To delete a whole conversation on LinkedIn, open it in Messaging, click the More icon in the top right and choose Delete conversation, then confirm. That only removes it from your inbox, not the other person's. To remove a single message for everyone, hover over it, click More and Delete, but you can only do that within 60 minutes of sending it.
Those two options do very different things, and mixing them up is how people think they've deleted something the other person can still read.
Here's how each one works on desktop and mobile, how to clear lots of conversations at once, and the limits LinkedIn sets out in its Help Center, read in October 2026.
It's worth getting this right, because LinkedIn messages often hold things you'd rather keep private: a rate you quoted, a reference, a job conversation. Once a conversation is deleted on your side, there's no undo.
Delete versus unsend: the difference that matters
| You want to | Use | Does the other person still see it? |
|---|---|---|
| Tidy your inbox | Delete conversation | Yes, it stays in their inbox |
| Take back one message you sent | Delete on the message, within 60 minutes | No, it's removed for everyone |
| Clear lots of chats at once | Manage conversations | Yes, only your inbox changes |
| Hide a chat without losing it | Archive | Yes, and you can find it later |
Delete a single message you sent
LinkedIn lets you edit (text only) or delete a sent message within 60 minutes of sending it.
On desktop:
- Click the Messaging icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage.
- Open the conversation.
- Move your cursor over the message and click the More icon.
- Click Delete and confirm.
On mobile:
- Tap the Messaging icon in the top right.
- Open the conversation.
- Tap and hold the message.
- Tap Delete and confirm.
Once it's deleted, the message is removed for everyone in the chat and can't be retrieved. In its place, the conversation shows a note saying This message has been deleted. So the other person can tell something was there, even though they can't read it.
Delete a whole conversation
On desktop:
- Click the Messaging icon at the top of your homepage, or open the messaging window in the lower right.
- Open the conversation or group chat.
- Click the More icon in the upper right.
- Click Delete conversation, then Delete to confirm.
On mobile:
- Tap the Messaging icon in the upper right.
- Open the conversation or group chat.
- Tap the More icon in the upper right.
- Tap Delete conversation, then confirm.
LinkedIn is clear that this only clears your side. The conversation is removed from your inbox and not from the recipient's, and you can't restore or access it again afterwards.
Delete or archive messages in bulk
If your inbox is full of old sales pitches, LinkedIn's bulk tools save a lot of clicking.
- Open Messaging and click the More icon in the upper right.
- Select Manage conversations.
- Tick the conversations you want to deal with.
- Choose delete, archive, or mark as read or unread.
On the app, tap and hold any conversation to start selecting, or use More and Manage conversations. Archive is the safer choice for anything you might need later, because deleted conversations can't be brought back. Mark as read or unread is handy too when you just want the notification badge gone.
InMail allowances differ between the LinkedIn upgrades, and my comparison of Premium and Sales Navigator sets them side by side.
InMail has its own rules
You can't delete a sent InMail message within a conversation. You can only edit an InMail before the recipient accepts it, or within 60 minutes of sending it. If you use InMail for outreach, read it twice before you hit send. My guide to what a LinkedIn cold message should say helps with getting it right first time.
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Edited messages show a label
If you'd rather fix a typo than delete the whole thing, editing is often the better choice. It's text only and has the same 60-minute window, and LinkedIn adds an Edited label next to the message, so the other person can see you changed it.
Deleting doesn't remove the person
Deleting a conversation doesn't delete or block the connection. If the messages were unwelcome, LinkedIn suggests reporting the conversation, removing the connection or blocking the member. You can report an inappropriate message even after it's been edited or deleted. If you're thinking of removing someone, my guide on whether LinkedIn notifies people when you remove a connection covers what they see.
Before you delete: three checks
- Is there anything in the chat you'll need later, like contact details or an agreed date? Archive it instead.
- Is it a group chat? The same Delete conversation steps work, and it only leaves your inbox.
- Was the message abusive or spam? Report it first. You can report a message even after it's been edited or deleted.
My verdict
Delete a conversation when you just want a cleaner inbox. Delete a single message within the hour when you've sent something you shouldn't have, accepting that a deleted-message note stays behind. And archive rather than delete anything you might need again, because once it's deleted on LinkedIn, it's gone for you.
If you need a break rather than a clear-out, see how to pause a LinkedIn account without deleting it.
Related guides live in the LinkedIn Help: 28 Guides to Profile Views, Impressions, Algorithm and Account Fixes.
Frequently asked questions
Does deleting a LinkedIn message delete it for the other person?
Deleting a whole conversation only removes it from your inbox. Deleting a single sent message within 60 minutes removes it for everyone in the chat.
How long do you have to unsend a message on LinkedIn?
You can edit or delete a sent message within 60 minutes of sending it.
Can I recover deleted LinkedIn messages?
No. LinkedIn says you can't restore or access deleted conversations or messages.
Can you delete an InMail on LinkedIn?
No. You can't delete a sent InMail within a conversation. You can only edit it before it's accepted or within 60 minutes of sending.
Can I delete a LinkedIn group chat?
Yes. Open the group chat in Messaging, click the More icon and choose Delete conversation. It's removed from your inbox only.
What does This message has been deleted mean on LinkedIn?
It means the sender deleted that message within 60 minutes of sending it. LinkedIn removes it for everyone and shows that note in its place.
Does deleting a LinkedIn conversation block the person?
No. Deleting a conversation doesn't delete or block the connection. You'd need to remove or block them separately.
