How to Get a LinkedIn URL

Your LinkedIn URL is your professional digital address - make sure it's one you're proud to share. This guide will walk you through exactly how to find, copy, and customize your LinkedIn URL so it looks clean, professional, and makes it easy for people to connect with you. We'll cover everything from the nuts and bolts of changing the URL to best practices for choosing a name that elevates your personal brand.

Why Your LinkedIn URL Matters (More Than You Think)

You might see that long string of letters and numbers at the end of your URL and think, "Who cares?" But that small detail can have a big impact on your professional brand. A clean, customized URL is a small hinge that swings a big door. Here’s why it's worth the 60 seconds it takes to change it.

• It Makes a Better First Impression: Compare these two URLs:
  www.linkedin.com/in/jane-doe-a4b81c22
  www.linkedin.com/in/janedoe
  The second option looks cleaner, more intentional, and far more professional. It shows you pay attention to detail, which is something recruiters and potential clients notice. A messy, default URL can subconsciously look sloppy or suggest you’re not tech-savvy.
• It Boosts Your Brand Consistency: Do you use the same handle on X, Instagram, or your personal website? Using a similar (or identical) custom URL on LinkedIn creates a cohesive digital identity. When someone meets you at a conference and remembers your name, they should be able to find you easily by searching for a variation of "Jane Doe," not "Jane Doe with a bunch of random numbers."
• It Improves Your Personal SEO: When someone Googles your name, your LinkedIn profile is often one of the first results to appear. A customized, keyword-rich URL (i.e., one that includes your actual name) strengthens this ranking. It gives search engines another clear signal that this profile belongs to you, helping you own the top search results for your name.
• It’s Easier to Share: A short, memorable URL is simply more practical. It fits cleanly on a business card, looks great in your email signature, and is easy to read aloud if you need to share it verbally. Trying to recite a URL with seven random characters at the end is clumsy and unprofessional.

Think of it like this: your LinkedIn profile page is your digital home. The default URL is the one the post office assigns you, but a custom URL is the one you put on the front of the house for everyone to see.

How to Find and Copy Your LinkedIn URL (The Quick and Easy Way)

Before you customize your URL, you first need to know where to find it. Depending on whether you're on a desktop or mobile device, the process is slightly different.

On Desktop (Web Browser)

Finding your URL on a computer is the most straightforward method. It takes a matter of seconds.

1. Log into your LinkedIn account.
2. In the top navigation bar, click on your small profile picture or the "Me" icon.
3. From the dropdown menu, select "View Profile."
4. Look at the address bar at the very top of your web browser. The URL displayed there is your current LinkedIn profile link. You can simply click on the address bar, right-click, and select "Copy" or use the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+C or Cmd+C).

On the LinkedIn Mobile App (iOS and Android)

The process on the mobile app involves a few more taps but is still very simple.

1. Open the LinkedIn app on your phone.
2. Tap your profile picture in the top-left corner of the screen.
3. Below your name and headline, tap "View Profile."
4. Tap the three-dots icon (...) located next to the "Add Section" button.
5. In the menu that appears, tap "Contact info."
6. At the top of the contact info screen, under "Your Profile," you’ll see your LinkedIn URL. You can tap and hold on it to get a "copy" option.

Now that you know how to find it, it's time for the most important step: making it your own.

How to Customize Your LinkedIn URL for a Professional Look

This is where you transform your URL from a generic, system-generated link to a clean, branded asset. Important: You can only customize your LinkedIn URL from a desktop web browser. The option is not available in the mobile app.

Step-by-Step Guide to Changing Your Public Profile URL

1. Navigate to your LinkedIn profile page on a desktop web browser.
2. On the right side of your profile page, find and click on the link that says "Edit public profile &, URL."
3. This will take you to your Public Profile settings page. Again, look to the upper-right corner. You’ll see a section called "Edit your custom URL."
4. Click the small pencil icon next to your current URL (e.g., www.linkedin.com/in/yourname-a93b4f128/).
5. A text box will appear, allowing you to edit the portion of the URL that comes after "/in/". Delete the old text and type in your desired custom name.
6. Click the "Save" button. LinkedIn will let you know if the URL is available or if it’s already taken by another user. If it’s available, you’re all set!

