Yes, LinkedIn allows you to temporarily deactivate your account if you need to take a break or want to limit your use of the platform. Deactivating your account hides your profile and removes you from search results, but it does not delete any of your data. Your connections, profile details, messages, and network will all still be there when you decide to reactivate your account. Here are some key things to know about deactivating your LinkedIn account:
How to Temporarily Deactivate Your LinkedIn Account
Deactivating your LinkedIn account is simple. Just follow these steps:
- Go to your LinkedIn account settings.
- Under the “Account” section, click “Manage my account.”
- Select “Account preferences.”
- Click the “Closing your LinkedIn account” option.
- Choose “Temporary deactivation.”
- Enter your password when prompted.
- Click “Deactivate.”
It only takes a few clicks to deactivate your account. LinkedIn will walk you through the steps above to confirm your choice before deactivating.
How Long Can I Keep My Account Deactivated?
You can keep your LinkedIn account deactivated for up to 14 days before it will be permanently deleted. During this 14-day window, you can still log back in at any time to reactivate your account. All of your profile info and connections will reappear as normal.
If you want to extend your deactivated period beyond 14 days, you will need to log in and choose to temporarily deactivate again. There is no limit on how many times you can repeat this process.
Benefits of Temporarily Deactivating Your Account
Here are some of the benefits of temporarily deactivating your LinkedIn account:
- Take a break from the platform – Deactivating gives you a chance to disconnect from LinkedIn notifications and focus on other priorities for a set period of time.
- Limit distractions – Removing yourself from LinkedIn for a while can help reduce social media distractions and context switching at work.
- Reassess how you use LinkedIn – The time away allows you to evaluate your LinkedIn use and decide what changes you may want to make when reactivating.
- Step back professionally – Those in career transitions or taking personal leave can deactivate to signal they are not currently active job seekers.
- Improve boundaries – Setting limits on your LinkedIn use by deactivating can help reinforce healthy boundaries between work and personal life.
Things to Consider Before Deactivating
While temporarily deactivating your account can be helpful in many cases, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- You will not appear in search results or notifications, so people will be unable to connect with you.
- You may miss important messages and notifications from your network.
- You won’t be able to access contacts, messages, or groups during deactivation.
- Deactivating could signal to some connections that you are no longer interested in engaging.
- Jobs may pass you by if recruiters can’t find and contact you.
Consider the pros and cons to decide if a temporary deactivation makes sense for your situation and goals for using LinkedIn.
What Happens When I Reactivate My Account?
Reactivating your LinkedIn account after temporary deactivation is simple. Just log back in anytime before the 14-day window expires. Here is what happens when you reactivate your account:
- Your profile, contacts, messages, and network will be restored.
- You will again appear in LinkedIn search results and notifications.
- You can immediately resume using LinkedIn as normal.
- Any changes made to contacts or groups during deactivation will be synced.
- You may need to replay messages or notifications missed while deactivated.
It is typically a seamless experience, with everything back to normal soon after hitting the “Reactivate” button. LinkedIn’s temporary deactivation makes it easy to step away for a bit without permanently deleting your presence.
Permanently Deleting Your LinkedIn Account
While temporary deactivation hides your profile for a period of time, permanently deleting your LinkedIn account is more definitive. Here is what happens when you permanently delete your account:
- Your profile is removed from LinkedIn and search engines.
- You lose connections to your network.
- Messages in your inbox are deleted.
- You can no longer log in or recover any information.
- It can take up to 90 days for some data to be fully deleted from backups.
Permanent account deletion is typically only advised if you are leaving LinkedIn for good and have no need to ever reactivate. Temporary deactivation gives you more flexibility to step away without losing your network and presence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I reactivate my account at any time?
Yes, you can reactive your temporarily deactivated account at any point during the 14-day window before it is permanently deleted. Just log back in to restore your account.
What happens to my messages if I temporarily deactivate?
Your LinkedIn inbox will be cleared of all messages during the deactivation period. New messages will queue and be waiting for you when you reactivate your account.
Will people get notifications if I deactivate my account?
No, your connections will not be notified if you deactivate or reactivate your account. It will appear seamless from their end.
Can I still use LinkedIn Learning with a deactivated account?
No, you will not have access to LinkedIn Learning while your account is deactivated. You must reactivate your account to resume using Learning.
Does deactivating remove me from LinkedIn groups?
You will remain a member of any groups you’ve joined, but be set to “inactive” status. When reactivated, group membership is restored.
Can someone else manage my account while it’s deactivated?
No, account access is limited when deactivated. To authorize someone else to manage your LinkedIn account, you will need to keep it active.
Conclusion
Temporarily deactivating your LinkedIn account can be a helpful way to take a break from the platform if needed. It hides your profile for up to 14 days while preserving your data and network connections. Just be sure to consider the potential downsides before deactivating your account. With LinkedIn’s flexible options, you can easily step away for a digital detox or reassess your usage and reactivate seamlessly when ready.
