--- title: "How to Delete Your LinkedIn Account: Close or Hibernate" description: "Delete, temporarily deactivate, or just log out of your LinkedIn profile?" url: "https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account" lang: "en" lastModified: "2026-09-19T10:01:55.781Z" alternates: de: "https://compleadly.de/blog/linkedin-profil-loeschen" en: "https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account" fr: "https://compleadly.com/fr/blog/supprimer-compte-linkedin" es: "https://compleadly.com/es/blog/eliminar-cuenta-linkedin" it: "https://compleadly.com/it/blog/eliminare-account-linkedin" pt: "https://compleadly.com/pt/blog/como-excluir-conta-linkedin" x-default: "https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account" --- [Blog](https://compleadly.com/blog) [Profile & Trust](https://compleadly.com/blog/category/profile-trust) # How to Delete Your LinkedIn Account: Close or Hibernate September 19, 20266 min read ![Sebastian Andes, Philipp Krapp & CompLeadly Team](https://media.compleadly.de/media/8b720e679e2f2b08cc017d1938d026c62e625a21790c6df1284c2d4075cb3582-2.webp)Sebastian Andes, Philipp Krapp & CompLeadly Team Last updated on September 19, 2026 --- Table of contents [Delete, deactivate or unsubscribe – what you really want](https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account#delete-deactivate-or-unsubscribe-what-you-really-want)[Deleting Your LinkedIn Account: Step by Step on Desktop](https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account#deleting-your-linkedin-account-step-by-step-on-desktop)[Delete LinkedIn in the app (iOS and Android)](https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account#delete-linkedin-in-the-app-ios-and-android)[Temporarily deactivate your LinkedIn account instead of deleting it](https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account#temporarily-deactivate-your-linkedin-account-instead-of-deleting-it)[What happens with Premium, data and recommendations](https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account#what-happens-with-premium-data-and-recommendations)[Request a copy of your data](https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account#request-a-copy-of-your-data)[Deadline: Reopen account](https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account#deadline-reopen-account)[Merge duplicate accounts](https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account#merge-duplicate-accounts)[Cancel LinkedIn instead of deleting it](https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account#cancel-linkedin-instead-of-deleting-it)[Before you delete: three questions](https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account#before-you-delete-three-questions)[Frequently asked questions about deleting your LinkedIn profile](https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account#frequently-asked-questions-about-deleting-your-linkedin-profile)[How do I permanently delete my LinkedIn profile?](https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account#how-do-i-permanently-delete-my-linkedin-profile)[Can I restore my deleted LinkedIn account?](https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account#can-i-restore-my-deleted-linkedin-account)[What happens to my Premium subscription if I delete my account?](https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account#what-happens-to-my-premium-subscription-if-i-delete-my-account)[Is deleting the LinkedIn app enough?](https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account#is-deleting-the-linkedin-app-enough)[How do I back up my contacts before deleting my account?](https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account#how-do-i-back-up-my-contacts-before-deleting-my-account) // contents [Delete, deactivate or unsubscribe – what you really want](https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account#delete-deactivate-or-unsubscribe-what-you-really-want)[Deleting Your LinkedIn Account: Step by Step on Desktop](https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account#deleting-your-linkedin-account-step-by-step-on-desktop)[Delete LinkedIn in the app (iOS and Android)](https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account#delete-linkedin-in-the-app-ios-and-android)[Temporarily deactivate your LinkedIn account instead of deleting it](https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account#temporarily-deactivate-your-linkedin-account-instead-of-deleting-it)[What happens with Premium, data and recommendations](https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account#what-happens-with-premium-data-and-recommendations)[Request a copy of your data](https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account#request-a-copy-of-your-data)[Deadline: Reopen account](https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account#deadline-reopen-account)[Merge duplicate accounts](https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account#merge-duplicate-accounts)[Cancel LinkedIn instead of deleting it](https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account#cancel-linkedin-instead-of-deleting-it)[Before you delete: three questions](https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account#before-you-delete-three-questions)[Frequently asked questions about deleting your LinkedIn profile](https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account#frequently-asked-questions-about-deleting-your-linkedin-profile)[How