Your LinkedIn URL is the web address people use to find your profile

Your LinkedIn profile URL is a direct link to your public profile page. It looks like linkedin.com/in/yourname or linkedin.com/company/companyname if you manage a business page. LinkedIn assigns you a default URL when you create an account, but you can customize it to make it shorter and easier to share.

You need this URL when you want to share your profile with recruiters, include it on a resume, add it to your email signature, or link to it from a personal website. The default version LinkedIn creates is long and includes random numbers, so most people customize theirs to something memorable.

Key Takeaways

  • Your LinkedIn URL appears in the browser address bar when you visit your own profile, and you can copy it directly from there.
  • You can customize your URL to remove numbers and make it shorter by going to Settings and Privacy, then selecting Public Profile.
  • Custom URLs must be between 3 and 30 characters, can only contain letters, numbers, and hyphens, and cannot be changed more than once every 90 days.
  • Your public profile URL works even if your profile is set to private, because LinkedIn separates what people can see from whether they can find the link.

How to find your current LinkedIn URL

The fastest way is to visit your own profile and look at the browser address bar at the top of the screen. Whatever appears there is your current URL. On a computer, click your profile photo in the top right corner, then select "View profile." The address bar will show your LinkedIn URL.

On a phone, tap your profile photo, tap "View profile," and then tap the share icon (usually three dots or a square with an arrow). Select "Copy profile URL" or "Share" to see the full link. Some phones will show the URL in the address bar if you scroll to the top of the page.

If you want to see what your profile looks like to other people, look for a link that says "View as public" or an eye icon on your profile page. This shows you exactly what someone sees when they visit your URL — it may be less information than what you see when logged in, depending on your privacy settings.

Customizing your LinkedIn URL to something memorable

LinkedIn lets you create a custom URL that is shorter and easier to remember. Go to Settings and Privacy (the gear icon in the top right), then select "Public profile." Look for the section labeled "Edit your public profile URL" or "Your public profile URL." Click the pencil icon next to it.

Type in the custom name you want. LinkedIn will tell you immediately if it is already taken or if it breaks the rules. Your custom URL can be 3 to 30 characters long and can include letters, numbers, and hyphens, but not spaces or special characters like @ or &. Many people use their first and last name, or first name plus last initial if their full name is taken.

Once you set a custom URL, you cannot change it again for 90 days. LinkedIn counts this as one change per account, so choose carefully. If you make a mistake, you will have to wait three months before you can try again.

What happens if your profile is private

Your LinkedIn URL works the same way whether your profile is public or private. The URL itself is not blocked — it is what people see when they click it that changes. If your profile is set to private, someone who visits your URL will see a limited version with just your name, headline, and photo, unless they are already connected to you.

This means you can safely share your URL with recruiters or colleagues even if you keep most of your profile hidden from the general public. The person clicking the link will see whatever you have set as your public profile visibility, which you can control separately from your overall privacy settings.

Where to use your LinkedIn URL

Add your LinkedIn URL to your email signature so people can easily find your profile when they receive your emails. Include it on your resume under your contact information, usually formatted as linkedin.com/in/yourname. Put it on your personal website or blog if you have one, and add it to social media bios on other platforms like Twitter or Instagram.

When you are networking or applying for jobs, sharing your URL is often better than sending a connection request alone. A recruiter or hiring manager can review your full profile, see your work history, and understand your background before deciding whether to connect. Many job boards and application systems also have a field where you can paste your LinkedIn URL directly.

Troubleshooting common URL problems

If you cannot find the "Edit your public profile URL" option, your account may not have public profile visibility turned on. Go to Settings and Privacy, select "Public profile," and make sure the toggle is switched on. If it is already on but you still do not see the edit option, try logging out and logging back in, or try a different web browser.

If your custom URL is not working after you set it, wait a few minutes — LinkedIn sometimes takes time to activate new custom URLs. If it still does not work after an hour, try clearing your browser cache or visiting the URL in an incognito or private window. If someone tells you your URL is not working, ask them to try visiting it in a different browser or device, because sometimes the problem is on their end, not yours.

If you forgot what custom URL you set, go back to Settings and Privacy, then Public Profile, and look at the "Your public profile URL" field. It will show exactly what you chose. You can also search for yourself on Google — your LinkedIn profile often appears in search results with your URL visible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my LinkedIn URL back to the default version with numbers?

No. Once you customize your URL, you cannot revert to the default version. You can only change it to a different custom URL, and only once every 90 days. Choose your custom URL carefully because you are stuck with it for at least three months.

Does my LinkedIn URL change if I change my name?

No. Your custom URL stays the same even if you update your name on your profile. If you want your URL to match your new name, you will have to wait 90 days from your last change and then manually update it to something new.

What if the custom URL I want is already taken?

LinkedIn will show you a message saying the URL is unavailable. Try adding a number, middle initial, or last name to make it unique. For example, if "linkedin.com/in/jsmith" is taken, try "linkedin.com/in/j-smith" or "linkedin.com/in/jsmith2."

Can I use my LinkedIn URL on my resume?

Yes. Including your LinkedIn URL on your resume is standard practice. Put it under your contact information at the top, formatted as linkedin.com/in/yourname. Make sure your public profile is set to show the information you want employers to see.

Is my LinkedIn URL the same as my LinkedIn ID?

No. Your LinkedIn ID is a long number that LinkedIn uses internally. Your URL is the human-readable web address. You only need to share your URL with people — the ID is not useful for anything you will do as a regular user.