How to Delete Your LinkedIn Account Permanently (2026 Guide)

LinkedIn is one of the most popular professional networking platforms in the world. Millions of users use it to connect with professionals, search for jobs, and grow their careers. However, there may come a time when you no longer need your LinkedIn account or want to remove your online professional presence.

Whether you have an old inactive account, want to create a fresh profile, or simply wish to take a break from the platform, this guide will help you understand how to delete your LinkedIn account permanently.

In this updated step-by-step guide, you will learn how to close your LinkedIn account on desktop and mobile, along with important things you should know before deleting it.

What is LinkedIn?

LinkedIn is a professional social networking platform designed for career growth, job searching, and business networking. Unlike other social media platforms, LinkedIn mainly focuses on professional relationships, industry discussions, and career opportunities.

Professionals, recruiters, business owners, and companies use LinkedIn to build connections, share industry knowledge, and promote their services.

Things to Know Before Deleting Your LinkedIn Account

Before closing your LinkedIn account, there are a few important things you should keep in mind:

• Your profile will no longer be visible on LinkedIn.
• You will lose access to your connections, messages, endorsements, and recommendations.
• Your LinkedIn URL will be removed permanently.
• You may lose access to LinkedIn Learning certificates and saved job applications.
• Account recovery is only available for a limited time after deletion.

If you think you may return later, you can also choose to temporarily hibernate your LinkedIn account instead of deleting it permanently.

How to Delete Your LinkedIn Account on Desktop

If you are using LinkedIn on a web browser, follow these steps carefully:

Step 1

Open LinkedIn and sign in to your account.

Step 2

Click on your profile picture located in the top-right corner of the screen.

Step 3

Select Settings & Privacy from the dropdown menu.

Step 4

From the left-side menu, click on Account Preferences.

Step 5

Scroll down to the Account Management section.

Step 6

Click on Close Account.

Step 7

Choose the reason why you want to close your LinkedIn account and click Next.

Step 8

Enter your account password for verification.

Step 9

Finally, click on Close Account to permanently delete your LinkedIn profile.

Once completed, your LinkedIn account will be scheduled for permanent deletion.

How to Delete a LinkedIn Account on the Mobile App

You can also close your LinkedIn account directly from the mobile app.

Follow these steps:

• Open the LinkedIn app and log in to your account.
• Tap your profile picture in the top-left corner.
• Select Settings.
• Tap on Account Preferences.
• Scroll down and select Close Account.
• Choose the reason for leaving LinkedIn.
• Enter your password to confirm.
• Tap Done or Close Account.

Your LinkedIn account will then be deactivated permanently.

Can You Temporarily Deactivate a LinkedIn Account?

Yes, LinkedIn allows users to temporarily hide their accounts using the Hibernate Account feature.

This option is useful if you want to take a break from LinkedIn without permanently deleting your profile.

When you hibernate your account:

• Your profile becomes invisible to other users.
• Your messages and connections remain saved.
• You can reactivate the account anytime by logging back in.

Unlike permanent deletion, hibernation allows you to return later without losing your profile data.

Read Also - How to Delete Reddit Account

What Happens After Deleting Your LinkedIn Account?

After deleting your account:

• Your profile will disappear from LinkedIn.
• Search engines may still temporarily display cached versions of your profile.
• Your messages and endorsements may disappear gradually.
• LinkedIn may take some time to fully remove your account from search results.

If you change your mind, LinkedIn usually provides a short recovery period before permanent deletion is completed.

Final Thoughts

Deleting a LinkedIn account is a simple process, whether you use a desktop browser or the mobile app. However, before permanently removing your profile, make sure to download any important data and review your saved information carefully.

If you are unsure about leaving permanently, the Hibernate Account feature can be a better option for temporarily stepping away from LinkedIn.

By following the steps mentioned above, you can successfully delete your LinkedIn account in just a few minutes.

Read Also - How To Delete a Telegram Account

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