Can You Change Your Instagram Name?

Posted on 24th Apr, 2025.

TL;DR (The Short Version)

Your user name is your handle and your display name appears on your profile.
You can change your user name and display name - your user name twice every 14 days and display name whenever you want.
You can change both names by clicking Edit Profile on your profile.
Read on for more tips!

You might have made your Instagram account a while ago, and realised that your username no longer reflects you (yes, we all have a cringe 2014 username choice). Or, maybe you're launching a new personal brand or becoming an influencer, and your old username just won't cut it. Whatever your reason, there are easy ways to change both your username and display name on Instagram without having to create a brand new account.

We'll explore how to change your Instagram name, how often you can do it, and why you might decide to. Let's get into it.

Username vs. Display Name: What’s the Difference?

First things first, Instagram actually has two name fields, so you'll have to decide which one you actually want to change.

Username (@yourhandle): This is your @name and what people use to tag you. It has to be unique and can only include letters, numbers, full stops, or underscores.

Display Name: This shows up on your profile right under your photo and can include symbols, emojis, spaces, and doesn’t need to be unique. Usernames can have up to 30 characters, and display names can have up to 50 characters.

You can change both, but there are a few things to keep in mind.

How Often Can You Change It?

You can change your username up to twice every 14 days, but once you do, your old one might be locked for 14 days, so choose wisely.

Your display name can be changed as often as you like, but Instagram might flag weird or overly frequent changes as spammy behaviour, so choose wisely when you do so.

How to Change Your Instagram Username or Name

On the Instagram app:

Go to your profile
Tap “Edit Profile”
Update your username and/or name
Hit “Done” and that’s it!

On desktop:

Head to Instagram.com and log in
Click your profile icon > “Profile”
Select “Edit Profile”
Type your new name(s) and save.

Why Change My Instagram Name?

Changing your Instagram name isn’t just a vibe shift, it can actually be a smart move. Here’s why people do it:

Rebranding: Whether you’re growing your personal brand, launching a new business, or just outgrowing your old handle (we see you, @cutie_4eva), a name change can help reflect your current identity and goals.

Aesthetic Upgrade: Sometimes you just want your username to match your feed’s vibe, making your profile cleaner, cooler, or more you.

Making It Easier to Find: If your old name was long, hard to spell, or full of random numbers, a new one can make it easier for people to search and tag you. This is also true if another public figure shares your name or a similar one.

Going Pro: Switching to something more polished (especially for content creators, influencers, or small biz owners) can make you look more legit to brands and followers, making monetisation easier.

Personal Growth: Maybe your account used to be for memes or high school selfies, but now you’re all about fitness, travel, or fashion. Your name should grow with you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Instagram name and keep my followers?

You can absolutely change your Instagram name and keep all your followers! Instagram allows you to change the name on the same account, so you won't lose followers, you'll keep everything about your profile the same, just with a different user name or display name. It won't affect your Instagram follower count.

Can I change my Instagram name multiple times?

You can change your Instagram name multiple times, but if you have a personal brand or you're a known internet personality, we wouldn't recommend changing it too often. Your username can become your signature - followers may refer to you as your username or recommend you to others with this well-known nickname, so only change it when you want to rebrand, not every week for fun.

Changing your name can be extremely useful when you want to rebrand, or your username or display name no longer fit your content. Luckily, Instagram makes it easy to do in just a few steps. Doing so can boost engagement, but don't forget, don't change your Instagram name too often, or you risk losing your online identity.