How to Permanently Delete Your LinkedIn Account

PDF download Download Article
Learn how to delete your LinkedIn account, as well as reactivate or hibernate it
PDF download Download Article

Are you ready to part ways with your LinkedIn profile? We’ll walk you through the entire process on desktop and mobile. If you end up having second thoughts, scroll to the end of the article to find our guides on reactivating your account (within two weeks of closing it) and hibernating your profile, which is a less severe alternative to deletion.

Quick Steps

  1. Tap your profile icon.
  2. Settings > Account preferences
  3. Hit Close account .
  4. Tap Continue .
  5. Explain why you’re leaving.
  6. Hit Next .
  7. Re-enter your password and tap Done .
Section 1 of 4:

Mobile App (iOS & Android)

PDF download Download Article
  1. If you subscribe to LinkedIn Premium, you'll want to cancel your subscription before you can delete your account. [1]
    • iPhone/iPad: Open your Settings app, tap your name, select “Subscriptions,” tap your LinkedIn subscription, and then tap “Cancel Subscription.” [2]
    • Android: Hit “Premium features” beneath your profile picture, “Manage subscription” (from a drop-down menu that’s near “Subscription details” beneath “Premium Account and Features”), followed by “Manage subscription” and “Cancel subscription.” [3]
  2. If you are the owner of a LinkedIn group, you'll have to delete it before deleting your account. LinkedIn Groups can only be deleted when using LinkedIn on a computer. To delete a group on a computer: [4]
    • Click Edit next to your group on LinkedIn.
    • Click Delete this group and then click Delete this group again to confirm.
    Advertisement
  3. You'll see it at the top of the screen. A menu will expand.
  5. You’ll find this in the “Account Management” section. Some information about closing your account will appear. If you still want to close your account, continue to the next step.
  6. This allows you to continue shutting down your account.
  7. You can also enter details about why you no longer want to participate in LinkedIn.
  8. This deactivates your LinkedIn account. If you log back in within 14 days of closing your account, your account will automatically reopen. [5]
    • As long as you don't sign in again within 14 days of closing your account, your account will be permanently deleted.
    • Deleting your account will permanently delete all endorsements, recommendations, invitations, followings, and group memberships, even if you decide to reactivate within 14 days.
    9. Advertisement
Section 2 of 4:

Computer

PDF download Download Article
  1. If you subscribe to LinkedIn Premium, you'll want to cancel your subscription before deleting your account. To cancel LinkedIn Premium: [6]
    • Click the “Me” tab at the top and select “Access My Premium.
    • Click “Premium features.”
    • Hit “Subscription details.”
    • Click “Manage subscriptions.”
    • Click “Cancel subscription.”
  2. If you own a LinkedIn group, you will have to delete it before you can delete your account. To delete your group: [7]
    • Go to your group in LinkedIn.
    • Click “Edit” to the right of your group.
    • Click “Delete this group” and then “Delete this group” again to confirm.
  3. It's the option with your profile photo at the top of the page. [8] A menu will expand.
    • If your LinkedIn profile doesn't have a picture uploaded, this icon will be a silhouette of a person's head and shoulders.
  5. It's at the top of the left column.
  6. This option is at the bottom of the page.
  7. [9]
  8. You can type some details into the field if you'd like, but it's not required.
  9. This deactivates your LinkedIn account. If you log back in within 14 days of closing your account, your account will reactivate. [10]
    • Deleting your account will permanently delete all endorsements, recommendations, invitations, followings, and group memberships, even if you decide to reactivate within 14 days.
    10. Advertisement
Section 3 of 4:

PDF download Download Article
  1. While your account is considered shut down after you’ve closed it, it’s still possible to reopen it within a 2-week window. Just use your original account info and hit “Sign In.” [11]
    • Despite popular belief, you can’t reactivate your LinkedIn account after 20 days. At that point, you’ll have to make a new one.
    • Alternative: Use the link embedded in your account closure email to log in and reboot your account.
  2. Keep in mind that your old groups, endorsements, followings, recommendations, and pending (or ignored) invitations will be completely inaccessible. Your old connections will still be available, though! [12]
    3. Advertisement
Section 4 of 4:

PDF download Download Article
  1. Click or tap here to put your account in hibernation. Hibernating your account essentially deactivates your account rather than shutting it down. If you don’t want to have your account up and running but also don’t want to delete it entirely, hibernating could be a good option for you. [13]
    • Hibernating shuts down your LinkedIn Premium subscription, so you don’t need to worry about canceling it independently.
    • Alternative: Head to “Settings & Privacy” followed by “Hibernate account,” which is under the “Account management” tab. Choose a reason for why you’re hibernating your account, submit your password, and then hit “Hibernate account” to put your account to sleep.

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    Is it possible to delete my account through my mobile device?
    Community Answer
    No, it is not. To delete your account, you'll have to access your account settings via a browser on a computer or laptop.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 4 Helpful 7
  • Question
    How can I find out who setup my account?
    Community Answer
    You can't, really, other than by asking the person who's currently hosting an account in your name who they are and why they created an account using your information.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 3
  • Question
    I forgot my LinkedIn password and want to delete my account. What should I do?
    Community Answer
    If you can remember which email you set up your account on, go to LinkedIn and request a password reset. From here you can change your password, log in and navigate your way to delete account.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 5 Helpful 5
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      • Check your credit card statement to see if you have a paid LinkedIn account. Make sure that the company doesn't continue billing you even after you've deleted the account.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      Easy Step-by-Step Guide for Making a Great LinkedIn Account
      How to
      Delete Your Usage History Tracks in Windows
      2 Easy Ways to Permanently Delete (or, Hide) Your YouTube Channel
      How to
      Add a Promotion Within the Same Company on LinkedIn
      How to
      Share Your LinkedIn Profile
      Easy Steps to Hide Your LinkedIn Connections on Desktop & Mobile
      2 Easy Methods for Adding a Certificate on LinkedIn
      How to
      Know when You Added a Contact on LinkedIn
      2 Ways to Edit a Company Page on LinkedIn
      How to
      Add Connections on LinkedIn
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a545578
      2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/118428
      3. ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a545578/
      4. ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a543633
      5. ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a1379064
      6. ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a545578
      7. ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a543633
      8. ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a1379064/close-your-linkedin-account?lang=en
      9. ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a1379064
      1. ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a1379064
      2. ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a1342239
      3. ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a1342239
      4. ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a1336653

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Cancel LinkedIn Premium.
      2. Close any LinkedIn Groups you own.
      3. Click the Me tab.
      4. Click Settings & Privacy .
      5. Click Account Preferences .
      6. Click Account Management .
      7. Click Change next to "Close account."
      8. Select a reason and click Next .
      9. Enter your password and click Close account .

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 942,453 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Ingo Schreiber

        Aug 18, 2016

        "Most clear, precise, and detailed guide with foolproof pictorial on how to delete an account. Highly recommend ..." more
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement