- How to deactivate (hibernate) your LinkedIn account
- What people see while you're hibernating
- The Premium catch
- How to reactivate your LinkedIn account
- Before you hibernate: a quick checklist
- Too many emails? You may not need to hibernate
- Hibernate or close: which do you need?
- A quieter option: hide yourself without hibernating
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
LinkedIn calls deactivating hibernating. Click your profile photo, choose Settings and Privacy, select Hibernate account under Account management, pick a reason, enter your password and click Hibernate account. Your profile disappears from view and from search, and you can come back by logging in again, but not until 24 hours have passed.
There's no button labelled Deactivate on LinkedIn, which is why so many people end up closing their account when they only wanted a break. Hibernation is the pause. Closing is the delete.
Below is how hibernation works, what other people see while you're away, and the one thing it does to a Premium subscription that you'll want to know first. It all comes from LinkedIn's own Help Center, read in October 2026.
How to deactivate (hibernate) your LinkedIn account
- Click your profile photo at the top of your LinkedIn homepage and select Settings and Privacy.
- Select Hibernate account under Account management.
- Choose the option that describes why you're hibernating.
- Enter your password and click Hibernate account.
Sometimes LinkedIn asks you to finish a few jobs first. These can include paying a balance, reassigning a group admin role, or deactivating a LinkedIn Learning or Recruiter licence. Once they're done, click Refresh so they drop off the list, then click Hibernate. If you're still stuck, the same screen has a Contact Support button.
What people see while you're hibernating
| Part of your account | While hibernated |
|---|---|
| Your profile | Not visible to anyone, including your connections |
| Search | You don't appear in LinkedIn search, including Recruiter |
| Posts and comments | Stay up, but show as A LinkedIn member with a generic icon |
| Messages | Stay in the conversation, shown as A LinkedIn member |
| Recommendations and endorsements you gave | Stay, shown as A LinkedIn member |
So nothing you've written is deleted. It's just anonymised until you come back.
The Premium catch
If you pay for Premium, hibernating cancels it immediately. LinkedIn also warns that any promotional pricing you had may not be offered again when you return. If you bought Premium through Apple, hibernating cancels it on LinkedIn's side, but you still have to cancel it with Apple to stop future charges.
If all you want is to stop paying, you don't need to hibernate at all. You can cancel LinkedIn Premium and keep your free account exactly as it stands.
Sales Navigator and other LinkedIn Sales Solutions licences work differently: LinkedIn says they stay active when you reactivate, unless an admin revokes them. Let your company's admin know before you go.
How to reactivate your LinkedIn account
- Wait at least 24 hours after hibernating. You can't log in during that time.
- Log in with your usual email and password.
- Your profile, posts and messages show your name again.
LinkedIn says your connection and follower counts may look wrong for a short while after you come back. That's temporary and should settle within 48 hours.
Unsure which LinkedIn upgrade suits you? See how LinkedIn Premium differs from Sales Navigator.
Before you hibernate: a quick checklist
- Decide what to do about Premium, because hibernating cancels it straight away.
- If you bought Premium through Apple, cancel it in your Apple subscriptions as well.
- Hand over any group you run, since LinkedIn may ask you to reassign admin roles first.
- Tell your company's admin if you use Sales Navigator or another sales licence.
- Download a copy of your data if there's any chance you'll close the account later. LinkedIn recommends this before closing.
Too many emails? You may not need to hibernate
A lot of people reach for deactivate because LinkedIn's emails and notifications have got too much. LinkedIn's own help suggests a gentler fix: go to the Notifications section of Settings and Privacy and set how often you get emails, notifications, group digests and announcements. On the app, Settings is at the top right of your profile page. You keep your account fully visible and just hear from LinkedIn less.
Hibernate or close: which do you need?
| You want to | Use | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Take a break and come back | Hibernate account | Profile hidden, everything kept |
| Leave LinkedIn for good | Close account | Profile deleted with your messages and connections |
| Stay but be less visible | Public profile and visibility settings | Account stays active, you control what shows |
Closing is permanent in a way hibernation isn't. LinkedIn says closing deletes the recommendations and endorsements you've given or received, plus your messages and connections. You can usually reopen a closed account within 14 days, but even then endorsements, recommendations, pending invitations, the people and companies you followed and your group memberships don't come back. My guide on deleting your LinkedIn account covers that route in full.
A quieter option: hide yourself without hibernating
If you mainly want to stop being found, LinkedIn's help on temporarily disabling an account points to two lighter options. You can edit your public profile settings so search engines like Google and Bing show less, or set your public profile to be visible to no one. Your account carries on working normally while you're harder to find.
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My verdict
If you're thinking about deactivating, hibernate. It hides you completely, keeps every connection and message, and lets you come back after 24 hours. Cancel Premium separately if that's the real goal, and only close your account if you're sure you won't want your network back.
If a tidy inbox is all you're after, see how to delete messages on LinkedIn.
If you want the full set, start at the LinkedIn Help: 28 Guides to Profile Views, Impressions, Algorithm and Account Fixes.
Frequently asked questions
Can you deactivate a LinkedIn account?
Yes. LinkedIn calls it hibernating. Go to Settings and Privacy, select Hibernate account under Account management, give a reason and enter your password.
How long does LinkedIn hibernation last?
There's no set end date. You can reactivate by logging in again any time after 24 hours from when you hibernated.
Can people see my profile when my LinkedIn is hibernated?
No. LinkedIn says your profile isn't visible to anyone, even your connections, and you won't appear in searches.
What happens to my LinkedIn Premium if I hibernate?
It's cancelled immediately, and promotional pricing may not be honoured later. If you paid through Apple, cancel with Apple too to stop future billing.
Can I log back in straight after hibernating LinkedIn?
No. LinkedIn says your profile stays inaccessible for 24 hours and you can't log in during that time. After that, logging in ends hibernation.
Why are my LinkedIn connections missing after reactivating?
LinkedIn says connection and follower counts may look different just after you reactivate. It's temporary and should resolve within 48 hours.
Does hibernating LinkedIn delete my messages?
No. Your messages stay in conversations but show you as A LinkedIn member until you reactivate.
