Whether you're updating your resume, creating an email signature, or printing business cards, you need your LinkedIn profile URL. Here's how to find it, customize it, and use it effectively.
Finding Your LinkedIn URL (3 Methods)
Method 1: Browser Address Bar (Fastest)
- Go to LinkedIn and click on your profile
- Look at the browser address bar
- Copy the URL (it will look like linkedin.com/in/yourname or linkedin.com/in/yourname-123456) (LinkedIn Help Center, 2025)
Method 2: Contact Info Section
- Go to your profile
- Click "Contact info" below your headline
- Your profile URL is listed there
- Click to copy (LinkedIn Help Center, 2025)
Method 3: Settings
- Click your profile photo → Settings & Privacy
- Go to Visibility → Edit your public profile
- Your URL is shown on the right side (LinkedIn Help Center, 2025)
Customizing Your LinkedIn URL
By default, LinkedIn assigns a URL with random numbers like:
linkedin.com/in/john-smith-8a2b3c4d
You can (and should) customize this to:
linkedin.com/in/johnsmith (LinkedIn Help Center, 2025)
How to customize:
- Go to your profile
- Click "Edit public profile & URL" (right sidebar on desktop)
- Click the pencil icon next to your URL
- Enter your preferred URL
- Click Save (LinkedIn Help Center, 2025)
Tips for choosing a custom URL:
| Good URL | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| linkedin.com/in/johnsmith | Clean, memorable |
| linkedin.com/in/johnsmithsf | Adds location if name is taken |
| linkedin.com/in/johnsmith-marketing | Adds profession if needed |
| Bad URL | Why to Avoid |
|---|---|
| linkedin.com/in/john-smith-123456 | Default, looks unprofessional |
| linkedin.com/in/theofficialrealjs2024 | Too long, hard to remember |
| linkedin.com/in/JOHNSMITH | All caps looks aggressive |
Where to Use Your LinkedIn URL
Once you have a clean URL, add it to:
- Resume/CV - In the header or contact section
- Email signature - As a clickable link
- Business cards - Either the full URL or a QR code
- Personal website - In your bio or contact page
- Other social profiles - Twitter/X bio, LinkedIn, etc.
- Cover letters - In your contact information (LinkedIn Help Center, 2025)
Formatting for Different Uses
| Use Case | Format |
|---|---|
| Resume | linkedin.com/in/yourname (no https://) |
| Email signature | LinkedIn or just the URL |
| Business card | linkedin.com/in/yourname or QR code |
| Verbal | "Find me on LinkedIn at yourname" |
Making a QR Code
For business cards or presentations:
- Copy your LinkedIn URL
- Go to a QR generator (like qr-code-generator.com)
- Paste your URL
- Download the QR code
- Add to your materials
When someone scans it, they go directly to your profile.
If Your Desired URL Is Taken
Your name is often already claimed. Try:
- Adding a middle initial: johnmsmith
- Adding your location: johnsmith-nyc
- Adding your profession: johnsmith-cfo
- Using a nickname if appropriate (LinkedIn Help Center, 2025)
Important Notes
- You can only change your URL a limited number of times
- Once you give up a URL, someone else can claim it
- Changes take effect immediately
- Old URLs may redirect for a short time, but don't count on it (LinkedIn Help Center, 2025)
"Your LinkedIn URL is a key part of your professional brand. A clean, customized URL not only looks more credible but also makes it easier for recruiters and clients to find you quickly." - Lara Acosta, LinkedIn Top Voice, personal branding strategist
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my name is very common and the URL is taken?
Add a differentiator like your city (johnsmith-chicago), your profession (johnsmith-attorney), or your middle initial (johnasmith). Choose something you'll use long-term since changes are limited (LinkedIn Help Center, 2025).
Will my old URL still work after I change it?
For a short period, LinkedIn redirects old URLs to your new one. However, don't rely on this—update your resume, email signature, and business cards promptly after any URL change (LinkedIn Help Center, 2025).
Should I use my full name or a nickname?
Use whatever name you go by professionally. If everyone calls you "Mike" but your legal name is "Michael," use "mike" in your URL. Consistency with how people know you makes you easier to find (LinkedIn Help Center, 2025).