How to request a username on instagram

How To Claim an Inactive Instagram Username Account

The Market for Instagram Usernames

If you’re setting up an Instagram account and have thought of the perfect username that reflects your individuality or mission, you may realize that an inactive account has the username. Having the correct username for companies and influencers trying to jumpstart an Instagram presence is valuable.

An inactive account is one that a user abandoned or hasn’t used for an extended period. If the profile has the username you so desperately need, there’s no direct way to obtain it, but there are several things you can do.

Can You Get an Inactive Instagram Username?

Claiming an Instagram username can be tricky. Even when another user quits logging into their account, there are some rules and workarounds involved with claiming an inactive account’s username. Instagram users don’t have the option to fill out a form and claim a username; it just isn’t that simple.

Fortunately, Instagram does purge inactive accounts. But, you may not have the time to wait. We’ve included all of your options for obtaining an Instagram username in this article.

Buying an Instagram Username

There are numerous secondary markets where holders of good usernames can sell them for sums ranging from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands.

For the most part, the people making money selling names are those who staked out their accounts in the early days and had the foresight to pick usernames that other people or businesses will eventually want.

Sometimes, a name becomes valuable because a movie, show, or album comes out. Suddenly, ‘BigBangTheory’ goes from being an excellent account for a physics student to being a highly sought-after property. If the profile becomes “inactive,” you may be able to get the username.

If you choose to purchase an Instagram username, do beware: It’s important to buy a username from a reputable source. In 2021, Instagram banned hundreds of accounts for stolen usernames. Hackers confiscated usernames from innocent account owners and sold them to unsuspecting users.

Finding Their Contact Information

Just because the account is inactive doesn’t mean that the owner isn’t around. It may be that they would be delighted to sell you their old profile. However, getting in touch with them may be the tricky part.

Of course, you can send a Direct Message on the Instagram platform itself. Though, if the person isn’t active on Instagram, there’s a good chance that they won’t see your DM for quite some time if they even see it at all.

You can check the account’s bio to try and get information about it. There are a few things to look for here.

Some people put a contact e-mail address in their bio or even their personal website’s URL. If that’s the case, your quest is probably already successful.

Other people are more privacy-minded and don’t put that kind of direct contact information there. However, they may include links or references to their other social media accounts, such as their Facebook pages or LinkedIn bio. If you have this person’s name, you can always search through different social media sites and message them.

If you have no idea how much to offer, you might look up similar accounts at Instagram account market sites like InstaSale and see the pricing of profiles with similarities.

Will Instagram Delete Inactive Accounts?

Yes, they will delete inactive accounts, although the time it takes for them varies depending on the website’s needs.

For example, purges usually happen at random, or at least they seem random. Often these purges occur at the end of the year.

Wait for an Instagram Purge

If the account you want is genuinely inactive and doesn’t have much or any content on it, there is an excellent chance that it will eventually get purged from the Instagram database. It’s no guarantee, but the inactive account you want may get dropped, and the username will become available again.

Instagram does not announce the schedule for its purges, so you won’t get a heads up to alert you to start trying to grab any usernames on your list. The best way to detect a purge is to follow one of the perennially popular Instagram accounts with a relatively stable follower list and check their follower count daily.

If they have thousands of followers, then at least some of those followers are undoubtedly spam accounts or bots, and a purge will cut their follower list by some non-trivial quantity of users. If your monitored account goes from 9,341 followers to 9,102 followers overnight (and there’s not some apparent scandalous post driving the loss), the odds are good that Instagram did a purge, and some usernames are now up for grabs.

Trademark or Copyright the Name

You can go through the process of getting a patent online. Once the patent gets obtained, you can report the inactive account to Instagram. Although this may take time and an additional expense, this is an option for you.

Many users have reported success by asking Instagram to transfer an account. When you hold a trademark on a name, you can argue that your customers’ existing accounts are confusing. Copyright infringement can be an effective way to obtain your Instagram username.

If you hold such a trademark or copyright, you can file a copyright/trademark violation report and attempt to claim the name as your own.

If the account is active and frequently used, you may have difficulty succeeding with this method.

