Delete resumes directly from your profile settings

LinkedIn stores resumes you upload in your profile under a dedicated section. To remove one, go to your profile, click the "Open to work" card or your profile photo, then select "Profile." Scroll down until you see the "Resume" section — this shows every resume you have uploaded. Click the three dots next to the resume you want to remove, then select "Delete." The resume disappears immediately and cannot be recovered, so make sure you have a copy saved elsewhere before you delete it.

If you do not see a Resume section on your profile, you may not have uploaded any yet. Some users only see this section after they have added at least one resume. The section only appears if you have used LinkedIn's upload feature — resumes you mention in your headline or summary do not show up here and do not need to be deleted through this method.

Key Takeaways

  • Old resumes live in the Resume section of your profile, which you reach through your profile settings, not through messaging or job applications.
  • Deleting a resume from LinkedIn does not affect resumes you have already sent to recruiters or employers — those are stored in their systems.
  • You can upload a new resume without deleting the old one first, and LinkedIn will let you choose which version to send each time you apply.
  • If you cannot find the Resume section, you may need to upload at least one resume first to make the section visible on your profile.

Why recruiters might still see your old resume

Deleting a resume from your LinkedIn profile does not remove it from the inboxes of recruiters who already downloaded it. Once a recruiter or hiring manager has saved your resume, it stays in their files regardless of what you do on LinkedIn. This is why it matters to delete old versions promptly — the longer an outdated resume sits in your profile, the more likely a recruiter will grab it before you remove it.

If you are worried that someone has already downloaded an old version, there is no way to retrieve it from their system. Your only option is to make sure your current resume is the only one visible going forward. When you apply for jobs or respond to recruiter messages, always confirm you are sending the most recent version.

Choosing which resume to send when you apply

LinkedIn lets you pick which resume to attach each time you apply for a job, even if you have multiple versions uploaded. When you click "Apply" on a job posting, LinkedIn shows you a list of your resumes and asks which one you want to send. This means you do not have to delete an old resume immediately — you can keep it while you make sure the new one is ready, then delete the old one once you have confirmed the new one works.

This feature is useful if you are testing different resume formats or tailoring your resume for different industries. You can upload a version for tech roles and a version for management roles, then pick the right one as you apply. Once you have settled on a single resume, delete the others to keep your profile clean and prevent accidental mix-ups.

What happens to resumes you sent before deleting

When you delete a resume from LinkedIn, it does not recall versions you have already sent to employers or recruiters. Those resumes are now in the hiring manager's email or applicant tracking system, and deleting your LinkedIn copy does not touch them. This is actually good news — it means you can clean up your profile without worrying that you are erasing evidence of your past applications.

However, if a recruiter tries to download your resume from your LinkedIn profile after you have deleted it, they will not find it there. They will have to ask you to send it again. This is why timing matters: delete old resumes only after you have confirmed that the new one is the version you want employers to see.

Uploading a new resume before deleting the old one

The safest approach is to upload your new resume first, test it by sending it to a few applications, and then delete the old version. This way you always have a backup on LinkedIn while you make sure the new one is working correctly. Go to your profile, find the Resume section, and click "Add resume" to upload a new file. LinkedIn accepts PDF and Word documents.

After you upload the new resume, it becomes your default — the one that appears first when you apply for jobs. You can change the default by clicking the three dots next to any resume and selecting "Make primary." Once you are confident the new resume is correct and you have sent it to at least a few places, go back and delete the old versions using the same three-dot menu.

Cleaning up multiple old resumes at once

If you have uploaded many resumes over the years, you may want to remove several at once. Go to your Resume section and delete them one by one — there is no bulk delete option. Click the three dots next to each old resume and select "Delete." This takes a few minutes if you have many, but it only needs to happen once. After that, you can keep your profile clean by deleting old versions as soon as you upload a new one.

As you delete, keep only the resume you are currently using and perhaps one backup if you are between jobs and testing different versions. Recruiters do not see a list of all your resumes — they only see the one you send them — so having multiple versions on your profile does not help you. It only creates confusion and the risk that you will accidentally send the wrong one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recover a resume after I delete it from LinkedIn?

No. Once you delete a resume, LinkedIn does not keep a copy. If you need it again, you will have to upload the file from your computer. This is why you should always keep a copy of every resume you create saved on your device before you delete it from LinkedIn.

Do recruiters get notified when I delete a resume?

No. Recruiters do not receive any notification when you delete a resume from your profile. However, if they try to download your resume from your profile page after you have deleted it, they will not find it there and may ask you to send it again.

What if I delete a resume and then want to send it to a job application?

You will have to upload it again. Keep a copy of every resume on your computer so you can re-upload it if you change your mind. LinkedIn does not store deleted resumes in a trash folder or recovery area.

Can I delete a resume without uploading a new one first?

Yes. You can delete all your resumes if you want. However, when you apply for jobs, LinkedIn will ask you to attach a resume, so you will have to upload one at that time. It is usually easier to upload the new one before you delete the old one, so you always have something ready.

Does deleting my resume affect my profile visibility to recruiters?

No. Your profile remains visible to recruiters whether you have a resume uploaded or not. Recruiters can still message you and view your work history. Deleting a resume only removes that specific file — it does not hide your profile or change how recruiters find you.