How to Customize Your LinkedIn Profile URL

That long, clumsy URL LinkedIn assigns you by default - the one with your name followed by a random string of numbers and letters - isn’t doing your personal brand any favors. It looks unprofessional, it's hard to remember, and it's a missed opportunity to present yourself in a polished way. This guide will walk you through exactly how to customize your LinkedIn profile URL, why it's so important for your professional image, and what to do if your ideal name is already taken.

Why Bother Customizing Your LinkedIn URL?

Changing your LinkedIn profile link is a small tweak that delivers a significant impact. If you think it's just a minor detail, think again. A clean, custom URL is a fundamental part of building a strong online professional presence. Here's why taking 60 seconds to make this change is a non-negotiable step for anyone serious about their career or brand.

It Projects Professionalism and Credibility

First impressions matter, and often, that impression happens before someone even lands on your profile. A custom URL shows attention to detail. Compare these two:

• linkedin.com/in/sara-jones-3a9b1c78
• linkedin.com/in/sara-jones-strategist

The second one instantly looks cleaner, more intentional, and more professional. It communicates that you've taken the time to curate your professional identity. When you share this link on a resume, in your email signature, on a business card, or in a conference bio, the custom version looks polished and adds a touch of authority.

It Strengthens Your Personal Brand

Your personal brand is all about consistency. You want people to recognize your name and associate it with your expertise. A vanity URL reinforces this. By aligning your LinkedIn link with your name or professional title, you create a cohesive brand that's easy for others to recognize. For example, if your name is Michael Carter and you're a photographer, a URL like /in/michaelcarter or /in/michaelcarterphoto immediately reinforces who you are and what you do. The default numerical URL does nothing but add noise.

It's Easier to Share and Remember

Imagine telling a new connection at a networking event, "Find me on LinkedIn! It's Jane Doe dash eight-five-B-seven-two." It's awkward and impossible to remember. A custom URL like /in/janedoeconsulting is simple, memorable, and easy to communicate verbally. This makes it far more likely that people will actually find your profile, whether you're speaking on a podcast, mentioning it in a meeting, or printing it on materials.

It Boosts Your Search Engine Visibility (SEO)

Having a custom URL can help you rank higher in search results, both on Google and within LinkedIn’s own search function. When your URL contains relevant keywords - namely, your name and potentially your specialty - it gives search engines another strong signal about who you are. When someone searches for "John Smith Marketing Director," a profile with the URL /in/johnsmith-marketing has a better chance of appearing at the top of the list than one with a generic, numbered URL.

How to Customize Your LinkedIn Profile URL: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to make the change? It just takes a minute. Here are the precise steps for both desktop and mobile.

On Desktop (Recommended Method)

Editing your URL is easiest on a desktop or laptop computer. The interface is larger, and the setting is more accessible.

1. Go to Your Profile: Log in to your LinkedIn account. On the top navigation bar, click on the Me icon (which shows your profile picture) and then select View Profile from the dropdown menu.
2. Find the Public Profile Settings: Once you're on your profile page, look to the upper right corner. You'll see a box with a link that says Edit public profile &, URL. Click it.
3. Locate the Edit URL Section: This will open your public profile settings page in a new tab. Again, on the upper right side of this page, you'll see a section titled Edit your custom URL.
4. Customize Your URL: Right under that heading, you'll see your current URL (e.g., www.linkedin.com/in/your-name-1a2b3c). To the right of it, there's a small pencil icon. Click that icon.
5. Enter Your New URL and Save: Now you can type in your desired custom URL. The standard format is your first and last name. After you've typed it in, click the blue Save button.

That's it! LinkedIn will tell you if the URL is available or if you need to try a different variation. Once saved, your new, clean URL is live.

On the LinkedIn Mobile App (iOS &, Android)

You can also edit your URL from your phone, though the exact steps might vary slightly depending on the app version.