Getting a new trademark is complicated and expensive, but getting copyright protection is reasonably straightforward. Any time you create anything original, you have implicit copyright; you can file an official copyright registration to cement your legal claim, but the claim is made by referencing the work, not by the act of filing the claim. In other words, you must use the name consistently and prove the damages it could incorporate if someone else uses it.

Of course, you can also report a copyright issue directly to Instagram. Head over to this link on the Instagram website and file a report.

Choose a Similar Name

Although this may seem obvious, choosing a similar username is the simplest way to set up your Instagram account. Adding an underscore or a number is simple and effective.

Instagram usernames can be up to 30 characters long and contain letters, numbers, periods, and underscores. This specification gives you quite a bit of flexibility in creating a close name to the one you so desire. You may need to use a little imagination, but the rest should be straightforward enough.

Add a city or location to your name if you run a business. You can do the same for surnames or others. This move can help maintain your brand and add a quick local identifier that may work in your favor. You can also add the type of business to the name.

Workarounds For Larger Brands

If you’re a more significant business or a more established brand, adding ‘official’ or ‘real’ at the end of your Instagram account can work too. Artists with common names often do this, so you can too.

You do need to be careful about emulating established brands, however. Suppose you create an account for Microsoft Software. In that case, it’s a legal account name, but if you reach a level of success and visibility where Microsoft sees your account, they will shut you down promptly using the same trademark and copyright tools I described above. You can’t infringe on other people’s protected intellectual property just as much as they can’t intrude on yours.

If you’re having trouble obtaining a username but there are no accounts with it, remember that some get set to private. If this is the case, the username is unavailable, and you cannot search for the account.

Created Account But Can’t log in

Several users have reported that they’ve created a new Instagram account with the perfect username and received the “Sorry, Something Went Wrong” error message. Clicking the ‘Try Again’ option or trying to log in doesn’t work. Unfortunately, the username got taken, and you can’t log in. So what are you to do if this has happened?

You can contact Instagram Support, which may or may not be helpful. If you have screenshots of the error message or username, that would be great.
Try using a different application or web browser to log into your new Instagram account. This could be a simple glitch with the application.
Log in with Facebook and see if your new account shows. Assuming you used similar login credentials, the new account may appear.
Wait for a few hours, then try to log back into your Instagram account.

The above situation can be incredibly frustrating when you’ve created the perfect Instagram username and can’t access the account. Trying the tips we’ve outlined may help you regain access.

Frequently Asked Questions

We’ve included the answers to more of your frequently asked questions in this section.

Does Instagram delete inactive users?

Yes, but after some time. Although we don’t know the exact process, Instagram states that it’s essential to log into your account to avoid a purge. The company does not give time frames for when a profile gets purged.

What can I do if I need help with my Instagram account or username?

Instagram does have a help site that you can visit to get assistance or answers for various things. If you can’t access your account or if someone is accessing it unlawfully, check out the Instagram Help Center.

How long does it take for a username to become available after someone deletes their account?

Instagram has not given us the official word on this. Still, many users have reported they could take the name as soon as the original owner deleted their account. Keep in mind; that the owner needs to permanently delete their account. If you’re trying to buy a username from another user, be sure you’ve obtained the username before sending payment.

Can I request an inactive username?

Unfortunately, Instagram doesn’t exactly give us the green light on requesting usernames. Here is what the company has to say on the subject:

“If a username you want is being used by an account that seems inactive, you can choose an available version of the username. You can add periods, numbers, underscores, or abbreviations to help you come up with a username that’s not already in use.“

Of course, this doesn’t mean you can’t try, at least. It won’t hurt to contact Instagram and request a username you think is inactive.

What happens to a user name after Instagram bans the original account?

Perhaps you’ve tried a username that does not appear in your search results, and yet, you cannot claim it. You may have tried different variations of the coveted username, and still, you are left wanting.

If the original creator of the username you’re looking for violated Instagram’s T&Cs, Instagram could remove the entire account, including the username, to prevent future use. Although Instagram won’t notify you that the username doesn’t exist anymore, you can try the Help feature to check.

