Signing out of your LinkedIn account is a simple process that allows you to log out of your account on a particular device. When you sign out, your account is not deleted or deactivated, it just logs you out of the current session. This can be useful for security purposes or if you are using a shared or public device. Here is a quick overview of what happens when you sign out of your LinkedIn account:
You are logged out of your account
The main effect of signing out of LinkedIn is that you are logged out of your account on that device. This means you will need to enter your username (email address) and password again next time you try to access LinkedIn from that same browser.
Any active sessions you had open on that device will be terminated. You will need to sign in again before you can view your profile, feed, messages, notifications or access any other LinkedIn features. This helps protect your account privacy if you are using a shared computer or public device.
Your information is not accessible
When logged out of LinkedIn, your personal account information, profile data, connections, feed and any other private information is not accessible. Someone else using the same device will not be able to view any of your private LinkedIn activity unless they sign in with your credentials.
This helps prevent others from accessing your account if you forget to sign out of LinkedIn on a shared computer. It adds a layer of security and privacy to your account when you are logged out.
You stop sharing your activity
While logged in to LinkedIn, your connections and network can see certain activity like when you view someone’s profile or make a post. When you sign out of your account, you stop publicly sharing any of your LinkedIn activity and behaviors. Others will no longer be able to see your browsing or usage on LinkedIn until you sign back in.
Your session cookie is deleted
When you actively use the internet and visit websites, your browser stores small pieces of data called cookies that remember you and your preferences. When you sign out of your LinkedIn account, the LinkedIn login cookie storing your session information is deleted from your browser.
This means you are “forgotten” by the LinkedIn website until you sign back in with your email and password. Deleting this cookie helps prevent others from accessing your account from that browser even if you left the page open.
You can sign in on a new device
LinkedIn allows you to remain signed in on only one device at a time for each account. So if you were logged in on your phone and wanted to access your account on your laptop, you’d need to sign out of the phone first.
Signing out lets you sign in and use the same LinkedIn account on a new device. It frees up that one active session for another device. This allows you to move your account session from one device to another smoothly.
Your remembered credentials are erased
Many browsers offer to “remember” your username and password for websites so you don’t have to enter them each time. When you sign out of LinkedIn properly, any stored login credentials are also cleared from that browser.
This means even if someone had access to your device, they could not easily log back into your account without re-entering your LinkedIn email and password. It provides an additional layer of security on shared computers.
You stop syncing with Outlook
If you connect your LinkedIn account to sync contacts and calendar events with Outlook, signing out of LinkedIn will stop that syncing behavior. Your LinkedIn and Outlook accounts will no longer exchange updated information until you sign back in.
This prevents others from improperly accessing or manipulating your LinkedIn data and Microsoft account if you remain signed into Outlook on a shared device.
You lose access to personalized content
While signed in, LinkedIn displays content tailored to you based on your profile, activity and preferences. When logged out, you will lose access to this personalized feed content, recommendations and suggestions. The LinkedIn homepage will revert to a generic, signed-out state.
You cannot message connections
LinkedIn messaging allows you to communicate directly with your network while signed in. After signing out of your account, you will be unable to send or receive LinkedIn messages until you log back in.
You also won’t receive email or push notifications for new LinkedIn messages. Your conversations will stop sending and syncing until your return to your account.
Your open searches are cancelled
When signed into LinkedIn, you can save search queries like “software developer jobs in Seattle” to get ongoing notifications. Signing out will cancel these open searches so you stop receiving notifications for new jobs, people or content matching those searches.
Your searches are not deleted, just paused. When you sign back in, you can restart those searches.
You cannot edit your profile
While logged out of LinkedIn, you will be unable to make any changes to your profile including your work experience, education, skills, recommendations or any other sections. Your profile will be temporarily read-only until you sign back in.
This prevents unauthorized changes if you left your account open on a shared computer. Any profile editing requires you to be logged in as the account owner.
You cannot apply for jobs
LinkedIn’s job board allows you to find and apply for jobs while signed in. But once logged out, you can no longer submit job applications, save jobs or communicate with recruiters on opportunities.
Staying logged out restricts your account’s ability to interact and engage with LinkedIn’s recruiting partners until you’re back in your account.
You cannot invite connections
Growing your LinkedIn network requires you to be signed into your account. When logged out, features like connecting with people, importing contacts and sending connection invitations are disabled.
