the conversation remains intact.

Why LinkedIn does not have an unsend feature

Many messaging platforms now offer unsend or recall options that let you remove a message from both your inbox and the recipient's. LinkedIn does not have this feature. Once a message is delivered, the recipient has already seen a notification and can read it in their inbox, so LinkedIn's design assumes the message has been read and acted upon.

This means you cannot take back something you said in a professional context. If you send a message by mistake or want to correct something, your best option is to send a follow-up message explaining the error rather than trying to hide the original message.

What happens to deleted messages in group conversations

LinkedIn also supports group messaging, where multiple people are in one conversation thread. If you delete a message in a group chat, it disappears from your inbox but remains visible to everyone else in the group. You cannot delete messages that other people sent, only your own.

If you need to correct something you said in a group message, send a new message with the correction rather than deleting the original. This keeps the conversation clear for everyone involved and avoids confusion about what was discussed.

How to manage your messaging privacy settings

Beyond deleting individual messages, you can control who can message you on LinkedIn through your privacy settings. Go to your profile, click "Settings and privacy," then select "Privacy." Under "Messaging," you can choose to allow messages from anyone, only from people in your network, or only from people you follow.

You can also block specific people from messaging you. Open a conversation with someone you want to block, click the three-dot menu at the top of the conversation, and select "Block." That person will no longer be able to send you messages, and you will not see their previous messages in your inbox.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the other person tell if I deleted a message?

No. When you delete a message from your inbox, the other person does not receive a notification or see any indication that you deleted it. The message remains in their inbox as normal. They only know you deleted it if they notice the message is no longer there when they look back at your conversation.

What is the difference between deleting a message and archiving a conversation?

Deleting removes a message or conversation from your inbox entirely. Archiving hides a conversation but keeps it stored so you can search for it later. If you archive a conversation and the other person sends you a new message, the conversation will reappear in your inbox. Deleting is permanent from your view.

Can I delete messages I received from someone else?

No. LinkedIn only lets you delete messages you sent yourself. If you want to remove a conversation that contains messages from the other person, you have to delete the entire thread, which removes all messages in that conversation from your view.

Does LinkedIn keep a record of deleted messages?

LinkedIn's servers likely retain records of messages for their own purposes, but you cannot recover a message once you delete it from your inbox. If you need to reference something that was said, take a screenshot before deleting.

What should I do if I sent a message to the wrong person?

Send a follow-up message to that person explaining the mistake. Deleting your original message will not undo the fact that they received it and were notified. A quick clarification message is more professional than hoping they did not read the first one.