How to Make a Custom LinkedIn URL

Your default LinkedIn URL - the one with a random jumble of numbers and letters - is doing your professional brand a disservice. A clean, memorable, and custom URL is a small detail that makes a huge impact on your resume, business cards, and online presence. This guide will walk you through exactly how to create a custom LinkedIn URL on both desktop and mobile, and what best practices you should follow to make it shine.

What Exactly Is a Custom LinkedIn URL, and Why Does It Matter?

When you first create a LinkedIn profile, the platform assigns you a generic URL that typically looks something like this: www.linkedin.com/in/john-doe-a5b81c22. It’s clunky, hard to remember, and screams "default settings."

A custom URL, on the other hand, is a clean, personalized web address that you get to choose. It transforms the messy default link into something professional and easy to share, like this: www.linkedin.com/in/johndoe or www.linkedin.com/in/johnsdoemarketing.

Claiming your custom URL is more than just a cosmetic fix. It’s a foundational step in building a strong personal or professional brand online. Here’s why taking two minutes to make this change is so valuable:

• It Projects Professionalism. Imagine two business cards. One has the clean, custom URL, and the other has the random, number-filled one. Which person seems more detail-oriented and tech-savvy? A custom URL shows that you’ve taken the time to curate your digital presence, signaling to recruiters, clients, and colleagues that you mean business.
• It’s Easier to Share and Remember. People are far more likely to remember a simple name-based URL. It’s easier to tell someone in conversation, type into a browser, and add cleanly to physical materials like resumes or flyers without creating an eyesore.
• It Boosts Your Searchability (SEO). When a recruiter or potential client searches for your name on Google, a custom URL makes it more likely that your LinkedIn profile will appear at the top of the results. Search engines love clean, keyword-rich URLs, and your name is the most important keyword for your personal brand.
• It Creates Brand Consistency. If you use a specific handle or brand name across other social platforms like X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram, you can use the same one on LinkedIn. This consistency reinforces your brand identity and makes it ridiculously easy for people to find you everywhere online.

How to Customize Your LinkedIn URL (Desktop Guide)

Changing your URL on a desktop or laptop is a quick process that you can complete in under a minute. Here’s a simple, step-by-step breakdown.

Step 1: Navigate to Your Profile

Log in to your LinkedIn account. In the top right corner of the navigation bar, click on the "Me" icon (the one with your profile picture). A dropdown menu will appear. From there, select "View Profile."

Step 2: Find the 'Edit Public Profile & URL' Option

Once you’re on your profile page, look to the right-hand side. You will see a box with the heading "Edit public profile & URL." Click on it. LinkedIn will open your public profile settings in a new tab.

Step 3: Edit Your Custom URL

On this new page, again look to the top right corner. You'll see a section titled "Edit your custom URL." Your current URL will be displayed there. Click the small pencil icon next to your URL to edit it.

Step 4: Choose Your New URL and Save

An input box will appear where you can type your desired custom ending. Remember, the www.linkedin.com/in/ part is fixed, but you have control over everything that comes after the final slash. Type in your desired handle and click the "Save" button.

LinkedIn will immediately check if that URL is available. If it’s already taken, you’ll be prompted to try another one. If it’s available, you’ll see a success message, and your profile will be updated instantly.

How to Customize Your LinkedIn URL (Mobile App Guide)

You can also edit your URL straight from the LinkedIn mobile app on your smartphone, though it involves a few more taps. The process is nearly identical for both iOS and Android users.

Step 1: Go to Your Profile

Open the LinkedIn app and tap your profile picture in the top left corner of the screen. This will slide out a side menu. Directly under your name, tap "View Profile."

Step 2: Open the Edit Settings

On your profile page, look for the pencil icon located to the right of your name and headline. Tap on it to open the "Edit intro" screen.

Step 3: Access Your Contact Info

Scroll down to the very bottom of the "Edit intro" page. You'll find a section called "Contact info" with an "Edit contact info" link below it. Tap on that link.

Step 4: Edit Your Profile URL

On the "Edit contact info" screen, the very first field is your "Profile URL." Tap on your URL - it will appear as a clickable link. This will take you to a dedicated "Edit your custom URL" page within the app’s browser.

Step 5: Change the URL and Save

You’ll now see your custom URL displayed. Tap the pencil icon, type your new, personalized URL into the text box, and tap "Save." Just like on desktop, LinkedIn will confirm if the URL is available or prompt you to try again if it’s taken.

Best Practices for Choosing the Perfect LinkedIn URL

So you know how to change your URL, but what should you change it to? The goal is to create something that’s professional, memorable, and aligns with your brand. Here are some proven guidelines to help you choose wisely.

• Start with Your Full Name. This is the gold standard for most professionals. Try combinations like firstname-lastname or firstnamelastname. Not only is it clear and direct, but it's also what most people will search for when trying to find you. (Example: /in/sarahchen)
• Use Your Middle Initial if Needed. If your name is common, chances are `firstnamelastname` is already taken. An easy fix is to add your middle initial. It keeps your URL professional and unique. (Example: /in/sarahjchen)
• Add a Keyword or Specialty. If your name is still taken, or if you want to optimize your profile for a specific industry, consider adding a relevant keyword. This can be your job title, industry, or key skill. This strategy helps with branding and SEO, clearly communicating who you are and what you do. (Examples: /in/sarahchenwriter, /in/davidnguyenrealtor, /in/alexjohnsondev)
• Keep It Simple and Legible. Avoid long strings of numbers or confusing characters. Your URL should be easy to read and type from memory. Stick to letters, and only use hyphens if absolutely necessary to separate words for clarity. For example, /in/eric-jones-copywriter is better than /in/ericjonescopywriter86.
• Consistency Is King. Check what username you use on other professional platforms. If you have a personal website or an active X profile, align your LinkedIn URL with those handles to create a cohesive digital identity. This makes you much easier to find across the board.

After You Change Your URL: Three Things You Must Do

Once you hit "Save" on your new custom URL, your work isn't quite done. Your old LinkedIn URL will immediately stop working - it will not redirect to your new one. Anyone who clicks the old link will get a "profile not found" error. To avoid broken links, here are the essential next steps.

1. Update All Your Digital and Physical Assets. This is the most important step. Go through and update your LinkedIn URL everywhere it appears. Common places include:
   • Your resume or CV
   • Your email signature
   • Your business cards
   • Your personal website or portfolio
   • Your author bio on guest posts or publications
   • The bio sections of your other social media accounts
2. Notify Close Contacts (If Necessary). If you've recently shared your old link with high-value contacts like recruiters during a job search, it's a good idea to send a brief follow-up email with your new, updated URL. This prevents any confusion and shows you're proactive.
3. Be Patient with Search Engines. While your new URL is active instantly on LinkedIn, it may take a few days or even weeks for Google and other search engines to re-index your page. If you notice a temporary drop in search traffic to your profile, don't panic. It will return once the search algorithms catch up.

Final Thoughts

Customizing your LinkedIn URL is a small task that yields significant returns. It’s a fast, free, and effective way to elevate your professional brand, improve your searchability, and make a stronger first impression with anyone who looks you up online. Follow the steps above, choose a URL that fits your brand, and you’ll have a polished digital presence that stands out.

That same level of thoughtful curation should apply to your content strategy, too. A great URL gets people to your profile, but consistent, high-quality content is what builds your authority. For that, we created Postbase. Our simple visual calendar and content scheduler make it easy to plan and publish posts across all your social platforms, including LinkedIn, so you can build your brand without the chaos. It’s the perfect next step after polishing up your profile's foundation.