LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 700 million members. As a career-focused social media platform, LinkedIn allows users to create professional profiles, connect with other professionals, find jobs, network, and more. With so much personal and professional information tied to a LinkedIn account, many users wonder if they can permanently delete their LinkedIn account if they no longer want to use the platform.
Can You Delete Your LinkedIn Account?
Yes, it is possible to permanently delete your LinkedIn account. However, LinkedIn does not make it easy to find this option. Here are the steps to permanently delete a LinkedIn account:
- Log into your LinkedIn account on the desktop site (you cannot delete your account via the mobile app)
- Click on your profile icon in the top right corner
- Select “Settings & Privacy” from the dropdown menu
- Click “Account preferences” under the Account section
- Scroll down and click “Close your account” under the “Closing your LinkedIn account” section
- Select the reason you are closing your account from the dropdown menu
- Re-enter your LinkedIn password to confirm your choice
- Click “Continue” and confirm again that you wish to close your account
Once you complete these steps, your account will be scheduled for permanent closure. LinkedIn notes it can take up to 24 hours for an account to fully close. You will not be able to reactivate it after this point.
What Happens When You Delete Your LinkedIn Account?
Here is what happens when you permanently delete your LinkedIn account:
- Your profile, connections, posts, comments, and all other data will be permanently deleted
- You will no longer be able to sign in or access any part of LinkedIn
- Your public profile URL will return a 404 error page for other users
- You will be removed from all LinkedIn Groups you have joined
- Other users will no longer be able to view your profile or search for you on LinkedIn
- If you were a premium subscriber, your subscription will be canceled
Essentially, permanently deleting your LinkedIn account erases all traces of your presence on the platform. It cannot be undone.
Why You May Want to Delete LinkedIn
Here are some common reasons people choose to permanently delete their LinkedIn account:
- You’re leaving the workforce or retiring and no longer need a professional social media presence
- You want stronger separation between your personal and professional online presence
- You are unsatisfied with LinkedIn’s privacy practices or terms of service
- You believe LinkedIn’s algorithm is limiting your reach or engagement
- You feel the platform has become too distracting or addictive
- You want a clean break after leaving a company to focus on new opportunities
- You are receiving unwanted messages, connection invites, or recruitment solicitations
Essentially, if your use of LinkedIn is no longer providing value and you want to reclaim your personal data, account deletion can be the right choice.
Considerations Before Deleting LinkedIn
Before taking the permanent step of deleting your LinkedIn account, here are some things to consider:
- You will lose access to all connections and messages within LinkedIn. Extract any data you may want to keep.
- Others may still have access to your shared content and engagement via their feeds and notifications.
- If you want to take a break but think you may return, deactivating instead of deleting could be an option.
- Without a profile, you’ll be invisible to recruiters and others who may search for you on LinkedIn.
- Some professions rely heavily on LinkedIn for networking and reputation-building.
- Permanently deleting an established, well-connected profile can be difficult to undo.
Think carefully about your personal reasons and career stage before deciding to permanently delete your account. You may want to download an archive of your data from LinkedIn before closing your account.
How to Download Your LinkedIn Data
Before deleting your LinkedIn account, you may want to download an archive of your account data for your records. Here are the steps to download your full LinkedIn data archive:
- Go to your LinkedIn account settings
- Click on “Getting a copy of your data” under “Download info”
- Choose which data types you want to download – your full profile data is recommended
- Enter your account password and click “Request archive”
- LinkedIn will prepare a download link and email it to you when ready (within 48 hours)
- The email will contain a link to download your LinkedIn data archive
- Save and extract the .zip file to your computer
Your LinkedIn data archive will contain your profile information, connections, messages, group activity, interests, and other account details. This can be useful to retain for your personal records or in case you ever want to reactivate your account.
Alternatives to Deleting LinkedIn
Permanently deleting your LinkedIn account is irreversible. Here are some alternatives to consider:
- Temporarily deactivate your account – You can deactivate your LinkedIn account for up to 180 days before it is permanently deleted. This pauses your account without fully closing it.
- Increase privacy settings – Adjust your profile visibility and sharing preferences to limit data availability.
- Restrict notifications – Cut down on emails and notifications to reduce LinkedIn’s distractions.
- Remove Connections – Prune your connections to only those you interact with.
- Limit usage – Only check LinkedIn periodically instead of daily. Put less time and info into the platform.
Tweaking your LinkedIn settings, connections, and usage habits can help address concerns without fully deleting your account and all its data.
Conclusion
Here are the key takeaways on deleting your LinkedIn account:
- It is possible to permanently delete your LinkedIn account, but the option is not easy to find.
- Once your account is deleted after 24 hours, it cannot be recovered or reactivated.
- Deleting your account erases all profile data, connections, and presence on LinkedIn.
- Common reasons to delete include dissatisfaction with the platform, career changes, and desire for separation between personal and professional online presence.
- Consider downloading your data archive and be sure you want to permanently close your account before deleting.
- Alternatives like deactivating or restricting your account may work if you want a temporary break from LinkedIn.
