Delete your LinkedIn account or hibernate your profile

Introduction

LinkedIn is the largest professional social network. In this article we explain how to permanently delete your account or put it into hibernation.

Deleting versus hibernating

Permanently deleting

• Your profile is deleted completely and irreversibly
• You lose all connections and contact details
• Messages, recommendations and endorsements are deleted
• Your email address is released after 14 days

Hibernation

• Your profile is hidden
• You keep all connections and data
• You can reactivate at any time by signing in

Preparations

Download your data

1. Sign in to LinkedIn
2. Click your profile photo > Settings & Privacy
3. Go to Data privacy
4. Click Get a copy of your data
5. Select all data and click Request archive

Cancel Premium

Important: Premium is not canceled automatically!

1. Go to Settings & Privacy
2. Click Account preferences > Subscriptions & payments
3. Click Manage Premium subscription
4. Select Cancel subscription

Deleting your account

1. Sign in through a web browser
2. Click your profile photo > Settings & Privacy
3. Go to Account preferences
4. Scroll down and click Close account
5. Select a reason and click Next
6. Enter your password and click Close account

You have 14 days to restore your account.

Hibernating your account

1. Sign in to LinkedIn
2. Go to Settings & Privacy
3. Click Visibility
4. Select Hibernate account
5. Confirm your choice

What happens to your data?

• Connections are removed (they don't get a notification)
• Messages are deleted, also for the people you talked with
• Recommendations you wrote disappear
• LinkedIn Learning progress is lost

Frequently asked questions

Can I delete my account through the app?

No, you need to use the web version for permanent deletion. You can hibernate your account through the app, though.

What happens to my job applications?

All active job applications are withdrawn. Let recruiters know in advance.

Can I reuse the same email address?

Yes, but only 14 days after deletion.

Is my data really deleted?

LinkedIn deletes your data within 14 days. Backups can exist for up to 30 days. Messages to others may stay in their inbox.