How to Change Your Instagram Username
Tap Edit profile, then Username, and type a new one. Your name can change twice every 14 days, and big accounts may get a review. Steps and rules.
To change your Instagram username, go to your profile, tap Edit profile and type a new username. "From here you can update your name or username," Instagram's help center says. Usernames can be up to 30 characters, using only letters, numbers, periods and underscores. Your display name has a tighter limit: twice every 14 days. And if your account reaches a lot of people, Instagram may review the change first.
We read Instagram's help center as Google showed it on October 23, 2026. Instagram's help pages refuse our reader, so the steps are quoted from Google's view of them.
How do you change your Instagram username?
The quick way, from your profile:
- "Tap Profile or your profile picture in the bottom right to go to your profile."
- "Tap Edit profile below your profile information at the top."
- Tap your username, type the new one and save it.
There's a second route through Accounts Center. Open the menu from your profile, then "Tap Accounts Center, then tap Profiles and personal details," Instagram says. "In Accounts Center, you can update your Instagram profile information including your name, username and profile picture," it adds. Pick your Instagram profile there and change the username.
"How to change instagram username" gets about 14,800 searches a month, and "how to change your username on instagram" another 3,600.
What's the difference between your username and your name?
Your username is your @handle and your profile link. Your name is the label shown on your profile. They follow different rules:
| Rule | Username | Name |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Your @handle | Your display name |
| Characters | Letters, numbers, periods, underscores | Not given |
| Length | Up to 30 characters | Not given |
| How often | Freely, if it's free | Twice every 14 days |
Instagram's help center, The Verge, Mashable and SocialBee, as Google showed them on October 23, 2026.
"You can update your profile name twice every 14 days," Instagram's help center says, and Facebook's limit is once every 60 days. SocialBee's April 2026 guide says the username "can be updated more freely if it's available."
Why can't I change my Instagram username?
There are three usual reasons:
- It's taken. The new username has to be available, as SocialBee notes.
- It's under review. "If your account reaches a lot of people, your username change may need to be reviewed," Instagram says, and "you'll be notified when we've completed a review."
- You're hitting the name limit. That message, "you've changed it twice within 14 days," is about your display name, not your username.
Can you change your Instagram username back?
Maybe. The Verge reported in 2020 that "you can go back to your old handle within 14 days." We couldn't confirm that on the help pages Google showed us, so don't count on it. If you might want your old handle back, write it down before you change it.
Picking a new username
A short, easy username's easier to find and remember. On TikTok, our guide to changing your TikTok username covers its 30-day rule. Our list of Instagram username ideas has 100 to start from, and our guide to the Instagram bio covers what to write under it. If you want the blue badge next to it, our guide to getting verified on Instagram covers the steps. Hclout's free tier gives 12 free Instagram likes on a public post, with no password, on the free page. A short Cloudflare check runs before each claim.
Frequently asked questions
How often can you change your Instagram username?
Instagram limits name changes to twice every 14 days. For usernames, SocialBee says you can change it more freely, as long as the new one isn't taken.
What characters can an Instagram username have?
Letters, numbers, periods and underscores, up to 30 characters.
Why is my username change under review?
Instagram reviews username changes on accounts that reach a lot of people, and it notifies you when the review's done.
Is my Instagram name the same as my username?
No. The username is your @handle, and the name is the display name on your profile.
Can I change my username in Accounts Center?
Yes. Instagram's help center says Accounts Center lets you update your name, username and profile picture.
Sources
- Instagram Help Center pages on editing your profile, Accounts Center, username reviews and profile name limits, as Google showed them on October 23, 2026
- The Verge (February 5, 2020), Mashable and SocialBee (April 27, 2026), as Google showed them on October 23, 2026
- Google Ads Keyword Planner, worldwide, read October 23, 2026
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