LinkedIn gives you two choices: deactivate temporarily or delete permanently

Deactivating your account hides your profile from view for up to 30 days, but LinkedIn keeps your data. Deleting your account removes your profile, messages, and connections from LinkedIn's servers — though the company retains some information for legal and safety reasons. Most people who want to leave LinkedIn permanently should delete rather than deactivate.

The deletion process takes about 24 hours to complete. During that time, your profile remains visible but you cannot log in. After 24 hours, your profile disappears from search results and other members' networks. LinkedIn will not restore a deleted account, so download anything you want to keep before you start.

Key Takeaways

  • Download your data before deletion — LinkedIn provides a file with your profile, messages, and connections that you can save to your computer.
  • Deactivation hides your profile for up to 30 days but keeps your data on LinkedIn's servers; deletion removes it permanently after 24 hours.
  • Once you delete your account, LinkedIn will not restore it, so make sure you have saved anything you need first.
  • Your profile will remain visible for up to 24 hours after you request deletion, so connections may still see it briefly.
  • Some data like payment records and legal holds remain on LinkedIn's servers even after deletion for compliance reasons.

How to download your LinkedIn data before you go

LinkedIn lets you download a copy of your profile, connections, messages, and other account information. This file is useful if you want to keep a record of your professional network or transfer information elsewhere. The download takes a few minutes to prepare and arrives as a compressed folder you can open on your computer.

Log into LinkedIn and go to Settings & Privacy, then select Data Privacy. Click Request archive under the Download your data section. LinkedIn will prepare your file and send you an email with a download link. The link stays active for 100 days, so you have time to retrieve it. Save the file to your computer before you proceed with deletion.

Steps to permanently delete your LinkedIn account

Start by logging into LinkedIn on a web browser — the mobile app does not have a delete option. Go to Settings & Privacy, then select Account preferences. Scroll down to find the Account management section and click Close account.

LinkedIn will ask you why you are leaving and show you a warning that deletion is permanent. You must check the box confirming you understand your account cannot be restored. Then click Close account. You will receive a confirmation email. Your profile remains visible for up to 24 hours while LinkedIn processes the deletion, then disappears completely.

What happens to your messages and connections after deletion

Your sent and received messages disappear from your own view immediately after deletion. However, messages you sent to other people remain in their inboxes — LinkedIn does not delete messages from recipients' accounts. If you want to remove a message from someone else's inbox, you must do that before you delete your account by opening the conversation and selecting Delete.

Your connections will see that you are no longer on LinkedIn, but they keep the connection history in their own accounts. There is no way to remove yourself from someone else's connection list after you delete your account.

Deactivation as a temporary alternative

If you are unsure about leaving LinkedIn permanently, deactivation lets you step back without losing your account. Your profile becomes invisible to other members and search engines, but LinkedIn stores your data. You can reactivate your account within 30 days by logging back in, and your profile returns exactly as it was.

After 30 days of deactivation, LinkedIn begins the deletion process automatically. You can prevent this by logging in again before the 30 days end. Deactivation is useful if you want to take a break from LinkedIn but might return later, or if you want to see how you feel about leaving before making a permanent choice.

What LinkedIn keeps after your account is deleted

LinkedIn retains certain information even after you delete your account. Payment records, tax information, and records of legal holds stay on file for accounting and compliance reasons. If you reported someone or were reported, LinkedIn keeps that record. The company also keeps logs of activity for security and fraud prevention.

LinkedIn does not sell or share this retained data with third parties. It is stored separately from your profile and is not visible to other users. If you have questions about what specific information LinkedIn is keeping, you can request details through their Data Privacy settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete my LinkedIn account from the mobile app?

No. LinkedIn only offers account deletion through the web version. Open LinkedIn in a browser on your computer or phone, go to Settings & Privacy, then Account preferences, and look for Close account. The mobile app does not have this option.

What if I change my mind after deleting my account?

LinkedIn does not restore deleted accounts. Once your account is gone, you cannot get it back. If you think you might return to LinkedIn later, deactivate instead of delete — you have 30 days to reactivate before LinkedIn begins the deletion process.

Will deleting my LinkedIn account remove me from other websites that use LinkedIn login?

No. If you used your LinkedIn account to sign into other services, those accounts remain active. You will need to update your password on those services separately or use a different login method. Check any apps or websites where you used LinkedIn Sign In and change your login credentials before you delete LinkedIn.

How long does it take for my profile to disappear completely?

Your profile becomes invisible to other users within 24 hours of requesting deletion. Search engines may take longer to remove your profile from their indexes — sometimes a few weeks. You can request removal from Google Search by using Google Search Console if you want to speed this up.

Can I download my messages after I delete my account?

Messages are included in the data archive you download before deletion, but only messages you sent and received. Once your account is deleted, you cannot access LinkedIn to download anything else. Download your data before you start the deletion process.