How to Share a LinkedIn Profile from the Mobile App

Making a powerful introduction or recommending a stellar colleague on LinkedIn is just a couple of taps away. Forget clunky emails or trying to spell out a complicated last name, sharing a direct link to someone's profile is the cleanest, most efficient way to connect people in your network. This guide breaks down exactly how to share a LinkedIn profile straight from the mobile app, along with some pro tips to make sure your introductions always land perfectly.

Why Sharing a LinkedIn Profile is a Networking Power Move

Before we get into the "how," let's quickly touch on the "why." Sharing a LinkedIn profile isn't just a technical function, it's a fundamental networking skill. In the professional world, your credibility is tied to the value you provide, and connecting people is one of the highest-value actions you can take. Every time you thoughtfully share a profile, you're not just passing along a link - you're activating your social capital.

Think about the common scenarios:

• Making professional introductions. Connecting two people who can benefit from knowing each other is the gold standard of networking. Sending a profile link is the first step in a "virtual handshake."
• Referring a candidate. When a hiring manager asks if you know anyone good for a role, sending a direct link to a promising candidate’s profile is far more effective than just giving a name.
• Highlighting a collaborator. Working on a project with a partner? You can share their profile with stakeholders to build trust and showcase the team's expertise.
• Showcasing an expert or mentor. If a mentee asks for advice in a particular field, you can share the profile of an expert you admire, giving them a roadmap of success and a new person to learn from.
• Promoting your team members. As a leader, sharing your employees' profiles to recognize their work or recommend their skills is a powerful way to boost their visibility and morale.

In all these cases, a direct profile share is neat, professional, and gives the recipient all the context they need in a single click. Now, let’s get it done.

How to Share a LinkedIn Profile Link from the Mobile App

This is the most common and versatile way to share a profile. You get a clean URL that you can paste into an email, a text message, WhatsApp, Slack, or any other communication app. The process is almost identical on both iPhone (iOS) and Android devices.

A Step-by-Step Guide

Follow these simple steps to grab and share someone's profile link:

Step 1: Navigate to the User's Profile
Open your LinkedIn app and go to the profile of the person you want to share. You can do this by using the search bar at the top of the screen to look up their name or by tapping on their name from a post, comment, or connection list.

Step 2: Find the “More” Option
Once you’re on their profile page, look just below their name and headline. You’ll see a few buttons like “Connect” or “Message.” To the right of these buttons, there is a small icon with three horizontal dots (...). This is the “More” menu. Tap on it.

Step 3: Access the Sharing Options
Tapping the three dots will open up a menu from the bottom of your screen with several options. You’re looking for the one that says "Share via..." or it may simply show "Share Profile". This is your gateway to sharing.

Step 4: Choose How and Where to Share
After tapping "Share via...", your phone's native sharing menu will appear. This is where you have several choices:

• Share Directly to an App: You can select an app like Messages, Mail, WhatsApp, Telegram, or Slack to instantly open a new conversation with the profile link already pasted in. This is the fastest way to send it directly to someone.
• Copy the Link: One of the most useful options is "Copy." Selecting this will copy the unique profile URL to your phone’s clipboard. From there, you can navigate to any app and simply long-press and "Paste" the link wherever you want. This gives you the most control.
• AirDrop (iOS Users): If you’re physically next to another Apple user, you can use AirDrop to instantly send the profile link to their device. It's a quick and seamless way to share in person without needing their contact info.

Once you’ve copied the link or sent it through an app, you’re all set. The recipient will get a direct URL that takes them straight to the person's LinkedIn page.

The In-Person Hack: Sharing with a LinkedIn QR Code

Picture this: you’re at a conference, a trade show, or a networking lunch. You strike up a great conversation with someone, and you both agree to connect. Fumbling to spell out names or find each other in the search bar can be awkward. This is where the LinkedIn QR code feature shines.

Every LinkedIn profile has a unique QR code. You can either show yours to be scanned or scan someone else's, creating an instant connection request or a link to their profile. It’s the digital equivalent of exchanging business cards.

