Why Does LinkedIn Keep Reopening Your Account?
If you have tried to delete your LinkedIn account more than once and it somehow keeps coming back, you are not the only one. That kind of thing is frustrating, especially when you already made up your mind and just want the account gone for good.
A lot of people assume that clicking close account is the end of it. But sometimes what looks like a deleted account is actually a temporary closure, a reactivation through an old login, or a duplicate profile created because LinkedIn still recognizes your email, phone number, or connected sign-in method.
So if you are asking, “How do I permanently delete my LinkedIn account and stop it from reappearing?”, here is a clear breakdown of what may be happening and what you can do next.
First, Is Your Account Really Being “Remade” By LinkedIn?
It sounds strange, but in many cases LinkedIn is not literally creating a brand new account from scratch on its own. Usually, one of these things is happening:
The account was reactivated because someone logged in again using the same email and password.
You signed in through Google, Apple, or Microsoft, and that triggered account access again.
A duplicate account exists with a similar email address, old phone number, or alternate login.
You started the closure process but did not finish every step, including confirming the password and reason for leaving.
Your email address is still tied to LinkedIn communications, making it seem like the account is active when it may actually still be in a waiting period.
That is the first question to answer: Is it the same account reactivating, or is it a duplicate account? Because the fix depends on that.
How LinkedIn Account Closure Usually Works
According to LinkedIn’s official help pages, closing your account is not always the same as instant permanent erasure. There may be a short period where reactivation is still possible if someone logs back in. That is why users sometimes think the platform “made another account,” when really the original one came back.
Here is the standard route LinkedIn provides:
Go to Settings & Privacy
Select Account preferences
Choose Close account
Pick a reason
Enter your password
Confirm the closure
You can review LinkedIn’s official instructions here: LinkedIn Help: Close your account.
But if you have already done this several times and still get welcome emails or “getting started” messages again, it is worth going further than the basic closure steps.
What To Do If LinkedIn Keeps Coming Back
Here is a practical checklist that usually helps:
1. Check whether you are logging in by accident
This happens more often than people realize. If your browser saved LinkedIn credentials, or if you click “Continue with Google” or “Sign in with Apple,” that can reopen access to the same account.
Ask yourself:
Do I have LinkedIn saved in my password manager?
Is LinkedIn still connected to my Google or Apple account?
Have I clicked a LinkedIn email and signed in without noticing?
If yes, remove those saved logins before closing the account again.
2. Disconnect third-party sign-in methods
Before deleting the account, unlink any external sign-in connections. If your Google, Apple, or Microsoft account is still linked, that may make re-entry too easy and can cause confusion later.
You can also review app permissions through your device accounts:
3. Look for duplicate LinkedIn accounts
If you ever used an older email address, a work email, or a different phone number, there is a chance you have more than one LinkedIn profile. One account may be closed while another is still active.
Try searching your name on LinkedIn while logged out, or ask someone you trust to check whether more than one profile appears.
If there are duplicates, you may need to close each account individually.
4. Unsubscribe from LinkedIn emails, but do not confuse that with deletion
Sometimes people keep receiving emails after closure and assume the account is still live. Email preferences and actual account deletion are not the same thing.
If the account is still accessible, turn off all email notifications before closure. If it is already closed, do not click anything in LinkedIn emails that could prompt sign-in again.
5. Remove the mobile app and clear saved sessions
Delete the LinkedIn app from your phone, log out on all browsers, and clear cookies if needed. If your device keeps an old session alive, it can muddy the process.
A simple reset helps:
Log out everywhere
Delete the app
Clear browser cache and cookies
Remove saved passwords
Then close the account again from a clean browser session
If Nothing Works, Contact LinkedIn Support Directly
If you have already tried to close the account four times, it makes sense to stop guessing and open a direct support request. Be specific and explain that:
You have attempted account closure multiple times
The account appears to reactivate or reappear after one to two weeks
You want permanent closure and removal of any duplicate profiles
You do not want account reactivation without your consent
Use LinkedIn’s support and help resources here:
It is also smart to ask them one direct question: “Are there any duplicate or restricted accounts connected to my email, number, or name?”
Do You Need To Request Data Deletion Too?
If your goal is not just closing the profile but making sure your data is removed as completely as possible, you may also want to review LinkedIn’s privacy and data request options.
That matters if your concern is bigger than just avoiding messages. For example:
You do not want your profile discoverable anymore
You want personal data erased where possible
You are in a region covered by privacy laws like GDPR
You can read more here:
Just keep in mind: full legal deletion timelines can vary, and some records may be retained for compliance or security reasons.
A Simple Step-By-Step Plan You Can Follow Today
If you want the shortest version, do this in order:
Log into the LinkedIn account you want gone.
Check whether there are duplicate accounts tied to old emails or numbers.
Remove any connected Google, Apple, or Microsoft sign-ins.
Turn off email notifications if possible.
Close the account through Settings & Privacy.
Log out everywhere.
Delete the mobile app.
Clear browser cookies and saved passwords.
Do not click sign-in links from future LinkedIn emails.
If the account reappears again, contact support and request investigation of duplicate or reactivated profiles.
One Last Thing
If this issue keeps happening, it usually means there is a technical or account-linking reason behind it, not that you are doing something wrong. The key is to treat it like an identity and access problem, not just a simple deletion problem.
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