Usernames are an essential element on social media platforms, but finding the right one can be a struggle. Unless you created your account years ago, you are unlikely to get the username you want, and even in this case, you may regret it all these years later.
So, if you regret the decisions you made in your youth when opening your account, or you just got tired of using it, you will be happy to know that it is very easy to change your Instagram username to a less embarrassing one. And in this post we will show you how to do it.
What you should know before changing your username on Instagram
Before making a hasty decision, you should know that there is a difference between your username and your display name on Instagram. Your display name, which is basically your personal or business name, has very few restrictions and you can change it as often as you like, and it doesn’t have to be unique. Changing the display name could be a simple solution for those looking for something easier to remember.
Your username, on the other hand, is what appears at the top of your Instagram account and the way people tag you with the @ symbol, or what goes at the end of your Instagram URL. In addition, Instagram usernames also have many more restrictions:
- It has to be unique for your account.
- It must be less than 30 characters.
- It can only contain letters, numbers, periods, and underscores (no spaces).
- No profanity or restricted language.
With all this resolved, it is time to learn how to change your Instagram username, as well as some additional information that you should know.
How to change your username from the Instagram application?
Instagram has been downloaded to millions of mobile devices around the world, so the first method we will describe is how to change your username from the Instagram application. It will take you literally a few seconds to complete the steps, assuming you have already thought of your new username. This is all you have to do:
- Open the Instagram application on your smartphone and log into your account.
- Click on your profile avatar at the bottom right of the screen.
- Then, click on the Edit profile option below your biography.
- Enter the new name you want to use in the Username field.
- Click on the check mark in the upper right, and you’re done.
As mentioned above, there are certain restrictions for Instagram usernames, and if your new username doesn’t meet them, you’ll see a red exclamation point and a message that says Username not available. Keep trying variations of the username until you find one that works.
How to change your username from the web version of Instagram?
Changing your Instagram username from a browser is just as easy, in fact the steps are exactly the same, but some of the buttons are located in different places on the screen. This is what you should do:
- Go to the Instagram website and log into your account.
- Click on your profile avatar in the upper right corner of the screen.
- Click on the Edit profile option next to your username.
- Now, enter the new username you want to use in the Username field.
- Click the Submit button at the bottom of the page.
Please note that unlike changing your Instagram username from the app, you will not receive a warning here that the desired username is already in use. In this case, a small pop-up window will inform you that the username is not available when you click the Submit button.