How to Change Name on Instagram (And Username)

Learning how to change name on Instagram is quite handy.

After all, mastering the steps is essential if you want to make minor tweaks or a complete overhaul to your clients’ Instagram names and usernames.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to change your clients’ names and usernames, and also offer some tips to consider during the process.

What you will learn

• What you must know about Instagram names and usernames
• Steps to change name on Instagram
• Important considerations when you change name on Instagram
• When not to change name on Instagram 
• Additional resources
• FAQs on How to Change Name on Instagram
• Make Instagram content and profile management a breeze with Vista Social
• Change name on Instagram effortlessly

What you must know about Instagram names and usernames

Instagram usernames and display names are not the same. 
The display name appears on your profile right below your profile picture or avatar.

Display names don’t need to be unique and can include special characters and emojis.

You can change your Instagram display name twice within 14 days.

On the other hand, your Instagram username shows at the top of your profile and the end of your Instagram profile’s URL.

Insta usernames must be:

• Unique to each user
• No longer than 30 characters
• Containing only letters, periods, underscores, and numbers (no spaces and special characters such as punctuation marks)

If you switch names, you can change it to the old username within 14 days—if no other user has claimed it.

Important note: If your clients didn’t change their usernames and display names before deactivating their accounts, they will have the same ones after reactivation.

[Must read: How to Temporarily Deactivate Instagram (Or Delete It): 2024]

Steps to change name on Instagram

You can help your clients change their Instagram usernames through the mobile or web app.

How to change name and username on Instagram via the web app

With these steps, switching to a new Instagram name and username on Instagram.com is pretty easy.

Step 1: Go to the Instagram web app

Open your browser and go to Instagram.com.

Log into your client’s Instagram account and click Profile on the left-side menu or the upper right corner.

Step 2: Edit the profile

Select Edit Profile. 

Click Personal details under Meta Accounts Center. 

Select the Instagram profile that needs the name changed.

Step 3: Change the name and username

Click Name.

Replace the name by typing your desired username.

Click Done, and you’re good to go.

Changing your client’s Instagram username follows the same process, except you select the Username instead of the Name option in Step 3.

Type the new username in the designated field.

Click Done.

Remember that changing your client’s username will also change their Instagram account address.

Sometimes, Instagram will review username changes if the account reaches a lot of people or has many followers. You’ll get a notification when the review is done.

[Must read: Instagram Following List Order Algorithm Explained [2024]]

The change should immediately reflect on your client’s profile if the new username is available and doesn’t need to be reviewed.

Your client’s followers can also get notified of the username change.

You can update your client’s other Instagram profile details to reflect the name change.

[Must read: Instagram Profile Tips: How to Optimize Your Instagram Bio]

How to change name and username on Instagram via the mobile app

Change your client’s display name and username on the Instagram app with these easy steps:

Step 1: Open the Instagram mobile app

Launch Instagram on your phone and log into your client’s account.

Tap on your client’s profile icon at the bottom right corner of your screen.

Step 2: Edit the Instagram profile

Tap Edit profile. 

Step 3: Replace the name or username

Select Name or Username and type the new one.

Tap the check (✔️) icon to update the Instagram profile information and save the name change. 

The process is pretty much the same on an iOS and Android app, with slight differences in the mobile apps’ profile page interface.

You can edit other profile information, such as changing the link in the bio, especially if you changed to a new landing and home page.

[Must read: How to Put a Link in Instagram Bio: Step-by-Step Guide]

Important considerations when you change name on Instagram

Changing your client’s Instagram name and username can impact their audience engagement.

After all, followers know your clients by that name and switching to a new one can get confusing.

So before you hit that Change Name or Change Username button, consider the following:

• Ensure brand consistency. Your client’s Instagram handle is their identifier, so try to keep everything consistent across their social media platforms and use the same handle. It helps followers and audiences recognize and remember your clients across platforms, especially if your client’s Facebook and Instagram accounts are linked. 