do I permanently delete my LinkedIn profile?](https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account#how-do-i-permanently-delete-my-linkedin-profile)[Can I restore my deleted LinkedIn account?](https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account#can-i-restore-my-deleted-linkedin-account)[What happens to my Premium subscription if I delete my account?](https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account#what-happens-to-my-premium-subscription-if-i-delete-my-account)[Is deleting the LinkedIn app enough?](https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account#is-deleting-the-linkedin-app-enough)[How do I back up my contacts before deleting my account?](https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account#how-do-i-back-up-my-contacts-before-deleting-my-account) You can delete your LinkedIn profile in the settings under**Account Settings > Account Management > Close Account**This permanently deletes your profile – your contacts, messages and recommendations will be gone afterwards. If you only want to take a break, temporarily deactivating your account is the better option: your profile becomes invisible but remains intact. And if you just want to log out, you do not need either option. This text shows you the three methods, the click paths on desktop and in the app, and what you should back up beforehand.**Last updated: 19 September 2026**, all information from the[LinkedIn Help Centre](https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a1379064?lang=de) field. ## Delete, deactivate or unsubscribe – what you really want Before you click, clarify which of the three things you mean. They sound similar but have completely different consequences. - **Close (delete) account:**Your profile will be permanently removed. You will lose access to your contacts, messages, recommendations and endorsements. Your profile will no longer be visible on LinkedIn. - **Temporarily deactivate:**Your profile is no longer visible to anyone, including your connections, and no longer appears in any LinkedIn search. Your posts and comments remain, but you will only appear there as “A LinkedIn Member”. The same applies to recommendations and skill endorsements you have given to others. - **Log out:**Only one session will be ended. Nothing changes to the profile. If you are unsure, deactivate the account temporarily. This can be reversed; deletion is only possible under certain conditions (see below). ## Deleting Your LinkedIn Account: Step by Step on Desktop According to the help article “Close and delete your LinkedIn account”, here’s how to proceed: 1. Click the icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage**You** field. 2. Select **Settings & Privacy** field. 3. Click in the section**Account management**to**Change**next to**Close account** field. 4. Select the reason for closing and click on**Continue** field. 5. Enter your password and click on**Close account** field. Source: [linkedin.com/help – Close and delete your LinkedIn account](https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a1379064?lang=de) field. ## Delete LinkedIn in the app (iOS and Android) In the mobile app, the same help article outlines the following steps: 1. Tap your profile picture, then**Settings** it and enter it **Account settings** field. 2. Type below**Account management**to**Close account** field. 3. Tap on**Continue** field. 4. Select your reason and tap**Continue** field. 5. Enter your password and tap on**Done** field. Important: Deleting the app from your phone closes your account_no longer_Your profile stays online; you just can’t see it anymore. ## Temporarily deactivate your LinkedIn account instead of deleting it According to LinkedIn, temporary deactivation is the alternative to closing your account. You can also find it under your profile picture under**Settings & Privacy**and under there**Account management**as**Temporarily deactivate account**Select a reason, enter your password, and confirm. Two points you should know: - **You need to wait 24 hours.**Only then can you log in again and reactivate the account. - **An active Premium subscription will be cancelled immediately.**LinkedIn also notes that a previous promotional price may no longer apply afterwards. If you subscribed through Apple, you must also cancel through Apple. Source: [linkedin.com/help – Temporarily deactivate your LinkedIn account](https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a1336653?lang=de) field. ## What happens with Premium, data and recommendations If cost is your only concern, you do not have to delete anything: According to LinkedIn, you can cancel your Premium subscription and still keep your free Basic account with your profile, connections and all your information. We cover what the individual tiers cost in our article on the[LinkedIn Costs and Premium Pricing](https://compleadly.com/blog/how-much-does-linkedin-premium-cost-in-2026-all-prices-plans-and-tips-at-a-glance)broken down. When you close your account, you lose access to your LinkedIn data. That’s why it’s worth exporting it beforehand. ### Request a copy of your data 1. At the top of the homepage, click on**You**and then click on**Settings & Privacy** field. 2. Select on the left**Privacy Policy** field. 3. Click under “How LinkedIn uses your data” on**Download your data** field. 