How to Pull Up Your QR Code

If you want someone to effortlessly find your profile, just show them your code.

1. Open the LinkedIn app.
2. Tap on the Search bar at the top of the homepage.
3. To the far right of the search bar, you'll see a small square icon with lines and corners. It looks a bit like a tiny QR code. Tap that icon.
4. Voila! LinkedIn will open a new screen. By default, it will land on the “My Code” tab, displaying your unique QR code at the center. The other person can then open their scanner (see below) and point it at your screen.
5. You can also save your QR code as an image to your phone or share it directly from this screen if you want to send it to someone digitally.

How to Scan Someone Else's Code

If you're connecting with someone else, the process is just as easy.

1. Tap on the Search bar on your LinkedIn homepage.
2. Tap the same QR code icon on the right side of the search bar.
3. Instead of staying on the "My Code" tab, switch to the “Scan” tab next to it.
4. Your camera will activate. Simply point it at the other person’s QR code on their phone screen.
5. LinkedIn will instantly recognize the code and take you directly to their profile page, where you can tap "Connect."

This method is ridiculously fast for in-person events and makes you look savvy and prepared.

Best Practices: How to Share Profiles (...Without Being Awkward)

Knowing how to share a profile is only half the battle. Doing it effectively and professionally is what builds your reputation as a valuable connector. Dropping a link into a chat with no context is lazy and often ineffective. Here are a few best practices to follow.

1. Always, Always Provide Context

Never send a LinkedIn profile link cold. Ever. It's confusing for the recipient and doesn't accomplish anything. Always frame the introduction with a short, clear message explaining why you’re connecting these two people or sharing this particular profile.

Instead of just dropping a link, try this:

"Hi Mark, I wanted to introduce you to Sarah Thompson’s profile. She's the marketing expert I mentioned with tons of experience in SaaS growth. I thought you two should connect given your recent discussion about breaking into that industry."

This simple act of adding context turns a random link into a valuable, curated introduction.

2. Use the "Double Opt-In" Introduction

For more formal introductions, especially between two busy, senior-level people in your network, abide by the “double opt-in” rule. This means you ask both parties for their permission before actually making the connection.

First, message Person A: "Hey, I have a contact, Person B, who is looking for expertise in your field. Would you be open to me making an introduction?"

Once you get a yes from both sides, you can proceed by sharing their profiles with one another, knowing that both are ready and willing to connect.

3. Leverage Rich Previews in a Good Way

When you paste a LinkedIn profile URL into most messaging apps (including LinkedIn DMs, iMessage, and Slack), it will automatically generate a "rich preview." This preview typically includes the person’s profile picture, name, and headline. This is a good thing! It makes your message more visually appealing and informative than a plain URL. Let the preview load before hitting send to ensure the professionalism of your introduction.

4. Shine Up Your Own Profile First

Remember that when you act as a connector, you put yourself in the middle of a professional exchange. The people you introduce will almost certainly click back to your profile as a point of common ground. Is your own LinkedIn profile up to date? Does your headline accurately reflect what you do? Is your profile picture professional? Make sure your own house is in order before you start inviting others over.

Final Thoughts

Sharing a LinkedIn profile from the mobile app, whether it's through a direct link or a QR code, is a straightforward action that opens up countless networking opportunities. By mastering this simple skill and layering it with professional etiquette - like providing context and asking for permission - you can elevate yourself from a bystander in your network to a true, valuable connector. The more you help others build their circles, the stronger and more impactful your own becomes.

Building meaningful connections takes focus, and managing your broader brand presence on LinkedIn can be a big time sink. We actually built Postbase to solve this very problem. Instead of being bogged down with manually planning and scheduling your posts, you can use our visual calendar to map out your content across LinkedIn and all your other social platforms. It handles the busywork of consistent posting, freeing you up to spend more time on high-value activities like engaging with your network and making those all-important introductions.