There are a few ways you can tell if someone has deleted their LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking site with over 740 million members. With so many users, it’s common for people to delete their profiles for various reasons. Knowing if someone deleted their account can be useful in certain situations. For example, you may want to follow up on a job application but can no longer find the recruiter’s profile. Or you may be trying to get in touch with a former colleague or business contact. While LinkedIn doesn’t notify connections when a user deletes their account, there are some techniques you can use to determine if a profile has been removed.
Check the profile URL
The most straightforward way to check if a LinkedIn profile has been deleted is to visit the profile URL directly. LinkedIn profile URLs follow a standard format:
www.linkedin.com/in/username
For example:
www.linkedin.com/in/johnsmith
If you visit a URL and receive an error page that states “This profile does not exist,” then the account has been deleted or deactivated. You’ll also notice the profile image will be the default gray silhouette icon rather than the user’s photo.
Search for the profile
Conduct a LinkedIn search for the person’s name. If you can’t find the profile in the search results, that indicates the account has likely been removed. You can also try searching their name and company to see if any mutual connections list them in their experience.
Additionally, you won’t see the profile appear in any previous messages or notifications. The name will simply show up as “Unknown Profile.”
Check your connections
View your connections list and see if the profile appears there. LinkedIn will notify you if a connection deletes their account by displaying this message: “[Name] is no longer on LinkedIn.” You’ll then have the option to remove them from your connections.
If you don’t see the profile anywhere in your connections, then they either deleted their account or removed you as a connection first. Both scenarios result in you no longer having access to their profile.
View any past correspondence
If you’ve ever messaged or emailed someone through LinkedIn, check your message history. Deleted accounts will show up as “Unknown Profile.” The same will happen if you’ve ever received a connection invitation or endorsement from the person.
Check groups and posts
Did you use to see someone actively participate in the same LinkedIn groups or post updates? Check those groups to see if their name and profile still appear. When an account gets deleted, the user’s posts and comments will remain, but won’t be attributed to any profile. You’ll notice “Unknown Profile” instead of the person’s name and photo.
Use LinkedIn’s profile screenshot tool
LinkedIn Premium subscribers have access to a profile screenshot tool under the “Who’s Viewed Your Profile” section. Here you can enter any member’s name and email address to view a snapshot of their profile. If you get a message that no matching profile could be found, then they have likely removed their account.
Check archived messages
If you have LinkedIn Premium, you can archive conversations instead of deleting them. Check your archived messages – if a profile has been deleted, their name will once again appear as “Unknown Profile.”
Ask mutual connections
Reach out to any mutual connections you still share with the person. Ask them if they know whether the profile has been deleted or can still be viewed. Your shared connections likely won’t get a notification about the deletion, but they may have additional insight into the situation.
Look for the account on other social media
Search for the person on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. In most cases, professionals use the same profile photo across their social media accounts. If you can still view the person’s name and photo on other networks, chances are their LinkedIn is still active too. They likely just removed you as a connection if you can’t see it anymore.
Check LinkedIn activity timestamps
Even if you can still access a connection’s profile, they may have deactivated their account which removes them from search results and notifications. Look for their last activity timestamps – these can be viewed by Premium subscribers as well as Recruiters. If the time stamps haven’t updated in several weeks, that often indicates an inactive account.
Use a LinkedIn profile checker
There are a few third-party sites and browser extensions that claim to tell you if a LinkedIn account has been deleted. Examples include Social Sleuth, Moz Pro’s Link Explorer, and Clearbit Connect. However, LinkedIn does not authorize access to their platform via these tools. Use carefully and at your own discretion.
Try sending a message
Attempt to send the person a message – either a free InMail if you’re connected or paid if not part of your network. If the message fails to send and you receive a notice that the account can’t be reached, then they have likely deactivated their profile.
The takeaway
Here are some key points to summarize how to tell if a LinkedIn profile no longer exists:
– Visit the profile URL directly and look for error messages.
– Search LinkedIn and check your connections list.
– See if the name appears as “Unknown Profile” anywhere.
– Ask mutual connections if they can still view the profile.
– Check timestamps and activity on groups and posts.
– See if the account still seems active on other social networks.
– Use premium account features like screenshots and archived messages to investigate further.