4. Select the desired data categories and click on**Request archive** field. For individual categories, LinkedIn says the email arrives within minutes; for the full download, within 24 hours. The download link remains valid for 72 hours. The feature is only available on desktop, not in the app. Source:[linkedin.com/help – Download your data](https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a1339364?lang=de) field. ## Deadline: Reopen account LinkedIn states that a closed account can be reopened in most cases, as long as it**less than 14 days**is closed. Even then, not all information can be restored. According to the help article, this does not include skill endorsements, recommendations, ignored invitations, group memberships, or the people you follow. So do not assume that the 14 days will bring everything back. ## Merge duplicate accounts If you accidentally have two profiles, you do not necessarily need to delete one. LinkedIn allows you to merge them, but only within strict limits: according to the help article, only the**Contacts and the email address**of the account you are closing. Profile content, endorsements, recommendations, saved articles, group memberships and pending invitations will not be transferred, and any InMail credits will expire. Accounts with no connections or more than 30,000 connections cannot be merged. If the duplicate account has no contacts, simply close it using the same process as above and add the freed-up email address to your main account after 48 hours. For accounts with contacts, you will need to contact support – you can find out how to reach them in our article on the[LinkedIn Customer Support](https://compleadly.com/blog/linkedin-contact-how-to-reach-linkedin-customer-service-and-support). Source:[linkedin.com/help – Merge or close duplicate accounts](https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a1337200/merge-or-close-duplicate-accounts) field. ## Cancel LinkedIn instead of deleting it “Delete” is often used to mean “sign out” — for example, if you left LinkedIn open on someone else’s computer. There is a separate way to do this: under**Settings & Privacy**you can find it in the section**Log in and security**the point**Active sessions**. There, you can end all active sessions at once; confirm with your password. In the app, follow the same path via your profile picture and **Settings** field. Alternatively, when changing your password, you can require all devices to sign in again. Source: [linkedin.com/help – View your active sessions](https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a1342354?lang=de) field. ## Before you delete: three questions - **Is it about the cost?** Then cancel Premium only and keep your basic account. - **Is it about peace and quiet?** Then temporarily deactivating your account is enough – or simply reduce what you see and post. - **Is it about visibility?** Then the question is more about what your profile says, not whether it exists. If you are still wondering what LinkedIn is useful for, the overview in [What is LinkedIn?](https://compleadly.com/blog/what-is-linkedin-everything-about-networking-careers-and-social-selling) will help you further. ## Frequently asked questions about deleting your LinkedIn profile ### How do I permanently delete my LinkedIn profile? Via **Me > Settings & Privacy > Account management > Close account**. Choose a reason, enter your password and confirm. This permanently deletes your profile and removes access to contacts and messages. ### Can I restore my deleted LinkedIn account? According to LinkedIn, this is possible in most cases as long as the account has been closed for less than 14 days. Some information, such as skill endorsements, recommendations, ignored invitations, group memberships and people you follow, cannot be restored even then. ### What happens to my Premium subscription if I delete my account? For temporary deactivation, it is clear: an active Premium subscription is cancelled immediately, and a previous promotional price may no longer apply afterwards. If it is only about the cost, LinkedIn says you can cancel Premium access and keep your free basic account. Subscriptions purchased through Apple must also be cancelled with Apple. ### Is deleting the LinkedIn app enough? No. Uninstalling the app only ends access on your device. Your profile remains online and visible. To delete it, you need to go through the account settings. ### How do I back up my contacts before deleting my account? Via **Settings & Privacy > Data privacy > Get a copy of your data**. For individual categories, the email arrives within minutes; for the full archive, within 24 hours. The link remains valid for 72 hours. This feature is only available on desktop. --- Was this post helpful? // newsletter ### Want more? Sign up and get new articles on LinkedIn outreach and automation straight to your inbox. You will receive a confirmation email (double opt-in). You can unsubscribe at any time via the link in every email. Details: [privacy policy](https://compleadly.com/privacy). ![Sebastian Andes](https://media.compleadly.de/media/8b720e679e2f2b08cc017d1938d026c62e625a21790c6df1284c2d4075cb3582-2.webp) [Sebastian Andes](https://compleadly.com/blog/author/sebastian-andes) Managing Director · CEO Marketing coach & business consultant. An experienced entrepreneur and marketing strategist, he has been co-building CompLeadly since 2019. [LinkedIn – Sebastian Andes](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastian-andes/) ![Philipp