The steps to delete your LinkedIn account
To permanently delete your LinkedIn profile, sign in to your account, go to Settings & Privacy, select Account, then scroll to Account Management and click "Close account." LinkedIn will ask you to confirm your decision and explain why you're leaving. After you confirm, your profile and all associated data will be deleted within 30 days. During that 30-day window, you can sign back in to cancel the deletion if you change your mind.
The deletion process is straightforward, but the waiting period matters: LinkedIn doesn't remove your information immediately. Your profile becomes invisible to other users right away, but the company keeps your data for 30 days in case you want to undo the action. After 30 days, your messages, connections, and profile information are permanently removed from LinkedIn's servers.
If you can't find the Close Account option, you may be using an older version of the settings page. Try signing out completely, then signing back in. If the option still doesn't appear, contact LinkedIn Support through the Help Center — they can process the deletion manually, though it takes longer.
Key Takeaways
- Deletion happens in Settings & Privacy under Account Management, and your profile disappears from public view immediately.
- You have 30 days to change your mind and reactivate your account before the deletion becomes permanent.
- After 30 days, all your messages, connections, profile information, and activity history are permanently removed.
- If you only want to hide your profile temporarily without losing your data, deactivation is a separate option that keeps your account intact.
- LinkedIn Support can process deletions manually if you cannot access the Close Account button in your settings.
What happens to your data after deletion
Once the 30-day period ends, LinkedIn removes your profile, messages, connections list, and all activity history. Other users will no longer be able to search for you or view your profile. Any posts you made will be deleted, and your name will disappear from other people's connection lists.
However, some information may persist outside LinkedIn's control. If you shared your profile link on a resume, website, or email, those links will break but the text remains wherever you posted it. Search engines like Google may still show a cached version of your profile for a short time, but clicking the link will show an error page. You cannot control how quickly Google removes the cached version — that depends on Google's own indexing schedule.
LinkedIn does not sell your deleted data to third parties, but information you shared with other users (like messages or posts they saved) remains in their accounts. If someone downloaded your profile or took screenshots, those copies stay with them.
Deactivation versus deletion: which one to choose
Deactivation and deletion are two different actions with different outcomes. Deactivation hides your profile from other users but keeps your account and all your data intact on LinkedIn's servers. You can reactivate a deactivated account at any time by signing back in — your profile, messages, and connections will all return exactly as they were. Deactivation is useful if you want to step away from LinkedIn temporarily without losing your professional history.
Deletion is permanent after 30 days. You cannot recover a deleted profile, messages, or connections. Choose deletion only if you are certain you will not need your LinkedIn account again. If you think you might return to LinkedIn in the future, deactivation is the safer choice.
To deactivate instead of delete, go to Settings & Privacy, select Account, find Account Management, and look for "Deactivate account" — this option appears near the Close Account button. Deactivated accounts do not appear in searches, and your profile is hidden from view, but your data remains safe.
The 30-day cancellation window explained
The 30-day window is a grace period LinkedIn provides in case you change your mind. During these 30 days, your profile is invisible to other users, but you can still sign in to your account. If you log in during this period, you will see a message asking whether you want to cancel the deletion. Click the option to cancel, and your account will be restored with all your data intact.
After 30 days pass without you signing in, the deletion becomes irreversible. LinkedIn permanently removes your profile, messages, connections, and all associated information from their systems. There is no way to recover the account after this point — you would have to create a brand new LinkedIn profile from scratch if you wanted to use the platform again.
If you delete your account but realize within the 30-day window that you made a mistake, signing back in is the fastest way to stop the deletion. You do not need to contact support or take any special action — simply logging in will give you the option to cancel.
What you need to do before deleting
Before you delete your LinkedIn account, download any information you want to keep. LinkedIn allows you to request a copy of your data, which includes your profile information, messages, connections, and activity history. To request this data, go to Settings & Privacy, select Data Privacy, and click "Get a copy of your data." LinkedIn will email you a file within a few days that you can save to your computer.
If you have recommendations or endorsements you want to preserve, take screenshots of your profile before deletion. These will not be included in the data download, but screenshots let you keep a record of what others said about your work.
Let your professional contacts know you are leaving LinkedIn if you want to stay in touch. Once your account is deleted, people will not be able to find you through the platform. Share your email address or other contact information with anyone you want to maintain a relationship with.
Troubleshooting: when the delete button is missing
If you cannot find the Close Account option in your settings, the most common reason is that you are using an older version of the LinkedIn interface. Try signing out completely, clearing your browser cache, and signing back in. This forces LinkedIn to load the current version of the settings page, which should include the Close Account button.
If the button still does not appear after refreshing, try accessing LinkedIn from a different browser or device. Sometimes the settings page displays differently depending on your browser version or device type. If it works on another browser, the problem is with your original browser's cache or settings, not your account.
If you have tried these steps and the Close Account option is still missing, contact LinkedIn Support through the Help Center. You can submit a request explaining that you want to delete your account, and a support agent will process the deletion manually. Manual deletion takes longer than using the self-service button — usually one to two weeks — but it accomplishes the same result.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete my LinkedIn profile without signing in?
No, you must sign in to your account to delete it. LinkedIn requires you to confirm your identity before processing the deletion. If you have forgotten your password, use the "Forgot password?" link on the login page to reset it, then sign in and proceed with deletion.
Will deleting LinkedIn remove me from job search results?
Yes. Once your profile is deleted, recruiters and employers will not be able to find you through LinkedIn's search or job matching features. If you want to remain searchable for job opportunities, deactivation is a better choice — it hides your profile from view but keeps your account active so you can reactivate it later.
What happens to my LinkedIn messages after deletion?
Your messages are permanently deleted after the 30-day window closes. The people you messaged will still see the conversation on their end, but your name will appear as a deleted user. They cannot reply to you or see your profile, but the message history remains in their accounts.
Can I delete my profile and create a new one with the same email?
Yes, but you must wait until after the 30-day deletion period ends. Once your account is fully deleted, you can sign up for a new LinkedIn account using the same email address. If you try to create a new account before the 30 days are up, LinkedIn will not allow it — you will need to either cancel the deletion or use a different email address.
Does LinkedIn notify my connections when I delete my account?
No, LinkedIn does not send a notification to your connections when you delete your account. Your profile simply disappears from their connection list. If you want to let people know you are leaving, you should contact them directly before deleting your account.