Quick Answer
Yes, it is possible to delete your LinkedIn account and then create a new one. However, there are a few things to keep in mind:
– LinkedIn limits users to one personal account. So if you already have a personal LinkedIn account, you would need to delete that account first before creating a new one.
– Deleting your LinkedIn account is permanent. All of your connections, content, and activity will be removed and cannot be recovered.
– After deleting your account, you’ll need to wait at least 90 days before creating a new personal LinkedIn account using the same email address.
– Creating multiple or duplicate LinkedIn accounts is against LinkedIn’s User Agreement. Doing so could get your accounts suspended or banned.
So proceed with caution if you plan to delete and recreate your LinkedIn account. Often it’s better to tidy up your existing profile instead of starting fresh.
Should You Delete Your LinkedIn Account?
Here are some reasons why you may want to delete your LinkedIn account:
– You’re unhappy with your current profile and want a fresh start.
– Your account has been compromised or hacked.
– You have a duplicate account you no longer need.
– You’re leaving the workforce or changing careers.
– You want increased privacy and less of an online presence.
– Your account was used unethically or for inappropriate behavior.
However, deleting your account also has downsides:
– You’ll lose all your connections and have to start rebuilding your network from scratch.
– You’ll lose access to conversations, content, and history that may still be useful.
– You may damage your professional relationships or reputation if people can no longer find or connect with you.
– Deleting accounts too frequently could be seen as suspicious by LinkedIn.
So weigh the pros and cons carefully before choosing to delete your account. Make sure it aligns with your career goals and priorities.
How to Delete Your LinkedIn Account
If you ultimately decide to delete your LinkedIn account, here is the process:
1. Log into your LinkedIn account on the website (not the mobile app).
2. Click on your profile image at the top right.
3. Select Settings & Privacy from the drop-down menu.
4. Select the Account preferences tab.
5. Scroll down and click on the Close your account link.
6. Select Close Account on the confirmation page.
7. Enter your account password and click Continue.
8. Click Close account to confirm.
Once you complete these steps, your account will be queued for deletion. LinkedIn states it may take up to 24 hours for your profile and data to be permanently purged from their system.
You also have the option to reactivate your account within 30 days before it’s deleted. Simply log in with your username and password during this grace period.
After 30 days, your account and all its data will be permanently gone. So be absolutely certain before following through on deleting your account.
Waiting Period Before Creating a New LinkedIn Account
LinkedIn prohibits creating a new personal account too soon after deleting your previous one. This is to discourage duplicate accounts and reputation management abuse.
Specifically, LinkedIn requires that you wait at least 90 days before creating a new personal account that uses the same email address. This cooling off period gives LinkedIn time to fully process your account deletion and purge all cached data.
If you try to create a new account too soon, LinkedIn may:
– Block you from registering for a new account.
– Automatically suspend your new account.
– Ban both the new and old account email addresses.
So be sure to fully wait out the 90 day waiting period. Rushing to create a new account could backfire and get you banned from LinkedIn.
Here are some things you can do during the waiting period:
– Use an alternate email address not associated with your deleted account to maintain a LinkedIn presence.
– Focus on other aspects of your career like building skills, networking offline, or finding a new job.
– Consider alternatives like creating a basic Facebook business page or personal website to establish your professional brand.
Then once the 90 days has fully elapsed, you can safely create your new LinkedIn account using the same email as your deleted profile.
Creating a New LinkedIn Account
After waiting at least 90 days, you can create a brand new LinkedIn account.
Follow these steps:
1. Go to LinkedIn.com and click Join now.
2. Enter your first and last name.
3. Enter your email address – this can be the same one used for your old account.
4. Create a password. Make sure it’s different than your old one.
5. Confirm your email and agree to LinkedIn’s terms.
6. Complete LinkedIn’s sign up process by adding your location, current job, education, and other info.
7. Verify your email address by clicking the confirmation link sent to your inbox.
Once your new account is created, think carefully about how you want to build out your profile and network this time around.
Here are some best practices:
– Use a professional photo – it’s best to not reuse your old profile photo.
– Customize your LinkedIn URL using your name.
– Start reconnecting with your closest contacts first before bulk inviting connections.
– Join relevant industry groups and follow influential companies.
– Build out your profile slowly and thoughtfully. Highlight key skills, achievements, and experience.
– Engage regularly by commenting, posting, and liking content.
By learning from your previous LinkedIn account, you can make this new profile even better. Just be sure to abide by LinkedIn’s policies.
Risks of Deleting and Recreating a LinkedIn Account
While permitted in some cases, deleting your LinkedIn account and making a new one does carry some risks:
– **Loss of your professional network and reputation:** You’ll have to restart your network and establish your credibility from scratch. This can set back your career progress.
– **Appearance of unreliability:** Frequently deleting accounts could make you seem flaky or untrustworthy to connections.
– **Difficulty accessing opportunities:** Recruiters and business contacts may not be able to find or contact you during account transition periods.
– **Noncompliance with LinkedIn’s policies:** Too many deleted accounts or duplicate profiles could get you banned.
– **Loss of account data:** Photos, content, conversations, and history will be gone forever once you delete your account.
– **Temporary career disruption:** Being without a LinkedIn presence for 90+ days may create career gaps.
So weigh these risks before deleting and recreating your account. In many cases, a better approach is to do a LinkedIn “spring cleaning”:
– Archive old connections that you no longer interact with.
– Delete or hide outdated posts and content.
– Remove positions and achievements that are no longer relevant.
– Expand and enhance your profile to showcase your current self.
With some time and attention, you can give your LinkedIn profile a fresh start without having to delete your entire account.
Conclusion
Here are some key points to summarize:
– It is possible to permanently delete your LinkedIn account and make a new one. But this should only be done with careful consideration.
– You’ll need to wait at least 90 days before reactivating your account with the same email address. Rushing to recreate it could get you banned.
– Take time cultivating your new profile and network. Don’t just duplicate your old account.
– Rather than deleting your account, updating and enhancing your existing profile is usually the better approach.
– Avoid frequently creating and deleting LinkedIn accounts. This could damage your professional reputation over time.
While the option exists, most LinkedIn users are better served by thoughtfully managing their existing profile instead of deleting it and starting over. With some cleanup and curation, you can give your LinkedIn presence a fresh look without the risks of deleting your account.