[Must read: How to Unlink Facebook and Instagram]

• Keep it simple. No one will remember a tongue-twister of a display name or username. So keep it simple and unique yet still on brand. 

• Let followers know. Keep your client’s followers updated by announcing the Instagram name or username change. You can share the news through Stories, Reels, Notes, and other content. It helps avoid confusion while keeping Instagram followers connected to your clients.

• Check the name’s availability. Save yourself and your clients from the headache of setting everything up for the Instagram name change only to find out that someone already has that username. Check if the name is available first before committing to the change. 

Remember to create clear and professional Instagram usernames. Avoid anything considered offensive or violating the platform’s Community Guidelines.

Potential violations can get your client’s Instagram account blocked or restricted by other users and banned by the platform.

[Must read: Instagram Restrict vs Block: Differences, When, and How to Use It]

When not to change name on Instagram 

Switching to a new Instagram name and username isn’t always the best move, and here are a few reasons why:

• Incoming big campaigns. Are your clients planning a major launch or campaign? Consider putting the Instagram name and username change on the back burner until after the dust settles. This way, you can direct all eyes on your client’s content and promotions instead of the new Insta handle.
• Inconsistent branding. Changing Instagram usernames and names too frequently or too close to each switch can confuse your clients’ audiences and make their brands seem inconsistent. Also, hold off on changing your clients’ Instagram handles right after they’ve had a recent rebranding and username change. Allow ample time for followers to know about the rebranding and be familiar with your clients’ new faces before making the username and name switch. 
• Disrupt growing momentum. If your clients’ engagement and growth are spiking, changing their Instagram usernames and names could disrupt that momentum. Ride the rising trajectory a bit longer before making that major adjustment, keeping your clients from losing that momentum.
• Lack of a solid strategy. Changing your clients’ Instagram usernames and names without a solid strategy can do more harm than good. So ensure you and your clients develop clear objectives for the IG username change before doing the switch.    
• Loss of established engagement. Your clients’ old usernames can be tied to past engagements, mentions, or tags from customers and influencers. Changing the Instagram username and name can make it harder for previous collaborators and followers to find or recognize your client’s content. It can lead to lower engagement and conversion rates. 
• Loss of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) value. Your client’s current Insta username and name are likely optimized for search engines, which help their profile rank higher in search results. Changing the username and anime can potentially disrupt this SEO momentum, impacting your client’s visibility and online presence. 
• Poor reputation management. Don’t just abandon ship at the sign of the smallest leak. If your client’s current username is associated with controversies or negative press, changing it can seem like an attempt to hide or evade those issues. It’s crucial to address concerns and issues like this head-on rather than trying to sweep them under the rug with a quick Instagram handle or username swap. 

Additional resources

Read these awesome resources for more time-tested tips on amplifying your clients’ content strategy, audience engagement, and Instagram marketing efforts. 

• How to Change the Background Color on Instagram Story
• How to Get Notes on Instagram [2024]: Easy Fixes & Steps
• How to Add a Collaborator on Instagram: Complete Guide
• How to Make a Collage on Instagram: 3 Easy Ways
• How to Post Longer Videos on Instagram [2024]: Reels, Feed, Stories
• How to Monetize Instagram in 2024: Tips, Policies, Timelines
• How to Recover Deleted Messages on Instagram [2024]
• How to Know If Someone Blocked You on Instagram
• How to Find Contacts on Instagram: Quickly And Easily
• How to Turn On/Off Vanish Mode on Instagram: Quick Tutorial
• 150+ CLEVER Instagram Bio Ideas for 2024 [Copy & Paste]
• 26+ Best, Popular Instagram Filters & Effects that SMM Agencies Use
• Top 8 Instagram Theme Pages Worth Following: Ultimate Guide
• Instagram Subscription: What Is It? How Does It Work?
• Instagram Navigation: What Is It & How to Understand It?
• Instagram Reels Templates: Everything You Need to Know (2024)
• Instagram Username Ideas: Cool, Creative, And Fun Usernames
• Instagram Broadcast Channel: Everything You Need to Know

FAQs on How to Change Name on Instagram

Can you change your Instagram name through your Facebook account? 

