Cancel LinkedIn: The Right Way

How to cancel your LinkedIn premium subscription and reclaim your money in new zealand

Why you might want to cancel LinkedIn premium

LinkedIn is a professional networking platform that connects job seekers, recruiters, business professionals and learning enthusiasts worldwide. The service operates on a freemium model, meaning you can use basic features without paying anything, or you can upgrade to a paid Premium membership to unlock advanced tools like InMail messaging, detailed profile insights and exclusive learning content.

You access LinkedIn through web browsers on your desktop, or via the mobile app on Android and iOS devices. Your billing and subscription settings can differ depending on where you purchased your membership, so knowing your purchase channel is the first step to a smooth cancellation.

Many New Zealand users find that LinkedIn Premium no longer fits their professional goals, their budget tightens, or they simply aren't using the paid features enough to justify the ongoing cost. If that's you, Tocancel is here to guide you through every step of the cancellation process so you walk away with clarity and, if you qualify, your money back.

Free vs premium features

LinkedIn's free tier gives you a complete profile, the ability to search and connect with other professionals, and access to your messaging inbox. Premium upgrades add features like advanced search filters, the ability to send direct messages to anyone (InMail), detailed profile visitor insights, and curated learning courses. Most casual users find the free version sufficient, which is why many decide to cancel their Premium subscriptions after their trial period or annual renewal.

When cancellation makes sense

You should cancel your LinkedIn Premium if you're not actively job hunting, you don't use InMail or learning features, or your budget doesn't stretch to ongoing subscription costs. You might also cancel if you've landed a role and no longer need recruiter visibility, or if you're taking a career break. The good news is that cancelling doesn't delete your profile or connections, so you can always restart a Premium subscription later if your situation changes.

Your consumer rights under new zealand law

New Zealand protects consumers through the Consumer Guarantees Act and the Fair Trading Act, both of which give you certain rights when you purchase digital services like LinkedIn Premium. Understanding these rights puts you in a stronger position if something goes wrong with your subscription or refund.

What the consumer guarantees act covers

Under the Consumer Guarantees Act, digital services must be of acceptable quality, safe, fit for purpose and delivered within a reasonable timeframe. If LinkedIn Premium fails to deliver these guarantees, you may be entitled to a refund or correction. However, this Act does not automatically grant you a 14-day cooling-off period for digital purchases, unlike some other countries.

Your legal position is this: if LinkedIn misrepresents its features or if the service is defective, you have grounds to request a refund or correction. Document your experience and contact the company's legal department with evidence. If LinkedIn refuses to help, you can escalate to the Commerce Commission, New Zealand's consumer protection authority, which investigates unfair trading practices and subscription traps.

Your refund rights with app stores

If you purchased LinkedIn Premium through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, Apple and Google control your refund rights, not LinkedIn. Both platforms allow refunds within 14 to 30 days of purchase if the app is defective or you cancel before the trial ends. Tocancel recommends checking your app store account first before contacting LinkedIn directly, as this often resolves refund requests faster.

To request a refund through Apple, visit your App Store account settings and select "Purchase History", then tap the purchase you want to refund and select "Report a Problem". For Google Play, go to your account settings, select "Payments and subscriptions", then "Subscriptions", and tap the subscription you want to cancel with a refund request in the notes.

Pricing and subscription plans

LinkedIn Premium offers several tiers with different costs and features available to New Zealand users. Understanding the pricing structure helps you decide whether the service is worth continuing or whether cancellation is the right financial move.

If you're paying monthly, switching to an annual plan would save you money if you intended to stay. However, if you're not using the platform enough to justify the cost, Tocancel advises you to cancel rather than upgrade.

How to cancel LinkedIn on your desktop computer

Cancelling your LinkedIn Premium subscription on a desktop computer is straightforward and takes just a few minutes. Follow these steps to deactivate your paid membership without losing your profile or connections.

1. Sign into your LinkedIn account on a web browser (linkedin.com)
   • Enter your email address and password
   • If you use two-factor authentication, complete that step
2. Click your profile photo in the top-right corner of the page
   • A dropdown menu will appear with several options
3. Select "Settings and privacy" from the menu
   • This opens your account settings page
4. Click "Account preferences" in the left sidebar
   • Scroll down until you see "Subscription" or "Billing"
5. Click "Manage your Premium membership" or "Manage subscription"
   • A new page displays your current plan and billing details
6. Select "Cancel membership" or "Cancel Premium"
   • LinkedIn will ask why you're cancelling; select your reason or choose "Other" and add a note
   • You may also see an offer to pause or downgrade instead; select "Cancel" if you want to exit completely
7. Confirm your cancellation
   • Review the final summary, which shows when your Premium access ends
   • Click "Confirm cancellation" or a similar button to complete the process
8. Save your confirmation email
   • LinkedIn sends a confirmation email to your registered address; keep this for your records

Your Premium membership will remain active until the end of your current billing cycle. If you paid for a monthly plan, your cancellation takes effect at the end of this month. If you paid for an annual plan, your Premium access ends on your annual renewal date.

