What a custom LinkedIn URL is and why you'd want one

Your LinkedIn profile comes with a default URL that looks like this: linkedin.com/in/firstname-lastname-1a2b3c4d5e. That long string of numbers at the end makes it hard to remember and awkward to share. A custom LinkedIn URL lets you replace those numbers with something clean — like linkedin.com/in/yourname — so people can actually type it or remember it after you say it out loud.

You get one custom URL per LinkedIn account, and you can change it whenever you want. This matters if you're job hunting, freelancing, or just want your profile to look more professional when you share it in an email signature or on your resume.

Key Takeaways

  • You can only create a custom URL if your profile is at least 24 hours old and you have a confirmed email address on file with LinkedIn.
  • The custom part can be 3 to 30 characters long and can include letters, numbers, and hyphens, but not spaces or special characters.
  • LinkedIn will tell you immediately if the name you want is already taken, and you can try a different variation right away.
  • You can change your custom URL as many times as you want, and old links will automatically redirect to your new one for a while.

How to set up your custom URL on desktop

Open LinkedIn in a web browser and sign in to your account. Click your profile photo in the top right corner, then select View profile from the dropdown menu. This takes you to your profile page.

Look for the Edit public profile & URL button — it's usually near the top right of your profile, sometimes next to your headline or inside a menu icon. Click it. On the right side of the page, you'll see a section labeled Public profile URL. The current URL appears there with an edit icon (usually a pencil) next to it. Click that icon.

A text field will appear with your current custom URL or the default one. Delete what's there and type in the custom name you want. LinkedIn checks in real time whether that name is available. If it's taken, you'll see a red message saying so — try a variation with numbers or hyphens. Once you see a green checkmark saying the URL is available, click Save.

How to set up your custom URL on mobile

The mobile app doesn't let you edit your custom URL directly, so you'll need to use a mobile web browser instead. Go to linkedin.com in Safari, Chrome, or whatever browser you use on your phone. Sign in, tap your profile photo, and select View profile.

Scroll down until you see the Public profile URL section. Tap the edit icon next to it and follow the same steps as the desktop version — type your custom name, check if it's available, and save. The mobile browser version works the same way as the desktop site, just with a smaller screen.

Rules for what you can use as your custom URL

LinkedIn has specific rules about what characters and lengths are allowed. Your custom URL must be between 3 and 30 characters long. You can use letters (a–z), numbers (0–9), and hyphens (-), but not spaces, underscores, periods, or special characters like @, #, or &.

LinkedIn also reserves certain words and won't let you use them — things like "help", "jobs", "company", and "school". If you try to use one of these, you'll get an error message. Your custom URL is not case-sensitive, so linkedin.com/in/JohnSmith and linkedin.com/in/johnsmith are the same thing.

You cannot use someone else's name or a name that looks too similar to an existing profile. If LinkedIn thinks you're impersonating someone, they'll reject it. Keep it simple — your own name, a variation of your name, or a professional nickname usually works best.

What to do if the name you want is already taken

If the custom URL you want is taken, LinkedIn will show you a message saying so. You have a few options. Try adding numbers to the end — yourname123 or yourname2024. Try adding a middle initial or middle name — j-yourname or yourname-michael. Try a hyphen in the middle — your-name instead of yourname.

LinkedIn shows you whether each variation is available as you type, so you can experiment without submitting anything. Once you find one that's available and you like it, save it. You're not locked in — you can change it again later if you want.

How to share and update your custom URL

Once your custom URL is set up, use it everywhere: your email signature, your resume, your business cards, your Twitter bio, or anywhere else you want people to find your LinkedIn profile. It's much easier to remember and looks more professional than the default URL with all the numbers.

If you change your custom URL later, the old one will still work for a while and automatically redirect people to your new profile. However, don't rely on this forever — update any documents or websites where you've posted the old URL so people always land on the right one. You can change your custom URL as many times as you want, so there's no penalty for experimenting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to create a custom URL?

No, it's optional. Your default LinkedIn URL works fine for your profile. A custom URL is just easier to share and looks cleaner, especially if you're using it professionally or on your resume.

Can I use my business name or company name as my custom URL?

You can try, but LinkedIn may reject it if it looks like you're impersonating a company or if the name is already reserved. Stick with your personal name or a professional nickname. If you want a company page, that's a separate thing with its own URL.

What happens if I change my custom URL later?

Your old URL will redirect to your new one for a period of time, but not forever. Update any places where you've shared the old URL — your resume, email signature, website — so people always land on the current one.

Can someone else take my custom URL if I don't use it?

No. Once you claim a custom URL, it's yours. You can change it whenever you want, but no one else can take it. You're not at risk of losing it by inactivity.

Why does LinkedIn say my custom URL is unavailable when I just created it?

Sometimes there's a delay in LinkedIn's system updating. Wait a few minutes and try again. If it still says unavailable, the name may have been taken by someone else in the meantime, or LinkedIn may have reserved it. Try a different variation.