LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 800 million members. Many professionals use LinkedIn to build their professional brand, network, find jobs, connect with clients, and more. However, some users may wish to take a break from LinkedIn or reduce their activity on the platform for various reasons. The good news is that LinkedIn offers the option to deactivate your account without having to permanently delete it.
Deactivating your LinkedIn account temporarily hides your profile and removes it from search results. It also stops notifications and stops your profile from showing up in “People You May Know” recommendations. However, all your connections, content, and data remain intact and can be reactivated anytime. Deleting your account, on the other hand, is permanent and all data is removed.
So in summary, yes you can deactivate your LinkedIn account to take a break while preserving your profile and connections for later use. Here are the key differences between deactivating and deleting your LinkedIn account:
Deactivating LinkedIn
– Temporarily hides your profile from view
– Removes your profile from search results
– Stops notifications and emails from LinkedIn
– Stops your profile from showing up as “People You May Know”
– All data remains intact and account can be easily reactivated
Deleting LinkedIn
– Permanently deletes your profile and removes all data
– All connections and content are permanently lost
– Account cannot be recovered or reactivated after deleting
– Process takes 30 days and profile may still appear in some places during that time
In the following sections, we’ll cover in more detail how to deactivate your LinkedIn account step-by-step across desktop and mobile. We’ll also discuss scenarios when you may want to deactivate instead of deleting your account.
How to Deactivate LinkedIn on Desktop
Deactivating your LinkedIn account on desktop is a quick and simple process. Here are the steps:
1. Login to your LinkedIn account and go to your profile page.
2. Click on the `More` button located below your profile photo and headline.
3. Select `Settings & Privacy` from the dropdown menu.
4. In the left sidebar, click on `Account preferences`.
5. Under the `Account status` section, click the option for `Deactivate your account`.
6. On the Account deactivation page, select your reason for deactivating from the dropdown menu.
7. Re-enter your account password when prompted to confirm deactivation.
8. Click the `Deactivate` button to confirm and complete deactivation.
Once you click deactivate, your profile will immediately be hidden across LinkedIn. You can reactivate your account anytime from the LinkedIn login page. Simply enter your email and password and your account will be restored with all data intact.
How to Deactivate LinkedIn on Mobile
You can also easily deactivate LinkedIn from the LinkedIn mobile app on your iPhone or Android phone. Here are the steps:
1. Open the LinkedIn app and tap your profile icon in the top left.
2. Tap `Settings` at the bottom of the menu.
3. Tap `Account preferences` under the Account section.
4. Tap `Deactivate your account` at the bottom and select a reason.
5. Enter your account password when prompted to confirm.
6. Tap `Deactivate` to complete deactivation on mobile.
As with desktop, your profile will immediately be hidden from search and recommendations. And you can just log back in on mobile to reactivate your account.
When to Deactivate Instead of Deleting LinkedIn
Here are some common reasons you may want to temporarily deactivate your LinkedIn rather than permanently deleting it:
Taking a Break from Social Media
If you feel overwhelmed by social media and want to take a mental health break, deactivating allows you to easily come back after a break. Deleting the account permanently means losing your connections and starting over.
Job Searching
While job searching, candidates may want to deactivate their account to manage visibility with recruiters and hiring managers. But they likely don’t want to lose their professional brand and connections.
Work Sabbatical
Professionals who take short or long term career breaks can deactivate to reduce notifications and visibility. This preserves their network for when they return to work.
Concern Over Online Privacy
Some users may have temporary concerns over their privacy and online exposure when deactivating their account. Deleting permanently may be too extreme.
Switching Jobs or Careers
When you switch roles, industries or careers, deactivating can hide your old professional brand while you update your profile. Deleting means losing your network.
In most cases, deactivating your account provides the flexibility to take a break from LinkedIn without the permanence of deleting your account entirely. You get to maintain your profile and connections for when you eventually return.
What Happens When You Deactivate LinkedIn?
Here’s a more detailed look at what happens when you deactivate your LinkedIn account:
– Your profile is hidden from all search results across LinkedIn
– Your profile photo and name are removed from the “People Also Viewed” module
– You stop showing up as a suggested connection under “People You May Know”
– You no longer appear on coworker, classmate, or group member profiles
– You will stop receiving emails, notifications, messages, and invites from LinkedIn
– You disappear from the “Who’s Viewed Your Profile” list for your connections
– Your profile remains visible to Recruiters with existing InMail conversations with you
– You won’t be able to reactivate Premium subscriptions with your account deactivated
– All your connections, profile info, content, and data stay intact
– You can easily reactivate your account from the LinkedIn login page at any time
So in summary, deactivating your account removes your public visibility on LinkedIn while preserving your private connections and data. Nothing is deleted, allowing you to pick up where you left off if you reactivate your profile.
What Happens if You Delete Your LinkedIn Account?
Unlike deactivating, deleting your LinkedIn account is permanent and involves removing all your data. Here’s what happens when you delete your LinkedIn account:
– Your profile is permanently deleted after 30 days
– All your connections are deleted and you lose your network
– All your posts, content, and media are erased
– You lose access to LinkedIn Learning courses and certifications
– You cannot reactivate or recover your account or any data after deleting
– Recruiters can no longer access your profile or resume
– Previous colleagues and classmates lose their connection with you
– Your profile and name may still appear in search engine caches or other places for up to 90 days after deleting
– Any groups you created are passed on to another manager
– You have to create a brand new account and start over from scratch
As you can see, deleting your account permanently severs your professional network and brand on LinkedIn. Deactivation preserves these for your future self while removing public visibility.
How to Reactivate a Deactivated LinkedIn Account
If you choose to deactivate your LinkedIn account for a break, reactivating it is quick and easy when you’re ready to return.
Here is the process to reactivate a deactivated LinkedIn account:
1. Go to the LinkedIn login page and enter your email and password.
2. On the next page, you will see a prompt asking “Would you like to reactivate your account?” Click on `Yes, reactivate`.
3. LinkedIn will send a confirmation email to your inbox. Click the `Reactivate Your Account` button in the email.
4. You will be logged back into your LinkedIn account, now fully reactivated.
5. Review your profile and make any updates as needed after your break.
6. You may need to request new connections, join groups, or follow companies again. But all your original connections remain intact.
And that’s it! Within a few minutes, your profile, content, and data will be visible again as if you never left. Deactivating LinkedIn makes it simple to take a break without burning any bridges.
Conclusion
While deleting your LinkedIn account permanently erases your presence, deactivating provides a temporary solution to hide your profile for a break from the network. Your profile is removed from search results and notifications stop, but all connections and content stay intact. When you’re ready, reactivating your account brings everything back with just a few clicks. So if you need some time away from LinkedIn, deactivation allows you to lay low and reemerge when the time is right.