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How can you change your name on instagram


How to change your Instagram username

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It’s much easier than it is on other platforms

By Monica Chin / @mcsquared96

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Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Some social platforms limit the number of times you can change your username, while others don’t let you do it at all. Instagram is a username free-for-all; you can alter your Instagram handle whenever you want, as many times as you want — within certain limits.

There’s a difference between your username and your display name. The display name is on your profile below your avatar. It doesn’t need to be unique to you, and it can contain emoji and special characters. (And yes, it can also be changed — up to two times within 14 days.)

Your username, on the other hand, appears at the top of your profile and at the end of your profile’s URL. It needs to be unique to you. It’s also subject to more restrictions: it can’t be longer than 30 characters and can only contain letters, numbers, periods, and underscores. If you choose a new username, you can change it back within 14 days — if nobody else has claimed it.

Whether you’ve changed your real-life name, you’re upgrading to a more professional username, or you’re just bored of your current moniker, you can change your handle in less than a minute. Here’s how.

Change your username in the Instagram app

First, log in to your Instagram account on the iOS or Android app. If you have more than one account, double-check that you’re logged in to the one you’re trying to change.

  • Tap your avatar icon in the bottom-right corner to go to your profile
  • Tap Edit profile under your bio
  • Tap the Username field and type in your new handle
  • Tap the blue checkmark in the upper right corner.

1/3

Tap your avatar icon.

If you want to change your display name, type in the Name field instead.

Change your username on a computer

If you prefer, you can change your username with the desktop version of Instagram.

  • In a web browser, go to Instagram.com
  • If you’re already logged in, you’ll be prompted to continue with your account. If you’re not already logged in, enter your username and password.
  • Click your profile icon on the right side of the homepage and select Profile
  • Click Edit profile next to your username

1/4

Sign in to your web-based Instagram account.

Again, if you make a mistake during this process or decide you don’t like your new handle after all, you can go back to your old handle within 14 days. After that time, you may still be able to revert, but your old handle may have been taken by another user.

If your username is taken.

..

As mentioned before, you can’t have the same username as someone else, and it’s first come, first served. If your chosen handle is taken, Instagram will let you know after you press the checkmark on mobile or Submit on the web.

If the name you want isn’t available, try adding numbers or underscores to make it unique to you.

Also, keep checking back. Your desired username may become available in the future. The current owner may change or delete their profile, and Instagram occasionally removes fake accounts.

Update June 21st, 2022, 2:10PM ET: This article was originally published on February 5th, 2020, and has been updated to account for changes in the app.

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How to change your username on Instagram

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

There are many reasons why you'd want to know how to change your username on Instagram. Maybe your real-life name has changed and you want your online self to reflect this. Or perhaps it's time you retired that username you chose as a teenager that was hilarious at the time but is just embarrassing now that you're a responsible adult.

Whatever the reason, changing an Instagram username is really easy, whether you choose to do it on a smartphone or tablet such as the iPhone 13 or Galaxy Tab S8, or through a browser on Mac OS, Windows, or Chrome OS.

The best thing is, you can change your Instagram username back again if you like, though you need to do this within 14 days — and as long as some new teenager full of hopes and dreams hasn't snatched up your hilarious former handle, that is.

Want to know how to change Instagram username? Our guide below tells you all.

How to change your username on Instagram using the iOS and Android apps

Changing your Instagram username on iOS or Android is easy using the app. The screenshots below were taken on the Android app, though the layout is exactly the same on iOS.

1. Open the Instagram app then tap your profile picture in the bottom-right to enter your profile page.

(Image credit: Future)

2. Tap Edit Profile under your bio text.

(Image credit: Future)

3. Tap the Username field.

(Image credit: Future)

4. Input a new username in the text field, then tap the blue tick in the top-right corner to confirm. And that's it.

(Image credit: Future)

How to change your username on Instagram using a computer browser

1. Head to the Instagram homepage and sign in. Next, click your profile picture in the top-right, then click Profile.

(Image credit: Future)

2. Click Edit profile next to your username.

(Image credit: Future)

3. Input a new username in the Username field, then click Submit at the bottom of the page when you're done.

(Image credit: Future)

Easy, hey? Now you know how to change Instagram usernames, take a look at how to post on Instagram from PC or Mac, how to save photos from Instagram, or how to change your Instagram password or reset it. If you want to buff up your power user knowledge on other apps, get started with out guide on how to use the Spotify equalizer on iOS and Android, how to make Spotify louder and how to turn off read receipts on WhatsApp.

