How to Reduce a LinkedIn URL

That long, clumsy LinkedIn URL filled with random numbers is holding back your professional brand. A clean, custom URL is easier to share, looks more polished on a resume, and helps you get found online. This guide will walk you through exactly why you need to reduce your LinkedIn URL and provide simple, step-by-step instructions for changing it on both desktop and mobile.

Why You Should Customize Your LinkedIn URL

Before we get into the "how," let's quickly cover the "why." Tweaking your LinkedIn profile URL might seem like a small detail, but it has a surprisingly big impact on your professional presence. The default URL LinkedIn assigns you is usually some version of your name followed by a string of random characters, like linkedin.com/in/jane-doe-a1b2c3d4. It’s clunky, forgettable, and looks unprofessional.

Transforming it into something clean, like linkedin.com/in/jane-doe-marketing, offers several key benefits:

• It Builds Your Brand: A custom URL demonstrates attention to detail and reinforces your professional identity. It’s a small signal that you take your personal brand seriously, which matters to recruiters, clients, and new connections. Consistency is everything in branding, and this is an easy win.
• It's Easier to Share and Remember: A short, clean URL is simple to add to a business card, mention in a presentation, or include in your email signature. Someone is far more likely to remember and type in /in/johndoe than /in/john-doe-58b19ca3. This makes it easier for people to find you after meeting you at a networking event or seeing your resume.
• It Improves Your Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Customizing your URL helps search engines like Google understand who you are and what you do. When someone searches for your name, a clean URL that contains your name (and perhaps your profession) is more likely to rank higher in the results. This applies to searches within LinkedIn as well, helping you stand out among others with similar names. Simply put, it makes you more findable.

How to Reduce a LinkedIn URL: A Step-by-Step Guide

Changing your URL is a quick process you can do in under two minutes. Follow these instructions for whichever device you're using.

On a Desktop or Laptop Browser

The easiest way to update your profile is through a web browser. The interface is more user-friendly for this specific task.

1. Log in to your LinkedIn account. Go to the LinkedIn homepage and enter your credentials.
2. Navigate to Your Profile. In the top navigation bar, click the "Me" icon (which shows your profile picture). A dropdown menu will appear. Click "View Profile" from the list.
3. Find the "Edit Public Profile & URL" Option. Once you're on your profile page, look to the upper-right corner. You'll see a link that says "Edit public profile & URL." Click it.
4. Edit Your Custom URL. A new page will open, showing your public profile settings. On the right side of this page, under the "Edit your custom URL" section, you'll see your current profile address with a small pencil icon next to it. Click the pencil icon.
5. Choose and Save Your New URL. A box will appear where you can type your desired custom URL. The part to edit comes after www.linkedin.com/in/. Enter your preferred username (e.g., "jane-doe-consultant") and click the "Save" button. If the URL is already taken, LinkedIn will let you know, and you'll need to try a different combination.

On the LinkedIn Mobile App (iOS and Android)

You can also change your URL directly from your phone, though the steps are a bit less intuitive. The process is nearly identical for both iPhone and Android devices.

1. Open the LinkedIn App and tap your profile picture in the top-left corner to open the side menu.
2. Tap on Settings at the bottom of the menu.
3. On the Settings screen, tap the Visibility tab.
4. Under the "Visibility of your profile & network" section, tap on Edit your public profile.
5. This will open a new view that looks similar to the desktop profile editor. Scroll down and you'll find your custom URL with a pencil icon next to it.
6. Tap the pencil icon, type in your new desired URL, and tap Save.

Best Practices for a Professional LinkedIn URL

Now that you know how to change it, what should you change it *to*? The goal is to create a URL that is simple, professional, and easy to associate with you. Here are some best practices to follow:

• Use Your Full Name: The standard and most professional format is your first name and last name, separated by a hyphen. For example, linkedin.com/in/sarah-connor is perfect. If your name is short and flows well, you can also combine them, like /in/sarahconnor.
• Keep It Clean and Simple: Avoid using nicknames, slang, or long strings of numbers. A professional URL should reflect the name you use in a professional context. You're an expert, not a gamer from 2005. Stick to letters and hyphens.
• Stay Consistent Across Platforms: If possible, use the same username you have for your professional Twitter/X account, personal website, or portfolio. This cross-platform consistency builds brand recognition and makes you easier to find everywhere.
• Consider Adding a Relevant Keyword: This is especially helpful if you have a common name. Adding your profession, industry, or a key skill can differentiate you and boost your SEO. Examples include /in/david-jones-finance or /in/emily-carter-uxdesigner.

What to Do If Your Desired URL Is Taken

With nearly a billion users on LinkedIn, there's a good chance that a simple name like /in/johnsmith is already claimed. Don't panic and definitely don't resort to adding your birth year or a random sequence of numbers. Here are some professional alternatives:

• Add Your Middle Initial: A classic and simple fix. john-f-smith is distinct and still looks very professional.
• Include a Niche or Specialty: Be more specific with your keyword. Instead of generic "marketing," try "content-marketing" or "b2b-marketing." Ex: /in/john-smith-b2b-marketing.
• Incorporate a Certification or Title: If you have a professional designation, it's a great choice. john-smith-cpa or jane-doe-pmp are excellent options.
• Use a Location Abbreviation: If your work is location-specific, adding your city can work well, such as /in/john-smith-nyc.
• Try a "The" or "Real" prefix: TheJohnSmith or RealJohnSmith are simple modifications made popular on other social platforms that can work in a pinch if done in good taste.

Don't Forget to Update Your URL Everywhere!

Once you’ve successfully reduced and customized your LinkedIn URL, your work isn't quite done. The old URL with the random numbers will no longer work, so any place you've posted it will now lead to a broken link. It's time to do a quick digital audit and update your link in all the right places:

• Your email signature.
• Your resume and curriculum vitae (CV).
• Your online portfolio or personal website.
• Your business cards.
• Your other social media bios (like your X, Instagram, or Threads profile).
• Any author bios for guest posts or articles you've written.

Making this sweep ensures your network can find your polished, professional profile without any dead ends. It's a final touch that reinforces your image as someone who is thorough and detail-oriented.

Final Thoughts

Customizing your LinkedIn URL is a small change that delivers a big impact, enhancing your professional brand, boosting your online findability, and making you look more polished to potential employers and clients. By following the simple steps above, you can swap out that clunky, default URL for a clean, memorable one in just a few minutes.

Simplifying how you present yourself online is always a smart move. After you polish your professional profiles, the next step is often streamlining how you manage your entire social media presence. That’s why we built Postbase - to rescue you from the chaos of jumping between a dozen different apps. We put all your content planning, scheduling, and analytics for platforms like LinkedIn into one simple, modern dashboard, making it an easy lift to maintain a consistent and strategic brand online.