So you joined LinkedIn way back when with a username you thought was clever, professional, or at least acceptable. But now, after connecting with more people and establishing your personal brand, that old username just doesn’t cut it anymore. It’s outdated, unprofessional, embarrassing, or even taken by some new upstart on the network.
Well don’t worry, we’ve all been there. The good news is that yes, you can change your LinkedIn username, even if you set it up years ago. LinkedIn allows you to customize your unique public profile URL once every 90 days.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know to successfully change my username on LinkedIn with step-by-step instructions.
So let’s get started and fix that outdated or less-than-professional username once and for all!
Table of Contents
LinkedIn Username Rules and Limits
Before going through the steps to change your username on LinkedIn, it’s important to be aware of LinkedIn’s current rules and length limits for usernames in 2023:
Username Length Limits:
- Minimum: 5 characters
- Maximum: 28 characters
Username Rules:
- Can only contain alphanumeric characters (letters A-Z, numbers 0-9) and periods (.)
- Cannot contain spaces or special characters (!@#$%^&*)
- Periods cannot be at the beginning or end of the username
- Cannot contain strings like “admin” or “LinkedIn”
These rules apply when creating a new username on LinkedIn as well as when changing your existing username.
So in summary – make sure your new desired username you’d like to change to is 5-28 characters using only letters, numbers, and periods. No special characters or spaces allowed.
Also read: How to Post on LinkedIn: The Ultimate 2024 Guide
Step-by-Step Guide to Changing Your LinkedIn Username
Here is the full walkthrough process for successfully updating and changing your LinkedIn username in just a few quick steps:
Step 1: Log In to your LinkedIn Profile
Step 2: Visit LinkedIn Settings
Log in to your LinkedIn account through the website (you can’t change your username via the mobile app). Then click on the “Me” icon at the top of your homepage next to notifications.
Select “View profile” from the dropdown menu.
Step 2: Click “Edit public profile & URL”
On the left sidebar menu of the Settings page, click on “Edit public profile & URL” under the Profile section.
Step 3: Edit URL & Save Changes
This will open your public profile settings. Under the “Public profile URL” section, click the pencil “Edit” icon.
Delete your existing custom URL or username, then type in your new desired username following LinkedIn’s rules. The green checkmark will indicate if the username is available.
Finally, click “Save changes” to update your public profile URL/username.
It may take up to 48 hours for the new username to fully propagate across LinkedIn, but it works right away on your profile URL.
And that’s it! Just those few quick steps allows you to change your LinkedIn username or custom URL to align with your professional brand identity.
Also read: How to Find Your LinkedIn URL in 2024
Step 4: Consider a Custom URL (Optional)
If you have over 50 connections, LinkedIn automatically assigns you a longer, randomized profile URL containing your name. For example:
www.linkedin.com/in/john-smith-ba765b1a8/With 50+ connections, you can now also set a custom URL using a memorable username like:
www.linkedin.com/in/johnsmithJust follow all the same steps above to change, remove, or create your custom URL username.
Tips for Creating a Good LinkedIn Username
When going through the process of changing your LinkedIn username, here are some top tips to create a strong and professional username:
- Use your real name – Including your first or last name helps connect your profile to you as a person and your personal brand.
- Add profession – Like John Smith writer or sarahdesigner to identify your industry.
- Use title – Such as johnsmithceo or sarahmarketingdirector.
- Numbers and periods are OK – You can include numbers if usernames are taken, like sarahjohnson01 or john.smith.
- Short and memorable – Keep it between 5-15 characters if possible for memorability.
- Consistency – Have it match your other social media usernames so you’re easy to find.
- Avoid obscurity – Don’t use strange phrases or inside jokes nobody would understand.
Your LinkedIn username serves as your professional brand identity on the network. So pick something appropriate that properly represents you!
Also read: How to Find People on LinkedIn: The Ultimate 2024 Guide
LinkedIn Username News and Changes
LinkedIn added the ability to customize your public profile URL back in 2014, but occasionally tweaks the rules. Here are some recent 2023 updates that could impact username changes:
Maximum Length Increased – In October 2022, LinkedIn expanded the maximum length for custom URLs from 26 to 28 characters. So you now have a bit more flexibility.
Current LinkedIn Username Length Limits Table
| Minimum Length | Maximum Length |
|---|---|
| 5 characters | 28 characters |
90 Day Waiting Period – LinkedIn still limits username changes to once every 90 days to prevent abuse. So decide carefully!
More Options Coming? – LinkedIn Engineer Zumy Ilori commented that more customization options could arrive allowing multiple URLs. But no specific ETA.
So in summary – the recent maximum character increase provides some additional flexibility when changing your username, but still plan carefully around the 90-day limit between changes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Let’s wrap up with answers to some frequently asked questions about changing your username on LinkedIn:
