In today’s digital world, managing your online presence is essential, especially when it comes to platforms like LinkedIn. Whether you’re taking a break, focusing on privacy, or just need a breather from professional networking, knowing how to deactivate account in LinkedIn is a crucial step.
In this detailed guide, we will explore everything you need to know about how to deactivate account in LinkedIn, how to do it effectively, and what happens afterward. We’ll also discuss common mistakes, best practices, and frequently asked questions to make sure you’re fully equipped. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of how to deactivate my LinkedIn account the right way, and how you can easily deactivate your account on LinkedIn whenever needed.
Why You Might Want to Deactivate Your LinkedIn Account
Before diving into the steps of how to deactivate a LinkedIn account, it’s important to understand why you might want to deactivate your account. There are several reasons why users decide to temporarily step away from LinkedIn, even if they don’t want to delete it permanently.
Here are a few reasons why someone might want to learn how to deactivate account on LinkedIn:
- Privacy Concerns: You may want to limit your visibility and protect your professional information.
- Temporary Break: Sometimes, you might want a break from the constant professional updates, and deactivating your LinkedIn account gives you a digital detox.
- Data Protection: If you suspect your account has been compromised or you want to safeguard your personal details from potential security threats, how to deactivate my LinkedIn account is an effective way to do so.
- Changing Careers: Whether you’re shifting industries or rebranding your professional persona, temporarily deactivating a LinkedIn account might give you space for a fresh start.
Deactivating your LinkedIn account doesn’t have to be permanent, and you can always reactivate it whenever you feel ready.
How to Deactivate Account in LinkedIn: A Step-by-Step Guide
Now that you know why you might want to deactivate your LinkedIn account, let’s go through the steps on how to deactivate account in LinkedIn. This guide will walk you through the process on both desktop and mobile, so you can deactivate a LinkedIn account from whichever device you prefer.
How to Deactivate Your LinkedIn Account on Desktop
- Log into Your LinkedIn Account Open your preferred web browser, go to the LinkedIn website, and sign in to your account.
- Go to ‘Settings & Privacy’ On the top right of your LinkedIn homepage, click on your profile picture. From the dropdown menu, select “Settings & Privacy”.
- Select ‘Account Preferences’ Under the Settings tab, click on Account Preferences from the left-hand sidebar.
- Scroll to ‘Account Management’ Once in Account Preferences, scroll down until you find the Account Management section.
- Click ‘Close Account’ In the Account Management section, click on “Close Account”. This option will allow you to deactivate your account.
- Choose Your Reason LinkedIn will prompt you to select the reason why you are deactivating your account. You can choose from predefined options or write your own reason. After selecting your reason, click “Next”.
- Enter Your Password LinkedIn will ask you to confirm your identity by entering your password one last time. After that, click “Close Account”.
- Confirmation Your LinkedIn account will now be deactivated. You might continue receiving some emails for a short time, so ensure to uncheck any email preferences if you don’t wish to get them.
How to Deactivate Your LinkedIn Account on Mobile
- Open the LinkedIn App Launch the LinkedIn app on your mobile device and log into your account.
- Go to Settings Tap on your profile picture at the top left corner of the screen. From the sidebar, select “Settings”.
- Account Preferences In the Settings menu, tap on Account Preferences.
- Scroll to ‘Account Management’ Once you’re in Account Preferences, scroll down to the Account Management section.
- Select ‘Close Account’ Tap on “Close Account”.
- Provide Your Reason LinkedIn will ask you to provide the reason for deactivating your account. After selecting the reason, tap Next.
- Enter Your Password For security purposes, you’ll need to enter your password. After entering it, tap Done to deactivate your account.
After completing these steps, your LinkedIn profile will be hidden. Your name and profile picture will be replaced with a generic icon.
What Happens After You Deactivate Your LinkedIn Account?
When you deactivate account on LinkedIn, your profile becomes hidden. Here’s a breakdown of what happens:
- Profile Becomes Invisible: You won’t appear in LinkedIn searches or recommendations. Your name and photo will no longer be visible to others.
- Activity Disappears: All posts, endorsements, and comments you made will no longer be visible. However, your messages will still remain intact for both you and the recipients.
- Messages Remain Accessible: Even if you deactivate your account, your messages and conversations will still be accessible. However, you won’t be able to send new messages or interact with the platform.
If privacy is your main concern, deactivating your LinkedIn account temporarily will give you the peace of mind that your information is no longer visible to others.
How to Reactivate Your LinkedIn Account
Reactivating your LinkedIn account is easy and can be done within 14 days of deactivation. Simply log in using your LinkedIn credentials, and LinkedIn will restore your profile, along with your data and connections.
After 14 days, your account will be permanently deactivated, and you won’t be able to reactivate it unless you create a new one.
Deactivation vs. Deletion: What’s the Difference?
Many people confuse deactivation with deletion, but it’s important to know the distinction:
- Deactivation: Your profile becomes invisible, but your data remains safe and can be reactivated at any time.
- Deletion: This is permanent. If you decide to delete your LinkedIn account, you lose everything — connections, posts, recommendations, and all data associated with your profile. Once deleted, it cannot be recovered after 14 days.
Best Practices When Deactivating Your LinkedIn Account
Before you deactivate account in LinkedIn, it’s a good idea to take a few important steps:
- Download Your LinkedIn Data: If you want to preserve your connections or any posts, download a copy of your LinkedIn data before deactivating your account.
- Unsubscribe from LinkedIn Emails: Be sure to unsubscribe from LinkedIn’s emails to avoid receiving unwanted notifications after deactivating your account.
- Cancel LinkedIn Premium: If you’re a Premium subscriber, make sure to cancel your subscription before deactivating your account to avoid further charges.
- Check Pending Messages: Ensure that you’ve dealt with all your messages before deactivating, as you won’t be able to send any new ones once your account is deactivated.
Common Mistakes and Myths About Deactivating LinkedIn Accounts
Common Mistakes:
- Forgetting to back up data: Make sure you download your LinkedIn data if needed before deactivating.
- Unsubscribing late: If you forget to unsubscribe from LinkedIn’s email list, you may continue receiving emails.
- Assuming deactivation deletes everything: Deactivation hides your profile but doesn’t delete your data.
Myths:
- Myth: Deactivating your account means all your information is gone.
- Fact: Deactivation just hides your account temporarily. Your information is still safe, but invisible to others.
- Myth: You can’t reactivate your LinkedIn account once it’s deactivated.
- Fact: Reactivation is possible within 14 days after deactivating your account.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I deactivate my LinkedIn account without losing my data? Yes, when you deactivate my LinkedIn account, your data remains intact, and you can reactivate your account later.
How long can I keep my LinkedIn account deactivated? You can keep your LinkedIn account deactivated indefinitely. You only need to reactivate it within 14 days if you want to recover it.
What happens if I forget my password during deactivation? If you forget your password, you can reset it via the password recovery process before deactivating your account.
Conclusion: Manage Your LinkedIn Account the Right Way
Deactivating your LinkedIn account is a useful tool if you need a break from professional networking or if you’re protecting your privacy. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can deactivate your LinkedIn account with ease, knowing exactly what to expect afterward. And if you need to reactivate it, you can do so within 14 days.
Understanding the difference between deactivating and deleting your LinkedIn account will help you make an informed decision. Don’t forget to back up your data and download a copy of your information to prevent any surprises down the road.
Take control of your LinkedIn account today, and manage your online professional presence in the way that suits you best.
