Can I change my username in LinkedIn?

Changing your LinkedIn username is possible, but there are a few things you need to consider first. In the opening paragraphs, we’ll provide a quick answer to whether you can change your LinkedIn username and the requirements for doing so.

Can I change my LinkedIn username?

Yes, it is possible to change your LinkedIn username, but there are some limitations.

What are the requirements to change my LinkedIn username?

Here are the key requirements for changing your LinkedIn username:

• You must have a Premium account. LinkedIn Free accounts cannot change usernames.
• You can only change your username once every 90 days.
• Your new username must contain only alphanumeric characters (letters A-Z and numbers 0-9) and periods.
• Your new username must be unique and not already in use on LinkedIn.

As long as you meet these requirements, you can change your LinkedIn username through the Settings menu. We’ll go over the step-by-step process shortly.

Why would I want to change my LinkedIn username?

There are a few common reasons you may want to change your LinkedIn username:

• Branding – You want your username to match your professional brand or name.
• Career change – You’ve changed industries or jobs and want your username to reflect your new career.
• Hard to spell username – Your current username is difficult to spell or pronounce.
• Embarrassing username – You created your account years ago and want a more professional username.
• Taken username – The username you want is taken so you have to adjust.

The main reason is probably to create a consistent brand across platforms and make your profile more professional. An outdated or unbranded username could hurt your chances in job searches.

How often can you change your LinkedIn username?

LinkedIn only allows you to change your username once every 90 days. This limit is in place to prevent abuse and confusion from people changing usernames too frequently.

Here are the key facts on how often you can change your LinkedIn username:

• You can only change your username once every 90 days.
• After changing your username, you must wait 90 days before changing it again.
• This rule applies even if you are switching back to a previous username.
• The 90 day waiting period resets after each username change.
• Premium account holders must still abide by this rule.

While you may want to change your username more frequently, LinkedIn enforces the 90 day limit across the board. So make sure you change it to something you want to stick with for a while!

Step-by-Step Guide to Changing Your LinkedIn Username

Ready to change your LinkedIn username? Here is a simple step-by-step guide:

1. Upgrade to a Premium account – You must have a Premium account to access the username change feature. Upgrade on the Premium tab under the “Me” icon.
2. Go to your Profile settings – Click on “Me” > “View Profile” and then click “Edit public profile & URL” on the right rail.
3. Enter new username – In the Public profile URL field, enter the new username you want. It will show if available.
4. Save changes – If available, click “Save” to change your public profile URL and username.
5. Wait for change – It may take up to 48 hours for the new username to fully propagate in the LinkedIn search results.

And that’s it! As long as you meet the requirements, you can change your username following these easy steps. Just make sure to wait the full 90 days before changing it again.

Does changing your LinkedIn URL affect SEO?

Changing your LinkedIn username and public profile URL will redirect your old URL to the new one. However, it can still have minor effects on your LinkedIn SEO and profile visibility.

Here are some potential impacts to be aware of:

• Loss of backlinks – Any websites linking to your old username will now have a broken link.
• Temporary search disruption – It takes time for search engines to crawl the new URL.
• Loss of URL authority – An established profile URL holds more weight than a new one.

That said, LinkedIn will redirect all links from your old URL to the new URL. So you shouldn’t notice a major change in terms of SEO and inbound clicks. But be prepared for some temporary disruption as search engines pick up the change.

Can I claim my preferred custom URL on LinkedIn?

LinkedIn has a unique system that allows you to claim a custom URL for your public profile.

Here are the key things to know about LinkedIn custom URLs:

• You must have a Premium account to claim a custom URL.
• Custom URLs are first come, first served.
• The custom URL must be unique and not in use.
• You cannot change an existing profile to a claimed custom URL.

So with a Premium account, you can claim your first name, last name, or business name as your custom LinkedIn URL. But you cannot change your existing profile over to a claimed URL.

For example, if your name is Alex Johnson, you could claim:

• linkedin.com/in/alexjohnson
• linkedin.com/in/alex-johnson

But an existing profile like linkedin.com/in/johnson87 could not change over to that custom URL. The claimed URLs are meant for establishing your personal brand from the start.

What should I know about vanity URLs on LinkedIn?

In addition to custom URLs, LinkedIn also offers vanity URLs for your public profile.

Here are the key facts on LinkedIn vanity URLs:

• Available to all members, including free accounts
• Lets you add a vanity name to the end of your profile URL
• Vanity name can be changed at any time
• Must be unique and not already taken
• Cannot override your primary username

For example, your profile could be:

• linkedin.com/in/james-smith (primary username)
• linkedin.com/in/james-smith-the-copywriter (vanity URL)

The vanity name does not replace your actual username, which is still james-smith in this example. It simply lets you add a unique suffix for branding.

Should I add my new LinkedIn URL to my resume?

Adding your LinkedIn URL or vanity name to your resume is recommended to give hiring managers quick access to your full profile.

Here are some tips for adding LinkedIn to your resume:

• List it in the contact section with your name and email
• Use a customized vanity URL for branding
• Double check the URL leads directly to your profile
• Only include on the resume, not in the LinkedIn URL field

Correct example:

James Smith
123 Main St, City, State

(555) 555-1234
[email protected] | linkedin.com/in/james-smith-the-marketer

Avoid pasting the full profile URL directly into the LinkedIn URL field when applying through a job site. Use a resume to provide the customized URL instead.

Can I rename my LinkedIn company page?

LinkedIn Company Pages also have customizable URL names. As the admin of a Company Page, you can rename the page URL at any time.

Here is how to change your LinkedIn Company Page URL name:

1. Go to your Company Page admin tools
2. Select “Edit public profile & URL”
3. Enter the new URL name for your company
4. Click “Save Changes” to change the URL

This allows you to claim the URL based on your company name, branding, or keywords. For example:

• linkedin.com/company/acme
• linkedin.com/company/acme-marketing

You can update this URL at any time to adjust your branding. Just like your personal profile, any previous URLs will redirect. But try to avoid changing too frequently for the best SEO.

Should I redirect my old LinkedIn URL?

LinkedIn automatically redirects your old profile URL to the new URL when you change your username. So you do not need to set up a redirect on your own.

For example, if you change from:

• linkedin.com/in/john-smith

To:

• linkedin.com/in/john-smith-marketing

LinkedIn will automatically redirect any traffic from the old URL to the new one. This prevents broken links and ensures a seamless transition.

Setting up your own redirect could actually override the built-in redirection and cause issues. So you can rest assured that LinkedIn has you covered on migrating to your new profile URL.

Can I restore my old LinkedIn URL?

If you’ve changed your LinkedIn username and want to revert to a previous URL, it is possible to restore your old URL.

Here is how to restore your previous LinkedIn URL:

1. Wait 90 days from your last username change
2. Go to your profile Public Profile & URL settings
3. Delete your current custom URL suffix
4. Enter your exact previous username
5. Save the changes to restore the URL

As long as the old URL is still available, these steps will let you revert back to a previous profile link. Just keep in mind you need to wait the full 90 days before changing again.

Conclusion

Changing your LinkedIn URL can provide some great benefits in terms of personal branding and vanity naming. But make sure you understand the requirements and potential SEO disruptions before going through the process.

Try to secure your preferred username from the start if possible. And only make changes if you plan to keep the new URL long term. With a Premium account and proper timing, you can change your LinkedIn username or vanity URL to help polish your professional profile.

Start by writing a fantastic summary, collecting endorsements and recommendations, and building your network. A customized LinkedIn URL serves as the finishing touch for a standout personal brand in your industry.