Best Practices for Choosing a Custom LinkedIn URL

So, what should you choose? Your goal is to be professional, recognizable, and memorable. Here are some guidelines and ideas:

Aim for a Simple Name Structure

The cleanest and most professional option is your full name. Try these common formats first:

• /in/firstname-lastname (e.g., /in/jane-doe)
• /in/firstnamelastname (e.g., /in/janedoe)

These are the gold standard because they are simple and directly tied to your identity.

What to Do If Your Name is Taken

With hundreds of millions of users, there's a good chance your name is already taken, especially if you have a common name. Don't worry. Here are some professional alternatives:

• Add Your Middle Initial: /in/janemdoe or /in/jane-m-doe. This is a subtle and professional way to differentiate yourself.
• Add Your Field or Profession: /in/janedoemarketing or /in/jdoe-writes. This has the added benefit of including a relevant keyword.
• Add a Credential: If you have one, use it. For example: /in/janedoe-cpa or /in/janedoe-phd.
• Add Your Location: This can work well for location-specific professionals like real estate agents or local business owners. Example: /in/janedoenyc.

Things to Avoid in Your Custom URL

• Random Numbers: Steer clear of birth years or random numbers like /in/janedoe1994 or /in/janedoe8675309. This immediately cheapens the professional look.
• Unprofessional Nicknames or Jargon: Your LinkedIn URL isn't the place for your high school nickname or inside jokes. Keep it professional.
• Overly Long URLs: Remember, one of the goals is to make it easy to share. /in/janedoethebestmarketingconsultantinnewyork is far too long.
• Confusion With Other Brands: Be mindful not to create a URL that looks like you're officially affiliated with a company you are not part of, such as /in/JaneLovesGoogle/.

Where to Use Your New Custom LinkedIn URL

Once you’ve updated your URL, don’t keep it to yourself. The whole point is to share it. Here are the most strategic places to put your new professional link:

• Your Resume or CV: This is a must. Place it in your header section with your name, phone number, and email. Recruiters expect to see a LinkedIn profile, and a custom URL shows you've put in the effort.
• Your Email Signature: Add it next to your name and title in every email you send. It’s an easy way for your work contacts to connect with you.
• Your Business Cards: A clean URL looks professional on a physical card and encourages new contacts to look you up.
• Your Other Social Media Bios: Your bios on platforms like X and Instagram should absolutely include a link to your polished LinkedIn profile. This helps cross-promote and build a consistent brand.
• Your Author Bio: If you write articles or guest blog posts, include your LinkedIn URL in your bio. This drives professional traffic back to your home base.
• Your Personal Website or Portfolio: Connect your personal brand headquarters directly to your professional networking hub.

Troubleshooting Common LinkedIn URL Issues

Even with a simple process, a few common questions can pop up. Here's how to handle them.

"My Desired URL is Already Taken. What Should I Do?"

Don’t get discouraged. Refer back to the "What to Do If Your Name is Taken" section above. Try adding your middle initial, a professional qualifier (like 'writer', 'cpa', 'md'), a credential, or location. Get creative but stay professional.

"I changed my URL, but the old one is still appearing in Google Searches"

This is normal. When you change your URL, it takes search engines like Google some time - from a few days to a few weeks - to "recrawl" your profile and update their index. The old link will eventually disappear from search results. Just be patient and double-check that the links you have control over (your email, resume, etc.) are all updated with the new one.

"Can I Change My LinkedIn URL More Than Once?"

Yes, you can. However, LinkedIn currently limits you to changing your URL up to five times within a 180-day (six-month) period. A word of caution: don't change it frequently. Every time you change your URL, it breaks any old links you’ve shared. Pick a professional URL you're happy with and stick with it for brand consistency.

Final Thoughts

Customizing your LinkedIn URL is one of the quickest, easiest ways to sharpen your professional image online. It’s a small detail that communicates professionalism, builds a consistent brand, and makes it much easier for people to find and connect with you. It’s a simple fix with a significant impact - now go make that change!

And once your professional LinkedIn profile is polished, keeping it active with consistent, valuable content is the next move. We know how draining it can be to constantly switch between platforms, which is why we built Postbase. It’s designed as a clean, modern tool to help you visualize your content on one calendar, schedule posts reliably across LinkedIn and other platforms, and analyze what’s actually working. Our goal is to make professional branding consistency less of a headache, so you can focus on building meaningful connections.