How to Close and Delete Your LinkedIn Account
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Independent guide, not affiliated with LinkedIn
LinkedIn calls deletion closing your account. Your profile disappears from LinkedIn quickly, though search engines may show cached copies for a while. If you change your mind, LinkedIn lets you reopen a closed account within a short window — currently 14 days.
Not ready to leave? Hibernation hides your profile temporarily without deleting anything.
At a glance
- Time required: About 3 minutes
- Reopen window: 14 days (endorsements and some groups are not restored)
- Premium: Cancel Premium or Sales Navigator first
- Alternative: Hibernate your account instead
LinkedIn Help (search “close account”) (official site) ↗
Before you delete
- Download your data: Settings & Privacy > Data privacy > Get a copy of your data.
- Cancel Premium or other paid products before closing.
- Transfer admin rights for company Pages and groups you own.
- Save contacts — the export includes connections’ names and, where shared, emails.
How to close your LinkedIn account
- Click the Me icon (your photo) at the top of LinkedIn and select Settings & Privacy.
- Open Account preferences and scroll to Account management.
- Click Close account, then Continue.
- Select a reason for leaving and click Next.
- Enter your password and click Close account.
Menus change often. If a button has moved, use the search box in the app's settings or the official help link above.
Hibernate instead
In Account preferences > Account management choose Hibernate account. Your profile is hidden and your name appears as “A LinkedIn Member” on your activity until you sign back in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my messages be deleted?
Your profile and messages are removed from your side. Messages you sent remain in recipients’ inboxes, shown as from a LinkedIn Member.
Can I reopen my LinkedIn account?
Yes, LinkedIn lets you reopen within 14 days of closing. Some data, such as endorsements and recommendations, is not restored.
How do I download my LinkedIn data?
Go to Settings & Privacy > Data privacy > Get a copy of your data.
Can I close a LinkedIn account I can’t log in to?
Use LinkedIn’s Help Center to recover access or report a duplicate or deceased member’s account.