What happens when you delete your LinkedIn profile
When you delete your LinkedIn profile, the account is gone permanently. LinkedIn removes your name, photo, work history, connections, and all messages within 30 days. After that window closes, the deletion is final — you cannot undo it or recover any of that information.
Before you delete, understand what you are losing. Your connections will no longer see your profile. Any recommendations or endorsements you received disappear. If you have saved articles, job searches, or draft posts, those are deleted too. LinkedIn will not send copies of your data to your email unless you request it separately beforehand.
Deletion is different from deactivation. When you deactivate, your profile goes hidden but the account stays in LinkedIn's system for 50 days. You can reactivate during that time and get everything back. Deletion removes the account entirely after 30 days and offers no recovery option.
Key Takeaways
- Deleting your LinkedIn profile is permanent after 30 days, and you cannot recover your profile, messages, or connections after that period ends.
- You must sign in to your account and navigate to Settings to start the deletion process — there is no way to delete through the mobile app alone.
- LinkedIn will ask you to confirm your decision and may offer you the option to download your data before the deletion becomes final.
- If you change your mind within 30 days, you can reactivate your account by signing back in, but after 30 days the deletion cannot be reversed.
How to delete your profile on a computer
Open LinkedIn in a web browser and sign in to your account. Click your profile photo in the top right corner. A menu will appear with several options — select Settings and privacy.
In the Settings page, look for the left sidebar menu. Click Account preferences. Scroll down until you see the section labeled Account management. You will see a link that says Close account or Deactivate account — click on Close account if you want permanent deletion.
LinkedIn will show you a warning page explaining that deletion is permanent. Read through the information. You will see a checkbox asking you to confirm that you understand your data will be deleted. Check that box. Then click the button to proceed with closing your account.
On the next screen, LinkedIn may offer you the option to download a copy of your profile data before the deletion takes effect. If you want to keep a record of your work history, recommendations, or connections, click that option now. Otherwise, click the final confirmation button to complete the deletion request.
What to do if you cannot find the delete option
If the Close account option does not appear in your Settings, your account may have restrictions. LinkedIn sometimes locks deletion for accounts that are very new, have recent payment activity, or are under review for policy violations.
Check whether you have an active LinkedIn Premium subscription or have made a recent purchase. If you do, you may need to cancel the subscription first before you can delete the account. Go to Settings and privacy, then Subscriptions, and look for any active plans. Cancel them, wait a few hours, and then return to Account management to try the deletion again.
If you still cannot find the option after canceling any subscriptions, contact LinkedIn Support directly through the Help Center. Explain that you want to delete your account and cannot locate the deletion option. LinkedIn Support can sometimes unlock the feature or delete the account on your behalf, though response times vary.
Why LinkedIn may prevent you from deleting immediately
LinkedIn holds new accounts for a waiting period before allowing deletion. If you created your account fewer than 30 days ago, you may see a message saying deletion is not yet available. Wait until the 30-day mark from account creation, then try again.
Accounts with recent payment activity are also restricted. If you purchased LinkedIn Premium, posted a job listing, or ran an ad campaign in the last few weeks, LinkedIn requires you to wait or cancel those services first. This protects against accidental deletions tied to billing disputes.
If your account is under investigation for violating LinkedIn's terms of service, deletion may be blocked until the review is complete. In this case, you will see a message explaining the restriction. You can contact LinkedIn Support to ask about the status of the review.
The 30-day window and what happens after
After you request deletion, you have 30 days to change your mind. During this period, your profile is hidden from search results and other members cannot view it. However, your account still exists in LinkedIn's system.
To reactivate your account during the 30-day window, simply sign back in with your email and password. LinkedIn will ask you to confirm that you want to restore the account. Click yes, and your profile, connections, and messages will return exactly as they were.
Once the 30 days pass, the deletion becomes permanent. LinkedIn removes all your data from their servers. You cannot recover your profile, messages, or any information associated with that account. If you want to use LinkedIn again after permanent deletion, you will need to create a brand new account from scratch.
Downloading your data before deletion
Before your account is permanently deleted, you can request a copy of your profile data. LinkedIn will compile a file containing your work history, education, skills, recommendations, and connections list. This is useful if you want to keep a record of your professional information or transfer it elsewhere.
When you click Close account in the Account management section, LinkedIn will offer you the option to download your data. Click that link and follow the prompts. LinkedIn will send a download link to your email address within a few hours. The file is usually in a format you can open in a spreadsheet or document program.
You do not have to download your data to complete the deletion. If you skip this step, the deletion will proceed without sending you any files. The choice is yours, but many people find it helpful to keep a copy of their professional information even after leaving the platform.
What to do if you want to leave but keep your profile visible
If you are not sure about permanent deletion, consider deactivating instead. Deactivation hides your profile from other members and pauses your account activity, but keeps your data safe for 50 days. You can reactivate at any time during that period without losing anything.
To deactivate rather than delete, go to Settings and privacy, then Account preferences, then Account management. Look for Deactivate account instead of Close account. Click that option and follow the prompts. Your profile will disappear from LinkedIn, but you will have a longer window to change your mind.
Deactivation is also useful if you want to take a break from LinkedIn without committing to permanent deletion. You can deactivate for months or years, then reactivate whenever you are ready to use the platform again. Your profile will look exactly as it did before.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete my LinkedIn profile from the mobile app?
No. LinkedIn does not offer the account deletion option in the mobile app. You must use a web browser on a computer to access Settings and find the Close account option. Open LinkedIn.com on your computer, sign in, and follow the steps in the Settings menu.
What happens to my messages after I delete my profile?
All your messages are deleted permanently within 30 days of requesting account closure. The people you messaged will still see their copy of the conversation on their end, but your messages will disappear from their inboxes. Once the 30-day window closes, there is no way to recover them.
Will my connections be notified that I deleted my account?
No. LinkedIn does not send notifications to your connections when you delete your account. Your profile will simply disappear from their networks. They may notice you are gone if they try to visit your profile or search for you, but they will not receive an official notification.
Can I delete my profile if I have an active job posting?
No. You must close or expire any active job postings before you can delete your account. Go to your LinkedIn Recruiter or job posting section, remove all active listings, and wait a few hours. Then return to Account management and try the deletion again.
What if I regret deleting my account after the 30 days are up?
Once 30 days have passed, your account cannot be recovered. You would need to create a new LinkedIn profile from scratch. This means rebuilding your connections, re-entering your work history, and starting with zero recommendations. There is no exception to the 30-day permanent deletion policy.