LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 900 million members worldwide. As with any social media platform, some user accounts inevitably become inactive over time. This raises the question – does LinkedIn delete inactive accounts? Let’s take a look at what defines an inactive account on LinkedIn and their policy on removing inactive profiles.
What is an inactive LinkedIn account?
An inactive LinkedIn account is one that has not had any user activity for a prolonged period. According to LinkedIn, accounts may be deemed inactive if the user has not logged in or interacted with the platform in some way for at least one year. Interactions include things like:
- Logging into your LinkedIn account
- Updating your profile information
- Connecting with new contacts
- Commenting on posts or articles
- Liking or reacting to content
- Joining groups
- Searching for jobs or people
Essentially, if a user abandons their account and stops visiting or engaging with LinkedIn entirely, it can eventually be classified as an inactive profile.
Does LinkedIn delete inactive accounts?
LinkedIn does close and remove accounts that have been consistently inactive for a long period of time. However, the process is gradual and inactive accounts are not instantly deleted. Here are some key things to know about LinkedIn’s inactive account removal policy:
- Accounts must be inactive for at least one full calendar year before being eligible for removal.
- Eligible inactive accounts are flagged for closure but are not immediately deleted.
- LinkedIn makes several attempts to notify the user by email that their account may be closed due to inactivity.
- Users have a 30-day grace period after being notified to log in or update their account to avoid closure.
- If the user fails to log in during the grace period, their account will be closed and scheduled for permanent deletion.
- After closure, accounts are retained in a deactivated status for 30 days before being permanently deleted.
So in summary, yes LinkedIn does eventually delete accounts that have had no activity for an extended time. But this is not an instant process – users are given multiple warnings and chances to save their profile before permanent removal.
Why does LinkedIn delete inactive accounts?
LinkedIn removes inactive user profiles for a few reasons:
- To maintain an engaged user base. LinkedIn wants to keep its community vibrant with active, participating members.
- Remove stale data. Inactive profiles with outdated information clutter up the platform.
- Free up member slots. Deleting inactive accounts makes room for new members to join.
- Comply with data privacy laws. Removing unused accounts helps ensure data policies are followed.
By pruning unused profiles after an extended absence, LinkedIn can provide a better experience for active members looking to network and engage with other professionals.
How long before LinkedIn deletes an inactive account?
LinkedIn accounts are eligible for removal after 1 full year of complete inactivity. However, the full deletion process takes some time to complete. Here is an approximate timeline:
- 12 months of inactivity – Account is flagged as potentially inactive
- 18 months inactive – User receives email warning of possible account removal
- 24 months inactive – Account is closed (deactivated) if no response after grace period
- 30 months inactive – Deactivated account scheduled for permanent deletion
- 36 months inactive – Account is completely removed from LinkedIn
So while 1 year triggers the deletion process, it takes approximately 3 full years of no activity for inactive accounts to be permanently erased.
What happens when your LinkedIn account is deleted?
Here’s what happens if your inactive LinkedIn account ends up getting permanently removed:
- Your profile, including connections, content and activity, is erased.
- Your LinkedIn URL redirects to a generic page rather than your profile.
- You can no longer log in with your account credentials.
- Your name and email may become available for a new account to register.
- You will not receive any further notifications from LinkedIn.
Essentially, it will be as if you never had a LinkedIn account once the deletion is complete. The process cannot be reversed or recovered once your profile is removed.
How to avoid having your LinkedIn account deleted
If you don’t want LinkedIn to erase your inactive account, there are a few simple ways to avoid removal:
- Log in at least once per year. Quickly visiting your profile is enough to reset the inactivity clock.
- Set profile reminders. You can schedule reminder emails to prompt you to login.
- Update your profile details. Making edits keeps your account active.
- Comment on posts and interact with content. Regular engagement signals an active account.
- Check notifications. Clearing unread notifications helps too.
As long as you periodically log in or interact with LinkedIn in some small way, your account will remain safe from deletion due to inactivity.
Can you restore a deleted LinkedIn account?
Unfortunately, once your LinkedIn profile has been permanently deleted, it cannot be restored or recovered. The deletion process is designed to be permanent, so there is no way to retrieve closed accounts.
If your account was deleted by mistake, your only option is to create a brand new profile on LinkedIn. You’ll have to start building your connections and network from scratch.
To avoid this, be sure to periodically check your LinkedIn account if you wish to keep it. Watch for warning emails about potential closure and be sure to log in during any grace period offered.
Key takeaways
- LinkedIn will delete accounts that show no activity for 1 year or more.
- Several warnings are sent before accounts are closed and removed.
- It takes approximately 3 years of total inactivity for permanent account deletion.
- Once deleted, profiles cannot be recovered – users must start fresh.
- Logging in once annually is enough to keep your account active.
While LinkedIn does remove inactive accounts in order to maintain a vibrant community, this is not an instant process. Users are given ample warnings and chances to preserve their profiles. But if you want to retain your LinkedIn presence, be sure to log in periodically and keep your account engaged.