Adding new connections on LinkedIn is only possible when logged in so the requests can be associated with your account. Logging out limits your ability to build relationships.
You cannot join groups or follow companies
LinkedIn Groups and Company Pages allow you to join interest-based communities and follow brands. But if you are logged out, you cannot join any new groups or follow any additional companies.
These community-building features are only accessible from within your account when signed in. Logging out removes your ability to customize your feed and interests.
You stop receiving notifications
While signed in, LinkedIn sends you real-time notifications via email, mobile push alerts or website notifications. When you log out, these notifications stop being delivered for things like new messages, mentions, share reactions, connection requests and more.
Notifications require you to be actively logged into your account to be properly routed to your email and devices. Logging out pauses all notifications until you sign back in.
You cannot pay for services
Paid account upgrades like LinkedIn Premium or job seeking boosts require you to be logged into your account to purchase or subscribe. When signed out, any paid services will be disabled and you cannot access premium features.
To upgrade your account or purchase LinkedIn products, you need to be logged in so purchases can be associated with the right account.
Your accessibility settings reset
LinkedIn allows you to customize certain accessibility features for your account like font sizes or color contrasts. Signing out will reset these settings back to default until you log back in.
Personalized accessibility preferences require you to be actively signed into an account so LinkedIn remembers your choices. Logging out resets them temporarily.
You lose access to your Premium insights
LinkedIn Premium accounts provide customized insights like viewers of your profile or full analytics on your posts. But when logged out, any insights or analytics features included with Premium are removed.
Premium insights are only calculated and available while signed in to properly track your account activity and audience. Logging out pauses access to this content.
Your browsing history is cleared
LinkedIn records basic browsing behavior like pages you visit or searches you make while logged in. Signing out clears this browsing history and personalization associated with your account.
When you return, LinkedIn will rebuild this history over time to refine your experiences. But logging out gives you a fresh start on privacy and customization.
You are switched to an anonymous visitor experience
By default, LinkedIn displays publicly accessible content to visitors who are not logged in. As an anonymous visitor after signing out, you will only see this general content meant for the general public.
While this limits personalization and account features, it allows casual browsing without the privacy concerns of being logged into an identifiable account.
Conclusion
In summary, signing out of LinkedIn simply logs you out of your account on a particular browser or device without permanently deactivating or deleting it. This provides security when using public computers and allows you to transition your active login session to other devices.
Logging out removes access to personalized account experiences, features and information until you sign back in with your credentials. It is a quick, reversible way to temporarily pause your LinkedIn account’s functionality for privacy or security.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does signing out delete my LinkedIn account?
No, signing out does not delete or deactivate your account. It simply logs you out of the current session on that particular browser or device. Your profile and data remain intact for next time you sign in.
Can someone else access my LinkedIn if I’m signed out?
No, other people cannot access your private LinkedIn account or data when you are signed out. They would need your login email and password to gain access once again.
How do I sign out of LinkedIn properly?
The safest way to fully sign out of LinkedIn is to click your profile photo > Settings & Privacy > Account preferences > Sign out of all sessions. This logs you out of all browsers and devices.
Can I still browse some LinkedIn content while signed out?
Yes, as an anonymous visitor you can still view some public LinkedIn content meant for general audiences. But you lose access to personalized feeds, connections and account features.
How long does LinkedIn stay signed in when inactive?
LinkedIn sessions remain active for approximately 30 days of inactivity before requiring you to sign in again. You can manually sign out sooner for security purposes.
If I’m signed out, can people see my profile updates?
No, when signed out of LinkedIn your activity is private and hidden from your network. Only once signed back in will your connections see any updates you made while logged out.
Key Takeaways
- Signing out logs you out of your LinkedIn account on that particular device or browser
- You need to enter your credentials again next time you try to access LinkedIn
- Your account information and private data will not be accessible to others when signed out
- You stop sharing your browsing activity and behaviors with your network when signed out
- Signing out frees up your active login session for use on another device
- All personalized account experiences are paused until you sign back in again
| Change | Effect |
|---|---|
| Logged out of account | Need to sign in with password on next use |
| Private data inaccessible | Information secured from others |
| Activity not shared | Browsing undetected by network |
| Session cookie deleted | “Forgotten” by website |
| Notifications stopped | Messages paused until return |
| Feed personalized | Seeing generic public content |