Deleting a Linkedin account is a serious decision that needs to be taken with caution. While it may appear like a straightforward process, it is essential to understand the risks and consequences before deactivating or deleting your account. This article aims to provide detailed information on the implications of removing an account on the professional networking site, so that you can make an informed decision and be aware of the necessary steps for complete deletion.
1. Reasons for Deleting Your Linkedin Account
There are various reasons why someone would delete their LinkedIn account. Depending on the circumstances, it can be the right decision to remove potentially outdated or irrelevant information from LinkedIn. The following are some of the most common reasons to delete a LinkedIn account.
Unwanted Messages
LinkedIn can be a tool for spammers and people looking to harass others. If you are receiving a large number of unwanted messages through your LinkedIn account, it may be in your best interest to delete your account. Furthermore, LinkedIn’s privacy settings may not be effective to stop these types of messages.
Changing Jobs
If you are changing jobs, using LinkedIn can be a great way to stay connected with your current and past colleagues. However, it is also important to ensure your profile information is current and up to date. Therefore, if you are changing jobs it may be helpful to delete your old account and start a new one. This will ensure that your profile does not become outdated and does not reflect an old position that you no longer hold.
Too Much Information
In some cases, users may be uncomfortable with the amount of personal information visible on their account. If this is the case, deleting the account may be the only way to remove the information from public view. Furthermore, if the account is publicly searchable, deleting the account can help ensure that your profile is no longer searchable by potential employers.
2. Prerequisites to Deleting Your Linkedin Account
Before deleting your LinkedIn account, there are certain prerequisites that need to be met. Specifically, these include:
- Deactivating your account: You must deactivate your LinkedIn account before you can close it permanently. To do this, go to the Privacy & Settings page and select the Deactivate your account option.
- Canceling Premium Subscriptions: If you have an active Premium subscription, you must cancel it before you delete your account. You can do this by going to the Subscription & Billing Management page.
- Ensuring Membership in No Groups: If you wish to delete your LinkedIn account, you must also ensure that you are no longer a member of any groups. To do this, go to your profile page and select the Groups tab.
Once you have met these prerequisites, you can proceed with the process of deleting your LinkedIn account.
3. Steps to Deleting Your Linkedin Account
Deactivating Your Account
In order to delete your Linkedin account, you first need to deactivate it. To do so, log in to your account and go to the Settings & Privacy page. Click the “Deactivate Account” section and follow the instructions to deactivate your account. Note that once you deactivate, it might take a few days for all of your information to be fully removed from the website.
Permanently Delete Your Account
Once your account is deactivated, you can permanently delete it. To do so, you need to contact the Linkedin Member Services team by either emailing them at [email protected], or submitting a request on this page. Be sure to include the following information:
- Full Name
- Email address used with the Linkedin account
- URL of the profile page of the account that you wish to delete
Changes to Your Account
Keep in mind that deleting your account does not delete other changes you might have made to your account. For example, if you posted any comments or liked any posts, those posts will remain visible, although they will no longer be associated with your profile. In addition, any contacts that you have made while a Linkedin member will still have access to your profile information and contacts that you have imported.
4. Important Considerations Before Deleting Your Linkedin Account
1. Deactivation vs. deletion – Before deleting your LinkedIn account, you should consider that deactivation will prevent other users from viewing your profile and will stop all of your activity, but retain the information in case you ever decide to return. Deleting your account, on the other hand, eliminates all information, including your profile, recommendations, connections, and groups.
2. Backup your data – Before deleting your account, it’s important to save any documents, contacts, videos, or anything else on your profile. You can export your LinkedIn profile using this tool as well as save any posts, recommendations, or endorsements from your profile.
3. Inform connections – Before deleting your LinkedIn account, reach out to your connections and let them know. You may want to suggest a different platform on which to remain in contact and provide them with your new contact information. It is also recommended to thank them for their recommendations, posts, endorsements, and connections.
5. Troubleshooting Common Issues with Deleting Your Linkedin Account
At times, you may run into issues when attempting to delete your Linkedin account. Below are some of the most common issues and suggested troubleshooting steps:
- Error Message When Trying to Delete Your Account: attempt to delete your account again. If you continue to get the same error message, contact Linkedin customer service.
- Not Getting Emails After Deactivating Account: re-activate your account and check your security settings. Ensure that you opted-in to receive emails from Linkedin in your email settings.
- Account Not Deleting Completely: delete your account a couple of times. If your account is still not fully deleted, contact Linkedin customer service.
To prevent any expiration of your data, ensure that you have successfully deactivated your Linkedin account before starting the process of deletion. This will ensure that all your memories and data on Linkedin remain safe. Also, bear in mind that most of the deletion policies are the same for all countries, though the timeline for the deletion process may vary from region to region. You should also ensure that you have logged out of your Linkedin account from any external devices and browsers before starting the deletion process.
If you run into any other issue when attempting to delete your account, contact Linkedin customer service for assistance. They should be able to help you with the process of deleting and deactivating your account.
Deleting your Linkedin Account can be an important step if you no longer wish to use the platform. It is important to understand how to proceed and the implications before making a decision to deactivate your account. By following the steps provided, you can easily delete your Linkedin Account and return to your other daily activities.