While LinkedIn doesn’t directly notify you, there are still several ways to determine if a profile has been removed. With a combination of troubleshooting techniques, you can piece together the likely scenario. Keep in mind connections may simply block you rather than deleting their whole account. Proceed respectfully if trying to get in touch and utilize your wider network if needed.
Why do people delete their LinkedIn?
LinkedIn is an invaluable networking platform for professionals in most industries. So why would people delete their accounts and lose access to all those connections and opportunities? Here are some of the most common reasons users choose to remove their profiles:
Job searching
Some choose to delete their accounts while searching for a new job to maintain privacy. They may not want current employers seeing they are actively applying elsewhere. The platform makes it easy to stay invisible while still viewing job postings.
Leaving a company
Those who have parted ways with an employer either voluntarily or involuntarily sometimes want a clean break. Removing work history and connections associated with the company can be part of the transition.
Career change
For those pivoting to an entirely new career or industry, deleting a LinkedIn showcasing a different profession can make sense. The account can always be reactivated later on.
Stalled leads
Frustrated business owners who feel LinkedIn is no longer generating leads or new opportunities may delete their company pages or sales navigator accounts.
Harassment
Unfortunately, some delete their accounts to stop harassment from coworkers, contacts or other connections on the platform. LinkedIn has been working to improve preventative tools.
Hackers/spam
If an account is hacked or starts sending spam, LinkedIn may restrict it. Users often delete and recreate to resolve the issues and secure accounts.
Taking a break
Some periodically deactivate their accounts temporarily for a social media break or mental health reasons. It can be refreshing to disconnect professionally as well.
Retirement
Those retiring from the workforce formalize it by removing their profiles. It signals an end of their professional networking needs.
How to permanently delete your LinkedIn
If you decide you want to delete your own LinkedIn profile, it’s a relatively straightforward process:
Step 1
Log into your LinkedIn account and go to your profile page. Click on the “More” icon in the top right corner and choose “Settings & Privacy” from the dropdown menu.
Step 2
Next select “Account preferences” from the menu on the left side. Then click on “Closing your LinkedIn account” under the “Account Management” section.
Step 3
On this page, choose the reason you are leaving from the dropdown menu. Then select “Continue” to move to the next step.
Step 4
You’ll now see the full account closure page. LinkedIn gives you the option to simply deactivate your account, which is reversible. Or you can permanently delete everything. Click “Close account” to continue.
Step 5
Enter your password when prompted to confirm you want to completely remove your profile. Double check that you want to do this irreversible step.
Step 6
Once you click the final “Close account” button, your profile will be permanently deleted within 24 hours. You cannot reactivate it, so be certain before taking this final action.
And that’s all it takes to completely delete your LinkedIn presence. However, some data may still be retained in company pages, ads or analytics systems even after your profile is removed. Full erasure from their systems can take up to 90 days.
Recovering a deleted LinkedIn account
If you acted rashly and closed your LinkedIn account before considering all the consequences, is recovery possible? Here is the policy on undoing account deletion:
Within 14 days
For the first two weeks after an account is closed, you can contact LinkedIn customer service to request undeleting it. This is the only way – there are no self-service options.
Within 90 days
During days 14 to 90 post-deletion, there is still a chance to recover your account but the process is more difficult. You’ll need to fill out a recovery form and wait for LinkedIn to evaluate your request. There is no guarantee.
After 90 days
Once those 90 days have passed, account recovery is officially impossible according to LinkedIn’s policies. The profile data has been purged from their systems so it can’t be restored. You’ll have to start fresh with a new account.
What information gets deleted
Closing an account deletes profile data like your connections, posts, job history, education, volunteer experience and all other information. Messages and notifications will be removed.
What remains afterwards
As mentioned, some data may persist even after your profile is gone:
– Mentions in other profiles, posts and comments
– Analytics like page visits or ad clicks
– Records within company pages if you were an employee
So remnants of your presence can remain. But your core account details and all content will be erased.
Conclusion
While LinkedIn doesn’t alert your network when you delete your profile, there are observable signals that indicate when an account has been removed. Checking common locations like search results, mutual connections, and message history can provide answers. Those considering deleting their own profiles should follow LinkedIn’s step-by-step process and note the limited window for account recovery. With over 740 million users, profiles come and go from the platform regularly. But deleted accounts leave signs if you know where to look.