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Dale Fox is a freelance journalist based in the UK. He's been a tech nerd ever since childhood, when he used the money from his first job as a paperboy to buy a subscription to GamesMaster magazine. Dale was previously a presenter and editor in China, where he also worked as a copywriter for OnePlus at its Shenzhen HQ.  

How to change your first name, last name and nickname on Instagram via phone: iPhone and Android

Author of the article:

Alina, SMM specialist

Reading time:

7 minutes

2162

90 through the tab: "Edit profile". The social network has restrictions on the day when you can return your previous nickname.

Content

  • What is the difference between a nickname and a name on Instagram
  • How to change the nickname from the phone
    • from the computer version
  • edit the name and surname on Instagram
    • Unusual fonts for the name
      • if the characters are gone or are not displayed
  • why instagram does not allow the instagram: new rules of 2022

What is the difference between a nickname and a name on Instagram

Expert opinion

Alina

SMM specialist, design, promote and maintain pages on Instagram

Ask a question

In the "Edit profile" section, the user will see two items: "Name" and "Nickname". In the first one, you can specify any characters, use the Russian and English layout. In the second - only English letters, with a minimum number of available characters.

affect
Name: Name/surname: Nickname:
Editing Once every 14 days Once a month, within two weeks, you can return the old
Symbols Any, including emoticons Underscore dot
What does Search for a user by his data Is a login, used in notes, you can find a person
Size Up to 30 characters Up to 30

You can change your nickname on Instagram, but then the next time you log in, the user will have to specify a new login. The nickname is also indicated in the address bar, with which others can quickly go to the profile and see the entries. nine0003

How to change your nickname from the phone

To change your nickname on Instagram from the mobile version, you need to go to editing. After registration, a change to any other is available, without reference to time. And when creating an account, the user can edit his nickname. Using the name of the page that matches with another account is prohibited. This is a unique identifier, so when choosing a combination, you need to follow the adjacent “red cross” sign.

How to change on an Android phone:

  1. Go to Instagram - click on the button: "My account".
  2. "Edit profile" next to the description - Nickname.
  3. Enter a new nickname - Save.

With iOS, the mechanism of action is the same:

  1. Go to Instagram on iPhone - click: "Edit profile".
  2. Enter nickname - confirm and save.

If it matches any other, the system will show the icon and the changes will not be saved. In this case, the user can add an underscore, a period, or a number to the combination. nine0003

From the computer version

You can also change your Instagram username from the computer version. The page owner needs to go to the profile using the web form and use the same section.

There is no advantage for the versions, except for changing the "First and last name". In this case, the user can choose original fonts without installing third-party applications on the smartphone.

How to change:

  1. Go to Instagram and log in from the PC version. nine0020
  2. Edit - Username.
  3. Enter a new nickname - Save.

The data will also be changed on the mobile version. For the web format, the same rules apply: next time you can only change within 30 days .

Editing the first and last name on Instagram

To change the last name on Instagram, you need to open "Edit" and enter your data. Moreover, they may not correspond to reality. For business page owners, this is an option for specifying the name of your store/showroom or positioning your blog. Considering the maximum number of characters, you need to think over the name as capaciously as possible. nine0003

How to change:

  1. Edit profile - First and last name.
  2. Enter your details - Save.

Unlike a nickname, there is nothing wrong with having the same name as someone else. In addition to standard characters, the profile owner can use non-standard fonts, emoticons. You can enter in Russian and English.

