How to change instagram account


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 Instagram Username or Display Name

  • Instagram identifies you in two ways — using your display name and username. You can change either of these names at any time.
  • To change your Instagram names, go to your profile page on the web, or in a mobile app, and choose to edit your profile. 
  • You can change your display name to anything, but the username needs to be unique. Instagram will warn you if it's already in use.     
  • This story is part of Business Insider's Guide to Instagram.

Many social media platforms don't let you change your username once the account is set up, since it's a basic identifying element of the account. 

That's why it's a little surprising that Instagram lets you change it at any time. You can change both your display name and username, either from the iPhone or Android mobile apps, or your computer in a web browser. 

Keep in mind that while you can change your display name to anything — it doesn't need to be unique — your username is different. 

Your username can't already be in use by someone else, and Instagram will alert you if your desired username isn't available. You won't be able to save your changes until you choose a unique username.  

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How to change your Instagram name in the app

1. Start the Instagram app.

2. Tap your account icon in the bottom right of the screen to go to your profile page. 

To change your name, tap "Edit Profile" on the profile page. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

3. If you have more than one account configured in the app, tap the account name at the top of the screen and choose the account you want to change.

Be sure you select the right account to change. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

4. Tap "Edit Profile."

5. On the Edit Profile page, tap the field next to Name or Username and type your changes. When you're ready to save your changes, tap "Done."

You can edit the Name and Username fields on the Edit Profile page. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

How to change your Instagram name in a web browser

1. In a web browser, navigate to Instagram.com. 

2. Click the account icon at the top right of the screen.

3. Click "Edit Profile."

4. Click in the Name or Username field and type your changes. When you're ready to save your changes, click "Submit."

You can change your name and username in a web browser as well. Dave Johnson/Business Insider
  • 'How long can Instagram videos be?': A breakdown of the length requirements for every type of Instagram video

  • How to log out of Instagram on your phone or computer to protect your account's security

  • How to delete your Instagram account on an iPhone, or temporarily disable it

  • How to clear suggested searches on Instagram for iPhone, and clear your search history

Dave Johnson

Freelance Writer

Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.

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Insider Inc. receives a commission when you buy through our links.

How to change your Instagram

The Instagram social network is deservedly one of the most popular platforms where every day people not only view each other's photos, but also make purchases, read useful information, share news, and also learn something new by published texts under the photo. In order for your profile to attract attention and encourage certain actions (for example, to buy a certain product / service or read the information you publish), it must be correctly filled out and presented to readers. The process of filling in and changing personal information is not at all complicated, and you can read tips on editing it below.

Editing an Instagram profile

The first thing that catches your eye is the profile header. Not an ordinary header, of course, but an account section that consists of a title, avatar, name, information about yourself and a link to an existing site or profile on another social network. Only after studying the basic information, users proceed to view the published content. To get new subscribers or customers, the information in the header of your profile should provide comprehensive answers to three main questions:

  1. Who writes? After reading the information in the personal information section of the profile, the user must understand that the published content is the work of your hands. For example: "My name is Katya, I'm a music teacher."
  2. What does he write about? Indicate what you are talking about in your profile. Perhaps it will be information about travel, scrapbooking or music. Indicate this in the header, then you will definitely interest a potential reader. For example: "I love music and write about it."
  3. How can you be useful? It's no secret that all people read some information on the Internet in order to benefit from it. Tell new subscribers how your content will be useful for them. For example: "I will teach you to sing even those who have a bear in their ear."

How to change information about yourself on Instagram?

Log in to your personal account → Profile → “Edit profile” → Enter the required information → “Done”

Important! All information must be contained in 150 characters - this is the number that is the limit.

Tip! Do not post false information that you do not plan to publish.

If the user does not find the necessary content in your feed, then you will not only lose the reader, but also undermine the level of trust in you and your company, if any.

After successfully updating the block with personal information, it is worth choosing an avatar. An avatar is a profile photo, which, like its information, must correspond to the goals and information that is published in it. What you should pay attention to?

  • Image quality and size . Since the profile photo on the smartphone screen is displayed at a scale of about a few centimeters, you should not choose a picture with a lot of small details. The image should be understandable, and the text, if any, readable even in a small format.
  • Attractiveness . To attract the attention of a person and encourage him to take action to go to the profile, you should choose an attractive photo of yourself or the product you are selling. If the profile picture will show off the company logo, then it should be understandable. For example: for a music teacher, you can select a note icon, and for a snowboard or ski instructor, for example, a picture with mountains or a snowboard and skis.

Once the avatar photo has been selected, it must be uploaded to the application. How to do it?

