LinkedIn is a popular social media platform used by professionals to network and grow their careers. As you connect with more people on LinkedIn, you may find that your network becomes cluttered with connections that are no longer relevant. Removing connections on LinkedIn can help you declutter your network and focus on nurturing meaningful professional relationships.
While LinkedIn makes it easy to connect with new people, removing connections is a bit more hidden. In this article, we’ll walk through the steps to remove connections on both the LinkedIn mobile app for iOS and Android. We’ll also cover some best practices around managing your LinkedIn connections.
Should You Remove Connections on LinkedIn?
Here are some common reasons you may want to remove LinkedIn connections:
- The connection is no longer relevant – If you’re no longer working with someone or don’t need to stay in touch for professional reasons, it’s fine to remove the connection.
- You don’t know the person – Sometimes connections are made unintentionally. If you don’t actually know someone, go ahead and remove the connection.
- The connection is inactive – If someone you’re connected with is no longer active on LinkedIn, they probably won’t notice if you remove them.
- You have too many connections – LinkedIn limits you to 30,000 connections. Removing inactive connections can free up room for more relevant connections.
- They have inappropriate content – If a connection is posting unprofessional content, you can remove the connection.
When removing connections, be thoughtful about it. Don’t go on a mass purge and remove connections for no reason. Take the time to evaluate each connection and only remove people who no longer make sense to be connected to.
Maintaining a focused, quality network will be much more valuable for your career than having the maximum number of connections.
How to Remove a Connection on LinkedIn Mobile
Removing a connection on the LinkedIn mobile app is easy, though the process is slightly different on iOS vs. Android. Here are the steps for both:
Remove Connections on LinkedIn for iOS
1. Open the LinkedIn app on your iPhone or iPad. Tap “My Network” on the menu at the bottom.
2. On the My Network page, tap “Connections” to view your list of connections.
3. Find the connection you want to remove. Swipe left on their name and tap the “More” button.
4. Tap “Remove connection” to remove them from your connections.
5. Confirm removing the connection by tapping “Remove”.
And that’s it! That connection is now removed from your network.
Remove Connections on LinkedIn for Android
1. Open the LinkedIn app on your Android phone or tablet. Tap the “My Network” icon on the bottom menu.
2. Tap “Manage my network”.
3. Under the “Your connections” section, find the connection you want to remove. Tap the three dots next to their name.
4. Tap “Remove connection” to remove them from your connections.
5. Confirm removing the connection by tapping “Remove”.
The connection will now be removed from your LinkedIn network on Android.
Best Practices for Managing Connections
Here are some tips to keep your LinkedIn connections optimized:
- Review your connections 1-2 times per year. Remove any inactive or irrelevant connections.
- Connect with people you have an established relationship with. Don’t connect with strangers.
- Personalize connection requests with a note. Remind them how you know each other.
- Limit connections to 500-1000quality connections. Quality is more important than quantity.
- Don’t feel obligated to accept connection invites. Only connect if it makes sense.
- Remove connections graciously. You never know when you’ll cross paths again.
Keeping your LinkedIn connections focused on meaningful professional relationships will make your profile more valuable.
Pro Tips for Managing Connections
Here are some additional power tips for managing your LinkedIn network:
Sort Connections by Last Name
Can’t find a specific connection? On desktop, you can sort your connections alphabetically by last name to easily scroll and find them.
Browse in Anonymous Mode
Want to peek at someone’s profile before connecting? Browse in anonymous mode on mobile to discreetly check them out.
Sync Outlook Contacts
Connect instantly with colleagues by syncing your Outlook contacts. This will send connection invitations to mutual contacts.
Use Advanced Search
Advanced search lets you search your connections by company, location, shared connections and more. Refine your search to find relevant connections.
Customize Invitation Settings
Tailor your invitation settings to control who can send you invites or see your connections. Set them up under Privacy & Settings.
Send InMail to Connect
Don’t have a mutual connection? You can send someone an InMail to personalize a connection request.
Review Suggested Connections
LinkedIn suggests connections for you to add. Frequently review these suggestions for relevant connections.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about managing LinkedIn connections:
Does removing a connection notify them?
No, removing a connection does not notify them. The only way they would know is if they happen to look you up and notice you are no longer connected.
Can you reconnect with someone after removing them?
Yes, you can send a new connection invite to someone after removing them. They may or may not accept, but you can always request to connect again.
Do removed connections still show in search results?
No, after removing a connection their profile no longer shows up when you search your connections. But their profile still exists on LinkedIn.
Is there a limit to how many connections you can have?
Yes, LinkedIn limits accounts to 30,000 connections. Removing old connections can help free up space for new ones.
What’s the best number of connections to have?
Quality over quantity. 500-1000 highly relevant, active connections is ideal for most professionals. Focus on building meaningful relationships.
Conclusion
Removing outdated or irrelevant LinkedIn connections can help refine your network and highlight valuable relationships. Use the steps outlined above to remove connections easily on mobile. Maintain an intentional approach to curate a quality group of professional contacts. This will lead to a more engaging, useful LinkedIn network that can boost your career.