If you’re searching for how to close LinkedIn account, you’re not alone. Thousands of professionals every month decide to step away from LinkedIn, whether due to privacy concerns, too many notifications, or simply wanting a break from professional networking.
Before shutting down your profile, it’s wise to understand your LinkedIn privacy settings, how the account deletion process works, and what it means to deactivate a social media account. With that clarity, you’ll avoid losing connections or valuable data unintentionally.
This guide explains, in plain language, how to delete or deactivate your LinkedIn account using both desktop and mobile devices, how long it takes, and what to consider before saying goodbye to your profile.
Why You Might Want to Close a LinkedIn Account
Some common reasons people decide to leave LinkedIn include:
- Prioritizing privacy and minimizing online visibility.
- Cutting down on social media use or distractions.
- Clearing out duplicate or outdated accounts.
- Preparing for a career change and wanting a fresh start.
- No longer finding LinkedIn useful.
Whatever your motivation, LinkedIn provides two options: a temporary deactivation or a full and permanent deletion.
Step-by-Step: Permanently Closing a LinkedIn Account
If you’re certain about removing your account completely, follow these steps:
- Sign in to your LinkedIn profile.
- Click your profile picture (top right).
- Select Settings & Privacy.
- Open Account preferences.
- Scroll to Account management.
- Choose Close account.
- Select your reason for leaving.
- Re-enter your password to confirm.
Once complete, LinkedIn starts processing the closure.
Closing LinkedIn via Desktop
On a computer, the process is straightforward:
- Open LinkedIn in your browser and log in.
- Go to Settings & Privacy through your profile menu.
- Find Account preferences → Close account.
- Enter your password and confirm.
The process only takes a couple of minutes.
Closing LinkedIn via Mobile App
You can also delete your profile directly from your phone:
- Open the LinkedIn app.
- Tap your profile photo.
- Go to Settings → Account preferences.
- Scroll down to Close account.
- Confirm with your password.
The steps are nearly identical to desktop, just laid out for mobile navigation.
How Long Does It Take to Delete a LinkedIn Account?
After you confirm closure:
- Your profile disappears from searches in about 24–48 hours.
- LinkedIn fully deletes your account data within 30 days.
- If you change your mind, you can reactivate within 14 days by logging back in.
Temporarily Deactivating Your LinkedIn Account
If you’re not ready for a permanent goodbye, LinkedIn allows temporary deactivation. This hides your profile and pauses activity, but all of your data, messages, and contacts remain. You can log back in anytime to restore full access.
What Happens After Deletion?
Once your account is gone:
- Your profile is no longer visible in searches.
- All messages and connections are permanently erased.
- Endorsements and recommendations disappear.
- Premium features (if subscribed) are lost.
Before deletion, consider downloading your contacts list and any other data you may need.
Alternatives to Deletion
Instead of erasing your account entirely, you could:
- Adjust your privacy settings.
- Hide your profile from search engines.
- Turn off unwanted notifications.
- Remove outdated posts or connections.
These small tweaks may help you manage your LinkedIn presence without deleting your account.
Extra Steps to Take Before Closing
1. Save Recommendations and Endorsements
Take screenshots or copy endorsements you value. These vanish once your profile is deleted.
2. Notify Important Connections
If you regularly collaborate with people on LinkedIn, share your email or other ways to stay connected before you go offline.
3. Cancel Premium Plans
If you’re using LinkedIn Premium, Sales Navigator, or Recruiter, cancel subscriptions first to avoid ongoing charges.
4. Merge Duplicate Accounts
If you created multiple profiles, you may prefer merging them instead of deleting everything. LinkedIn allows you to consolidate accounts.
Troubleshooting Account Closure Issues
- Lost Password: Reset it first to proceed with deletion.
- Pending Job Applications: Save copies before closing, as they’ll disappear.
- Group Management: If you run LinkedIn groups, transfer ownership prior to deleting your profile.
When Deactivation is the Better Choice
Examples where pausing your account is smarter than deleting:
- Changing careers and planning to rebuild your professional brand later.
- Privacy concerns that could be solved by adjusting settings temporarily.
- Students graduating and needing a pause before re-engaging professionally.
Tips for Managing LinkedIn Without Deleting
If you’re overwhelmed but not ready to leave:
- Turn off email and app notifications.
- Limit who can view your profile and activity.
- Block recruiters or companies you don’t want to hear from.
- Archive or clean up old posts.
These adjustments let you stay visible but reduce distractions.
Life After LinkedIn
If you delete your profile, consider:
- Building a personal website or portfolio.
- Joining alternative professional communities (Slack groups, forums, or X/Twitter).
- Writing blogs or articles to keep your professional brand active.
LinkedIn is useful, but it’s not the only way to showcase expertise.
Quick Pre-Deletion Checklist
✔ Export your contacts and data.
✔ Inform key connections.
✔ Cancel premium subscriptions.
✔ Transfer ownership of groups.
✔ Decide between temporary deactivation or permanent deletion.
Final Thoughts
Understanding how to close LinkedIn account is simple once you know the steps. Whether you choose to delete your LinkedIn account permanently or take a temporary break, the key is to plan ahead so you don’t lose important data or connections unexpectedly.
Your professional identity online is valuable. Choose the path ,deletion, deactivation, or simply adjusting privacy, that aligns best with your goals and career journey.