How to cancel LinkedIn via mobile app

If you prefer to manage your subscription from your smartphone or tablet, you can cancel LinkedIn Premium through either the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The process differs slightly depending on which app store you use.

Cancelling on iPhone or iPad (Apple app store)

1. Open the Apple App Store app on your device
   • Look for the coloured app icon on your home screen
2. Tap your profile icon in the top-right corner
   • This is your Apple ID profile picture or initials
3. Select "Subscriptions"
   • A list of all your active subscriptions appears
4. Find and tap "LinkedIn" in the subscriptions list
   • If you have multiple LinkedIn subscriptions, tap the one you want to cancel
5. Tap "Cancel subscription" or "Manage"
   • You may see options to downgrade or modify your subscription first
6. Confirm your cancellation by tapping "Confirm" or "Cancel subscription" again
   • Apple will ask if you're sure; confirm your choice
7. Check for a confirmation message
   • The App Store shows "Subscription cancelled" once the process is complete

Cancelling on android (Google play store)

1. Open the Google Play Store app on your device
   • Look for the coloured Play Store icon on your home screen or app drawer
2. Tap your profile icon in the top-right corner
   • This is your Google account profile picture or initials
3. Select "Payments and subscriptions"
   • A menu appears with payment-related options
4. Tap "Subscriptions"
   • A list of all your active subscriptions appears
5. Find and tap "LinkedIn" in the subscriptions list
   • If you have multiple LinkedIn subscriptions, tap the one you want to cancel
6. Tap "Cancel subscription"
   • You may see options to pause or modify your subscription
7. Follow the prompts and confirm your cancellation
   • Google Play may offer you a discount to stay; if you want to cancel, select "Cancel subscription" again
8. Look for a confirmation message
   • Google Play confirms the cancellation immediately

Tocancel recommends taking a screenshot of your confirmation message as proof that you cancelled, in case you need to follow up on a refund request later.

What happens after you cancel

Once you cancel your LinkedIn Premium subscription, several things occur automatically. Understanding what changes helps you transition smoothly from paid to free membership and know what to expect going forward.

Your access during the cancellation period

Your Premium features remain active until the end of your current billing cycle. If you paid for a monthly plan that renews on the 15th and you cancel on the 1st, you keep full Premium access from the 1st to the 15th. After that date, you drop to the free tier automatically. This gives you time to download any important data or information from your Premium features before they disappear.

What you lose and what stays

Your LinkedIn profile, connections, messages and employment history all remain on your account after cancellation. You lose access to advanced search filters, InMail messaging (direct messages to non-connections), detailed profile visitor insights, and premium learning courses. Your open profile remains visible to recruiters and other LinkedIn members, so your professional presence stays intact.

Reactivating premium later

If you change your mind, you can restart your LinkedIn Premium subscription at any time by revisiting the subscription section in your settings. Your account details, connections and profile information stay in place, so reactivating is as simple as clicking the upgrade button and entering your payment details again.

Refunds and billing corrections

Tocancel recognises that sometimes you need to recover money you've already paid. Your refund eligibility depends on when you cancelled, how you paid, and whether you can demonstrate a valid reason (such as a defective service).

How to request a refund

If you believe you're entitled to a refund, contact LinkedIn's legal department within 30 days of your cancellation. Write a clear email that includes your account email address, the date you cancelled, the amount you paid, your reason for requesting the refund (for example, "Defective service" or "Charged after cancellation"), and any screenshots or evidence. Send this to LinkedIn's legal department address (see Contact LinkedIn below).

If you purchased through Apple App Store or Google Play Store, submit your refund request to the app store first, as they process refunds faster than LinkedIn. Include your purchase date, transaction ID (found in your email receipt), and a brief reason for the refund request.

Timeline for refunds

App store refunds typically process within 5 to 10 business days if approved. LinkedIn refunds can take 2 to 4 weeks if the company agrees. If you don't hear back within 30 days, escalate your case to the Commerce Commission, which can investigate whether LinkedIn is refusing refunds unfairly.

If LinkedIn cancels your account or charges you after you requested cancellation, document the dates and amounts and report this to the Commerce Commission as a breach of the Fair Trading Act. Tocancel has helped thousands of consumers recover incorrectly charged fees by filing formal complaints with the regulator.

