How can I close my LinkedIn account permanently?

LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 800 million members. While it can be a valuable tool for networking and job searching, some users ultimately decide they want to close their LinkedIn account permanently.

Why Would You Want to Close Your LinkedIn Account?

There are a few common reasons why someone may want to close their LinkedIn account:

• You don’t use it anymore – If you’ve changed careers or just don’t find LinkedIn useful, you may want to close your account.
• Privacy concerns – LinkedIn requires a lot of personal info and some people are uncomfortable with that.
• Too distracting – For some, LinkedIn can be a timesink and source of distraction from more important work.
• Don’t want to be contacted – Members may wish to avoid being contacted by recruiters or salespeople on the platform.

How to Permanently Close a LinkedIn Account

If you’ve decided you want to close your LinkedIn account, here are the steps to do so permanently:

1. Log into your LinkedIn account on a desktop computer.
2. In the top right corner, click on the Me icon (your profile picture) and choose Settings & Privacy.
3. On the left sidebar menu, choose Account preferences.
4. Under the Account management section, click on Close your account.

You will then be asked to confirm why you are closing your account. Select your reason from the dropdown menu provided.

LinkedIn will remind you that closing your account is permanent and ask if you want to download a copy of your data first.

If you do wish to download your data, click on the Request archive link and LinkedIn will email you a download. This can take up to 24 hours.

Once you’ve downloaded any data you want to save, go back to the Close your account page in Settings.

5. Click on the Close account button.

You will then be logged out of your account which is now scheduled for closure.

According to LinkedIn, it can take up to 24 hours for an account to be permanently closed. Do not log back in during this time.

What Happens When You Close Your LinkedIn Account?

Here’s what to expect after closing a LinkedIn account:

• Your profile will no longer be viewable.
• You will stop appearing in search results.
• You lose access to the account and all data/content.
• Your connections will get a notification you left LinkedIn.
• Your URL will show as “page unavailable”.

Essentially, closing your account removes all traces of you from the LinkedIn platform. Unlike deactivating where data is stored for recovery, closure is permanent.

Is There Any Way to Reopen a Closed LinkedIn Account?

Once you close your LinkedIn account, it is gone for good. There is no way to reopen or reactivate a closed account.

If you change your mind down the road, you would have to create an entirely new account using a different email address.

Some key points:

• You can’t undo account closure. It’s a permanent decision.
• All your data, connections, messages, etc will be lost forever.
• You can’t sign back in after closure. Your password is deleted.
• You have to start over with a new account if you want back on LinkedIn.

In most cases, LinkedIn will not reopen or reinstate closed accounts. Only in extreme situations (like proving the account was hacked/closed without consent) is there a chance, but it is still unlikely.

So double check that permanent closure is what you want before clicking that Close account button. There’s no going back!

What are the Alternatives to Closing My LinkedIn Account Permanently?

If you don’t want to take the drastic step of complete account closure, here are a few alternatives to consider first:

Deactivate Account Temporarily

You can choose to deactivate your account for a period of time instead of permanent closure. Deactivating pauses your profile and removes you from search results. However, all your data will be saved so you can reactivate any time. This is a better option if you think you may want access again in the future.

Increase Privacy Settings

Adjust your privacy settings so your profile is visible only to your direct connections. You can also opt out of data sharing and turn off customized ad targeting. This gives you more control without completely deleting your account.

Delete the Mobile App

One simple option is to just delete the LinkedIn app from your mobile devices. This can reduce distraction and frequent notifications while still allowing you to access LinkedIn through the desktop website if needed.

Restrict Notifications

Cut down on emails and notifications in your settings. Mute conversations you don’t want alerts for. This helps reduce the distraction factor of LinkedIn.

Use More Selectively

Instead of frequent browsing, only log into your account when you have a specific purpose, like networking for a new job or keeping up with useful industry news. More mindful usage can make LinkedIn less of a distraction.

Conclusion

While closing your LinkedIn account permanently is an option, it’s an irreversible decision and alternatives like temporary deactivation may suit your needs. However, if you are certain you want to close your account for good, be sure to download any personal data beforehand. Once your profile is gone, it cannot be recovered. Just be prepared that permanent closure means no going back.