Remove a connection in three steps

To remove a connection on LinkedIn, open your profile, find the person in your connections list, and click the three-dot menu next to their name. Select "Remove connection" and confirm. The person will not be notified that you removed them, though they may notice you are no longer in their network if they check.

The process takes less than a minute and works the same way whether you are on a computer or the LinkedIn mobile app. Once you remove someone, you can still message them if you have an existing conversation thread, but you cannot see their profile updates or send them new connection requests without waiting a few weeks.

Key Takeaways

  • Removing a connection is private — LinkedIn does not notify the other person, though they may discover it themselves.
  • You can remove a connection from your profile, from their profile page, or from your connections list.
  • After removing someone, you cannot send them a new connection request for several weeks.
  • Removing a connection does not delete old messages between you, but you lose access to their profile and activity updates.

Remove a connection from your profile

The fastest way is through your own profile. Click your profile photo in the top right corner and select "View profile." Scroll down to the "Connections" section and find the person you want to remove. Hover over their name and click the three-dot icon that appears, then select "Remove connection."

If you have many connections, use the search box at the top of your connections list to find them by name. This saves time scrolling through hundreds of names. Once you click "Remove connection," a confirmation box will appear — click "Remove" again to finish.

Remove a connection from their profile page

You can also remove someone while viewing their profile. Go to their profile page, look for the "Connected" button near the top (usually next to their name and headline), and click the three-dot menu next to it. Select "Remove connection" and confirm.

This method is useful if you are already looking at someone's profile and decide you want to disconnect. The button location is the same on both desktop and mobile, though the mobile version may show the three dots in a slightly different spot depending on your screen size.

What happens after you remove a connection

Once you remove someone, they disappear from your connections list. You will no longer see their posts in your feed, and they will no longer see yours. If you visit their profile, you will see a "Connect" button instead of "Connected," which means you can send a new connection request.

However, LinkedIn prevents you from immediately re-connecting with someone you just removed. You typically have to wait several weeks before sending a new request to the same person. This is a built-in delay to prevent accidental removals and reconnections.

Messages and past conversations stay intact

Removing a connection does not erase your message history with that person. If you have an existing direct message thread, it remains in your inbox and you can still read old messages. You can also continue the conversation if they message you first, but you cannot start a new message thread with them unless you reconnect.

This is different from blocking someone, which does prevent them from messaging you. Removing a connection is simply a way to end the professional relationship without cutting off all communication.

Reasons people remove connections

People remove connections for many reasons. You might clean up your network by removing people you no longer work with or have lost touch with. Some people remove connections after leaving a job to separate their professional networks. Others remove someone if the relationship has become uncomfortable or if they want to reduce the size of their network.

There is no penalty for removing connections, and it does not affect your account status or visibility to recruiters. LinkedIn does not track removals or penalize you for managing your network.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person know I removed them?

LinkedIn does not send a notification when you remove a connection. However, the person may notice on their own if they check their connections list or try to visit your profile. There is no way for them to know the exact moment you removed them.

Can I remove someone and then reconnect right away?

No. LinkedIn enforces a waiting period, usually several weeks, before you can send a new connection request to someone you just removed. If you removed someone by mistake, you will have to wait before you can reconnect.

Does removing a connection delete our messages?

No. Your message history stays in your inbox even after you remove the connection. You can read past messages, but you cannot start a new message thread unless you reconnect or they message you first.

What is the difference between removing a connection and blocking someone?

Removing a connection ends the professional relationship but allows the person to still message you if you have an existing thread. Blocking someone prevents them from seeing your profile, messaging you, or sending you a connection request. Blocking is more restrictive and should be used only in cases of harassment or unwanted contact.

Can I remove multiple connections at once?

LinkedIn does not have a bulk removal tool. You have to remove connections one at a time by visiting each person's profile or finding them in your connections list. If you have a very large network you want to clean up, this process takes time but is straightforward.