How to Change Your LinkedIn URL (Desktop and Mobile)
Samuel Rondot
5 min read
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To change your LinkedIn URL, open your profile (Me > View Profile), click the Edit icon next to Public profile & URL in the right column, then click the Edit icon next to your URL under Edit your custom URL. Type the new ending and click Save. Your custom URL must be 3 to 100 characters long, with no spaces, symbols, special characters or the word "LinkedIn", and you can change it up to five times in six months.
That turns a default address like linkedin.com/in/jane-doe-4b7a2913 into linkedin.com/in/janedoe. Below are the steps for desktop and the app, LinkedIn's rules, and what happens to your old link.
How to change your LinkedIn URL on desktop
- Click the Me icon at the top of the LinkedIn homepage, then View Profile.
- In the right column, click the Edit icon (pencil) next to Public profile & URL. Your public profile settings page opens.
- Under Edit your custom URL, click the Edit icon next to your current URL.
- Type the last part of your new URL (everything after
linkedin.com/in/). - Click Save.
Another way to reach the same page: Me > Settings & Privacy > Visibility, then Edit your public profile under Visibility of your profile & network.
How to change your LinkedIn URL in the app
- Tap your profile photo, then Settings.
- Tap Visibility, then Edit your public profile under Visibility of your profile & network.
- Tap the Edit icon next to your public profile URL.
- Type the new ending and tap Save.
You can also get there from your profile: open Contact info, tap the Edit icon, then tap your Profile URL, which takes you to the same public profile settings.
LinkedIn custom URL rules
| Rule | What LinkedIn allows |
|---|---|
| Length | 3 to 100 characters |
| Characters | Letters and numbers. No spaces, symbols or special characters. Hyphens are fine (LinkedIn's own default URLs use them) |
| Forbidden word | "LinkedIn" can't be part of your URL |
| Upper/lower case | Case insensitive: JaneDoe, janedoe and janeDoe all lead to the same profile |
| Number of changes | Up to 5 times within 6 months; after the 5th change, you're locked for another 6 months |
| Your old URL | Stays linked to you for 6 months unless you unlink it, and nobody else can claim it during that time |
| URL already taken | Pick another one: LinkedIn doesn't free up custom URLs on request |
The change limit is the rule people run into most. Pick your final URL before you hit Save rather than testing variations.
What happens to your old LinkedIn URL?
When you change your custom URL, LinkedIn keeps the previous one linked to your profile for six months, and no other member can claim it in that window. If you unlink it yourself, it's held for seven days and then becomes available to anyone.
In practice, you have a few months to update every place where the old link appears:
- your email signature (our free email signature generator adds a LinkedIn link in a couple of clicks)
- your CV, portfolio and personal website
- other social profiles and link-in-bio pages
- business cards and slide decks, at the next print run
If you work in sales, the same rule applies to the people you prospect. A profile URL saved in your CRM a year ago may no longer point to that person if they've changed it since, which is one reason to refresh lead lists rather than reuse old exports.
How to choose a good LinkedIn URL
- Start with your full name:
firstnamelastnameorfirstname-lastname. It's what people type and what they expect. - If it's taken, add a middle initial, your profession or your city (
janedoe-ux,janedoeparis) instead of random numbers. - Match your other handles when you can, so people recognize you across platforms.
- Skip keyword stuffing. A URL like
/in/best-sales-coach-growth-expertlooks spammy on a CV, and LinkedIn doesn't document any visibility benefit from keywords in the URL.
Be realistic about what this changes: a custom URL won't bring you more profile views on its own. It makes your link clean, memorable and easy to type, which matters wherever you share it. Visibility comes from your headline, your activity and your network. If your headline needs work, try our free LinkedIn headline generator, and see how LinkedIn impressions are counted when you post.
How to find your LinkedIn profile URL
- On desktop: open your profile (Me > View Profile); the URL is in your browser's address bar and under Public profile & URL in the right column.
- In the app: open your profile and tap Contact info; your profile URL is listed there.
Once your new URL is live, check how your profile looks from the outside with view your LinkedIn profile as someone else. And while you're cleaning up your account settings, make sure the email on your LinkedIn account is one you'll keep access to.
FAQ
Can you change your LinkedIn URL?
Yes. Any member can customize the last part of their profile URL from Public profile & URL on their profile, on desktop or in the app. It's free and doesn't require Premium.
How many times can you change your LinkedIn URL?
Up to five times within six months. After the fifth change, LinkedIn won't let you change it again for another six months, so choose carefully.
Why can't I change my LinkedIn URL?
Usually one of three reasons: the URL is already taken by another member, it contains spaces, symbols, special characters or the word "LinkedIn", or you've already changed it five times in the last six months. Taken URLs can't be released on request.
Does changing your LinkedIn URL break old links?
Not right away. LinkedIn keeps your previous URL linked to your profile for six months unless you unlink it, so update your CV, email signature and website within that period.
Is a custom LinkedIn URL good for SEO?
It makes your link cleaner and easier to share, but LinkedIn doesn't document any ranking or visibility boost from it. Your headline, profile content and activity matter far more for being found.