Overall, LinkedIn account deletion is permanent and irreversible. Be sure you no longer need your presence on the platform before taking this step. While deleting your account can provide a clean break from the professional social network, alternatives may work if you want to take a temporary hiatus from LinkedIn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I reactivate my LinkedIn account after deleting it?
No, once you permanently delete your LinkedIn account, it cannot be recovered or reactivated. The deletion is irreversible. LinkedIn erases all user data from its systems during account closure. The only way to have a LinkedIn presence again after deleting your account is to create a brand new profile.
What happens to my LinkedIn Groups if I delete my account?
When you delete your LinkedIn account, you will automatically be removed from all LinkedIn Groups you have joined. You will no longer appear as a member of those groups. Group owners will not be notified that you have left their group after deleting your account.
Can I delete just parts of my LinkedIn account?
No, LinkedIn does not allow partial or selective deletion of profile data. You can only delete your entire account and all associated data. However, you can modify some data like job history, education, skills, etc. before deleting your account.
Is there a way to temporarily disable my LinkedIn account?
Yes, LinkedIn allows you to deactivate your account for up to 180 days before it is permanently deleted. Deactivating your account temporarily pauses it while keeping all your data intact. Your public profile will not be viewable during this time. To reactivate, simply log back in before the 180-day deactivation period expires.
What should I do if I change my mind after deleting my LinkedIn account?
If you regret deleting your LinkedIn account, unfortunately there is no way to recover or undo the permanent closure. Your only option is to create a brand new LinkedIn profile and start rebuilding your professional network from scratch.
Key LinkedIn Account Stats
Here are some key statistics on LinkedIn accounts and usage as of October 2022:
Stat | Value |
---|---|
Total LinkedIn Members | 840+ million |
Monthly Active Users | 300+ million |
Percentage of Users Who Are Influencers | 40% |
Most Common Industries on LinkedIn | Technology and Finance |
Average Number of Connections per User | 400+ |
Number of Content Shares per Week | 130+ million |
With over 840 million total members and 300 million monthly active users, LinkedIn has a massive global reach. The vast majority engage via mobile, underscoring the platform’s popularity for on-the-go networking and communication. Around 40% of members consider themselves influencers through thought leadership content. The most prolific industries tend to be technology and finance, where building a robust professional network is highly valued.
LinkedIn Usage Trends
In addition to sheer user growth, LinkedIn has seen some notable trends in how members use the platform:
- There has been a rise in personalization, with 59% of users customizing their LinkedIn feeds.
- Nearly 50% of users rely on LinkedIn Learning for professional development.
- 92% of recruiters use LinkedIn to source and vet candidates.
- Messaging has taken on a bigger role, with 40% using LinkedIn to communicate daily.
- Video has exploded, with videos shared on LinkedIn getting 30X more reach than standard posts.
As LinkedIn matures, users engage with it in more diverse, personalized ways beyond just finding jobs. Recruiters continue to leverage LinkedIn data heavily in the hiring process across industries. The platform’s learning content and messaging features have taken on larger roles. Video has also emerged as a popular, engaging format on LinkedIn.
Top Reasons to Maintain a LinkedIn Profile
Despite any drawbacks of social media, LinkedIn remains highly valuable for promoting professional connections and opportunities. Here are the top reasons maintaining an updated LinkedIn presence is worth the effort for most professionals:
- Networking – LinkedIn provides access to millions of professionals in every industry and location globally.
- Recruiting – An overwhelming 92% of recruiters use LinkedIn to source talent.
- Job seeking – Millions of jobs are advertised directly through LinkedIn.
- Thought leadership – LinkedIn provides a platform to establish yourself professionally.
- Credibility – A detailed, optimized LinkedIn profile serves as a living resume.
- Business development – LinkedIn is a prime venue for generating B2B leads.
- Industry news – Stay on top of news and trends via LinkedIn’s content feed.
- Professional development – Take affordable LinkedIn Learning courses at your own pace.
Essentially, maintaining a strong LinkedIn presence is critical for networking, recruitment, reputation-building, lead generation, and career growth for most modern professionals.
Tips for Safely Quitting LinkedIn
For those set on deleting their LinkedIn account, here are some tips for safely quitting the platform:
- Download your data – Preserve your connections, messages, and other account details.
- Gradually disengage – Pull back from active use over weeks before deleting.
- Inform close contacts – Directly let recruiters or those you engage with know you are leaving.
- Update online profiles – Remove LinkedIn links and mention you are no longer on the platform.
- Clean up old posts – Delete or hide previous posts and activity before closing your account.
- Review settings – Opt out of as much data collection and sharing as possible beforehand.
Thoughtfully winding down your LinkedIn usage before deleting your profile can maintain your professional reputation and minimize surprises for your network after you leave the platform.
Conclusion
While permanently deleting your LinkedIn account severs your presence on the popular professional networking platform, the option exists for those who no longer find value in maintaining a profile. Take time to consider the pros and cons, download your data, and inform close contacts to make the transition smooth. With over 840 million users, LinkedIn will continue rapidly evolving as professionals adapt virtual networking and career-building into their realities. But for some, saying “goodbye” to their LinkedIn account will be the right choice to protect their privacy or focus their online presence elsewhere.