How to Cancel LinkedIn Premium: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide
LinkedIn Premium is useful for job seekers, recruiters, and sales professionals — but it's not always worth keeping year-round. Whether you signed up through a free trial and want to opt out before being charged, or you've simply decided the features no longer justify the cost, canceling is straightforward once you know where to look.
Here's exactly how it works, what to expect, and what factors might affect your experience.
How LinkedIn Premium Subscriptions Work
LinkedIn Premium is a recurring subscription billed either monthly or annually. LinkedIn offers several Premium tiers — Career, Business, Sales Navigator, and Recruiter Lite — each targeting a different type of user. All of them auto-renew unless you manually cancel.
When you cancel, LinkedIn doesn't immediately strip your access. You keep Premium features until the end of your current billing period. After that, your account reverts to the free LinkedIn experience. LinkedIn does not offer prorated refunds for unused time in most cases, so timing your cancellation matters.
How to Cancel LinkedIn Premium on Desktop
The most reliable way to cancel is through a web browser on desktop. Mobile apps sometimes route cancellations through app store billing, which adds an extra layer — more on that below.
Steps to cancel via desktop:
- Log in to your LinkedIn account at linkedin.com
- Click your profile photo in the top-right corner
- Select "Settings & Privacy" from the dropdown menu
- In the left sidebar, click "Subscriptions & Payments" (sometimes labeled "Premium Subscription" depending on your account version)
- Click "Cancel subscription" or "Manage subscription"
- Follow the prompts — LinkedIn will typically show you a retention flow with offers or reminders of what you'll lose
- Confirm the cancellation
Once confirmed, you should receive a cancellation confirmation email. Save this as proof in case of any billing disputes.
How to Cancel LinkedIn Premium on Mobile 📱
This is where things get more variable. If you originally subscribed through the LinkedIn mobile app on iOS or Android, your billing may be managed by Apple or Google — not LinkedIn directly.
If you subscribed through iOS (Apple):
- Go to Settings → Your Name → Subscriptions
- Find LinkedIn and tap Cancel Subscription
- Apple handles the billing, so canceling through LinkedIn's website may not work
If you subscribed through Android (Google Play):
- Open the Google Play Store
- Tap your profile icon → Payments & Subscriptions → Subscriptions
- Find LinkedIn and cancel from there
If you subscribed directly on LinkedIn's website:
- Use the desktop method described above, or log in via mobile browser and follow the same steps
- In-app cancellation through LinkedIn's own app may redirect you to desktop
The key distinction: where you subscribed determines where you must cancel. Canceling in the wrong place will leave the subscription active.
What Happens After You Cancel
| What Changes | What Stays the Same |
|---|---|
| InMail credits stop accumulating | Your existing connections remain |
| Profile views insight disappears | Your posts and activity history stay |
| LinkedIn Learning access ends (if included) | Your profile stays active and visible |
| "Open to Work" Premium badge removed | Messages you've already sent remain |
| Job applicant insight data hidden | Your network and endorsements intact |
Your account doesn't disappear. It simply returns to the standard free tier, which still allows profile creation, connections, messaging within your network, and job applications.
Common Issues and How to Handle Them
"I can't find the cancel option" LinkedIn's interface updates periodically, and the path to cancellation settings can shift. If "Subscriptions & Payments" isn't visible in Settings, try searching "cancel premium" in LinkedIn's help center while logged in — it typically links directly to the right page.
"I was charged after I thought I canceled" This usually means the cancellation wasn't completed, or you canceled in the wrong place (e.g., trying to cancel an Apple-billed subscription through LinkedIn's website). Contact LinkedIn Support or your app store's billing support with your confirmation email as evidence.
"I'm on an annual plan — can I get a refund?" LinkedIn's refund policy for annual plans is limited. In some regions and circumstances, they may offer a partial refund if you cancel shortly after renewal — but this isn't guaranteed. Contacting support directly gives you the best chance of a case-by-case resolution.
Factors That Affect Your Cancellation Experience 🔍
Not everyone goes through the same process. Several variables shape what you'll encounter:
- Subscription tier — Sales Navigator and Recruiter Lite have separate management portals from standard Premium Career or Business
- Billing source — Apple, Google, or direct LinkedIn billing each have different cancellation flows
- Region — Some countries have consumer protection laws that require LinkedIn to offer easier cancellation or refund options
- Corporate or team plans — If your Premium was set up by an employer or managed under a company account, you may not have direct control over cancellation
- Trial vs. paid plan — Free trial cancellations follow the same steps, but the deadline to avoid a charge is your trial end date, not a billing cycle
Understanding the Timing ⏰
Because LinkedIn doesn't prorate refunds in most cases, canceling right after a billing date means you've already paid for the full period. Canceling a day or two before your renewal date is typically the most cost-efficient approach.
You can find your next billing date in the same Subscriptions & Payments section where you cancel. LinkedIn also emails billing receipts, which include your renewal date.
The overall process is simple in the most common scenario — desktop browser, direct LinkedIn billing, standard Premium tier. But the path branches depending on how and where you originally subscribed, and what plan type you're on. Knowing which applies to your account is what determines exactly which steps you'll follow.