LinkedIn gives you two separate paths: deactivate (which hides your profile but keeps your data) or delete (which removes everything permanently after 30 days)
Most people choose deactivate first because it is reversible—your profile disappears from search results and other members cannot find you, but you can reactivate within six months if you change your mind. Permanent deletion takes longer and cannot be undone. LinkedIn holds your data for 30 days after you request deletion, then removes it from their servers. During those 30 days, you can cancel the deletion request and keep your account active.
The choice depends on whether you think you might return. If you are leaving the platform but want to preserve the option to come back, deactivate. If you want your data off LinkedIn's servers entirely and have no intention of returning, request permanent deletion.
Key Takeaways
- Deactivation hides your profile when ready but keeps your account data intact for up to six months, and you can reactivate anytime during that window.
- Permanent deletion removes your profile when ready but LinkedIn keeps your data for 30 days before erasing it, and you can cancel the deletion during that period.
- After 30 days, a permanent deletion request cannot be reversed—your account and all associated data are gone.
- You must be signed into your account to request either deactivation or deletion; you cannot do it from a logged-out state.
- Downloaded copies of your data (messages, connections, profile) remain on your computer even after deletion and are your responsibility to manage.
How to deactivate your LinkedIn account
Sign into LinkedIn on a web browser (the mobile app does not have a deactivation option). Go to your profile photo in the top right corner and select Settings and privacy. Click Settings, then scroll down to find Account management in the left sidebar. Select Deactivate account.
LinkedIn will ask you why you are leaving and offer you options to read your data. You can read your profile information, connections list, and messages before deactivating, or skip this step. After you confirm deactivation, your profile disappears from search results and other members cannot message you or see your activity. Your account remains in this state for six months. If you sign back in anytime during those six months, your account reactivates automatically.
After six months of inactivity, LinkedIn may delete your account without further notice, though the company does not may provide this timeline. If you want to be certain your data is removed, do not rely on deactivation alone—request permanent deletion instead.
How to permanently delete your LinkedIn account
Sign into LinkedIn on a web browser. Go to your profile photo in the top right corner and select Settings and privacy. Click Settings, then scroll down to Account management in the left sidebar. Select Close account.
LinkedIn will ask you to confirm that you understand your account will be deleted. You will see a warning that says your profile, messages, and activity will be removed from LinkedIn's site, but that you can read your data first if you want to keep a copy. Click the link to read your data if you need it, then return and confirm the deletion request.
Once you confirm, your profile is removed from LinkedIn when ready and is no longer visible to other members. LinkedIn then has 30 days to erase your data from their servers. During this 30-day window, you can sign back into your account and cancel the deletion request, which will restore your account to active status. After 30 days, the deletion is permanent and cannot be reversed.
What happens to your data during the 30-day deletion window
Your profile, messages, connections, and activity are removed from LinkedIn's public site right away, so other members cannot see or contact you. However, LinkedIn keeps a copy of all this data on their servers for 30 days. If you change your mind and sign back in during this period, you can cancel the deletion and your account returns to normal with all your information intact.
After the 30 days end, LinkedIn permanently removes your data from their systems. This includes your profile information, message history, connection list, and any content you posted. LinkedIn does not retain backups of deleted accounts for recovery purposes.
Any data you downloaded before deletion (your profile export, connection list, or message archive) stays on your computer and is not affected by LinkedIn's deletion. You are responsible for managing or deleting those files yourself.
Downloading your data before you delete
LinkedIn lets you read a copy of your profile information, connections, and messages before you deactivate or delete. This is useful if you want to keep a record of your professional network or past conversations. Go to Settings and privacy, then Settings, then scroll to Data privacy in the left sidebar. Select Get a copy of your data.
LinkedIn will prepare a file containing your profile details, connection list, and message history. You will receive an email with a read link, usually within a few minutes to a few hours. The link stays active for a limited time (typically 24 hours), so read the file promptly. The file is usually a ZIP archive that you can open on your computer and review before you delete your account.
Downloading your data does not affect your account or trigger any deletion process. You can read, review the file, and then decide whether to deactivate or delete.
What you cannot recover after permanent deletion
Once the 30-day deletion window closes, you cannot recover your LinkedIn account, profile, messages, or any data stored on LinkedIn's servers. This includes your connection history, recommendations you received, articles you published, and any groups you were part of. If someone else has a screenshot or saved copy of your profile, that information exists outside LinkedIn, but LinkedIn itself has no record of it.
Other members may still have copies of messages you sent them, and those messages remain in their inboxes even after you delete your account. You cannot remove messages from someone else's account. If you want to remove sensitive information before deletion, you can edit or delete individual posts and messages while your account is still active.
If you used LinkedIn to sign into other websites or apps (a feature called "Sign in with LinkedIn"), those connections break after deletion. You will need to create separate passwords or use other sign-in methods for those services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I deactivate my account and reactivate it later?
Yes. Deactivation is reversible for up to six months. Sign back in anytime during that period and your account reactivates with all your data intact. After six months, LinkedIn may delete your account automatically, though the company does not may provide a specific timeline.
What is the difference between deactivating and deleting?
Deactivation hides your profile but keeps your data on LinkedIn's servers for up to six months and is reversible. Deletion removes your profile when ready and erases your data after 30 days, but you can cancel during that 30-day window. After 30 days, deletion is permanent and irreversible.
Can I cancel a deletion request after I submit it?
Yes, but only during the 30-day window after you request deletion. Sign back into your account and look for the option to cancel the deletion. After 30 days, the cancellation option disappears and your account is permanently deleted.
Will deleting my LinkedIn account affect my job or background checks?
Deleting your account removes your profile from LinkedIn's site, but employers or background check companies may have already saved or screenshotted your information. Deletion does not erase copies that exist outside LinkedIn. If you are concerned about what is publicly visible, contact the company or service directly to understand what they have on file.
Do I need to delete my LinkedIn app from my phone?
Deleting your account does not automatically remove the app from your phone. You can uninstall the app separately through your phone's app store if you want to. The app will not work once your account is deleted, but it will still take up storage space until you remove it.