How To Obtain the Instagram Username You Want - Social Media Pro®

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Welcome To Instagram Marketing!

When you, the social media manager, sign a contract with a new client, chances are that while planning for 2021, Instagram will be one of the social media platforms this client wants to be active on.

Instagram marketing is fun, exciting and fast-paced and lets your creativity shine through.

In previous articles, we touched on Instagram hashtags.

We answered

How to market on Instagram using hashtags
Where should Instagram hashtags be located
Can you trademark a hashtag?

But what if this new client never signed up for Instagram in the first place?

How can you obtain the Instagram username you want for this client?

In this article, you will learn

how to search online to find the availability of an Instagram name
whether you can get access to an inactive username
your options if your preferred Instagram name is not available

How To Search Online For a Preferred Instagram Username

For those starting from scratch – as in- starting a new business:

When tossing out possible business names, check out sites like

Namechkr and Namechk before deciding on a business name!

To use these sites, simply put your preferred business name in the search bar to see whether it is available and if so, on what social media platforms. If the name you want is not available on any social media platform, someone most likely also has the URL you want; you might need to restart your business name research.

Even if you have the best name in mind for your business, and you are convinced this name is clever, witty, marketable and just perfect when you can not get the web URL, or the social handles to go with it, that name is useless!

If your client already has an established business name, and you simply need to add Instagram to their social media line up, just go to Instagram to check availability.

If you find that the Instagram username your client wants is taken, there are ways you might be able to facilitate getting your ‘hands' on that preferred Instagram handle. Keep reading.

Getting Access To Any (In)active Instagram Username

Getting access to any (in)active Instagram account is not impossible but is not always a successful endeavor either.

We've compiled a list of actions people have taken to try to get access to (in)active Instagram accounts to get hold of that preferred username. Here is what might, or might not, work for you.

1) DM the (In)active Account Directly

This should be your first try. With an inactive account, there is a chance that the email address or account is monitored. Send a DM (and keep your fingers crossed for a reply).

If you do get a response after sending a DM, you will need to choose your next approach.

Depending on the situation at hand:

Request the Instagram account to be transferred to your client
Demand the account be handed over if you have a trademark on the name (see below)
Offer a monetary compensation for the transfer of the account to your client

2) Appeal to Instagram for Access

You can appeal to Instagram for access to an inactive account. This action does not always bring success, but it's an avenue to try.

3) Contact Facebook Ad Support

What has worked for several of our fellow Social Media Managers is going through their Facebook Ad rep to get this type of issue resolved. If you have such a rep, we encourage you to connect with them to try to get this resolved.

4) Show Proof of Trademark

If the business has a trademark on the name and someone else is using it, you can send a ‘cease and desist' letter outlining the trademark infringement and ask for the account to be handed over and contact Instagram with proof of trademark ownership as well. NOTE: You might need the assistance of an attorney to get this resolved.

Options For When You Cannot Get the Instagram Username You Want

If you have no success with obtaining access to the Instagram username you want you will need to move on.

The next step is to find a suitable, alternate option for an Instagram username.

Here are a few creative ideas and examples using a fictional business name called “industrybusiness”.

add an underscore somewhere in the name: industry_business or industrybusiness_
add a location to the name: industrybusinesscity or cityindustrybusiness
use abbreviation: indbusiness or industrybuss or ibcity
shorten the whole name: indbuss
add a conjunction to the name: andindustrybusiness
add an adverb: theindustrybusiness or theindustrybusinesscity or the_industrybusiness
replace a letter with a number: industrybusin3ss or 1ndustrybusiness
use phonetic spelling: industreebusiness

You can play with the business name and see what most closely resembles the original name. The most important thing is to not linger too long on this but to pick something and start marketing on Instagram.

In the end, what's in a name?

Dorien Morin-van Dam

I am a Certified Social Media Manager, Strategist, International Keynote Speaker, Organic Specialist and Agile marketer! Blogging is my creative outlet. Running, hiking and skiing are how I recharge. You'll recognize me on stage and online by my always present orange glasses, a nod to my Dutch heritage.

