How To Change Your LinkedIn URL: A Step-by-Step Guide

Change Your LinkedIn URL (Step-by-Step)

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Step 1: Log in to Your LinkedIn Account

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To begin, log in to your LinkedIn account using your email address and password. If you don't have an account, sign up for one at LinkedIn.

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Step 2: Access Your Profile

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Once logged in, navigate to your LinkedIn profile by clicking on your profile picture or the "Me" icon at the top of the homepage.

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Step 3: Go to the "Edit public profile & URL" Section

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On your profile page, look for the "Edit public profile & URL" section located on the right-hand side of the page. Click on this link to open the "Public Profile Settings" page.

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Step 4: Locate Your Current Public Profile URL

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On the "Public Profile Settings" page, you will find your current public profile URL in the top right corner under the "Edit your custom URL" section.

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Step 5: Edit Your Custom URL

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Click on the pencil icon next to your current public profile URL. This will open a text box where you can edit the custom URL.

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Step 6: Choose a Custom URL

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When selecting a new custom URL, consider the following tips:
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- Use your full name or a variation of your name.
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- Avoid using numbers or special characters.
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- Keep it simple and easy to remember.
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- For example, if your name is Jane Smith, you might choose "janesmith" or "jane-smith" as your custom URL.

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Note: Custom URLs are available on a first-come, first-served basis. If your desired URL is already taken, you will need to choose a different one.

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Step 7: Save Your Changes

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Once you have chosen your desired custom URL, click on the "Save" button to save your changes. Your new custom URL will be immediately active and will replace your old URL.

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How To Customize Your LinkedIn Profile URL (Mobile Steps)

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Customizing your LinkedIn public profile URL on mobile devices is just as essential as on desktop computers. Whether you are using a mobile browser or the LinkedIn Lite app, we have got you covered.

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This guide will provide you with in-depth, step-by-step instructions to manage your public LinkedIn profile URL on mobile devices.

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Step 1: Open Your Mobile Browser

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On your mobile device, open your preferred browser such as Safari, Chrome, or Firefox.

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Step 2: Log in to Your LinkedIn Account

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Log in to your LinkedIn account using your email address and password. If you don't have an account, sign up for one.

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Step 3: Access Your Profile

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Once logged in, tap on the profile icon located at the top left corner of the screen to navigate to your profile page.

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Step 4: Go to the "Edit public profile & URL" Section

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On your profile page, scroll down and tap on the "Edit public profile & URL" link located in the "Contact info" section.

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Step 5: Locate Your Current Public Profile URL

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On the "Public Profile Settings" page, your current public profile URL will be displayed under the "Edit your custom URL" section.

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Step 6: Edit Your Custom URL

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Tap on the pencil icon next to your current public profile URL to open a text box where you can edit the custom URL.

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Step 7: Choose a Custom URL

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Step 8: Save Your Changes

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After choosing your desired custom URL, tap on the "Save" button to save your changes. Your new custom URL will immediately replace your old URL.

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How To Check & Unlink Old LinkedIn URLs

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It's essential to maintain a professional and easily accessible LinkedIn profile. However, you might have old custom URLs associated with your profile that are no longer relevant.

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Here's a step-by-step guide on how to view your assigned LinkedIn URL, unlink prior custom URLs, and ensure your profile is up-to-date and professional.

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Step 1: Access Your LinkedIn Profile

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To begin, open the LinkedIn app on your mobile device and log in using your email address and password. Once logged in, tap your profile picture at the top left corner of the screen, and then tap "View Profile" to navigate to your profile page.

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Step 2: Access the "More" Icon

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On your profile page, locate the "More" icon (three horizontal dots) next to the "Add section" option in your introduction section. Tap the "More" icon to open a dropdown menu.

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Step 3: Select "Contact info"

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From the dropdown menu, select the "Contact info" option, which will open a new page with your contact information.

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Step 4: Tap the Edit Icon

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On the "Contact info" page, tap the Edit icon (pencil) to access the "Edit contact info" page.

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Step 5: Tap on Your Profile URL

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On the "Edit contact info" page, locate your Profile URL and tap on it. This action will redirect you to the "Public profile settings" page.

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Step 6: View Your Assigned URL

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On the "Public profile settings" page, you can view your assigned public profile URL under the "Assigned URL can't be changed" section.

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Step 7: See Prior Custom URLs Linked to Your Profile

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Under the "Edit your custom URL" section, tap on "See prior custom URLs that might be linked to you." This will reveal a list of custom public profile URLs that might have been previously associated with your profile, if any.

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Step 8: Unlink Prior Custom URLs

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If you find any prior custom URLs that you want to unlink, tap the "Unlink" option next to the custom public profile URL you wish to remove. This will disassociate the old custom URL from your LinkedIn profile.

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LinkedIn URL Requirements & Restrictions

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Before you dive in and pick a custom URL, it helps to understand exactly what LinkedIn allows—and doesn’t. Below is a breakdown of the rules you need to follow, plus limits on changes and what happens to old URLs.

