Whether you’re aiming to simplify your online presence or just no longer find LinkedIn beneficial, you may be contemplating how to permanently delete your LinkedIn account. This guide provides step-by-step instructions and insights into what this means for your digital footprint.
Understanding LinkedIn Account Deletion
Deleting your LinkedIn account is a permanent action. Once deleted, your profile will no longer be visible on LinkedIn, and you’ll lose all your connections, endorsements, and recommendations. Before making this decision, it’s important to understand what you’ll lose and consider whether it might be more beneficial to simply deactivate or make your account less visible.
The Step-by-Step Process
If you’ve made up your mind and are ready to delete your LinkedIn account, follow these steps. However, before we dive into that, let’s discuss some crucial preparations.
Pre-Deletion Preparations
Before deleting your LinkedIn account, back up any important data. This includes your connections, recommendations, and profile information. LinkedIn allows you to download your data from the “Settings & Privacy” section.
Deleting Your LinkedIn Account
- Log in to your LinkedIn account.
- Click on your profile picture at the top right to open a dropdown menu.
- Select “Settings & Privacy”.
- In the “Account” tab, look for the “Closing your LinkedIn account” option.
- Click “Change”, then “Next”.
- You’ll be asked why you’re closing your account. Select a reason, then click “Next”.
- Enter your password and click “Close account”.
Post-Deletion Steps
After you’ve deleted your account, LinkedIn will send you an email confirming the account closure. It’s worth noting that while your account will be deactivated immediately, it may take a few weeks for all your information to be completely removed from LinkedIn.
Things to Consider Before Deleting
There are some important factors to consider before you permanently delete your LinkedIn account.
Losing Connections and Information
Remember that deleting your LinkedIn account means losing all your connections, endorsements, and recommendations. It also means losing all the information in your profile, which can be a significant loss if you’ve been using LinkedIn for a long time.
Professional Consequences
LinkedIn is a major networking platform for professionals. If you delete your account, you may miss out on job opportunities, industry news, and the ability to showcase your professional history and achievements online.
Conclusion
Deleting your LinkedIn account is a significant decision. Weigh the pros and cons carefully. If you’re sure it’s the right move for you, follow the steps outlined in this guide to do so.
FAQs
- Can I restore my LinkedIn account after deleting it?No, once a LinkedIn account is deleted, it cannot be restored.
- Does LinkedIn keep my data after I delete my account?LinkedIn states that it may take up to 30 days to remove all your information from its system.
- Can I create a new LinkedIn account after deleting my old one?Yes, you can create a new account after deletion, but your old connections and information will not be retrievable.
- Is it better to deactivate or delete my LinkedIn account?This depends on your needs. Deactivating or making your profile less visible might be better if you may want to use LinkedIn in the future.
- What happens to the endorsements and recommendations on my LinkedIn profile after deletion?Once your LinkedIn account is deleted, all endorsements and recommendations associated with the profile will be permanently removed.