How to Change Your Instagram Username in 2026

How to change your Instagram username on the app, computer or Accounts Center, what your followers see, and how to switch back within 14 days.

Changing your Instagram username takes a few taps, and unlike X, where your old username is released the moment you change it, Instagram gives you a safety net: for a while after the change, you can usually switch back to your old name if you regret it. This guide covers the steps on the app, on a computer and in Meta's Accounts Center, the rules your new name has to follow, and what happens to your followers and your old handle.

Quick answer: open your profile, tap Edit profile, tap Username, type the new one and save. If it is available, the change happens straight away. Some accounts now manage this through Accounts Center instead, covered below.

Username or Name: Which One Are You Changing?

Instagram profiles have two names, and the steps are similar, so it is worth being sure which one you mean.

	Username	Name
Looks like	@yourname	Your Name
Where it appears	Your profile link, tags and mentions	Bold text on your profile, under your photo
Must be unique	Yes	No
Changes your profile link?	Yes, it becomes instagram.com/newname	No

If you only want to change how your name reads on your profile, edit the Name field instead. Your handle and link stay the same.

How to Change Your Instagram Username on iPhone or Android

Open Instagram and tap your profile picture in the bottom right to go to your profile.
Tap Edit profile.
Tap Username and type the new one. Instagram checks straight away whether it is taken.
Tap the checkmark or Done to save.

If your app shows Accounts Center instead of a username field, follow the steps in the next section.

How to Change It in Accounts Center

Meta is moving account settings for Instagram and Facebook into a shared place called Accounts Center, and Instagram's help centre says you may see either Accounts Center or Meta Account settings. If your account uses it:

From your profile, open the menu and go to Settings.
Select Accounts Center, then Profiles.
Choose your Instagram profile.
Select Username, enter the new one and select Done.

Accounts Center can also sync your profile details with Facebook if both accounts are added to it, so check that option before you save if you want your Facebook name left alone.

How to Change Your Instagram Username on a Computer

These are Instagram's own steps for the website:

Go to instagram.com and log in.
Click your profile picture on the left to go to your profile.
Click Edit profile.
Change the username and click Submit.

On the website you can also go through More, then Settings, then See more in Accounts Center, then Profiles.

Instagram Username Rules

Length: up to 30 characters.
Characters: letters, numbers, periods and underscores. No spaces, dashes, emoji or other symbols.
Unique: no two accounts can share a username, and capital letters do not make a name different, so @YourName and @yourname are the same handle.

If the name you want is taken, a period or underscore is the usual way to make a close variation, such as your.name or your_name.

What Happens When You Change Your Username

From Instagram's help centre:

The change is immediate if the username is available.
Large accounts may be reviewed. If your account reaches a lot of people, the change may need to be reviewed first, and Instagram notifies you when the review is done.
Your followers may be notified that you changed your username. A quiet rename is not guaranteed.

Your followers, posts and messages stay on the account, because the account is the same, only its name has changed. Your profile link does change, so any link you have shared to instagram.com/oldname, in a website, a link in bio page or another profile, needs updating.

Can You Get Your Old Username Back?

Usually, if you act quickly. When you change your username, Instagram's own wording, quoted in several guides, is that "in most cases" you will be able to change back to your old username for 14 days.

Within 14 days: edit your username again and enter the old one.
After 14 days: the old name is no longer held for you, and anyone can take it.
"In most cases" is not a guarantee. If the old handle matters to you, for a brand or a large audience, do not count on getting it back.

How often can you change it?

Instagram's help centre does not currently state a fixed limit. Several guides cite a limit of two username changes within 14 days, after which further changes are blocked until the period has passed. Treat that as a working rule rather than an official one: if Instagram stops you, wait rather than trying again repeatedly.

Changing Your Instagram Username for Privacy

If you are renaming because your old handle is tied to your real name, or to someone you would rather not be found by, the rename is only part of the job:

Followers may have been notified, so the people who already follow you will know the new name.
Old links and screenshots do not change. Anything that quoted or saved your old @handle still shows it.
Your other accounts keep the old handle. If you used the same name on TikTok, X, Snapchat or Pinterest, it is still visible there. Search your old username across 730 sites to see where it is still registered.
Consider making the account private if you want to choose who sees your posts under the new name.

Our guide on how to search yourself online covers what to do with what you find. If someone has registered your name to impersonate you, see what to do when someone is using your username.

Changing Your Username on Other Platforms

Instagram's 14 day window to change back is unusual. Here is how changing a username works on the other platforms we cover:

Platform	Can you change the username?	Guide
Instagram	Yes, and in most cases you can change back within 14 days	This page
X (Twitter)	Yes, any time, and the old handle is released straight away	Change your X username
Steam	Profile name and custom URL yes, account name never	Change your Steam name
Fortnite	Epic display name once every two weeks, console names through Sony or Microsoft	Change your Fortnite name
Spotify	No, only the display name	Change your Spotify name

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I change my Instagram username?

Go to your profile, tap Edit profile, tap Username, enter the new one and save. On some accounts the same option is in Settings, then Accounts Center, then Profiles.

Can I change my Instagram username back?

In most cases, yes, within 14 days of the change. After that the old name is released and anyone can take it.

How many times can I change my Instagram username?

Instagram's help centre does not state a limit. Several guides cite two changes within 14 days, so space changes out if you can.

Will my followers know I changed my username?

They may. Instagram says your followers may be notified of a username change.

Will I lose followers or posts if I change my username?

No. The account stays the same, so followers, posts and messages stay too. Only the handle and your profile link change.

Why is my username change under review?

Instagram reviews username changes on accounts that reach a lot of people. You will be notified when the review is finished.

What characters can an Instagram username have?

Letters, numbers, periods and underscores, up to 30 characters. Spaces and other symbols are not allowed.

What is the difference between my Instagram name and username?

The username is your unique @handle and sets your profile link. The name is the bold text on your profile, which does not need to be unique.

How to Change Your Instagram Username (and Get the Old One Back)