Log in to your personal account → Profile → “Edit profile” → “Edit profile photo” → Import photo → “Done”

How to change your Instagram name and nickname repeat. By nickname, you can be found on the platform through the search bar. Your unique nickname must meet the following guidelines:

  • Simplicity. Give preference to a simple nickname, without complex letter combinations.
  • Originality. Turn on your imagination, because the nickname will be your business card.
  • Brief. Do not choose options that are too long. After all, brevity is the sister of talent.

What should be avoided?

  • Caps Lock.
  • 1234… It will be difficult to remember exactly how many digits were in your nickname, which will add complexity during the search.
  • Year of birth. This information is not so important for readers, but this will not affect the search and remembering of a nickname very well.
  • ZaBor4iK. It's complicated and far from stylish.

Picked up a nickname following the recommendations? But how to change it?

Log in to your personal account → Profile → “Edit profile” → Enter the required nickname → “Done”

In the name line, it is better to use your real name or field of activity. So, users who are interested in your personality will be able to find information about you on the Internet or in other social networks. And also find you through the search bar. You can change the name in the same way:

Log in to your personal account → Profile → “Edit profile” → Change the name in the field provided for this → “Done”

Example!
“Mashulya is a beloved wife and a happy mother of two girls” – no!
“CAKE TO ORDER, Moscow” - yes!

How to change your Instagram password

Security is a very important part of maintaining an Instagram profile. Although the service administration monitors the security of the published content and the profile itself, cases of hacking still happen. And the loss of an account, especially a work one, can deprive you of customers and earnings. Also, complex passwords are often forgotten. Therefore, the main advice when creating or changing a password on Instagram is to use at least 6 characters, including punctuation marks. So you can protect your account from hacking, and subsequently from losing it.

How to change the password on Instagram?

Log in to your personal account → Profile → “Settings” → “Password” → Entering the old and then the new password → “Done”

How to change the password on Instagram if you forgot it?

Open the instagram app → “Forgot your password?” → Enter a nickname in the window that appears → “Send login link” → Check the mail to which the page is linked → Follow the link received to reset your password → Enter a new password → “Done”

Subsequent login using the new password

Tip! Write down the new password in a personal notebook and do not share it with anyone. And also do not forget to link your account to a valid mailbox and mobile phone that you really use.

This way you can log into your account if it is hacked or you suddenly forget your password.

How to change the font on Instagram

Bold, italic, strikethrough and other options will always draw users' attention to the necessary information. However, the Instagram platform itself does not allow you to choose the font of your choice. But there is still a way out.

How do I choose a different font?

  • Application. Download an application on your mobile phone (for example: Fonts & Text Emoji for Instagram or any other that you find), which will allow you to type text using the desired font. Then copy the edited text and paste it into the edit info field. Then save.
  • Web version. Log in to the web version of Instagram, open the profile editing tab and paste the finished text copied from a third-party editor. Then press the save button.

Read more about the design of the text on Instagram in our other article.

How to change your phone on Instagram

Linking to a mobile phone is very important for an Instagram profile. Thanks to this, you will be able to recover a hacked account. Also, using the mobile number you specified, users will be able to contact you at any time, if necessary. But it often happens that the mobile number changes, so it becomes necessary to change it on Instagram. How to do it?

How to change your Instagram number?

Log in to your personal account → Profile → “Settings” → Change number → Confirm changes.

How to change or change your account

Many people are used to having multiple Instagram accounts. For example, most people have both a personal account and a work account. But what if you don’t want to constantly enter your username and password to move from one to another? In such cases, the official Instagram application supports the function of registering multiple accounts. What needs to be done for this?

How to change a user on Instagram?

Log in to your personal account → Profile → “Settings” → “Users and accounts” → Log in to the required account → “Done”

Now you can switch from one account to another in a few taps. Notifications will be sent to the mobile device from both accounts. And clicking on the notification will automatically redirect you to the required profile.

As it turned out, the correct formatting of information in the profile header and the choice of the correct photo for the avatar is very important. After all, it is their users who read and see in the first place. Therefore, the text of the personal information block should contain the most comprehensive information about you, your company and your activities. Linking an account to a phone number and mail is also important. And you can change or supplement the necessary information by following the simple tips indicated above.

How to change the name, surname and nickname on Instagram via the phone: iPhone and Android

Author of Article:

Alina, SMM specialist

Reading time:

7 minutes

1399

Change nickname in instagram from the phone it is possible 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 disappeared or not displayed
  • Why does not allow the Instagram to change nick 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.

Name: Name/surname: Nickname:
Editing Every 14 days Once a month, within two weeks, you can return the old
Symbols Any, including emoticons Underscore dot
What affects Search for a user by his data Is a login, used in marks, 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.

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.

From the computer version

You can also change your username on Instagram 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.
  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.

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.

Unusual fonts for the name

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

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.

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.


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