Quick Answer
It is not possible to completely remove your LinkedIn profile from Google search results. However, you can make your profile less visible and more difficult to find by updating your profile’s visibility settings and optimizing your profile for privacy. Some steps you can take include:
- Change your profile visibility to “Private” in your account settings.
- Remove your last name from your profile URL and headline.
- Exclude your profile from search engine results in your account settings.
- Remove or limit information in all sections, especially work experience and education.
- Use a generic job title instead of your actual title.
- Don’t connect with colleagues and avoid sharing your URL.
- Use a different profile photo than your work photo.
- Add your LinkedIn profile to Google’s removal request tool.
While this can help reduce your LinkedIn presence in search results, there is no way to guarantee your profile won’t appear. The best approach is to be cautious about the information you share publicly on your LinkedIn profile.
Limiting Public Profile Visibility
One of the most effective ways to make your LinkedIn profile less searchable is to limit what the public can see on your profile. Here are some key steps:
Make Your Profile Private
By default, LinkedIn profiles are set to the “Public” visibility option. This allows your profile to be indexed and displayed in Google search results. To limit visibility, go to your account settings and under Profile, select “Private” instead of “Public” for your profile visibility. This means only your direct connections will be able to view your full profile.
Exclude Profile from Search Engines
In your account settings under Profile, you can also select the option to exclude your profile from search engine results. This tells search engines like Google not to display your profile in results. However, it’s not guaranteed they will comply with this request.
Customize Public Profile Visibility
LinkedIn gives you granular control over what sections of your profile are visible when your profile is public or visible to the wider LinkedIn network. You can customize visibility for each section. For the least public presence, you can make sure your photo, education, experience, etc. are only visible to direct connections.
Remove Last Name & Title
Avoid including your last name and job title/company info in your public profile fields, especially your profile headline and URL which are highly visible. This makes you much harder to find in search engines.
| Field | Search Visibility | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Headline | Very High | Use a generic title like “Marketing Professional” |
| URL | Very High | Remove last name if included |
| Name | High | Use initials or first name only |
Optimizing Your LinkedIn Profile for Privacy
In addition to adjusting your visibility settings, you can optimize your entire LinkedIn profile to minimize the personal details available publicly:
Remove Work Experience
The positions listed on your profile can make you very searchable. Remove or limit any details of past or current roles. You can also change company names to something more generic if needed.
Eliminate Education Details
Like work history, educational institutions and degrees can pinpoint your identity. Omit this section or only include generic details like “Bachelor’s Degree, Class of 2015” without the school name.
Use a Generic Job Title
Rather than your actual job title which is unique, use a generic one like “Marketing Professional” or “Account Manager.” Avoid job titles that identify your employer.
Be Wary of Profile Photo
Use a LinkedIn profile photo that is different from your work photo or any found elsewhere online. Google’s image search can easily connect photos across your profiles.
Add Few Connections
Your connections provide direct access to your profile so limit them only to people you know and trust. Avoid connecting with co-workers as their profiles will associate you with your company.
Customize Public Profile
Tailor your public profile to show only a bare minimum of generic details. This is shown to non-connections who come across your profile in searches.
Removing Your Profile from Google Searches
While you can’t guarantee removal, you can take steps to actively get your LinkedIn profile deindexed from Google search results:
Use Google Remove Outdated Content Tool
Google provides a free tool to request removal of outdated, irrelevant, or otherwise undesired pages from search results. You can submit your LinkedIn profile URL here to request removal. However, keep in mind there is no guarantee Google will comply with takedown requests.
Adjust Robots.txt File
The robots.txt file gives instructions about your site to search engine robots. LinkedIn’s default file allows indexing. You likely can’t edit LinkedIn’s file directly, but you can add your own robots.txt to your root domain with disallow directives for your profile URL.
Remove Links Pointing to Your Profile
The more quality links that point to your LinkedIn profile, the more likely it is to rank in search results. Try and remove any external links directing to your LinkedIn profile that you find online to decrease your discoverability.
Submit Removal Request in Google Search Console
If your profile appears prominently in unwanted search results, you can use Google Search Console to directly request Google remove the page. However, success is not guaranteed.
Use a Paid Online Reputation Management Service
As a last resort, you can enlist an online reputation management company who specializes in search suppression and profile takedowns. Their tactics may yield better results but often come at a high cost.
Conclusion
Ultimately, while you can take steps to reduce your LinkedIn presence in Google search, removing it entirely is likely impossible. Your best approach is being cautious about what details you include publicly and limiting your profile’s visibility to search engines. A private profile only viewable by direct connections gives you the most privacy and protection. Though it takes effort, tweaking settings, optimizing sections, and requesting removals can help minimize unwanted discoverability. Just don’t expect to erase all search engine traces of your LinkedIn presence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I completely remove my LinkedIn from Google search results?
No, there is no way to guarantee the complete removal of your LinkedIn profile from Google search results. Even with profile visibility set to private, it may still appear in limited form. The best you can do is reduce discoverability and prominence.
Should I delete my LinkedIn profile for full privacy?
Deleting your account is the only surefire way to fully remove it. However, losing connections and visibility may not be worth it. Tweaking your settings and content are often better approaches to balance privacy and professional networking.
What happens if I set my profile to private?
A private profile means only your 1st-degree connections can view your full profile. Others see limited information intended for anonymous users. This greatly reduces public visibility but doesn’t necessarily guarantee exclusion from search.
Is it bad to have a private LinkedIn profile?
Not at all. Many professionals value privacy over publicity. As long as you still actively network and engage with your connections, you can benefit from LinkedIn privately. Just be aware that some visibility helps for networking, job seeking, and being discoverable.
Should I use a pseudonym on LinkedIn?
Using a fake name goes against LinkedIn’s terms of service. Your best bet is using a variation of your real name (like initials only) and excluding other directly identifiable details when possible. This maintains some privacy without deception.
Key Takeaways
– Adjust profile visibility settings to “Private” and customize visibility by section.
– Exclude your profile from search engine indexing in settings.
– Remove last name, job titles, and other specifics from your public profile.
– Submit removal requests to Google and LinkedIn, but success isn’t guaranteed.
– Focus privacy efforts on sections like experience, education, photo, name.
– Don’t delete your profile completely as the benefits likely outweigh privacy gains.
– Make your public profile generic and anonymous with limited details.
– Connect selectively and avoid sharing your profile URL to limit direct access.
Conclusion
Maintaining privacy on LinkedIn involves carefully restricting access and limiting identifying details visible publicly. While you can reduce your discoverability on Google, completely removing your profile is likely impossible. Approach privacy as a balancing act between networking benefits and personal comfort. With the right settings and content adjustments, you can keep your LinkedIn presence professional but more discreet.
