How to Find Your LinkedIn Username

Finding your LinkedIn username is easier than you think, and customizing it is a small step that makes a big impact on your professional brand. This guide will show you exactly where to locate your LinkedIn username, how to create a custom URL that looks clean and professional, and why this small detail is so important for standing out.

What Exactly Is a LinkedIn Username?

Your LinkedIn username isn't the name displayed at the top of your profile, it's the unique identifier that forms the last part of your public profile's URL. Think of it as your digital address on the platform.

When you first create a LinkedIn profile, the platform typically assigns you a generic URL that includes your name followed by a random string of numbers and letters. It looks something like this:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-doe-1a2b3c4d5/

In this example, the username is "jane-doe-1a2b3c4d5." It’s functional, but it’s not professional, memorable, or easy to share. A customized username transforms that clunky URL into something clean and branded:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-doe-marketing/

Here, "jane-doe-marketing" is the custom username. It's clean, informative, and far easier to remember. By creating a custom username, you're taking control of your personal branding and making it simpler for people to find and connect with you.

Why Your LinkedIn Username Matters More Than You Think

You might be wondering if anyone really pays attention to the URL in their browser's address bar. The answer is yes, and for several important reasons. A well-crafted LinkedIn username is more than just a link - it's a marketing tool.

• First Impressions and Professionalism: A clean, customized URL signals that you are detail-oriented and have taken the time to present yourself professionally. It's a subtle but powerful indicator of your personal brand management skills. Compare `/jane-doe-marketing` to `/jane-doe-1a2b3c4d5`. One looks intentional and polished, the other looks like a system default.
• Ease of Sharing: A short and memorable URL is easy to share on business cards, resumes, email signatures, and presentation slides. Nobody wants to re-type a long, confusing address with random numbers. A simple URL makes it effortless for potential employers, clients, or collaborators to look you up.
• Improved Search Visibility (SEO): Customizing your URL with your name, and perhaps your industry or specialty, can give your profile a small boost in search results. When someone Googles your name, a URL that includes that name is more likely to be seen as relevant by search engines.
• Brand Consistency: If you use a consistent username or handle across your other professional platforms (like X, your portfolio website, or a personal blog), you create a cohesive online identity. This makes it easy for your followers and connections from one platform to find you on another, strengthening your overall brand presence.

How to Find Your LinkedIn Username: A Step-by-Step Guide

Whether you’re on a computer or your phone, finding your current username takes less than a minute. The process is most straightforward on a desktop browser.

Finding Your Username on a Desktop Browser

There are two primary ways to locate your username on a desktop computer.

Method 1: The Quick Glance (From Your Profile Page)

This is the fastest method if you just need to copy your URL quickly.

1. Log into your LinkedIn account at LinkedIn.com.
2. Click the Me icon in the top navigation bar (it's the one with your profile picture), and then select View Profile from the dropdown menu.
3. Once your profile page loads, look at the URL in your browser's address bar at the very top of the screen.
4. The text that appears after www.linkedin.com/in/ is your current username.
   For example: If the URL is https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-smith-consulting, then your username is john-smith-consulting.

Method 2: The Direct Path (Through Your Public Profile Settings)

This method takes you directly to the place where you can not only find your username but also edit it.

1. Click the Me icon in the top corner and select View Profile.
2. On your profile page, look to the top right and click on Edit public profile &, URL.
3. A new page will open. On the right-hand side, under the section titled Edit your custom URL, you will see your current public profile URL. The editable part is your username.

Finding Your Username on the LinkedIn Mobile App

The mobile app also allows you to find and edit your URL, although it requires a few taps to get there.

1. Open the LinkedIn app on your iOS or Android device.
2. Tap on your small profile picture in the top-left corner of the screen to open the side menu.
3. Tap on View Profile located just under your name.
4. In your main profile introduction area (where your name, headline, and connections are), tap the pencil icon (✎) to edit your intro.
5. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the "Edit intro" screen. You'll see a section for Contact info.
6. Your public profile URL will be displayed here, often at the very bottom.
   Your custom URL is the editable portion of that link which makes up your username.

How to Change Your LinkedIn Username to a Custom URL

Changing the default, clunky URL to something custom is one of the quickest ways to improve your LinkedIn presence. It's best to do this on a desktop browser, as the interface is much clearer.

Best Practices for a Great Username

Before you jump in and change it, take a moment to choose a username that serves you well long-term. Here are some tips:

• Use Your Full Name: The gold standard is `FirstName-LastName`. This is the most professional and easiest for people to find. If that's already taken, you can try `LastName-FirstName`.
• Add a Middle Initial: If your name is common, adding a middle initial (e.g., `John-F-Smith`) is a great way to differentiate yourself.
• Include Your Profession or Industry: Adding a relevant keyword can work well if done tastefully. For example, `Maria-Garcia-Writer` or `David-Chen-RealEstate`. This can even provide a slight SEO benefit.
• Keep It Professional: Avoid using nicknames, slang, or anything too unconventional unless it’s integral to your established personal brand (for example, if you’re a well-known creative by that name).
• Avoid Confusing Numbers: Try to avoid adding numbers unless they are part of your brand name (e.g., a founding year). A URL like `chriskent94` sounds less professional than `chris-kent-developer`.

LinkedIn's requirements for a custom URL are that it must be between 3 and 100 characters long and can only contain letters, numbers, and hyphens. You can't use spaces, symbols, or special characters.

Step-by-Step Instructions to Customize Your URL

Ready to make the change? Here’s how to do it from a desktop browser:

1. Navigate to your own profile by clicking Me and then View Profile.
2. In the top right corner of your profile, click on Edit public profile &, URL.
3. On the next page, look for the box on the right-hand side that says Edit your custom URL. Click the pencil icon (✎) next to your current URL.
4. A text box will appear where you can type your new desired username.
5. Enter your new custom username and click the Save button.

That's it! Your LinkedIn profile now has a professional, easy-to-share URL. Be aware that it may take a little while for your new link to be updated in Google and other search engine results.

Putting Your New Username to Work: Boosting Your Brand

Now that you have your slick, custom URL, don't keep it to yourself. Your LinkedIn profile is often the central hub of your professional online presence. Make sure it's easy to find by adding your new link to all of your other professional assets:

• Your Email Signature: Add a clickable link to your LinkedIn profile in every email you send.
• Your Resume and Cover Letters: Place it in the header alongside your name, phone number, and email address.
• Other Social Media Bios: Put your LinkedIn URL in your bio on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Threads, or in the website link on Instagram.
• Your Business Cards: A clean URL looks professional and fits perfectly on a traditionally printed card.
• Your Personal Website or Portfolio: Make sure your portfolio or blog links directly to your newly polished profile.

Final Thoughts

Your LinkedIn username is a small but mighty piece of your professional identity. Finding it is simple, and customizing it is a straightforward process that instantly makes your profile more polished, shareable, and discoverable. Taking just a few minutes to create a clean URL is a powerful step toward building a respected and consistent personal brand online.

Once you’ve polished your LinkedIn profile with a clean URL, consistency becomes the name of the game for brand building. We designed Postbase to make that consistency feel effortless, because we were tired of wrestling with clunky tools ourselves. Our platform lets you schedule content visually for all of your accounts - including LinkedIn - from one modern, clean interface, and our reliable system ensures your posts publish exactly when you schedule them, every time.