Having a LinkedIn email extension on Chrome can be very useful for managing your professional contacts and communications. However, you may sometimes need to remove the extension or switch it to a different browser. Here are some tips for getting your LinkedIn email extension from Chrome.
Check if the Extension is Installed
First, open the Chrome browser and click on the puzzle piece icon in the top right corner. This will open your list of installed extensions. Search for any extensions related to LinkedIn and confirm if you have the official LinkedIn extension installed.
The LinkedIn extension will usually be called something like “LinkedIn Integration” or “LinkedIn Notifications.” If you don’t see it in your list, then you likely don’t have the extension installed currently.
Remove the Extension
If you do have the LinkedIn extension installed, click on the three dots next to it and select “Remove from Chrome.” This will immediately disable and uninstall the extension from your browser.
You can also right click on the extension icon and choose “Remove from Chrome” to get rid of it.
Find the Extension Files
Even after removing the extension, some files related to it may still be left behind in your computer’s storage. To make sure you grab all of these files, you’ll have to find where Chrome extensions are stored.
The location will vary depending on your operating system:
- Windows: C:\Users\[YOUR USERNAME]\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions
- Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/Default/Extensions/
- Linux: ~/.config/google-chrome/Default/Extensions/
Navigate to the appropriate folder and search for any files or folders with “LinkedIn” in the name. These remaining pieces should be removed as well.
Delete LinkedIn Data
Chrome also stores some data from extensions locally, so you’ll want to wipe any leftover LinkedIn data after uninstalling the extension.
Type chrome://settings/siteData into your Chrome browser bar and press Enter. Search for “LinkedIn” on this page, then click on the “Remove all” button to clear out stored LinkedIn data.
Disable Syncing
If you use Chrome’s syncing feature across multiple devices, the LinkedIn extension may automatically reinstall next time your browsers sync up. Prevent this by turning off syncing:
- Click the profile icon in Chrome and go to Settings.
- Scroll down and click Advanced Sync Settings.
- Uncheck any boxes under “Sync everything” or choose which items not to sync.
Check Default Apps
You’ll also want to check that LinkedIn is no longer set as the default handler for any tasks. Go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps and make sure LinkedIn is not listed as a default option.
See if Any Files Remain
After removing the extension, deleting data, and disabling syncing, do one final check of the Chrome extensions folder to see if any LinkedIn files remain. Delete anything still left over.
Download the Extension Files
If you want to save or transfer the LinkedIn extension itself, you can download a copy of its files before uninstalling:
- Go to chrome://extensions and enable Developer mode.
- Click on the LinkedIn extension’s “Inspect views” link.
- In the page files list, right click on any files you want and select Save as.
This will let you save copies of the extension’s images, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files in case you need them later on.
Conclusion
Removing the LinkedIn extension from Chrome involves uninstalling it, deleting any remaining files, disabling syncing, removing stored data, and checking default apps. Make sure to follow all these steps carefully to completely eliminate the extension and any lingering data.
You can also download copies of the extension files before removing it if you think you may want to transfer it to a different browser. With the extension fully gone from Chrome, you can be sure your LinkedIn communications are contained within LinkedIn itself.
Step | Description |
---|---|
1 | Check if the extension is installed |
2 | Remove the extension |
3 | Find the extension files |
4 | Delete LinkedIn data |
5 | Disable syncing |
6 | Check default apps |
7 | See if any files remain |
8 | Download extension files (optional) |
Following these eight steps will ensure you thoroughly remove the LinkedIn extension from Chrome and all associated data. You can then decide if you want to install the extension again later on a different browser or device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does LinkedIn need a browser extension?
The LinkedIn browser extension allows you to get LinkedIn notifications, see profile information, and easily share content without having to actually visit LinkedIn.com. It makes LinkedIn’s services conveniently available right in your browser.
Is the LinkedIn extension safe to remove?
Yes, removing the LinkedIn extension is completely safe and will not affect your core LinkedIn account. Your profile and connections stay intact. All that you lose is the convenience of accessing some LinkedIn features directly in your browser.
Where is the LinkedIn extension folder?
The LinkedIn browser extension is installed in your default Chrome extensions folder, the location of which depends on your operating system. For Windows it is usually C:\Users\[YOUR USERNAME]\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions.
Can I transfer my LinkedIn extension to Firefox?
Unfortunately no, Chrome extensions are not compatible with Firefox. You would have to install the Firefox version of the LinkedIn extension separately. However, you can download the Chrome extension files before removing it to at least transfer settings and data.
What happens if I delete the wrong extension files?
Deleting the wrong Chrome extension files could break that extension’s functionality. Be careful to only delete files and folders explicitly related to LinkedIn when cleaning up the extension. If you accidentally delete something important, you may need to reinstall Chrome to reset all extensions.
Transferring the LinkedIn Extension to Another Browser
While you can’t seamlessly transfer the LinkedIn extension from Chrome to another browser like Firefox, it is possible to migrate some of your settings and data between browsers using these steps:
Export LinkedIn Data
In Chrome, navigate to chrome://settings/linkedIn and click “Download your LinkedIn data.” This will save a copy of your LinkedIn extension preferences and activity.
Install Extension in New Browser
Download and install the official LinkedIn browser extension for your new browser like Firefox or Edge.
Import LinkedIn Data
In your new browser, go to the LinkedIn extension settings and look for an option to import data. Then select the file you exported from Chrome.
Customize Extension
Manually adjust any other LinkedIn extension preferences to match your Chrome setup. Unfortunately only exported settings and activity can be transferred automatically.
Delete Chrome Extension
Once you’ve migrated all relevant data to the new browser, you can safely uninstall and delete the LinkedIn extension from Chrome using the steps outlined earlier.
While not a perfect transition, exporting and importing your settings is better than starting from scratch in a new browser. With a bit of re-customization, you can get your LinkedIn extension working cross-browser.
Conclusion
Removing LinkedIn’s browser extension fully from Chrome takes a few more steps beyond a simple uninstall. You have to delete any remaining files, clear out LinkedIn data, disable syncing, and remove it as a default app. This will eliminate all traces of the extension.
Migrating the extension to another browser also requires manually exporting and importing some settings, as automatic transfer is not supported. But with a little work, you can get your LinkedIn integration running in Firefox, Edge, or your browser of choice.
Hopefully these tips will help you successfully extract your LinkedIn extension from Chrome, whether you want to delete it entirely or transfer it to a new home. Taking the time to completely remove unused extensions can help optimize your browser’s performance.