Fancy fonts for the name

To make the page name memorable and interesting, the user can install an application for original fonts. nine0003

TOP 3 utilities:

  • Fontify;
  • Fonts for Instagram;
  • I Fonts.

They have approximately the same list of fonts and functions: you need to install, enter the desired word, select a font and add it to your biography.

Make a custom font with I Fonts:

  1. Go to the Play Market - download and install.
  2. Open - Start Create.
  3. Select from above: "Text Bio" - enter the name.
  4. Specify font - save to smartphone. nine0020

Next, you need to go to Instagram and select: "Edit profile". In the section: "First and last name" you need to insert a new text.

If symbols are missing or not displayed

Symbols can disappear or not be displayed in two cases: if the selected font is not supported by the social network or the user has not saved the changes made.

What to do if characters are missing:

  • check the "Biography" section from different devices;
  • try other fonts;
  • Restart the application.

Often, the problem occurs with the display of the font on different devices. Characters that are displayed on iOS may not be visible on Android. And instead of the text, empty squares will appear, which can only be read from the computer version.

Expert opinion

Alina

SMM specialist, I design, promote and maintain pages on Instagram

Ask a question

Errors also appear when entering italic text. Therefore, among the available options, it is better to choose standard or resized ones. nine0003

Why Instagram won't let you change your nickname: new rules for 2022

New rules have been introduced on the social network to change the first name, last name or nickname. They concern the timing for editing. If before 2021 users could change their nickname at any time, then after the introduction of new requirements in 2022 - only times a month . The second rule concerns the recovery period - in within 14 days . During this time, no one can take this nickname, and the original owner can restore the previously selected option. nine0003

If you try to change your nickname before the end of the month, the "Done" button will not be available. Therefore, the user must carefully choose the name of the profile.

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How to change your nickname or name on Instagram from your phone or computer

InstagramSocial networks

March 2, 2021

1 058

a year, two, three or more. Sometimes personal pages on Instagram turn into blogs or even pages of online stores. But in some other situations, the Instagram user may need to change the name or nickname on the social network. In this article, we will look at ways to do this from a phone or computer. nine0003

Contents

What is the difference between nickname and name on Instagram

Before proceeding to the instructions for changing your nickname or name on Instagram, you need to understand how they differ.

Instagram nickname is what users use to find your account or tag you in photos, Stories and other publications. Each user has an individual nickname on Instagram, since each user is given their own unique page on the social network, where the nickname is part of the URL. nine0003

The Instagram name is what the user sees in their profile information. Names can be the same for users of many accounts. By the name that is indicated in the profile, it is much more difficult to find a specific user.

How to change your nickname on Instagram

To change your nickname to the one you like, it must be free. If the nickname you want to use for your profile is already taken, you won't be able to change your nickname to it. nine0003

Important

Nick may become free in time. If the user whose nickname you are interested in changes his nickname to another, then he will be released after 14 days from that moment. Accordingly, then it can be taken.

From your phone

To change your Instagram nickname from your phone, launch the social network's official mobile app on your device. On the profile page, click on the "Edit profile" button.

The nickname is specified in the item “User name”. Click on it. nine0003

Enter a new nickname instead of the old one. After that, click “Finish” in the upper right corner.

Please note

Not all characters can be used in a nickname. However, some of them expand the number of nicknames available with similar names. For example, you can use the nickname geekhelpru or geekhelp.ru or geekhelp_ru - these are 3 different nicknames.

When you specify a new nickname, your profile will immediately become accessible by it.

From a computer

You can also change your nickname on Instagram from a computer. This is no more difficult to do than with a phone. Open the official website of the social network Instagram in any browser and log in. After that, click on your profile avatar in the upper right corner and go to the "Profile" section.

Next, click on the “Edit profile” item.

Enter the desired nickname in the “Username” field - this is the nickname on Instagram.

After that click “Submit” at the bottom to save the changes.

Pay attention

If you change your nickname suspiciously often, there is a risk of running into Instagram restrictions or blocking your account.

How to change your name on Instagram

Now let's look at ways to change your name on Instagram - from your phone and computer.

Learn more