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How to claim an inactive Instagram username

Probably the most frustrating moment is when you come up with a great Instagram username that 100% matches your wants and needs, but then you realize it's already in use.

This is not strange, because the number of accounts in any social network is only growing every day, and unique and good-sounding usernames are already taken. Of course, you can use any username, but you must understand that a good and concise username can be one of the keys to success, so it should not be neglected. nine0003

So you've found that the username you want is already taken. If it is already being used by another active user, then there is almost no chance of getting it, especially if this user is popular. Of course, you can try to buy a username, but the price is likely to be too high and you simply cannot afford to pay such a price.

However, there is another option: an account with this nickname was once created, but is no longer used. In this case, your chances are greatly increased, and there are several ways that can help you get your desired Instagram username. nine0003

In this article, I provide a variety of ways to get the username you want, from the simplest (and cheapest) to ideas that can help you if you really need this username for a reason or for aesthetic reasons, but first queue for business.

Create a name that sounds similar

This is actually the easiest way to get your desired Instagram username.

Of course, this is not the best way, because then you will not get the exact username you want, but consider whether you need it. nine0003

I'm not talking about using Instagram recommendations and entering numbers or additional letters after your desired username. I'm talking about more refined things.

For example, you have a brand that sells something and you want it to be featured on Instagram, but you don't have the resources or desire to spend the money and time to get your brand name specifically.

In this case, you can add the word "official" to the end of your username, or if your brand name is two words, you can simply add an underscore or period between them. nine0003

Of course, it does not look so aesthetically pleasing, but then you will not waste time on unnecessary actions and will be able to immediately start promoting your account.

There are many options for how you can change your username and still keep it recognizable. From the word "official" to dots, to an underscore in the middle of a username, front or back.

This may seem too simple, but I am a supporter of the idea that one should not spend resources where they can be saved. And in this case, this is one of the best ways to do it. nine0003

Please wait while Instagram removes inactive account

Instagram removes inactive accounts. This means that you can just sit back and wait, and perhaps (but there is no guarantee) your name will become free and you can use it for your needs.

Honestly, I don't like this method. If only because Instagram does not have a clear schedule for when inactive users will be deleted. Moreover, according to the information I could find, they are only deleted when Instagram decides to clean up its database. nine0003

Therefore, we can say that this is a random event, and in this case it all depends on your luck. Moreover, there is no guarantee that you will be the first to register such a username. Therefore, even if you wait, there is no guarantee that you will be rewarded for it.

In my opinion, this makes this approach not very successful. At a minimum, you will have to spend a lot of time every day keeping track of whether your account has been deleted. Therefore, I do not recommend this method, although, of course, it is up to you. nine0003

Register a trademark

This method is much more complicated than the previous two, so it will only work for you if you really want to get that Instagram username for real business needs, and not just want to get a pretty username.

And so you need to register a trademark or patent. Then, when you receive confirmation that the word or combination belongs to you or your business, you can contact Instagram support and ask that you transfer rights to the username of an inactive account. nine0003

Many businesses go this route and succeed, but you should also check a few things as it can cause a lot of problems.

First of all, you need to make sure that such a trademark is not registered in another jurisdiction. Otherwise, you'll just get a counterclaim from the trademark owner, making your case much more difficult.

Secondly, remember that this is a rather long and expensive process, so double check if you really need it, as the resources spent may not be worth it. nine0003

If you decide to go this route, here is the Instagram form you should use to get a response.

Just buy an inactive Instagram account

This is the easiest way if you need the exact username.

And now, your account name is busy, but inactive. In such a case, it might just be a way for the account holder to make some money. There are even businesses where people track trends and sign up for accounts that might be in demand. nine0003

To get started, just write a private message, there is a chance that the owner will read your message and sell you an account.

But what if the owner doesn't read private messages? In this case, you can use other ways to contact him.

For example, Instagram has the ability to make your contact information public, such as your email or phone number. In this case, write an email or send a message to a phone number or messenger (for example, Viber or Whatsapp) with your offer. nine0003

If the e-mail and phone number are hidden, there is still a chance to contact the account owner. In this case, do the following:

Use the Instagram Email finder to find the email that was used to create the account ).
Check bio for contact information

How to maximize your chances of buying an Instagram account

It's easy. Here are a few tricks.

