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

Your LinkedIn profile comes with a default URL that looks like linkedin.com/in/firstname-lastname-1a2b3c4d5e — a string of numbers at the end that LinkedIn generates automatically. A custom URL replaces those numbers with something you choose, so your profile link becomes linkedin.com/in/yourname or linkedin.com/company/yourcompanyname.

The practical reason to customize it: a clean URL is easier to share in emails, on business cards, in your resume, or on your website. It looks more professional and is simpler for someone to type or remember. LinkedIn also gives you a custom URL automatically once you meet certain account requirements — you don't have to pay for it.

The main limitation is that you can only change your custom URL once every 120 days, so choose something you're comfortable keeping for at least four months. Once you set it, you can still change your actual name on your profile without changing the URL.

Key Takeaways

  • You need a profile photo, a headline, and at least one other piece of profile information before LinkedIn lets you create a custom URL.
  • Custom URLs can contain only letters, numbers, and hyphens — no spaces, special characters, or punctuation.
  • You can change your custom URL once every 120 days, so pick something stable before you start sharing it widely.
  • The custom URL setting is in your profile settings under "Public profile & URL", not in account settings.

Check that your profile meets the requirements

LinkedIn won't let you create a custom URL until your profile has a few basic pieces filled in. You need a profile photo, a headline (the line under your name that usually says your job title), and at least one other piece of information — this could be a work experience entry, education, or a summary.

If you're missing any of these, add them first. Go to your profile, click the "Add profile section" button, and fill in whatever is missing. The photo should be a clear headshot where your face takes up most of the frame. The headline is required and appears automatically if you have a current job listed, but you can edit it to say something more specific than your job title alone.

Once these are in place, you're ready to set your custom URL. This usually takes a few minutes after you complete your profile, though sometimes LinkedIn takes up to 24 hours to make the option available.

Navigate to the custom URL settings

Sign in to LinkedIn and go to your profile by clicking your profile photo in the top right corner and selecting "View profile". On your profile page, look for the "Public profile & URL" section — this is usually on the right side of the page on desktop, or further down the page on mobile.

Click the pencil icon next to "Public profile & URL". This opens the settings where you can see your current URL and edit it. You'll see a field that shows your current LinkedIn URL; next to it is an edit button (usually a pencil icon or the word "Edit").

Click that edit button to open the custom URL field. The field will show your current URL and let you change the part after linkedin.com/in/.

Choose and enter your custom URL

Type the custom URL you want. LinkedIn allows only letters (a–z), numbers (0–9), and hyphens. You cannot use spaces, periods, underscores, or special characters. The URL is not case-sensitive, so "JohnSmith" and "johnsmith" are treated the same.

Keep it short and professional. Your name is the safest choice — either your first and last name together (johnsmith) or first name and last initial (johns). If your name is common and LinkedIn tells you it's taken, try adding a middle initial, a number, or a hyphen: john-smith, johnsmith1, or johnsmith-consulting.

As you type, LinkedIn shows you whether the URL is available. If it's taken, you'll see a message saying so, and you'll need to try a different variation. Once you see the green checkmark or confirmation that the URL is available, you can save it.

Save your custom URL and verify it works

Click the "Save" button to confirm your custom URL. LinkedIn will show a confirmation message. The change takes effect when ready, though it may take a few minutes for the new URL to work everywhere on LinkedIn's platform.

Test the URL by copying it from the "Public profile & URL" section and pasting it into a new browser tab. You should land on your profile. If it doesn't work right away, wait a few minutes and try again.

Once it's working, you can share this URL anywhere — in your email signature, on your resume, on your website, or on business cards. The URL will stay the same even if you change your name on your profile, though remember you can only change the custom URL itself once every 120 days.

What to do if your preferred URL is already taken

If the exact URL you want is taken, LinkedIn doesn't tell you who has it or let you request it. Your options are to modify it slightly or choose something different. Common modifications include adding your middle initial, a birth year, or a hyphen between your first and last name.

If you're setting up a profile for a business or organization rather than yourself, use your company name or a shortened version of it. For example, if your company is "Smith Consulting Group", try smithconsulting, smith-consulting, or scg.

Avoid numbers if you can — they date your profile and are harder to remember. If you do use a number, a birth year is more professional than a random digit. Once you've chosen an available URL, save it and move on; you can't change it again for 120 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my custom URL back to the default one with numbers?

No. Once you set a custom URL, you cannot revert to the default numbered version. You can only change your custom URL to a different custom URL, and only once every 120 days. Choose carefully before you save.

What if I change my name — does my custom URL change too?

No. Your custom URL stays the same even if you change your first name, last name, or both on your profile. This is actually useful if you get married, divorced, or straightforward want to rebrand — your URL remains stable while your display name updates.

Can I use my company name in my personal profile URL?

Yes, you can use any combination of letters, numbers, and hyphens that's available. However, LinkedIn also lets you create a separate company page with its own custom URL. If you represent a company, setting up a company page is usually clearer than mixing the company name into your personal profile URL.

How long does it take for my custom URL to work after I save it?

Usually when ready, but sometimes up to a few minutes. If the URL doesn't work right away, wait five minutes and try again. If it still doesn't work after 24 hours, contact LinkedIn support through the Help Center in your account settings.

Can I use special characters like periods or underscores in my custom URL?

No. LinkedIn only allows letters, numbers, and hyphens. Periods, underscores, spaces, and other special characters will not work. If you want to separate words, use a hyphen instead: john-smith rather than john.smith or john_smith.