LinkedIn is one of the most popular social media platforms for professionals. With over 800 million members worldwide, LinkedIn allows users to connect with colleagues, discover job opportunities, follow companies, and stay updated on industry news. While many professionals find LinkedIn invaluable for networking and career development, others may wonder what happens if they decide to delete the LinkedIn app from their mobile device.
Why Do People Delete the LinkedIn App?
Some common reasons why people may choose to delete the LinkedIn app include:
- To take a break from social media and focus on other priorities
- To reduce distractions and increase productivity
- Concerns over privacy and data collection
- Frustration with too many notifications and messages
- No longer actively looking for job opportunities
- Wanting to disconnect professionally for a period of time
While LinkedIn can be a valuable tool, it does require time and attention to fully utilize. For some, deleting the app may be a way to temporarily disengage from the platform.
What Exactly Happens When You Delete the App?
Deleting the LinkedIn app from your mobile device does not delete your LinkedIn account. Your profile, connections, and network will remain intact. Here’s a breakdown of what happens:
- You will no longer have the LinkedIn app icon on your mobile home screen.
- You will stop receiving mobile notifications from LinkedIn.
- You will need to log into LinkedIn on a web browser to access your account.
- Your profile and account data remain unchanged.
- You can still be searched and contacted by your connections.
- Your profile will still appear in Google search results.
In essence, deleting the app simply removes the mobile access point to your account. Your presence and connections on the LinkedIn platform remain active unless you formally delete your account.
How to Delete the LinkedIn App
Deleting the LinkedIn app from your iOS or Android device only takes a few steps:
On iPhone or iPad:
- Find the LinkedIn app icon on your home screen.
- Long press the LinkedIn app icon until the icons start to shake.
- Tap the black “X” that appears in the LinkedIn app icon.
- Confirm that you want to delete the app.
On Android device:
- Open the Apps menu in your Android settings.
- Find the LinkedIn app.
- Tap Uninstall.
- Confirm that you want to uninstall LinkedIn.
And that’s it! The LinkedIn app will be removed from your mobile device.
Will Your LinkedIn Account Be Deleted?
No, deleting the LinkedIn mobile app does not delete your LinkedIn account or profile. Your account remains fully intact and operational.
Here are some key things to know:
- Your profile, connections, messages, and network are preserved.
- You can still sign into LinkedIn on a desktop or mobile browser.
- Your public profile remains searchable and visible to others.
- You can reactive the mobile app at any time by re-downloading it.
Your account essentially goes dormant from a mobile perspective, but is still part of the LinkedIn community. No data or connections are lost.
What If You Do Want to Delete Your LinkedIn Account?
For those who decide they no longer want a presence on LinkedIn at all, it is possible to permanently delete your account. Here’s how:
- On a desktop browser, go to your LinkedIn Account Settings.
- Under “Account management” select “Close your account”.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm account closure.
- Select a reason for closing your account.
- Opt to either just close your account, or close and download your data.
- LinkedIn will notify your connections the account was closed.
Permanently deleting your LinkedIn account is permanent. You will no longer be able to access your profile, connections, messages, or other data. Most users who are simply looking for a temporary break will choose to just delete the mobile app, rather than close the account entirely.
Pros of Deleting the LinkedIn App
While LinkedIn can be useful professionally, deleting the mobile app does offer some potential advantages:
- Fewer interruptions and notifications on your phone.
- More focus on tasks, family, hobbies without the distraction.
- Greater control over how and when you access LinkedIn.
- Ability to check LinkedIn messages and notifications on your own terms.
- Encourages utilization of LinkedIn on a more intentional basis.
For some professionals, removing LinkedIn from their phone reduces the urge to endlessly scroll and allows them to be more purposeful when using the platform.
Cons of Deleting the LinkedIn App
On the other hand, deleting the LinkedIn app can present some drawbacks as well:
- Loss of real-time notifications about new messages, connections, and mentions.
- Potentially missing time-sensitive messages or notifications.
- Less ability to cultivate connections and relationships.
- Difficulty staying current with LinkedIn content and news.
- Missing out on relevant job opportunities and leads.
Without the app, professionals may be slower to respond to key notifications and conversations happening within their network.
Tips for Managing LinkedIn Without the App
For those who decide to delete the LinkedIn app, here are some tips for managing your account:
- Set calendar reminders to check LinkedIn messages and notifications regularly.
- Enable email notifications for messages and mentions.
- Use LinkedIn’s “Export connections” feature to download your network list.
- Check your LinkedIn profile visibility and privacy settings.
- Review notifications and messages in the LinkedIn mobile browser when needed.
- Stay active by commenting on posts, sharing content, and engaging with connections.
Staying proactive is key even without the app. Schedule specific times to nurture your professional presence on LinkedIn using a desktop browser.
Should You Re-Download the LinkedIn App?
If you end up missing important updates or find managing your LinkedIn connections difficult without the app, re-downloading it is always an option.
Reasons you may want to reactivate the LinkedIn app include:
- You are ramping up a job search and want real-time notifications.
- A key connection mentions you in a post you should know about.
- You are ready to re-engage and network on LinkedIn.
- Your company relies on LinkedIn for internal communications.
- You miss having convenient access to your network.
Re-downloading the LinkedIn app is fast and simple from any app store. Just search “LinkedIn” and tap install.
Conclusion
While the LinkedIn app provides professionals with convenient access to their networks and newsfeeds, deleting it from your mobile device allows for greater focus and intentionality in how you manage your presence. Your account remains intact, though you will need to utilize LinkedIn through a desktop browser and adjust to fewer real-time notifications. For many, the trade-off is worth it for a period of time. But if LinkedIn again becomes vital for your career or network, you can always reinstall the app with ease.