Many people may find themselves wanting to delete an old or unused LinkedIn account. However, if you no longer have access to the email address associated with your account, deleting it can be tricky. LinkedIn requires users to verify their identity via email when deleting an account. So what can you do if you want to remove your old profile but don’t have access to that email anymore?
There are a few potential options to try to delete your LinkedIn account without access to the email on file. However, LinkedIn’s security measures make it very difficult to fully delete an account without email verification. We’ll walk through some steps you can attempt, but there is no guarantee any will work. Proceed with caution when trying to delete an account you can’t access.
Attempt to Reset Your Password
The first step is attempting to reset your LinkedIn password even without access to your email. Here’s how:
1. Go to LinkedIn.com and click on “Forgot password?” below the password field.
2. Enter your LinkedIn username and complete the captcha.
3. LinkedIn will then prompt you to enter the email on file or verify your identity in another way.
4. Try clicking “Verify another way” and following the instructions to verify your identity with info like your full name, location, company, etc.
5. If you’re able to verify your identity without accessing email, you may be able to reset your password this way.
6. However, LinkedIn may still send a password reset email to your on-file address as a security measure. So this method is hit or miss.
Resetting your password probably won’t work if you can’t access the email on file. But it’s worth attempting just in case you can verify your identity through another method. Getting back into your account would then allow you to update the email and securely delete the profile.
Contact LinkedIn Support
If you can’t reset your password, the next step is to contact LinkedIn customer support for help deleting your account. Here are some tips for reaching out to LinkedIn support:
– Explain clearly that you want to delete your account but no longer have access to the email on file. Ask if there are any alternate verification methods.
– Provide as many details about the account as possible – full name, location, companies worked for, connections, etc.
– Check LinkedIn’s help page about closing your account. Follow their guidance for account closure requests.
– Try Twitter – reach out to @LinkedInHelp explaining your situation and asking for account deletion help.
– You may need to provide scanned ID or other documents to prove account ownership if possible.
– Keep following up politely if you don’t hear back. But understand there’s no guarantee.
Getting LinkedIn support to close your account without email verification is hit or miss. Technically their policy requires email confirmation. But some users report success explaining their situation and providing alternate proof of identity. Be patient and polite when communicating with support.
Report Account as Compromised
If you’re unable to reset the password or get help from LinkedIn support, reporting your account as compromised is another option. Here are the steps:
1. Fill out LinkedIn’s hacked account form: https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/ask/ts-baw
2. Explain clearly that you own the account but cannot access the email. Request account deletion.
3. Provide detailed information to prove account ownership.
4. Check back frequently for a response from LinkedIn. Follow up if needed.
5. There is no guarantee LinkedIn will comply with requests about an “inaccessible” account. But reporting it as hacked or compromised may get their attention.
Reporting your account as compromised means LinkedIn may lock or restrict it if they suspect suspicious activity. So only use this method as a last resort. And understand it may not lead to account deletion without email confirmation.
Delete or Deactivate Email Address
If you no longer have access to the email associated with your LinkedIn account, can you simply delete or deactivate that email address? This could prevent LinkedIn from sending a verification email. Here are some potential issues:
– Most email providers keep deleted addresses in their system, so LinkedIn emails may still go through.
– Deactivating the email could work, but reactivation is easy so it may be temporary.
– LinkedIn may flag suspicious activity if they detect the email is invalid. This could lead to account restriction.
– You likely do not control the old email domain, so cannot delete/deactivate from the provider side.
Unless you control the email provider and can fully delete the address, it’s unlikely deactivating or deleting will prevent LinkedIn from sending account verification. And it could look suspicious to them. This method is not really recommended in most cases.
Use a New Email Address
If you add a new, valid email address to your LinkedIn account, you may then be able to receive a deletion verification message there. Here is one potential approach:
1. Reset your LinkedIn password successfully using account details (not email).
2. Log into your account and add a new email address under Email & SMS preferences.
3. Verify the new email to confirm ownership.
4. Use LinkedIn’s account deletion process and select the new email.
This allows you to add a working email you control in order to receive the verification message. The catch is you need to be able to log into your account first to add that new email. If you don’t know your password, this won’t work.
Use Email Alternatives
Some email providers allow you to create email aliases or anonymous/temporary email addresses. It may be possible to use an email alias or disposable address when attempting to delete your LinkedIn account.
For example, create an email alias linked to an active email account you control. Verify the alias. Then use it when closing your LinkedIn account. This prevents any messages going to the inaccessible old address.
Some potential disposable email options include:
– AnonAddy
– TempMail
– MailDrop
The catch is LinkedIn may be suspicious of an unknown email domain for verification. Make sure to research email alias or disposable address options which offer domains that appear professional and valid.
Attempt Partial Deletion
If you ultimately cannot fully delete your LinkedIn account without email access, some partial deletion options may include:
– Removing profile photo
– Deleting all content and information from your profile
– Removing all connections
– Restricting visibility settings to private so only you can see profile
While this won’t completely close your account, it can clear out most personal data. Your profile will essentially exist as an empty shell. Limit visibility settings so it’s not publicly accessible.
Keep in mind LinkedIn may terminate inactive accounts over time automatically. But there is no guarantee an untouched empty profile will get deleted. Partial deletion just makes your information less visible.
Create a New Account
As a last resort, you may decide to simply abandon your old LinkedIn account and start fresh with a new profile. Here are some tips if creating a brand new account:
– Use a different email address this time that you control and can access.
– Do not connect with the same people or companies again.
– Avoid identical profile information like job history, education, etc.
– Make sure account activity looks organic, not duplicated.
Having two identical LinkedIn accounts is against their rules. You don’t want the old and new accounts to appear related or risk suspension. So be very careful when making a separate legitimate profile.
Keep in mind the old account may still exist indefinitely even if you create a new one. LinkedIn does crack down on duplicate accounts over time. But there are no guarantees your original profile will get removed if left alone.
Use Another Professional Network
If you want to move on from LinkedIn entirely, focus your online presence on a different professional networking platform. Some popular alternative sites include:
– XING
– Viadeo
– Bebee
– Shapr
Building your professional connections and identity on sites like XING or Viadeo prevents needing to manage multiple LinkedIn accounts. However, LinkedIn remains the dominant network. Most professionals maintain LinkedIn profiles even if using other sites.
So fully replacing LinkedIn with another platform may not be realistic. But you can reduce dependence on LinkedIn by cross-posting content and profiles to other networks. Just maintain the same identity and profile info when doing so.
Conclusion
Deleting a LinkedIn account without access to the associated email address is very challenging. LinkedIn’s robust security makes email verification mandatory in most cases. There are a few potential options to try, like resetting your password, contacting support, or using email aliases. But none guarantee success.
If you absolutely need to remove a profile without the ability to receive a verification email, the most realistic approach is reporting your account as compromised to LinkedIn. But prepare for the possibility your request will be denied or ignored. Maintaining an empty, invisible profile may be your only option short of creating an entirely new account.
Be very cautious about attempting to circumvent LinkedIn’s policies surrounding account deletion. Well-intentioned members may be able to get support deleting inaccessible profiles after providing proof of identity. But deliberate attempts to manipulate the system could get you banned entirely.
