On LinkedIn, you can have private one-on-one conversations with your connections through the messaging feature. If you decide you want to delete a conversation, you may wonder if it deletes the conversation for the other person as well.
The short answer is no, deleting a conversation on LinkedIn does not delete it for the other person. When you delete a conversation, it only removes it from your inbox – the other person will still have access to the conversation from their inbox.
How Deleting Conversations Works on LinkedIn
Here’s a more in-depth look at how deleting conversations works on LinkedIn:
You Can Only Delete Conversations From Your Own Inbox
On LinkedIn, each user can only delete conversations from their own inbox. You don’t have the ability to delete conversations from someone else’s inbox.
So if you delete a conversation, it will disappear from your inbox and conversations list. But it will still show up in the other person’s inbox.
The Other Person Can Still Access the Full Conversation
Since you’re only deleting the conversation from your own inbox, the other person still has access to the full conversation in their inbox.
Deleting the conversation does not remove any of the messages from the thread for the other participant. They can still read all of the messages in the original conversation.
You Will No Longer Get Notifications About that Conversation
Once you delete a conversation, you will stop getting notifications about any new messages sent in that conversation thread.
Since it’s removed from your inbox, LinkedIn will no longer send you email or InMail notifications when the other person responds. But that person can still continue the conversation from their inbox if they would like.
How to Delete a Conversation on LinkedIn
Here are simple step-by-step instructions for deleting a conversation from your LinkedIn inbox:
- Go to your LinkedIn inbox and open the conversation you want to delete.
- Click on the “More” icon (the three dots) at the top right corner of the message window.
- Select “Delete conversation” from the dropdown menu.
- Confirm that you want to delete the conversation when prompted.
And that’s it! The conversation will be removed from your inbox only. The other person can still access it from their account.
Why You May Want to Delete a LinkedIn Conversation
Here are some common reasons why you may want to delete a conversation from your LinkedIn inbox:
To Keep Your Inbox Organized
Over time, your LinkedIn inbox may get cluttered with conversations. Deleting old or irrelevant conversations helps keep your inbox clean and organized.
If the Conversation Has Run Its Course
Perhaps you were part of a long conversation thread that reached its natural conclusion. Deleting it removes unnecessary clutter.
If You No Longer Want Notifications
Maybe you were added to a group conversation but are no longer interested in getting notifications. Deleting it will stop the notifications.
To Remove Sensitive or Private Conversations
If you had a private conversation about confidential work matters, you may want to delete it from your inbox even if the other person still has access.
Considerations Before Deleting LinkedIn Conversations
While it can be useful to delete LinkedIn conversations, keep the following considerations in mind:
The Other Person May Still Need the Conversation
Don’t delete conversations that the other person may still need access to for work or other matters.
You Won’t Have a Record of the Conversation
Once deleted, the conversation is gone from your inbox forever so you won’t have a record of what was discussed.
The Other Person May Still Contact You About It
If you delete a conversation but the other person doesn’t realize it, they may follow up with you about the discussion later.
It May Be Perceived as Rude
Deleting a conversation without explanation could come across as rude or one-sided to the other participant. Use with caution.
Best Practices When Deleting LinkedIn Conversations
To delete LinkedIn conversations thoughtfully and avoid surprises, keep these best practices in mind:
Let the Other Person Know You’re Deleting It
Send them a message that you’re decluttering your inbox and will be deleting the conversation. This avoids confusion down the line.
Delete Conversations Only You Need to Remove
Don’t delete conversations that are still relevant to the other person’s work or interests.
Do It Early On
Delete conversations soon after the discussion concludes, while it’s still fresh in the other person’s mind.
Keep Business Conversations
Avoid deleting conversations that contained important business discussions, contacts, or information.
Remove Yourself From Group Conversations
Instead of deleting a group conversation, simply remove yourself from further notifications.
What Happens When You Block Someone on LinkedIn?
Blocking someone on LinkedIn is more severe than deleting a conversation. Here’s what happens when you block another user:
– They can no longer view your LinkedIn profile or send you messages
– Any shared connections are removed
– You’re removed from each other’s network
– You won’t show up in their search results
– Conversations with that person are permanently deleted
So blocking someone cuts off all communication and severs the LinkedIn connection. Only block others if absolutely necessary.
Conclusion
Deleting a conversation on LinkedIn removes it from your inbox only – it does not delete it for the other participants. While deleting conversations can help organize your inbox, be thoughtful about which discussions you remove and let the other person know when you’re deleting a conversation. For a more permanent solution, blocking cuts off all communication but should be reserved for extreme circumstances.