First of all, never start by saying that this particular account name is very important to you, as you will immediately increase the price of the Instagram account.

Secondly, if a similar account name is not registered in other social networks, then register it. This way the owner won't be able to use it anywhere other than Instagram, this will help to get a lower price for Instagram. nine0003

Third, describe a specific offer with a specific price. This will be the anchor price and the owner is more likely to trade based on it. However, don't try to drop the price too low, be reasonable and evaluate how much you are realistically willing to pay for this Instagram account.

Consider if this is the username you need

In truth, if you add an underscore or period, it won't hurt your business. So there is no point in trying to get exactly that account name, so be smart. Sometimes it's better to just change the name a bit, but save the effort and put it in a more productive direction. nine0003

The truth is that the username doesn't matter too much. You can be successful even if you don't get what you want, so if you're not going to get it, there's no point in getting hung up on it.

What to do if you can't log into the created account

This usually happens in several cases, and the most common reason is that the account was frozen by Instagram but not deleted. In this case, when searching for a username, it will not be there, and you can create a new account with this name. However, you will not be able to log in, and when the account is unfrozen, your account will simply be deleted. nine0003

Many media outlets advise you to contact Instagram support or try logging in from a different device or browser, but neither will help you.

So in this case, you're just out of luck and unlikely to get that username. I tell it like it is and I'm not trying to give you false hope.

I had a situation with a friend of mine whose account was frozen and he tried to create another one with a similar username, but he couldn't login to the new account until his old one was unfrozen. nine0003

So keep that in mind.

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How to get an inactive Instagram account

Marketplace for Instagram usernames

If you're setting up an Instagram account and thinking about the perfect username that reflects your personality or mission, you might realize that a username occupied by an inactive account. For companies and influencers trying to launch an Instagram presence, having the right username is valuable. nine0003

Want to learn how to sell effectively on Instagram? It's possible to get more followers and more engagement on your Instagram, and this book shows you how,

If you're tracking your metrics, be sure to read our article explaining what makes for a reasonable engagement rate on Instagram,

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An inactive account is an account that has been abandoned or has not been used for a long time. If the account has the username you so desperately need, there's no direct way to get it. But there are a few things you can do. nine0003

Buying an Instagram username

There are many secondary markets where owners of good usernames can sell them for amounts ranging from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands.

For the most part, the people who make money selling names are those who set up their accounts in the early days and were able to choose the names other users would eventually want.

Sometimes a name becomes valuable because a movie, show, or album comes out, and all of a sudden, BigBangTheory goes from a great account for a physics student to a highly sought-after property. If an account becomes "inactive", you can retrieve the username. nine0003

If you have such a trademark or copyright, you can file a copyright/trademark infringement report and try to claim the name as your own.

If the account is active and frequently used, you may have difficulty with this method.

Obtaining a new trademark is a complex and expensive process, but obtaining copyright is quite simple. Every time you create something original, you have a hidden copyright; You can file a formal copyright registration to cement your legal claim, but a claim is created by the act of creating a work, not by the act of filing a claim. nine0003

Choose a similar username

While it may seem obvious, choosing a similar username is the easiest way to set up an Instagram account. Adding an underscore or a number is simple and effective.

Instagram usernames can be up to 30 characters long and can contain letters, numbers, periods, and underscores. This gives you some flexibility in creating a name that is close to your dream name. You may need to use a little imagination, but everything else should be fairly simple. nine0003

If you are running a business, add the city or location to your name. You can do the same for last names or other given names. This can help keep your brand alive and add a quick local ID that can work in your favor. You can also add a business type to the name.

Big Brand Workarounds

If you're a big business or more established brand, adding "official" or "real" to the end of your Instagram account name might also work. Artists with common names often do this so you can too. nine0003

However, you should be careful when emulating well-known brands. If you create an account for Microsoft Software, this is a legitimate account name - but if you reach a level of success and visibility where Microsoft sees your account, they will shut you down immediately using the same trademarks and copyright protections that I described above.