What “remove imported contacts” actually does
Removing imported contacts is an address-book audit, not a connection cleanup. It targets records LinkedIn created from your phone or email contacts; it does not delete your connections, posts or messages. Treat it as one step in a broader account audit, not a substitute for reviewing what you have shared.
Step-by-step removal
LinkedIn lets you remove imported contacts through Settings and Privacy, Account preferences, Sync contacts, then Remove all next to Contacts. Source
The official removal guide says contacts are deleted immediately, while suggestions can take up to 72 hours to update. Source
Do not expect the change to appear everywhere at once. The contacts list clears immediately, but suggestion surfaces can lag. Wait out the documented 72-hour window before judging whether the removal worked.
Review before importing again
Before you re-import, check two separate things: the contact access your LinkedIn app has at the operating-system level, and the import settings inside LinkedIn itself. There is no universal toggle that covers every device and account, and turning off one layer does not guarantee the other is off. Also, removing imports does not necessarily eliminate every network recommendation; some suggestions come from other signals.
| Situation | Sensible action |
|---|---|
| You imported contacts by mistake | Remove all imported contacts, then review app contact access |
| You want to keep connections but stop future imports | Check OS contact permission and LinkedIn import settings separately |
| Suggestions still appear after removal | Wait up to 72 hours, then re-check |
| You are unsure what was imported | Audit the contacts list before changing anything else |
Manual verification checklist
- Open Settings and Privacy, then Account preferences, then Sync contacts.
- Confirm whether imported contacts are listed, and use Remove all next to Contacts if needed.
- Check your phone’s app permissions for LinkedIn and decide whether contact access should remain.
- Revisit LinkedIn’s import settings before any future import.
- Wait at least 72 hours, then check whether suggestions have updated.
Where TraceSeek fits, and where it does not
TraceSeek is a username lookup app that checks known public usernames across 3,000+ platforms; the first scan is free and typically takes 20-30 seconds. It cannot change platform settings, access private content, prove ownership of an account, or find every account tied to a phone number or email. Use it as a lead-generation step alongside manual checks, not as a replacement for them.
Key facts
- LinkedIn lets you remove imported contacts through Settings and Privacy, Account preferences, Sync contacts, then Remove all next to Contacts.
- LinkedIn’s official removal guide says contacts are deleted immediately, while suggestions can take up to 72 hours to update.
- TraceSeek checks known public usernames across 3,000+ platforms and cannot change platform settings or access private content.
- TraceSeek’s first scan is free and typically takes 20-30 seconds.