LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking platform with over 800 million members. With its vast reach, LinkedIn has become an indispensable tool for professionals looking to network, build their personal brand, and advance their careers. However, constant activity on LinkedIn can feel overwhelming for some users. Taking a short break from LinkedIn may help reduce social media fatigue. Fortunately, LinkedIn makes it easy for users to temporarily deactivate their accounts for a set period of time.
What does deactivating a LinkedIn account do?
Deactivating your LinkedIn account temporarily disables your profile and removes you from search results. Other LinkedIn members will no longer be able to view your profile or contact you on the platform. Deactivating essentially puts your account on hold. However, it does not delete your profile or network connections. Once you reactive your account, your connections, profile details, messages etc. will be restored.
Here are some key things to note about deactivating a LinkedIn account:
- Your public profile will not be viewable to other members
- You will stop receiving notifications and messages
- You will be removed from search results on LinkedIn
- Your network connections are preserved
- You can reactive your account at any time
So deactivating provides a temporary break from LinkedIn without permanently deleting your presence. It is like putting your account on pause.
How to temporarily deactivate a LinkedIn account?
Deactivating your LinkedIn account is simple and can be done in a few steps:
- Login to your LinkedIn account on desktop/mobile
- Go to your account settings (click on your profile photo and select ‘Settings & Privacy’)
- Under the Account preferences section, click on ‘Closing your LinkedIn account’
- Select the option ‘Temporary deactivation’
- Enter the reason for deactivation (optional)
- Select a duration for deactivation (options range from 1 week to 3 months)
- Click on ‘Deactivate’
- Confirm deactivation on the pop-up prompt
Your LinkedIn account will now be deactivated for the selected duration. The process is quick and straightforward. During the deactivation period, your public profile will not be visible.
Can you reactivate before the time limit?
Yes, you can reactive your LinkedIn account anytime before the deactivation period ends. To do so:
- Go to LinkedIn.com and login with your account credentials
- You will see a notice that your account is deactivated
- Click on ‘Reactivate your account’
- Confirm reactivation on the pop-up prompt
Your LinkedIn account will instantly be reactivated, restoring your profile and connections. The deactivation period will end. So if you change your mind, you don’t need to wait until the scheduled deactivation period expires. You can restore your account right away.
What happens after the deactivation period ends?
Once the temporary deactivation period you selected is over, your LinkedIn account will automatically be reactivated. You do not need to do anything. Your profile, connections and account activity will all be restored as before.
You will receive a notification from LinkedIn informing you that your account has been automatically reactivated. Your profile will once again be public and discoverable in LinkedIn search. You can continue using LinkedIn as usual.
So temporary deactivation simply pauses your account for a set timeframe after which everything is restored by default. No action is required from you for reactivation after the deactivation period expires.
Reasons to temporarily deactivate a LinkedIn account
Here are some common reasons why professionals may want to temporarily deactivate their LinkedIn account:
- Take a break from social media: Deactivating your account lets you take a vacation from the constant notifications and information overload.
- Avoid distractions: Removing LinkedIn from your life for a while can help reduce procrastination and improve productivity.
- Refocus your job search: Logging off LinkedIn prevents you from obsessively checking for updates during your job hunt.
- Recharge mentally: Taking time off LinkedIn gives your brain a breather and allows you to refocus.
- Assess your usage: Stepping back lets you analyze whether LinkedIn is distracting you from higher priorities.
- Temporary work project: Some short-term work assignments may require you to minimize online presence.
The right deactivation duration depends on your specific needs. But even deactivating for a two to four weeks can be rejuvenating.
Pros of temporarily deactivating LinkedIn
Here are some of the benefits of temporarily deactivating your LinkedIn account:
- Mental health break – Allows temporary relief from the pressure to maintain an online presence.
- Reduce distractions – Minimizes procrastination and constant profile checking.
- Increase productivity – Lets you focus without LinkedIn’s notifications and feeds.
- Career clarity – Provides distance to re-evaluate your career priorities and goals.
- Freedom and space – Removes the compulsion to be on LinkedIn without permanently deleting your account.
- Preserves connections – Maintains your network which is restored once you reactive your account.
The right break from LinkedIn can provide perspective and focus to realign your professional aspirations. Even a short deactivation enables a reset.
Cons of temporarily deactivating LinkedIn
However, there are also some potential drawbacks to keep in mind:
- You may miss important updates and messages from your network.
- Recruiters won’t be able to find or contact you regarding job opportunities.
- You lose access to LinkedIn Learning and other paid services.
- Your brand visibility reduces temporarily until you reactive your account.
- You can’t connect with new people or grow your network.
- Deactivation may send wrong signals to some connections.
Evaluate your personal situation to determine if the benefits outweigh the disadvantages for your career stage. Those actively searching for jobs may want to avoid deactivating their account.
Best practices for deactivating LinkedIn
If you do decide to temporarily deactivate your LinkedIn, here are some best practices to follow:
- Select the shortest viable deactivation duration that meets your needs.
- Inform close connections about your break from LinkedIn.
- Turn off LinkedIn email notifications before deactivating.
- Update your work contacts on alternative ways to reach you.
- Use your break productively to refocus on priorities.
- Reactive your account if goals are met before duration ends.
- Evaluate how to best use LinkedIn once you return.
Being thoughtful about how you manage your deactivation minimizes disruption. Share the news with stakeholders, redirect contacts, and use the time wisely.
LinkedIn deactivation vs. deletion
Deactivating your LinkedIn account is different from permanently deleting it. With deactivation:
- Your profile is temporarily hidden
- You can easily reactive your account
- All connections and content are restored
- It is reversible and lasts a defined period
Whereas if you permanently delete your LinkedIn account:
- Your profile is erased from LinkedIn
- The process is irreversible
- Your connections, content, and network are deleted
- You have to create a brand new account to return
So deactivation allows a break without losing your LinkedIn presence. But deletion means your account will be gone forever.
Conclusion
Temporarily deactivating your LinkedIn account can provide a valuable chance to take a break from social media and refocus. While being off LinkedIn has some disadvantages, the mental health benefits often make it worthwhile.
Deactivating your account is simple – just a few clicks and your profile is hidden until you are ready to return. Remember to communicate your break proactively with your network.
Use the time productively to clarify your professional goals and reduce burnout. When you feel ready to reengage, reactive your account and ease back into LinkedIn gradually. So take the pressure off and don’t hesitate to deactivate your account if you need a breather. Your career will likely benefit from the reset.