The fastest way to remove a connection

To remove a connection on LinkedIn, go to your profile, click "Connections" in the left menu, find the person you want to remove, click the three dots next to their name, and select "Remove connection." The person will not be notified that you removed them, and they will no longer see you in their connection list or be able to message you directly.

The whole process takes about 30 seconds. Once you remove someone, you can add them back later if you change your mind — there is no waiting period or penalty for doing so.

Key Takeaways

  • Removed connections are not notified, and the action does not show up in anyone's activity feed.
  • You can remove a connection from your Connections page, from their profile, or from a message thread.
  • Removing someone does not delete past messages or shared content — it only stops them from seeing your profile updates going forward.
  • You can re-add a removed connection at any time without explanation.

Where to find the remove option on desktop

Open LinkedIn in a web browser and click your profile photo in the top right corner. Select "View profile" from the dropdown menu. On your profile page, click "Connections" in the left sidebar — this shows everyone connected to you. Scroll through the list or use the search box at the top to find the person you want to remove.

Once you find them, hover over their name and a three-dot menu icon will appear on the right side of their entry. Click those three dots and select "Remove connection" from the menu that pops up. A confirmation box will ask if you are sure — click "Remove" to finish.

Removing a connection from their profile

You can also remove someone directly from their profile page without going to your Connections list. Search for their name in the search bar at the top of LinkedIn, click their profile, and look for a button that says "Connected" near the top of their profile (usually next to their name and headline).

Click the "Connected" button and a dropdown menu will appear with the option to "Remove connection." Click it and confirm. This method is useful if you are already looking at someone's profile and decide you want to disconnect.

Removing a connection from a message thread

If you are messaging someone and want to remove them as a connection, open the message thread and look for the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of the chat window. Click it and select "Remove connection" from the options. You will still see the message history, but they will no longer be in your active connections.

This is handy if you want to end a professional relationship but keep a record of what you discussed. The messages stay in your inbox even after you disconnect.

What happens after you remove a connection

Once you remove someone, they can no longer see your profile updates, endorse your skills, or write recommendations for you. They also cannot message you directly — if they try to send you a message, it will go to your "Invitations" folder instead of your main inbox, and you can choose whether to accept it.

The person will not receive a notification that you removed them. LinkedIn does not send alerts for disconnections the way it does for other actions like profile views or endorsements. However, they may notice over time that they can no longer find you in their connections list if they look for you.

Removing connections on the LinkedIn mobile app

On the LinkedIn app for iPhone or Android, tap your profile photo at the bottom right and select "View profile." Tap "Connections" to see your full list. Find the person you want to remove, tap the three dots next to their name, and select "Remove connection."

The mobile app works the same way as the desktop version — the person is not notified, and you can re-add them later. If you are using an older version of the app, the menu layout may look slightly different, but the "Remove connection" option is always in the three-dot menu.

Reasons people remove connections and what to do instead

People remove connections for different reasons. If someone is spamming you or posting content you do not want to see, you can mute them instead of removing them — this hides their posts from your feed without disconnecting. To mute someone, click the three dots on one of their posts and select "Mute [name]."

If you want to limit what someone sees on your profile without removing them entirely, you can adjust your privacy settings. Go to Settings and Privacy, click "Visibility," and choose who can see your connections, posts, and profile. This lets you stay connected professionally while controlling what information they access.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person know I removed them?

No. LinkedIn does not send notifications for disconnections. The person will not receive an alert, and the action will not appear in their activity feed. They may eventually notice you are no longer in their connections list if they search for you, but they will not know when or why you removed them.

Can I remove someone and then add them back?

Yes. You can re-add a removed connection at any time by searching for them and sending a new connection request. There is no waiting period, and you do not need to explain why you removed them. They will see your request as a normal new connection request.

What happens to our old messages after I remove a connection?

Your message history stays in your inbox. You can still read past conversations, but you cannot send new messages to them directly. If they try to message you, it goes to your Invitations folder instead of your main inbox.

Is there a way to remove multiple connections at once?

LinkedIn does not have a bulk remove feature. You have to remove connections one at a time using the three-dot menu. If you need to remove many people, it will take several minutes, but the process is straightforward for each person.

Can I hide my connections list from someone without removing them?

Yes. Go to Settings and Privacy, click "Visibility," and choose "Only you" next to "Who can see your connections." This hides your entire connections list from everyone, including the specific person. They will not be able to see who you are connected to, but you will still be connected.