Delete LinkedIn Account — Quick Facts
| Account Type | Free or Premium |
| Deletion Wait | Up to 20 days before full removal |
| Data Download | Available before deletion |
| Reactivation Window | Up to 14 days after requesting deletion |
| Platform Owner | Microsoft Corporation (acquired 2016) |
LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking platform with over 1 billion members globally. Whether you are leaving the platform for privacy reasons, reducing social media usage, or simply no longer need a professional networking presence, deleting your LinkedIn account is a straightforward process. This step-by-step guide walks you through how to permanently delete your LinkedIn account.
Before You Delete: Download Your Data
Before permanently deleting your LinkedIn account, it is a good idea to download a copy of your data — including your connections, profile information, messages, and activity history. To do this: go to Settings & Privacy → Data Privacy → Get a copy of your data. Request the data export, and LinkedIn will email you a link to download your archive (typically within 24 hours). This data cannot be recovered after account deletion.
How to Delete Your LinkedIn Account (Desktop)
Log in to your LinkedIn account. Click your profile photo or avatar in the top-right corner. Select Settings & Privacy from the dropdown menu. In the left sidebar, click Account preferences. Scroll down to the Account management section. Click Close account. LinkedIn will ask you to select a reason for closing the account — choose the most applicable option. Confirm your password when prompted, and then click Done to submit the closure request.
How to Delete Your LinkedIn Account (Mobile App)
Open the LinkedIn app and tap your profile photo in the top-left corner. Tap Settings (gear icon). Scroll to and tap Account preferences. Tap Close account under Account management. Follow the prompts to confirm the closure, selecting your reason and re-entering your password.
What Happens After You Delete?
After submitting the deletion request, your profile will no longer be visible to other LinkedIn members. LinkedIn retains a reactivation window of approximately 14 days during which you can change your mind and restore your account simply by logging back in. After this window, the account deletion is processed and becomes permanent within 20 days. Some data may remain in LinkedIn’s systems as required by applicable law.
Who Owns LinkedIn?
LinkedIn is owned by Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft acquired LinkedIn in June 2016 for approximately $26.2 billion, one of the largest tech acquisitions at the time. LinkedIn operates as a subsidiary of Microsoft and continues to function independently with its own leadership team, while benefiting from Microsoft’s enterprise ecosystem integrations (Microsoft 365, Azure, Teams).
