How to Sever Ties: Deleting a LinkedIn Connection Like a Pro

So, you’ve reached a point where you need to prune your LinkedIn network. Perhaps you’re streamlining your connections, distancing yourself from a past colleague, or simply decluttering. The question is: How do I delete a contact on LinkedIn? The process is straightforward, but understanding the nuances can save you from potential social faux pas. Here’s the direct answer: Navigate to their profile, click the “More” button (usually represented by three dots), and select “Remove connection.” Confirm your decision, and they’re gone.

The Anatomy of a LinkedIn Connection Removal: A Step-by-Step Guide

Deleting a connection on LinkedIn is remarkably easy. Follow these steps and your contact will vanish from your network:

1. Find the Culprit (a.k.a., Your Connection): Use the search bar at the top of the page to find the profile of the person you want to remove. You can search by name, company, or even keywords from their profile.
2. Navigate to Their Profile: Click on their name to go to their LinkedIn profile page.
3. Locate the “More” Button: Once on their profile, look for the “More” button. It’s typically represented by three horizontal dots (...) near the top right of their profile, next to the “Message” button.
4. Initiate the Deletion: Click on the “More” button. A dropdown menu will appear. Look for the option labeled “Remove connection“.
5. Confirmation is Key: LinkedIn will prompt you with a confirmation message asking if you’re sure you want to remove this connection. Click “Remove” to confirm your decision.
6. (Optional) Unfollow: After removing the connection, consider unfollowing them too. This prevents their posts from appearing in your feed if you were following them.

And that’s it! The person is no longer a connection. Note that they won’t receive a notification that you’ve removed them, but if they regularly check their connections, they may notice.

LinkedIn Connection Deletion: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 12 frequently asked questions (and insightful answers) about removing connections on LinkedIn.

1. Does Someone Get Notified When I Remove Them as a Connection?

No, LinkedIn does not send a notification to the person you’ve removed. This is a silent operation. However, they might notice if they periodically review their connection list.

2. Will Removing a Connection Prevent Them from Seeing My Profile?

It depends on your privacy settings. If your profile visibility is set to “Public,” anyone, including non-connections, can see a limited version of your profile. If it’s set to “Connections only,” only your direct connections can see your full profile. Removing the connection reverts them to seeing what a non-connection would see.

3. Can I Remove Multiple Connections at Once?

Unfortunately, LinkedIn doesn’t offer a bulk removal feature. You must remove connections individually, following the steps outlined above for each person. This can be tedious, but it prevents accidental removals.

4. What Happens to Recommendations I’ve Given or Received from the Connection?

Removing a connection does not automatically remove recommendations. Recommendations remain on your profile (and theirs) unless you manually delete them. You’ll need to go to the “Recommendations” section of their profile (or your own, for recommendations you received) and request the removal of the specific recommendation.

5. Can Someone I Removed as a Connection Re-Connect with Me?

Yes. Removing someone doesn’t block them from sending you a new connection request. They can find your profile and send a new request, just as if you’d never been connected.

6. How is Removing a Connection Different from Blocking Someone on LinkedIn?

Removing a connection simply severs the direct link between your profiles. Blocking, on the other hand, prevents the person from seeing your profile at all, messaging you, or finding you in searches. It’s a more drastic measure. If you want complete invisibility from someone, blocking is the way to go.

7. If I Remove a Connection, Will They Still Appear in My “People You May Know” Suggestions?

Potentially, yes. LinkedIn’s algorithm considers various factors, including mutual connections and shared industries, when generating suggestions. Removing a connection doesn’t guarantee they won’t reappear as a suggestion, although it may decrease the likelihood.

8. Can I See a List of People I’ve Removed as Connections?

No, LinkedIn does not keep a log of connections you’ve removed. Once a connection is removed, there’s no built-in way to track that action.

9. I Accidentally Removed a Connection! How Do I Re-Connect?

The best approach is to search for their profile and send them a new connection request. Personalize the request message to acknowledge the accidental removal and explain the situation briefly. A friendly message can smooth things over.

10. Should I Explain Why I’m Removing Someone as a Connection?

That depends entirely on your relationship with the person and your comfort level. In most cases, it’s best to avoid explanation. Explanations can open a can of worms and potentially create unnecessary conflict. However, if you have a close professional relationship, a brief, diplomatic message might be appropriate. Something like, “I’m streamlining my network to focus on [specific area] and wanted to let you know I’ll be removing you from my connections. I value our past interactions, and I wish you all the best.”

11. What are Some Legitimate Reasons to Remove a LinkedIn Connection?

There are several perfectly valid reasons:

• You no longer have a professional relationship: If you’ve changed jobs or industries, you may want to streamline your network to reflect your current career focus.
• You’ve lost contact: If you haven’t interacted with someone in years and don’t foresee any future collaboration, removing them might be appropriate.
• Their activity is spammy or irrelevant: If someone consistently shares irrelevant or low-quality content, removing them can help curate your feed.
• Privacy concerns: If you’re uncomfortable with someone having access to your profile information, removing them is a good idea.
• They are a bot or fake profile.

12. Is There a Limit to How Many Connections I Can Remove Per Day?

LinkedIn doesn’t publicly state a specific limit, but it’s generally advisable to avoid removing a large number of connections in a short period. This could trigger automated security measures, as it might be flagged as suspicious activity. A steady, gradual approach is best.

Deleting connections on LinkedIn, while seemingly simple, can have subtle implications. By understanding the process, the lack of notifications, and the potential consequences, you can manage your LinkedIn network with confidence and avoid any unnecessary social awkwardness. Clean up your connections and take the right steps for your career!