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1. Allowed Characters & Format

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LinkedIn enforces a clean, predictable URL format for its public profiles. Here’s what you need to know:

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• Allowed characters: Letters (A–Z), numbers (0–9), and hyphens (–).
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• Disallowed characters: Spaces, special symbols (such as @, #, $, %, &, *, +, =, etc.), underscores, or other punctuation are not permitted.
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• Length limits: The custom portion must be at least 3 characters and up to 100 characters.
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• Case insensitivity: LinkedIn treats your URL in a case-insensitive way—JohnDoe, johndoe, and JoHnDoE all map to the same profile.

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Keep in mind: even though uppercase letters “look nicer,” they don’t create a different URL.

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2. Change Limits & Timing Rules

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You can’t change your LinkedIn URL freely forever—there are caps to keep things orderly.

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• Change limit: You may change your custom URL up to five times within a six-month (180-day) period.
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• After reaching the limit: Once you’ve used all five changes, you’ll need to wait until the 180-day window from your first change resets before making another change.
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• Delay for pages: For company (LinkedIn Page) URLs, the rules differ—LinkedIn allows editing the primary page URL, but only once every 30 days.

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So for a personal profile, be deliberate, don’t treat URL changes like name tweaks.

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3. What Happens to the Old URL (Redirects, Reuse, etc.)

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Changing your URL automatically triggers a few behind-the-scenes behaviors. Here’s how LinkedIn handles them:

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• Retained redirects for a limited time: After you change your URL, LinkedIn continues to redirect from the old URL to your profile for up to 6 months (180 days). During that period, visitors using your previous URL will still land on your profile.
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• Old URL cannot be reused immediately: While the old URL is “attached” to your profile, others can’t claim it. Only after the 6-month redirect window expires (or if you explicitly unlink it) does it become available again—or sometimes never available.
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• Unlinking manually: You can choose to unlink your previous URL (via “See prior custom URLs” settings). If you do this, it may become available to others sooner, sometimes after 7 days.
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• Permanent tie-up after unlinking: Once unlinked, LinkedIn often prevents you from reclaiming that exact URL, and others might grab it first.
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• Account closure and URL release: If you deactivate or close your LinkedIn account, your custom URL generally remains tied to that account for 180 days, after which it may become available again.

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When Changing Your LinkedIn URL May Not Be Worth It

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Customizing your LinkedIn URL is usually a smart move, but there are some cases where frequent or unnecessary changes can cause more harm than good. Here are a few caveats to keep in mind before you hit “edit.”

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1. You Already Have Strong Public Reach

If you’ve been using the same LinkedIn URL for years and it’s widely shared on resumes, websites, articles, or even media mentions, changing it can dilute recognition. Sticking with your established link may be the better option.

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2. Risk of Broken Inbound Links

Every time you change your URL, you risk breaking links that direct traffic to your profile. While LinkedIn offers redirects for a limited time, they’re not permanent. Eventually, older links may stop working—leaving recruiters, clients, or partners with a “page not found” experience.

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3. Extra Work Updating Everywhere

If you’ve shared your LinkedIn profile link across multiple platforms—such as email signatures, business cards, presentations, or social bios—you’ll need to update it everywhere after a change. The more places your URL appears, the more tedious this process becomes.

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4. Perception of Inconsistency

Frequent changes can make you appear indecisive or unprofessional. If someone notices multiple different links tied to you over time, it may raise questions about your attention to detail.

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Bottom line: If you’re starting fresh or want to align your LinkedIn with your personal brand, changing your URL is a no-brainer. But if your existing link is already widely recognized, think twice before making frequent updates.

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Troubleshooting Common Errors When Changing Your LinkedIn URL

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Most people can update their LinkedIn URL in just a few clicks, but sometimes issues pop up. Here are the most common problems you might face, and how to fix them.

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1. URL Not Available

If the custom URL you want is already taken, LinkedIn won’t let you claim it. Try slight variations, such as adding your middle initial, full name, or a relevant keyword (e.g., “johndoe-marketing”).

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2. “Invalid URL” Error

This usually happens when you use unsupported characters like spaces, underscores, symbols, or punctuation. Stick to letters, numbers, and hyphens only.

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3. New URL Too Similar to Existing One

LinkedIn may block a URL if it’s nearly identical to an existing profile’s link. In this case, make your URL more distinct by including additional letters, numbers, or words tied to your brand.

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4. Change Limit Reached

Remember, you can only update your URL up to five times every six months. If you’ve hit that cap, you’ll need to wait until the 180-day window resets.

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5. Browser Cache Still Showing Old URL

After changing your URL, you may still see the old one appear in your browser for a while. This is usually a caching issue. Try clearing your cache or checking your profile in an incognito window.

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Pro tip: Always double-check your new URL in a fresh browser or on mobile to make sure the update went through properly.

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Conclusion

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By following this comprehensive step-by-step guide, you can easily view your assigned LinkedIn URL, unlink any outdated custom URLs, and ensure that your LinkedIn profile reflects your current professional identity. Take control of your LinkedIn presence and make a lasting impression with a polished and accurate profile.

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Now that you have a personalized LinkedIn public profile URL, share it with others to boost your online presence. Add the URL to your email signature, resume, website, or any other platform where you want to showcase your professional identity.

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Managing your public LinkedIn profile URL is a simple yet essential step to enhance your professional online presence. By following this step-by-step guide, you can easily customize your LinkedIn URL, making it more memorable and easier to share.

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So, go ahead and make that great first impression with your personalized LinkedIn URL!

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