LinkedIn is an essential networking tool in the digital era, allowing professionals to connect, collaborate, and share insights across industries. With over 900 million members worldwide, it’s easy to accumulate connections over time, from past colleagues and clients to recruiters and industry peers. However, there may come a time when you want to clean up your network. Whether it’s for maintaining a more focused professional circle, curating your feed, or simply removing irrelevant connections, removing contacts from LinkedIn can be a useful exercise.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about removing connections on LinkedIn, including reasons to do it, how to do it, and the potential consequences of removing someone from your professional network.
Why Remove Contacts from LinkedIn?
Before diving into the how, let’s explore some of the reasons why you might want to prune your LinkedIn network.
1. Irrelevant Connections
When you first joined LinkedIn, you may have connected with anyone who sent a request, or accepted invitations from people you didn’t know well. Over time, your professional interests might have shifted, leaving some connections irrelevant to your current career path. A more curated network helps maintain focus on your industry and career goals.
2. Inactivity or Dormant Accounts
Some LinkedIn users may have become inactive over the years, especially if they’ve changed careers or no longer use the platform. Keeping dormant profiles in your network doesn’t add value to your LinkedIn experience, so it might make sense to remove these inactive contacts.
3. Too Much Content in Your Feed
A large, unfocused network can flood your LinkedIn feed with posts and updates from people who may not be relevant to your current professional life. By removing connections, you can clean up your feed and stay updated on posts that truly matter to you.
4. Privacy and Security Concerns
With cybercrime on the rise, some individuals may become wary about the personal information they’ve shared with large numbers of people. You may want to remove connections you don’t fully trust or those with whom you’ve had no real interaction.
5. Unwanted Messages or Spam
Not all LinkedIn connections use the platform for the right reasons. If you’re receiving unwanted messages, sales pitches, or spam from certain individuals, removing them as connections can provide relief and maintain the professional quality of your network.
How to Remove Contacts from LinkedIn
Removing a connection on LinkedIn is a straightforward process, but LinkedIn doesn’t make it highly visible. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how to do it on both the desktop version and mobile app:
On Desktop:
- Log into your LinkedIn Account. Start by logging into your LinkedIn account using a web browser on your desktop.
- Go to ‘My Network’. At the top of the LinkedIn homepage, you’ll see several tabs. Click on the “My Network” tab. This will take you to a page showing all your current connections.
- Search for the Contact. On the left-hand side of the “My Network” page, there’s a search bar. Type the name of the person you want to remove. LinkedIn will display their profile in the search results.
- Visit the Person’s Profile. Once you’ve found the person, click on their name to visit their profile.
- Remove the Connection. On their profile page, you’ll see a “More” button (represented by three dots or a dropdown menu). Click it, and from the dropdown menu, select “Remove connection.”
- Confirm Removal. LinkedIn will ask you to confirm that you want to remove the connection. Click “Remove” to finalize the process.
On Mobile App:
- Open the LinkedIn App. Launch the LinkedIn app on your smartphone and log into your account.
- Navigate to ‘My Network’. At the bottom of the screen, you’ll find the “My Network” icon. Tap on it to access your list of connections.
- Search for the Connection. Similar to the desktop version, there’s a search bar at the top. Type the name of the person you wish to remove.
- Access Their Profile. Tap on the individual’s profile when it appears in the search results.
- Remove the Connection. Once you’re on their profile, tap the “More” button (three dots) and choose “Remove connection” from the dropdown menu.
- Confirm Removal. LinkedIn will prompt you to confirm your decision. Press “Remove” to complete the process.
What Happens When You Remove a LinkedIn Connection?
Once you remove a connection on LinkedIn, several things happen:
- The Person Won’t Be Notified. LinkedIn doesn’t notify users when they are removed from someone’s connections, so you don’t need to worry about an awkward confrontation. However, if they notice they’re no longer connected to you, they may choose to reach out or send another connection request.
- You Won’t Be Able to Message Them Anymore. Removing a connection means you lose the ability to message that person directly unless you’re part of the same group or have access to LinkedIn’s premium features.
- Your Endorsements and Recommendations Will Be Removed. If you’ve endorsed or received endorsements from the person you remove, those endorsements will disappear. Similarly, any recommendations given or received will be removed.
- You Won’t See Their Updates. After removing a connection, their posts, updates, and activities will no longer appear in your feed, and vice versa.
Reconsiderations Before Removing Contacts
Before you begin purging your LinkedIn connections, it’s worth pausing to consider a few things:
1. Evaluate the Long-Term Value of a Connection
While someone might not seem relevant to your career now, it’s possible they could be helpful down the road. Networking is all about keeping doors open, and severing connections can close off potential opportunities.
2. Try Unfollowing Instead of Removing
If your primary concern is that someone’s posts are overwhelming your feed, consider unfollowing them instead of removing them entirely. Unfollowing allows you to remain connected but without seeing their updates.
3. Review Mutual Connections
Before you remove someone, think about whether you have any mutual connections that could be affected. Removing someone might inadvertently cut you off from important people in your industry, especially if they are highly networked.
Alternatives to Removing LinkedIn Connections
If you’re not ready to remove a contact entirely, there are other ways to manage your LinkedIn connections and network experience:
Unfollow a Connection
As mentioned earlier, you can unfollow someone to stop seeing their posts in your feed without removing them as a connection. This is a great option for people who post too frequently or content that’s not of interest to you.
Block a Connection
If a connection is bothering you or acting inappropriately, you can block them. Blocking someone means they won’t be able to view your profile, send messages, or interact with you in any way on LinkedIn. This is a more drastic measure than removing a connection.
Change Your Profile Visibility
You can limit who sees your profile updates and interactions. Adjusting your privacy settings can give you more control over who can view your activities and personal information.
Final Thoughts
Maintaining a professional and relevant LinkedIn network is essential in today’s digital-first job market. Whether you’re removing inactive connections, cutting down on spam, or simply decluttering your feed, removing contacts from LinkedIn is a helpful tool. With this guide, you now have the knowledge to remove unwanted connections while preserving your network’s effectiveness. Make sure to weigh your decisions carefully and use alternatives like unfollowing or blocking when appropriate.