Can you delete and remake a LinkedIn account?

Quick Answer

Yes, it is possible to delete your LinkedIn account and create a new one. When you delete your LinkedIn account, it is permanently removed after 30 days. After these 30 days have passed, you can sign up for LinkedIn again with a new account using the same or different email address.

Can You Delete Your LinkedIn Account?

LinkedIn allows users to delete their accounts if they no longer wish to use the platform. Here are the steps to delete your LinkedIn account:

1. Go to your LinkedIn account settings.
2. Under the Account tab, click on “Close your account” at the bottom.
3. LinkedIn will ask you to confirm why you are closing your account. Select your reason for leaving.
4. Re-enter your account password when prompted.
5. Select “Close Account”.

Once you have closed your account, LinkedIn will send a confirmation email. Your profile and data will remain visible for 30 days before being permanently removed. You will not be able to reactivate your account during this time.

What Happens When You Delete a LinkedIn Account?

Here’s what happens when you decide to delete your LinkedIn account:

• Your profile, connections, content, and data will remain visible to others for 30 days after closing your account. This gives you time to download data you want to keep.
• You will no longer be able to log in to your account or reset your password.
• After 30 days, your account will be permanently deactivated. All profile data, connections, and content will be removed from LinkedIn.
• Your public LinkedIn profile URL will show a “member not found” page after the 30-day window.
• You can no longer reactivate or retrieve the closed account. If you sign up again later, you will have to create a brand new account.

During the 30-day window before permanent removal, you can still cancel the account deletion if desired through the reversal link sent in your closure confirmation email.

Can You Reopen a Closed LinkedIn Account?

No, once you permanently delete your LinkedIn account after 30 days, you cannot reopen or access that same account again. The account removal is irreversible.

If you change your mind after starting the account closure process, you have 30 days to cancel the request through the link in the confirmation email. But after the 30 days have passed, the account cannot be restored.

How Long Does it Take for a LinkedIn Account to be Deleted?

It takes exactly 30 days for a LinkedIn account to be completely deleted after the user initiates the account closure process.

Here is the deletion timeline:

1. Day 1 – User closes LinkedIn account.
2. Days 1-30 – Account remains visible but deactivated while user can still cancel deletion.
3. Day 30 – Account is permanently deleted.

So be aware that when you close your LinkedIn account, your profile and data will still be publicly available for 30 days before being removed for good. Use this window to download or save anything you want to keep.

Can You Create a New LinkedIn Account After Deleting?

Yes, after your LinkedIn account is permanently deleted, you are free to create a brand new account on the platform if you choose. You can sign up again using the same or different email address.

Your new account will have:

• A blank profile page.
• No existing connections.
• None of the old content you posted.

Essentially, it will be a fresh start as if you never had a previous LinkedIn presence. Keep in mind you still must abide by LinkedIn’s terms of service when creating a new account after deleting your old one.

Should You Use the Same Email to Sign Up Again?

You can use the same email address to create your new LinkedIn account after deleting your previous one. Since the old account is permanently removed after 30 days, the email will be available to use again.

However, it’s recommended to use a new email address when signing up for a fresh start. Here are some reasons why:

• Using a new email presents a clean slate disconnecting you from the old account.
• It avoids confusion between notifications for old vs. new accounts.
• Logging in with a different email reinforces you are starting over.
• It’s one less thing connecting back to your previously deleted presence.

While not required, having a separate email can help mentally and logistically when creating your new account after deleting an old one.

Can You Merge a New and Old LinkedIn Account?

Unfortunately, there is no way to merge your new LinkedIn account with a previously deleted one. When you permanently delete an account after 30 days, all of its data is removed from LinkedIn’s systems and cannot be recovered.

Your new account will have to start fresh without any ability to pull information or connections from the closed account. LinkedIn does not allow accounts to be combined.

The 30-day window before permanent deletion is the only time you would be able to export data from the closing account over to a new one before it is gone for good.

Does LinkedIn Recommend Deleting and Recreating Accounts?

LinkedIn generally does not recommend deleting and recreating accounts. Starting fresh means losing all of your existing connections and content.

However, there are some scenarios where signing up for a new LinkedIn account after deleting your old one makes sense, such as:

• You want to change your name or other profile details.
• Your connections or content no longer represent you.
• You wish to disassociate yourself from previous jobs or posts.
• You feel your account has been compromised.

In these cases, deleting your account to start over with a new identity might be warranted. Just know it means your network and materials will have to be rebuilt from scratch.

What Should You Do Before Deleting Your Account?

Before deleting your LinkedIn account, here are some things you should do:

• Download a copy of your data – LinkedIn allows you to download your profile info, connections, posts, etc. You’ll lose access after 30 days.
• Save important information – Copy any data you want to keep like contacts or activity history.
• Notify connections – Let your network know you are deleting your account.
• Remove personal info – Delete or adjust anything sensitive like contacts, financial data, etc.
• Export your connections – Download a list of your LinkedIn connections if you want to reconnect later.

Taking these steps allows you to preserve anything important before the account gets permanently removed.

Pros of Deleting and Recreating a LinkedIn Account

Here are some potential benefits of deleting your LinkedIn account and making a new one:

• You can change your name, location, job title or other details.
• It gives you a fresh start and new identity.
• You can distance yourself from previous jobs, posts, connections.
• It allows you to rebrand your profile and online presence.
• You can create a new network if your current one is no longer relevant.

For some individuals, the ability to reset their online identity and start over outweighs losing their account history and connections.

Cons of Deleting and Recreating a LinkedIn Account

Here are some drawbacks to be aware of:

• Permanently losing all connections and having to start over.
• Previous posts and content will be gone.
• Loss of account history, data, and analytics.
• Temporary loss of access while account is deleted.
• Job contacts and recruiters won’t be able to find or contact you.
• Appearing inactive to your network if you don’t notify them.

Essentially all progress made on your account will be erased when you delete it. Be sure the benefits outweigh the downsides before making this decision.

Conclusion

It is possible to permanently delete your LinkedIn account and sign up for a brand new one afterwards. However, this means losing your connections and content for good. Be strategic when deciding to delete and recreate a LinkedIn presence. Download any data you wish to retain and notify your network to minimize disruption. While deleting an account can enable a fresh start, it also comes with the cost of erasing your online history and identity.