Common mistakes to avoid when cancelling

Cancelling a subscription can feel stressful, especially if you're worried about losing access to something you rely on. Here are the pitfalls that trip up many users, so you can avoid them.

Mistake 1: confusing "pause" with "cancel"

LinkedIn sometimes offers the option to pause your subscription instead of cancelling. Pausing keeps your Premium features active for a set period but does not stop billing at the end of that period. If you want to exit completely, always select "Cancel", not "Pause".

Mistake 2: not saving your confirmation email

After you cancel, LinkedIn sends a confirmation email to your registered address. This email includes the date your cancellation takes effect and proof that you requested it. Save this email in case LinkedIn charges you again or you need evidence for a refund claim.

Mistake 3: cancelling just before a renewal date but expecting an immediate refund

If you cancel a few days before your annual renewal, you won't be charged again, but you also won't receive a refund for the year you already paid. To recoup annual fees, you must request a refund explicitly within 30 days of the charge. Tocancel advises checking your renewal date before cancelling so you can plan refund requests accordingly.

Mistake 4: forgetting to cancel recurring billing from a third-party payment method

If you set up LinkedIn through a third-party billing service (such as a digital wallet or corporate billing portal), cancelling on LinkedIn's site might not stop the recurring charge from your payment method. Log into your payment provider's account and cancel the recurring payment there as well to prevent unexpected charges.

Mistake 5: not checking your app store account if you subscribed via apple or google

If you subscribed to LinkedIn through an app store, cancelling within LinkedIn's settings might not work. You must cancel through the app store itself (Apple App Store or Google Play Store). Many users cancel in LinkedIn but continue to be charged by the app store because they missed this step.

How to contact LinkedIn for help

If you encounter issues during cancellation or need to escalate a refund dispute, use these contact methods to reach LinkedIn's support team and legal department.

LinkedIn support channels

LinkedIn offers help through its in-app support messenger, email and online contact forms. To access support, log into your LinkedIn account, click your profile photo, select "Help" and choose your issue. You can also visit the LinkedIn Help Centre online and use their contact form to email the support team.

LinkedIn legal department contact

For formal cancellation disputes, refund requests and complaints about billing errors, contact LinkedIn's legal department directly. You can send a formal written notice to:

LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company
Wilton Place
Dublin 2
Ireland

Alternatively, if you are in New Zealand and need to file a complaint with the regulatory authority, contact the Commerce Commission:

Commerce Commission
44 The Terrace
Wellington 6011
New Zealand
Phone: 0800 943 600
Email: [email protected]
Website: comcom.govt.nz

The Commerce Commission investigates unfair subscription practices, misleading billing and refusal to refund. Filing a complaint with them is free and does not require a lawyer.

Comparison: LinkedIn premium vs free account

This table summarises the key differences between LinkedIn's free and Premium tiers so you can confirm that cancelling is the right choice for your needs.

If you don't use InMail, advanced search or learning features, the free account will serve your professional networking needs adequately.

Final checklist before you cancel

Before you submit your cancellation, run through this checklist to ensure you've covered all bases and won't face unexpected issues after you cancel.

• Confirm your current billing date and when your renewal is due
• Check whether you subscribed directly through LinkedIn or via Apple App Store or Google Play Store
• Download any important profile data or recommendations you want to keep (optional but recommended)
• Decide whether you want to request a refund, and gather any evidence (screenshots of billing, dates, amounts)
• Locate the confirmation email from your most recent payment to have the transaction details ready
• Write down the steps for your device (desktop or mobile) so you don't get confused during cancellation
• Plan to save your cancellation confirmation email once LinkedIn sends it
• If purchasing via an app store, verify that you will also cancel through the app store, not just LinkedIn
• Note the Commerce Commission's contact details in case you need to escalate a dispute

Once you've checked these items, you're ready to cancel with confidence.

Why you can trust tocancel with your cancellation

Tocancel is a senior consumer-rights resource dedicated to helping New Zealand users understand their rights and take control of their subscriptions. We cite relevant consumer law (the Consumer Guarantees Act and Fair Trading Act) and name the regulatory body (the Commerce Commission) so you know exactly where to escalate if a company refuses to cooperate.

Our guides walk you through every step in plain language, from the moment you decide to cancel to the point where you follow up on a refund. Tocancel has helped thousands of consumers cancel unwanted subscriptions, recover refunds and stand up to unfair billing practices. Whether you're cancelling LinkedIn or another service, Tocancel gives you the knowledge and confidence to act.

Start your cancellation today using the steps in this guide. If you encounter resistance from LinkedIn or don't receive a refund you're entitled to, Tocancel is here to help you escalate the dispute to the Commerce Commission or resolve the issue with evidence and clear communication.