Yes, if your client syncs their profile information across their Instagram, Facebook, or Meta Horizon profiles. 

For instance, changing your client’s Facebook username, name, avatar, and profile picture will automatically update their profile information on their synced Instagram account.  

Do you need to use your real name on Instagram?

No, you don’t need to use or change your username to your real name on Instagram. 

However, Instagram requires users to provide accurate, up-to-date information (which can include the user’s real name). 

Personal information is necessary to secure user accounts and prevent other people from impersonating someone. 

Personal information like this is private, and only the account owner can see it. 

Is it illegal to use a fake name on Instagram?

Technically, using a fake name as your Instagram name or username isn’t illegal. 

It’s only illegal if you use or change your Instagram username and use it to commit a crime under that fake name, such as fraud. 

Can you switch back to a previous username that another user already uses?

Unfortunately, no.

Your clients can no longer use the previous Instagram username if they switch and want to change it back, but another user has already taken it. 

An alternative is to use a version of the Instagram username by adding a number or allowable special characters to make it unique and memorable.   

What happens if I forget my Instagram username? 

If your clients forget their Instagram usernames, they can still log into their accounts using their phone numbers or email addresses associated with their accounts. 

After logging in, they can find their usernames at the top of their profile pages. 

You can also help your clients recover their accounts if they have lost access to the email or phone number through the Instagram Help Center.  

If your client’s Instagram username was changed because the account was hacked and you can still log into the account, you can do the following:

• Check if your client got an email from Instagram notifying them of the account information change. 
• Ask a follower to look at your client’s profile and screenshot the username. 
• Change the password. 
• Log out of all the devices where your client’s account is logged into.
• Turn on Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for additional security. 
• Check the Accounts Center and remove the linked accounts you and your clients don’t recognize. 
• Revoke access to suspicious third-party apps. 
• Confirm that the phone number and email address in Account Settings is correct. 

You can also reach out to Instagram support for further assistance.

Make Instagram content and profile management a breeze with Vista Social

Managing your clients’ Instagram and other social media profiles and content can be chaotic—but not when you’re using Vista Social as your social media management platform.

Vista Social’s awesome and handy Instagram management features help you:

• Schedule Instagram Reels, Stories, carousels, and other in-feed posts for auto-publishing in a few clicks. Connect your client’s Instagram profile, upload the images or videos, customize the post, such as adding photo dump captions and hashtags, and set your posting schedule. You can also set up push notifications to remind you when you’re supposed to publish the post so you can review it before it goes live.

• Tag products, other Instagram users (mentions), and locations in your client’s posts without leaving Vista Social or logging into each profile. 

• Come up with new usernames quickly with Vista Social’s AI-powered Instagram name generator. Choose a category, provide a topic, and the tool instantly gives you a list of usernames.

• Manage and develop your clients’ Instagram and other social media posts easily through a collaborative content calendar. You can find scheduled, published, and drafted posts quickly with the filter. 

Vista Social has more amazing features, including a social inbox that simplifies collaboration within your internal team and allows seamless audience engagement management.

It also offers Instagram reports to help you gain valuable insights into content performance and a link in bio tool with customizable landing pages to drive traffic and conversions.

[Must read: 221+ Instagram Notes Ideas to Get More Followers & Engagements]

Change name on Instagram effortlessly

Switching your clients’ Instagram display and user names is a breeze.

Simply consider the tips before changing the name, follow this guide, and you’re all set.

Also, remember to streamline and simplify managing your clients’ Instagram and other social media posts and profiles with Vista Social.

Create your Vista Social account to get a first-hand look at all the platform’s nifty SMM features and functionalities.