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. Show
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. Check out the products mentioned in this article:iPhone Xs (From $999.99 at Best Buy)Google Pixel 3 (From $799.99 at Best Buy)How to change your Instagram name in the app1. 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 Insider3. 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 Insider4. 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 InsiderHow to change your Instagram name in a web browser1. 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 InsiderRelated coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:
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. Read more Read less Insider Inc. receives a commission when you buy through our links.
While the process of changing your name is unnecessarily restrictive on Facebook, it is relatively simple on Instagram. Even though Instagram is directly owned and operated by Mark Zuckerberg’s social media behemoth, it still lets you change both your display name
and username much more freely. So without wasting any time, let me show you how to change your Instagram name and username on iPhone, Android, and the web. As mentioned already, Instagram doesn’t have the same restrictions on name change as imposed by its parent, Facebook. There are, however, a few caveats that we will be discussing in this article before taking a look at the step-by-step guide. We will also be talking about the difference between your display name and username and things
you should know before changing them in each case. That said, let’s check out how you can change your Instagram name and username in a few easy steps. Table of Contents Difference Between Name and Username on InstagramBefore you set off on your mission to change your name on Instagram, it is worth noting that there’s a difference between your display name and username on the platform. The display name is your own name or an alias, and you can change it up to twice in 14 days. It can be exactly the same as anyone else’s display name because many people can share the exact same name. On the other hand, your username comes with the “@” tag and is unique to your account. Often referred to as your Insta handle, it goes at the end of your Instagram URL and has more restrictions on what’s acceptable and what’s not. According to the company, your Instagram username must fulfill the following criteria:
Things to Know Before Updating Instagram Profile InfoWhile Instagram doesn’t put the same type of restrictions on name changes as Facebook, there are a few things you need to know before updating your profile information. For general users, your username will be updated immediately, and your followers will be notified of the change. However, “if your account reaches a lot of people, your username change may need to be reviewed. If so, you’ll be notified when we’ve completed a review,” says Instagram. Do note that Instagram doesn’t explain what constitutes “a lot of people,” so the threshold to activate the manual review process remains ambiguous. As for what will change following your edit, changing the ‘Name’ field will not change anything except the name shown on your profile. However, changing the ‘Username’ will change your account URL, which means your old Instagram URL will return a 404 error (page not found). Meanwhile, your account link will auto-update everywhere else (such as embedded posts, etc.), which means users clicking on an earlier post will still be able to engage with your account as usual. Instagram will preserve your old username for 14 days, so in case you decide to revert back to your old handle, you can do so within this period. After that, it will be available to the public, which means you might not be able to get it back if someone else has already claimed it. In either case, the rest of the account information will remain unchanged. That includes the number of followers, liked posts, followed accounts, etc. Anyway, now that we have got that out the way, you can learn how to change your Instagram name and username on Android, iOS, and the website in the next section. Change Instagram Name and Username on AndroidHere’s how you go about changing your name and username on Instagram for Android:
Your new name or username will reflect immediately unless “your account reaches a lot of people”. In that case, Instagram will review the changes before implementing them, as mentioned earlier in the article. Note: If your preferred new username is already in use by someone else or doesn’t meet the standards set by Instagram, you will see a red exclamation mark and a message saying ‘Username not available’. You can keep trying other options till you don’t see that message anymore. Change Instagram Name and Username on iPhoneYou can also change your Instagram name and username using the iPhone mobile app. Here’s how:
Like on Android, your new display name or username will be immediately reflected on Instagram across all platforms except for the instances mentioned earlier. Change Name and Username on the Instagram WebsiteThe process of changing your name or username on the Instagram website is similar to how you go about it on mobile apps. Here are the step-by-step instructions:
Note: Unlike on the app, you will not get a real-time warning on the website if your preferred username is already in use. Instead, you will have to hit the Submit button to know whether the username you are after is available or not. Easily Update Your Instagram Name and UsernameNow that you know how to change your name or username on Instagram, go check out our guide on how you can change your name on Facebook. You can also change your name on Zoom, so check that out if you are looking to refresh your identity across various apps and services. Moreover, as an Instagram user, check out some of our other tutorials for the app, including how to hide message requests on Instagram and how to turn off contacts syncing in Instagram. On the other hand, if you are concerned about your privacy and want to get rid of the app altogether, check out the best Instagram alternatives on Android and iOS. Why did my Instagram name change to my Facebook name?This may happen if someone has used your phone to log into Instagram and then linked their Facebook and Instagram accounts. To relink your Instagram account with your Facebook account: Tap or your profile picture in the bottom right to go to your profile. Tap in the top right, then tap Settings.
How can I change my Instagram name only?In your Instagram app, head to your profile page and tap the "Edit Profile" option. Again, simply overtype with your new monikers. Then tap "Done" on iOS. On Android, hit the check mark.
Why can't I change my Instagram display name?Why won't Instagram let me change my username? If Instagram won't let you submit a new username, it's likely because it doesn't meet the requirements mentioned before. The most common error is related to that username being taken, so try another username.
How do I disconnect my Instagram from Facebook?Add or Remove an Instagram Account From Your Facebook Page. Open your Facebook Page.. Select Settings from the left menu.. Select Instagram.. To remove an Instagram account, select Disconnect and confirm that you would like to remove the Instagram account.. |