- LinkedIn's answer on removing a connection
- What changes after you remove a LinkedIn connection
- How to remove a connection on LinkedIn desktop and app
- Remove, unfollow or block a LinkedIn connection
- Ignoring or withdrawing LinkedIn connection invitations quietly
- How they might notice you removed the LinkedIn connection
- Cleaning up a LinkedIn network as a business owner
- Frequently asked questions
No. LinkedIn doesn't notify someone when you remove them as a connection. Its help page says the person isn't notified. You'll stop being first-degree connections, and any endorsements or recommendations between you are withdrawn and won't return if you reconnect. Unfollowing is a quieter option if you only want fewer posts.
Last checked October 2026.
LinkedIn networks grow quickly. A few years of accepting every request after events, webinars and cold pitches, and suddenly your feed is full of people you've never spoken to. Cleaning it up makes sense, but nobody wants to look rude to a former client or an old colleague. So the question I get asked is simple: if I remove someone, will they know? I've answered it here from LinkedIn's own help pages, along with what changes, the steps, and the gentler alternatives.
LinkedIn's answer on removing a connection
LinkedIn's help page on removing a connection says the person won't be notified. There's no alert, no email and nothing in their notifications. From their side, the connection simply stops being there.
Withdrawing a connection request you sent works the same way, and ignoring a request you received doesn't tell the sender either. LinkedIn keeps all three quiet.
What changes after you remove a LinkedIn connection
The connection ends, and a few other things go with it. LinkedIn's help pages list these effects:
- You're no longer first-degree connections. They drop out of your connections list and your contacts, and you drop out of theirs.
- Endorsements and recommendations are withdrawn. Any skills endorsements or written recommendations between you are removed. LinkedIn's help page says they won't come back if you reconnect later.
- Messaging gets harder. LinkedIn's messaging help says you can message your first-degree connections and fellow group members freely. To message someone you're not connected to, you'd usually need InMail, which is part of LinkedIn Premium, unless they've turned on Open Profile.
- Their posts may still appear. LinkedIn lets you follow people without being connected. If you'd rather not see their updates, check their profile afterwards and unfollow them too.
That endorsements point is the one I'd think about. If someone wrote you a glowing recommendation, removing them takes it off your profile for good.
How to remove a connection on LinkedIn desktop and app
There are two routes on a computer, and one on the app. From LinkedIn's help page:
From their profile on desktop
- Open the person's LinkedIn profile.
- Click More in the introduction section.
- Select Remove connection.
- The button changes to show the connection has been removed.
From your connections list on desktop
- Click My Network at the top of the page.
- Click the link that shows your number of connections.
- Click the More icon next to the person's name.
- Select Remove connection, then confirm in the pop-up window.
In the LinkedIn mobile app
- Open the person's profile.
- Tap More.
- Tap Remove connection and confirm.
Remove, unfollow or block a LinkedIn connection
Removing isn't your only option, and often it's not the best one.
| Option | Still connected? | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Unfollow | Yes | Hides their posts from your feed; they aren't notified |
| Remove connection | No | Ends the connection and withdraws endorsements and recommendations |
| Block | No | Stops profile views and messages both ways; only you can unblock |
LinkedIn's help page on following says that if you unfollow a connection, you stay connected but stop seeing their updates, and they aren't notified. For someone who posts too often, that's usually enough.
Blocking is the strongest choice. LinkedIn's help pages say a blocked member generally won't receive a notification, you won't be able to see each other's profiles or message each other, you'll no longer be connected, and endorsements and recommendations between you are removed. They may still see anything you've made fully public.
Ignoring or withdrawing LinkedIn connection invitations quietly
Often the easiest way to keep a LinkedIn network tidy is to be choosier at the door. LinkedIn's help page on invitations gives you three choices for a request you've received: accept it, ignore it, or report it as spam. Ignoring doesn't notify the sender. They may try to connect again later, but they won't be told you said no.
If you've sent invitations that were never answered, you can withdraw them. Go to My Network, open Manage invitations and choose the Sent tab, then select Withdraw next to the request. The person isn't notified when you withdraw. LinkedIn's help pages do warn that you may not be able to invite the same person again straight away after withdrawing, so only withdraw requests you're happy to let go.
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Between ignoring, withdrawing, unfollowing and removing, you can shape your network without a single awkward conversation.
How they might notice you removed the LinkedIn connection
No notification doesn't mean nobody notices. If they visit your profile, they'll see you're no longer a first-degree connection, and the option to connect will be back. A recommendation you'd written for them will also disappear from their profile. Most people won't go looking, but it's worth knowing.
If you're worried about leaving traces when you look at someone's profile first, my guide on how to view a LinkedIn profile in private mode covers the settings.
Cleaning up a LinkedIn network as a business owner
Your network is part of your shop window. A focused one means your posts reach clients, prospects and peers rather than spam accounts. Here's how I'd approach a tidy-up politely:
- Unfollow first. It cleans your feed straight away without ending anything.
- Remove obvious spam. Fake profiles and accounts that only send sales pitches can go without a second thought.
- Keep anyone who's recommended you. Those recommendations would be lost.
- Think before removing past clients. A quiet connection today can be a referral later.
- Rebuild with intent. Send fewer, better requests. My guide to LinkedIn's weekly invitation limit explains how many you can send.
And if you're starting over with a smaller network, my advice on how to grow on LinkedIn from scratch shows that a small, engaged network can do more than a big, silent one.
Frequently asked questions
Can I reconnect with someone after removing them on LinkedIn?
Yes. Send a new invitation. They'll see the request, and any old endorsements or recommendations won't be restored.
Does unfollowing someone on LinkedIn notify them?
No. LinkedIn's help pages say they aren't notified, and you stay connected.
Does blocking someone on LinkedIn notify them?
LinkedIn's help pages say the blocked member won't receive a notification in most cases. Blocking also removes the connection.
Will removing a connection delete our LinkedIn messages?
LinkedIn's help page on removing connections doesn't say your past messages are deleted. Sending new ones becomes harder once you're not connected.
Does LinkedIn tell someone if I withdraw a connection request?
No. LinkedIn doesn't notify the person when you withdraw an invitation you've sent.