Krapp](https://media.compleadly.de/media/5f21a7708967b449194687bb2101d4f657472eae4f1382d605d6904a027aab22-2.webp) [Philipp Krapp](https://compleadly.com/blog/author/philipp-krapp) Managing Director · CTO Software engineer & app developer. An innovative software developer, he has been co-building CompLeadly since 2019. [LinkedIn – Philipp Krapp](https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipp-krapp/) ![CompLeadly Team](https://media.compleadly.de/media/9109d0d881666addb60c3164d0302e5f499991f811381c2c8d17b8fb37e2f9e9-2.svg) [CompLeadly Team](https://compleadly.com/blog/author/compleadly-team) We build CompLeadly so LinkedIn outreach stops being a matter of luck. Our content team writes up what actually works in real campaigns. // keep reading ## You might also like [Profile & TrustOpen to Work on LinkedIn: How to Add or Remove It7 min read](https://compleadly.com/blog/open-to-work-linkedin)[Profile & TrustLinkedIn Headline Examples: Formulas and 15 Templates7 min read](https://compleadly.com/blog/linkedin-headline-examples)[Profile & TrustLinkedIn Profile Views: See Who Viewed Your Profile5 min read](https://compleadly.com/blog/linkedin-profile-views) ## Ready for answers instead of cold lists? [Try free for 10 days](https://compleadly.com/download) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://compleadly.de/#organization", "name": "CompLeadly", "legalName": "CompLeadly OHG", "description": "LinkedIn automation software for B2B sales and lead generation — built in Germany since 2019.", "foundingDate": "2019", "founder": [ { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://compleadly.de/ueber-uns#person-sebastian-andes", "name": "Sebastian Andes", "jobTitle": "Managing Director · CEO", "url": "https://compleadly.com/about", "image": "https://compleadly.com/images/founders/sebastian-andes-960w.webp", "sameAs": [ "https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastian-andes/" ], "worksFor": { "@id": "https://compleadly.de/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://compleadly.de/ueber-uns#person-philipp-krapp", "name": "Philipp Krapp", "jobTitle": "Managing Director · CTO", "url": "https://compleadly.com/about", "image": "https://compleadly.com/images/founders/philipp-krapp-960w.webp", "sameAs": [ "https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipp-krapp/" ], "worksFor": { "@id": "https://compleadly.de/#organization" } } ], "url": "https://compleadly.com/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://compleadly.com/brand/compleadly-logo-light.svg" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.linkedin.com/company/compleadly/", "https://www.facebook.com/CompLeadlyLinkedInSoftware/", "https://www.instagram.com/compleadly/", "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNT_aB_ioPgfoAvFclwXvug" ], "contactPoint": [ { "@type": "ContactPoint", "telephone": "+49 2202 1860373", "email": "info@compleadly.de", "contactType": "customer support", "areaServed": "DE", "availableLanguage": [ "German", "English" ] } ], "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "Hauptstr. 26", "postalCode": "51465", "addressLocality": "Bergisch Gladbach", "addressCountry": "DE" } } ``` ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://compleadly.com/#website", "name": "CompLeadly", "url": "https://compleadly.com/", "inLanguage": "en-US", "publisher": { "@id": "https://compleadly.de/#organization" }, "potentialAction": { "@type": "SearchAction", "target": { "@type": "EntryPoint", "urlTemplate": "https://compleadly.com/search?q={search_term_string}" }, "query-input": "required name=search_term_string" } } ``` ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://compleadly.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Blog", "item": "https://compleadly.com/blog" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "How to Delete Your LinkedIn Account: Close or Hibernate", "item": "https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account" } ] } ``` ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BlogPosting", "@id": "https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account#article", "headline": "How to Delete Your LinkedIn Account: Close or Hibernate", "description": "Delete, temporarily deactivate, or just log out of your LinkedIn profile?", "url": "https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://compleadly.com/blog/how-to-delete-linkedin-account" }, "inLanguage": "en-US", "datePublished": "2026-09-19T09:00:00.000Z", "dateModified": "2026-09-19T10:01:55.781Z", "author": [ { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://compleadly.com/blog/author/sebastian-andes#person", "name": "Sebastian Andes", "url": "https://compleadly.com/blog/author/sebastian-andes", "sameAs": [ "https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastian-andes/" ] }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://compleadly.com/blog/author/philipp-krapp#person", "name": "Philipp Krapp", "url": "https://compleadly.com/blog/author/philipp-krapp", "sameAs": [ "https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipp-krapp/" ] }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://compleadly.com/blog/author/compleadly-team#organization", "name": "CompLeadly Team", "url": "https://compleadly.com/blog/author/compleadly-team" } ], "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://compleadly.de/#organization", "name": "CompLeadly", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://compleadly.com/brand/compleadly-logo-light.svg" } } } ```