LinkedIn lets you delete messages and entire conversations. But the rules aren't obvious, and there are a few gotchas worth knowing before you start cleaning up your inbox.
Here's exactly how it works.
How to delete a single LinkedIn message
You can delete or edit individual messages you've sent, but only within 60 minutes.
- Hover over the message you want to delete or edit
- Click the three dots that appear on the right side
- Select Delete or Edit
- If deleting, confirm when LinkedIn asks. If editing, make your changes and click Save.
When you delete a message, it disappears from the conversation for everyone. The other person won't see the content, but they will see a note saying "This message has been deleted." So it's not invisible, just empty.
When you edit a message, the updated text replaces the original and an "Edited" label appears next to it. The other person sees the new version but not the original.
After 60 minutes, both the delete and edit options disappear. LinkedIn gives you a one-hour window to fix mistakes or take back something you shouldn't have sent. After that, the message is permanent.
Want to delete a message you sent more than an hour ago? Your only option is to delete the entire conversation from your inbox. More on that below.
How to delete a full LinkedIn conversation
If you want to wipe an entire conversation (not a single message), LinkedIn lets you do that with no time limit.
- Go to your LinkedIn inbox
- Hover over the conversation in the left sidebar
- Click the three dots that appear
- Select Delete conversation
- Confirm the deletion
This removes the conversation from your inbox only. The other person still has it. Their copy of the conversation stays untouched, and LinkedIn doesn't notify them that you deleted anything on your end.
Once deleted, you can't undo it. There's no archive or trash folder to recover from.
What the other person sees
This depends on what you deleted:
Single message (within 60 minutes): They see "This message has been deleted" in place of your message. They know something was there, but they can't read it.
Full conversation: Nothing changes on their end. They keep the full conversation in their inbox. LinkedIn doesn't notify them that you deleted it. If they send you a new message, it shows up in your inbox as a new conversation.
Group conversations have an extra gotcha
Deleting a group conversation works the same way: it only removes it from your inbox. Everyone else still sees the conversation and all the messages, including yours.
But here's the catch: if someone sends a new message in that group conversation, it reappears in your inbox with the full history.
If you want to permanently leave a group conversation, leave the conversation first, then delete it. Other participants will see that you left, but the conversation won't keep coming back.
Can you bulk delete LinkedIn messages?
Yes. LinkedIn has a "Manage conversations" mode that lets you select multiple conversations and delete, archive, or mark them as read/unread in bulk.
On desktop:
- Click the Messaging icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage
- Click the three dots in the upper right
- Select Manage conversations
- Check the boxes next to the conversations you want to delete
- Click the Delete icon
On mobile:
- Tap the Messaging icon
- Tap and hold a conversation to enter selection mode
- Select the conversations you want to delete
- Tap Delete at the bottom of the screen
There's no "select all" button, so you still have to check each conversation manually. But it's a lot faster than opening and deleting them one at a time.
If you'd rather hide conversations without permanently deleting them, use the Archive option in the same bulk actions menu. Archiving moves conversations out of your main inbox view, and it's reversible.
What about InMail, sponsored, and Recruiter messages?
You can delete the conversation the same way as any other: open it, click the three dots, and select Delete conversation. This works for sponsored messages, Sales Navigator InMails, and Recruiter messages.
One exception: you can't delete an individual InMail message within a conversation. You can only edit it (before the recipient accepts it, or within 60 minutes of sending). If you want the whole thing gone from your inbox, delete the conversation instead.
If you delete your LinkedIn account, do your messages disappear?
Partially. If you delete your entire LinkedIn account:
- Your messages stay visible to the other person
- Your name and photo are replaced with "LinkedIn Member"
- The conversation history remains, but you're anonymized
So deleting your account doesn't erase your message history from other people's inboxes. Keep that in mind if privacy is your concern.
Quick reference
| Action | Time limit | What the other person sees | Reversible? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edit a single message | Within 60 minutes | Sees updated text with "Edited" label | No |
| Delete a single message | Within 60 minutes | Shows "deleted" placeholder | No |
| Delete a conversation | No limit | Nothing changes for them | No |
| Delete a group conversation | No limit | Nothing changes for them | Partially (reappears on new message) |
| Leave + delete group conversation | No limit | Others see you left | No |
While you're cleaning up your LinkedIn... Messages are one thing, but what about the hundreds of connections you've accumulated over the years? Install Network Cleaner to browse your entire network, filter by name, company, or connection date, and remove the ones that no longer belong. Here's how to bulk remove connections safely.