How to Delete Your LinkedIn Account: A Step-by-Step Guide
Stepping away from professional networking? To delete your LinkedIn account, you close it from your account settings, choose a reason, and confirm with your password. Before you do, it helps to know the difference between hibernating and closing — and to handle a few things first, like cancelling Premium and downloading your data.
This guide covers how to permanently close your LinkedIn account, what you lose, how long full deletion takes, and how to get a copy of your data before it’s gone. The steps are similar on the website and the LinkedIn app.
Closing your account is permanent once the reactivation window ends. If you’re not sure you’re ready, hibernating hides your profile without deleting anything — more on that next.
Hibernate vs. Close: Which One Do You Need?
LinkedIn gives you two ways to step back. They’re very different, so pick the one that matches your goal.
| Option | What it does | Reversible? | Your data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hibernate | Temporarily hides your profile and activity | Yes — log back in anytime | Kept intact |
| Close (delete) | Permanently removes your profile from LinkedIn | Only within 14 days | Erased after the window |
Hibernating temporarily hides your profile and activity without deleting your data. Closing permanently deletes it. If privacy is the reason you’re leaving, your professional profile is only one piece — your connection can still reveal your location and activity, which is part of how a VPN protects you.
Before You Close: Cancel Premium and Download Your Data
Two steps save you trouble later.
First, cancel LinkedIn Premium. Account deletion doesn’t automatically cancel subscriptions, so cancel Premium manually first to avoid being charged after you leave.
Second, back up your data. Go to Settings & Privacy → Data Privacy → Get a copy of your data and request your archive before you request deletion. The download stays available for a limited time, so save it promptly.
If you own any LinkedIn Groups, you’ll need to close them down before you can close your account. Handle that first so the deletion isn’t blocked.
How to Close (Delete) Your LinkedIn Account
When you’re ready, here’s how to permanently close your LinkedIn account.
- Click your profile photo (top right) and select Settings & Privacy.
- Open Account preferences → Account management.
- Click Close account.
- Select a reason for closing.
- Enter your password to verify your identity.
- Confirm to close the account.
On the mobile app, the path is the same: Settings & Privacy → Account management → Close account.
What Happens After You Close Your Account
You can reactivate within 14 days by logging back in. After that, the account is permanently deleted. Even if you reactivate, some data won’t come back — endorsements, recommendations, group memberships, and unopened messages may be lost.
Full removal takes time. It can take anywhere from 7 to 30 days to permanently remove a LinkedIn profile from its servers. Your profile may also still appear in Google’s cache for a few weeks even after full deletion, until search engines refresh their records. To keep your future browsing from being tied back to you during and after the process, it’s worth understanding what VPN encryption is and how it keeps your connection private.
Protect Your Privacy with Planet VPN
Leaving LinkedIn removes one public profile, but your connection still carries your location and activity to every site you visit next. Planet VPN is an honest free VPN — core features are free forever, and you pay only with your time by watching a short ad, not with your data.
Planet VPN uses reliable encryption to keep your connection private on public Wi-Fi and everyday networks. It’s easy to use: connect in a couple of clicks, with no technical setup.
- Get started on the Planet VPN homepage.
- Compare the free and premium options on the plans page.
- Staying private across social apps? Try Planet VPN for LinkedIn.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between closing and hibernating?
Hibernating temporarily hides your profile and activity without deleting your data, so you can come back anytime by logging in. Closing permanently deletes your profile and data after the reactivation window ends.
Can I reactivate after closing?
You can reactivate within 14 days by logging back in. However, data like endorsements, recommendations, group memberships, and unopened messages won’t be restored even if you do.
How long does full deletion take?
It can take anywhere from 7 to 30 days to permanently remove a LinkedIn profile from LinkedIn’s servers after you close the account.
Does deleting cancel my LinkedIn Premium?
No. Account deletion doesn’t automatically cancel subscriptions, so cancel Premium manually first. Otherwise you may keep getting charged after your account is gone.
Should I download my data before deleting?
Yes. Back up via Settings & Privacy → Data Privacy → Get a copy of your data before requesting deletion, since you won’t be able to retrieve it afterward.
Will my profile still appear in Google after deletion?
It may still show in Google’s cache for a few weeks even after full deletion. This clears on its own as search engines refresh their records.
What if I own a LinkedIn Group?
You’ll need to close down any Groups you own before you can close your account. Take care of that first so the account closure can go through.