1. Open Your Profile: Launch the LinkedIn app and tap on your profile picture in the top left corner.
2. Go to Your Full Profile: From the menu that slides out, tap View Profile.
3. Access Contact Info: On your profile, tap the pencil icon (Edit icon) near your name and headline.
4. Edit Profile URL: Scroll down to the bottom of the "Edit intro" screen until you see the Contact info section. To the right of it, you’ll see another pencil icon or an “Edit” link. Tap it.
5. Find Your URL: On the "Edit contact info" screen, the very first field will be "Profile URL". Tap on your existing URL link. It will take you to your Public Profile settings page.
6. Change and Save: Just like on desktop, you'll see a pencil icon next to your current URL at the top of the page. Tap it, enter your new custom URL, and hit Save.

Best Practices for Your New Custom LinkedIn URL

Before you rush to change it, let's talk about what makes a great custom URL. The goal is to be professional, memorable, and aligned with your brand.

• Use Your Name: The gold standard is firstname-lastname or firstnamelastname. This is the most professional and universally recognized format.
• Keep it Clean: Your URL must be between 3 and 100 characters long and can only contain letters and numbers (no special characters like !, $, or &,). Hyphens are allowed and can improve readability (e.g., /in/samir-khan is easier to read than /in/samirkhan).
• Be Consistent: If you use a specific professional name or alias across other platforms (like Twitter/X or a personal website), try to use the same one here for brand consistency. For example, if you are known as "MJ The Coder," a URL like /in/mjthecoder would make sense.
• Avoid Random Numbers: If your name is taken, avoid adding random numbers like 'JohnSmith85'. It looks unprofessional and feels similar to the default URL you’re trying to escape. Instead, use meaningful additions, which we’ll cover next.

"My ideal vanity URL is taken!" What to Do Next

With over a billion users on LinkedIn, it's very likely that a common name like "John Smith" is already claimed. Don't panic and resort to something unprofessional. Here are several simple strategies to create a great alternative:

• Add Your Middle Initial or Full Middle Name: This is the simplest fix. john-m-smith or john-michael-smith is professional and likely to be available.
• Invert Your Names: While less common, smith-john is a clean and professional alternative if john-smith is gone.
• Add a Professional Identifier: This is an excellent branding opportunity. What’s your industry or key skill?
  • /in/mariagarcia-cpa
  • /in/chenwei-marketing
  • /in/davisparker-pmp
  • /in/anasingh-writer
• Include Your Location: If your work is geographically focused, adding your city or region can be a smart move.
  • /in/liam-connor-nyc
  • /in/emily-williams-sf
• Combine Modifiers: Feel free to mix and match. A URL like /in/sarah-chen-mba-chicago is perfectly acceptable and highly descriptive.

Last Step: Update Your New URL Everywhere

Once you’ve saved your shiny new LinkedIn URL, your job isn't quite done. To get the full branding benefit, you need to update it across all your professional materials. Perform a quick audit and update your link in these key places:

• Your Email Signature: This is one of the most visible places your link will appear.
• Your Resume or CV: Replace the old, clunky URL with the new, professional one.
• Personal Website or Portfolio: Update any icons or links that point to your LinkedIn profile.
• Other Social Media Bios: Check your bios on platforms like X (Twitter), Instagram, or your company directory.
• Business Cards: Don't forget physical materials! Make sure your next batch of business cards has the correct link.

Consistency reinforces your brand and makes it easy for your network to find you, no matter where they first encounter your name.

Final Thoughts

Making a small change like customizing your LinkedIn URL is a powerful move that polishes your professional brand, improves your searchability, and shows that you pay attention to the details that matter. It's a quick win that has a lasting positive impact on how you're perceived by recruiters, clients, and colleagues.

At Postbase, we believe building a professional brand on social media shouldn’t feel like a chore. We built our social media management tool to cut through the complexity of staying active and consistent on platforms like LinkedIn. With a clean, visual calendar, you can easily plan and schedule your posts, so your expertise keeps showing up in people's feeds without you having to fight an overly complicated tool. Consistency is the foundation of any great social media presence, and that's exactly what we make simple.