LinkedIn Guide · 5 min read · Updated 2026
How to Change Your LinkedIn URL (Custom Profile Link)
Your LinkedIn URL is the link to your profile — the one you put on your resume, in your email signature, and in job applications. By default, LinkedIn assigns a URL like linkedin.com/in/jane-smith-1a2b3c4d with a random string of numbers and letters. Changing it to a clean, custom URL takes 30 seconds and makes your profile look instantly more professional.
This guide covers how to change it, what to choose, and why it matters. For the full profile optimization picture, see our 12-step optimization guide.
Want to know exactly where you stand? Get your free LinkedIn visibility score — paste your profile URL and get an instant 0–100 score with your top 3 fixes.
Get my free score →How to change your LinkedIn URL (step by step)
- Go to your LinkedIn profile (click your photo → "View Profile").
- On the right side of the page, click Edit public profile & URL.
- On the right panel, under Edit your custom URL, you'll see your current URL (e.g.,
linkedin.com/in/jane-smith-1a2b3c4d). - Click the pencil icon next to the URL.
- A text box appears. Delete the existing custom portion and type your desired ending (3–100 characters, letters and numbers only — no spaces or special characters).
- Click Save. If the URL is already taken, LinkedIn will prompt you to try a different one.
Your new URL will be linkedin.com/in/your-custom-text. The old URL stops working immediately, so update any links you've already shared.
What to choose for your custom URL
The goal: clean, professional, easy to share.
Best options
- first-last — e.g.,
linkedin.com/in/janesmith(ideal if available) - first-last-credential — e.g.,
linkedin.com/in/janesmith-mba,linkedin.com/in/janesmith-pmp - first-last-field — e.g.,
linkedin.com/in/janesmith-design,linkedin.com/in/janesmith-seo - first-middleinitial-last — e.g.,
linkedin.com/in/jane-msmith(if first-last is taken)
Avoid
- Random numbers and letters (the default)
- Birth years (linkedin.com/in/janesmith92)
- Unrelated words or nicknames
- Overly long strings (keep it under 30 characters)
Why your LinkedIn URL matters
A clean URL affects three things: search engine indexing, professional branding, and shareability.
- Search indexing. Google indexes LinkedIn profiles, and a clean URL like
linkedin.com/in/janesmithranks better for name searches than one with a random string. When a recruiter Googles you, your LinkedIn profile should be the first result. - Professional branding. A custom URL on your resume and email signature signals attention to detail. A URL with random characters signals you haven't bothered to set up your profile.
- Shareability. A clean URL is easy to say out loud, type from memory, and share in a DM or application. "linkedin dot com slash in slash jane smith" is instantly findable.
Where to use your LinkedIn URL
- Resume header (next to your email and phone)
- Email signature
- Business cards
- Job application forms (when asked for a portfolio or profile link)
- Cover letter (if you reference your work)
- Other social media bios (Twitter/X, Instagram, personal site)
The custom URL quick start
Right now: go to your profile → Edit public profile & URL → click the pencil next to your URL → type firstname-lastname → Save. Then add the new URL to your resume and email signature. 30 seconds, done.
A clean URL is just one piece of a recruiter-ready profile. To see everything that needs fixing, get your free LinkedIn visibility score — it checks your URL, headline, About, skills, and experience, then gives you paste-ready rewrites. For more on related profile sections, see our guides to profile photo tips, banner design, and profile audit checklist.
Frequently asked questions
How do I change my LinkedIn URL?
Go to your profile, click 'Edit public profile & URL' on the right side, then under 'Edit your custom URL' on the right panel, click the pencil icon next to your URL. Type your desired custom ending (3–100 characters, letters and numbers only), click Save. Your new URL will be linkedin.com/in/your-custom-text.
What should my LinkedIn URL be?
Use a clean version of your name: first-last (e.g., linkedin.com/in/janesmith). If that's taken, add your middle initial or a professional qualifier: first-last-mba, first-last-pmp, or first-last-seo. Avoid numbers, random characters, or unrelated words. Your URL should be easy to share verbally and look professional on a resume.
Does my LinkedIn URL affect search rankings?
A custom URL with your name slightly improves your profile's search engine indexing (Google can index clean URLs more effectively) and makes your profile easier to find when someone searches your name. It doesn't directly affect LinkedIn's internal recruiter search, but it improves your professional branding and shareability, which indirectly drives more profile views.
Can I change my LinkedIn URL more than once?
Yes, you can change your LinkedIn custom URL up to 5 times within a 6-month period. After each change, the previous URL stops working, so update any places you've shared it (resume, email signature, business cards). Changing your URL too frequently can break links and confuse recruiters who saved your profile.
Stop guessing. Get your free LinkedIn visibility score.
Paste your LinkedIn URL and get an instant 0–100 visibility score, plus 3 paste-ready rewrites — an optimized headline, a rewritten About section, and your top 3 experience bullets reworded for recruiter search.
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