You can delete LinkedIn connections in three steps from your profile

To remove a connection from LinkedIn, go to your profile, find the person's name in your connections list, 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 network. You can undo this action immediately after, but once you navigate away, the removal is permanent.

LinkedIn does not limit how many connections you can remove or how often you can remove them. There is no waiting period between removals, and you can delete multiple connections in one session by repeating the same steps for each person.

Key Takeaways

  • Removed connections will not receive a notification that you deleted them, and the action is private.
  • You can undo a removal immediately after it happens, but the option disappears once you leave the page.
  • Removing someone from your connections does not block them or prevent them from sending you a new request later.
  • LinkedIn does not show you a list of people you have removed, so keep track separately if you need a record.

Step-by-step: removing a single connection

Open LinkedIn and go to your profile by clicking your profile photo in the top right corner, then select "Profile" from the dropdown menu. Scroll down to the "Connections" section, which shows a number next to it (for example, "Connections 847"). Click on "Connections" to open your full connections list.

Search for the person's name using the search box at the top of your connections list, or scroll through manually. Once you find them, click the three dots (•••) that appear to the right of their name. A menu will pop up with the option "Remove connection." Click it, and a confirmation box will ask if you are sure. Click "Remove" to confirm. The person will disappear from your connections list immediately.

If you change your mind right away, look for an "Undo" button that appears at the bottom of the screen or in a notification. This option is only available for a few seconds after you remove the connection, so act quickly if you want to reverse it.

Removing multiple connections at once

LinkedIn does not have a built-in feature to delete many connections in a single action. You must remove each person individually by repeating the three-dot menu process. However, you can speed this up by keeping your connections list open in one tab and working through it systematically.

If you need to remove a large number of people — for example, after a job change or to clean up old contacts — set aside time to go through your list in batches. There is no penalty for removing many connections over a short period, so you can remove as many as you need without triggering any warnings or account restrictions.

What happens after you remove a connection

Once you remove someone, they will no longer appear in your connections list, and you will no longer appear in theirs. They will not see a notification that you removed them. If they visit your profile, they will see a "Connect" button instead of a "Connected" label, just as if you had never been connected.

Removing a connection does not block that person. They can still send you a new connection request at any time, and you can accept or decline it like any other request. Removing someone is not the same as blocking them — if you want to prevent someone from contacting you or viewing your profile, you need to block them separately through your privacy settings.

Reasons people remove connections

People remove connections for many reasons: cleaning up after leaving a job, removing recruiters or salespeople who add them without context, distancing from old contacts, or simply reducing a bloated connections list to people they actually know or want to stay in touch with. LinkedIn does not restrict you from removing anyone, including people you worked with closely.

Some people remove connections before a job search to present a more curated network to recruiters. Others remove connections periodically to keep their list relevant. There is no "right" number of connections — some professionals maintain a small, tight network of 50 to 100 people, while others have thousands.

Removing connections on mobile

The process on the LinkedIn mobile app is similar to the desktop version. Open the app, tap your profile photo at the bottom, then tap "Connections." Search for or scroll to the person you want to remove, tap the three dots next to their name, and select "Remove connection." Confirm the removal when prompted.

The mobile app works the same way as the desktop site — the person will not be notified, and you can undo the action immediately if you change your mind. The undo option appears at the bottom of the screen and disappears after a few seconds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person know I removed them?

No. LinkedIn does not send a notification when you remove a connection. The person will only know if they check their connections list and notice you are no longer there, which most people do not do regularly.

Can I see a list of people I have removed?

LinkedIn does not provide a record of removed connections. If you need to track who you have removed, you will need to keep your own list outside of LinkedIn, such as in a spreadsheet or notes app.

What is the difference between removing a connection and blocking someone?

Removing a connection simply takes them out of your network — they can still see your public profile and send you a new request. Blocking prevents someone from viewing your profile, sending you messages, or finding you in search. Use blocking if you want to prevent contact; use removal if you just want to clean up your network.

Can I remove someone and then reconnect with them later?

Yes. After you remove someone, they can send you a new connection request, and you can accept it. There is no waiting period or penalty for reconnecting with someone you previously removed.

Does removing a connection affect my profile visibility or search ranking?

No. Removing connections does not change how LinkedIn's algorithm ranks your profile in search results or affect your visibility to recruiters. Your profile strength is based on your experience, skills, and endorsements, not the size of your network.