How to Change My Name on Instagram? | A Practical Guide on Changing Instagram Name

Your username is the essence of your Instagram profile. Hence, it should reflect your personality and give a sneak peek of who you are. It is your first impression of someone, so it has to be something catchy yet easy to remember. 

Considering this important aspect of social media marketing, many influencers today are willing to update their profile names. Hence, the internet is stormed with queries like ‘how to change my name on Instagram?’ 

Following this trend, if you’re also willing to update your profile name, I’ve got your back!!!

Here, I’ll comprehensively discuss how to change your name on Instagram, along with cautionary tips to follow while updating the name. 

Quick Answer ❗

To change your username on the mobile app,

• Tap on the profile icon.
• Click on edit profile.
• Select a username or name.
• Update the name.
• Tap on the check mark present above. 

Instagram Name Overview

Any Instagram profile has two names: one is a Username, which is used to find, tag, and mention someone, and the other is Display Name, which is your signature name that appears below your profile picture and above your bio.

The username and display name are quite different from each other. Here, we’ve discussed the major differences between the two in great detail, so give it a good read. 

Username	Display Name
It is displayed at the top of your profile and used for commenting, searching, and mentioning someone.	It appears below your profile picture and right above your bio.
A username is unique, and no two people can have the same username.	Two people can have the same display name.
You can use letters, numbers, underscores, and periods for your username. Except for this, no special symbols or emojis can be used.	You can use emojis and even special characters or symbols in your display name.

Well, now that you are aware of all the nitty-gritty of the IG username, let’s address how to change my name on Instagram in the subsequent sections. 

How to Change Instagram Username?

Username, also known as a handle name, holds significant value, as it is the sole medium for identifying and mentioning someone on the platform. It’s basically your identity on the app through which people address or communicate with you. 

That’s why I have elaborately answered how to change my name on Instagram by discussing steps for changing IG names on both the app and desktop versions 

On Mobile App

Use the below-given instructions to learn how to change Instagram usernames: 

1. Navigate to Instagram and tap on your profile icon present below.

   

2. Click on the Edit Profile option.

   

3. Hit the Username.

   

4. Delete the old one, enter a New Username, and click on the check mark ✔️ present above.

   

On Desktop 

The steps for changing the username on the desktop version differ slightly. Here’s how to change your name on Instagram on your Desktop! 

1. Open Instagram, tap on the ≡ More button present at the bottom.

   

2. Hit Settings.

   

3. In Settings, tap on the Personal Details option.

   

4. Then click on your Username. 

   

5. From the given menu, hit the Username option. 

   

6. Remove the old Username, enter a new Username, and select Done. 

   

How to Change Your Name on Instagram (Display Name)? 

Instagram display name is more like your pet name on the platform. It’ll be visible on your profile, but one cannot use it to tag, find, or mention you on Gram. The best part about a display name is that, unlike a username, you can add cute emojis to it to make your profile stand out from others. The following sections discuss the method to change Instagram name in the easiest way possible. 

On Mobile App

The steps to updating a display name are pretty much similar to changing a username. You can seek assistance from the below-mentioned steps to learn how to change name on Instagram!

1. Open Instagram and tap on your profile icon.

   

2. From there, click on the Edit Profile option.

   

3. Select the Name option.

   

4. Update your Name and click on the check mark ✔️ present on the top. 

   

On Desktop

Well, the method to change the display name on Instagram is relatively similar to changing a username with a few tweaks here and there. Here’s how to change Instagram name in just six simple steps!

1. Navigate to Instagram and tap on the ≡ More option. 

   

2. Then select Settings.

   

3. From there, click on Personal Details.

   

4. In the Profiles section, tap on your handle name.

   

5. Hit the Name option.

   

6. Remove the previous name, update the new display name, and tap Done.

   

Changing names on Instagram is easy but deciding on the handle name is the biggest hurdle one has to overcome. 

So now that you’ve learned ‘how to change my name on Instagram,’ let’s discuss some of the important pointers that you should keep in mind while finalizing your IG name in the upcoming section. 

Also Read: An Elaborated Guide on How to Switch to Personal Account on Instagram

Dos and Don’ts of Changing Instagram Handle

Having a catchy and quirky username is the key to not being confused with someone else’s profile. But creating a unique handle is no child’s play as it involves a lot of deliberation, plus, you also need to stick to Instagram’s guidelines to get your name approved. 

Below, we’ve mentioned Gram’s naming guidelines that you must follow during your profile upgrade!

1. The username and display name should not have more than 30 characters. 
2. You can only incorporate letters, underscores, numbers, and periods for usernames and emojis for display names. 
3. Any special characters like hash (#), exclamation (!), and monetary symbols like Rupees (₹) and Dollars ($) are also not allowed in usernames.
4. Do not try to change your display name more than twice within fourteen days. 

Why Can’t I Change My Instagram Display Name?

The process of changing an IG username is easy, but sometimes you might not be able to change your display name even after consecutive attempts. Well, a multitude of factors may lead to this issue; below I’ve discussed them all. 

You are not able to change your Instagram display name due to the following reasons: 

1. Fourteen Days Restriction: If you’ve changed your display name twice before, but you’re not able to change this time, it’s because of the fourteen-day restriction imposed by Gram on changing names twice. 
2. Name Already Taken: The name you want is already taken by someone else. 
3. Username Doesn’t Meet the Guidelines: Your new username is not adhering to the community guidelines of Gram. Make sure that your username only has letters, underscores, periods, and numbers, and then try again.  
4. Name Under Review: If you have a huge following, your new name might be in the review process.
5. Try Again Error: This error usually occurs due to a poor internet connection or when the app observes any unusual activity on your account. This is done to avoid unauthorized third-party access to your account. 
6. Technical Issue: Sometimes, due to a poor internet connection or a technical issue, Instagram keeps crashing. This issue is generally from the Gram’s end and troubles in updating the handle name. To fix it, restart your device and reinstall Instagram.

Is Changing Instagram Name Really a Good Idea? Word of Caution

Though changing your IG username seems like an interesting thing that might intrigue you to learn how to change my name on Instagram, it’s not really the best decision to take, especially if you have a fairly substantial following. 

A lot of social media experts advise not changing the username, as it can cost you a lot of followers. Furthermore, after changing your handle name, you’ll not be able to find your IG account on Google for a while. This is because updating a profile’s URL outside the app takes some time. 

Most importantly, you’ll also need to change your handle name on other social media platforms, especially if you share a Facebook post on Instagram.

Hence, I suggest you not rush Google searching for how to change your name on Instagram every time some fancy or creative name pops up in your mind. 

Why Is There a Lock on Your Instagram Name?

If you see a lock on your name or you find a lock below your username while searching yourself, from someone’s account, don’t panic. It simply means that your IG account is Private and one needs to ‘Follow’ you in order to be friends with you. 

You just have to switch your private account to public and the lock will automatically get removed.

Wrapping Up!

Changing an IG name is quite a tedious task; that’s why many users end up wondering ‘how to change my name on Instagram.’ Hence, to clear the air about the IG name, we’ve drafted this comprehensive guide. 

Remember that while changing the display name might sound like a fun thing to do, not choosing a good name or informing your followers about the name change can lead to a loss of followers. So be cautious while switching your name, especially if you have a massive following. 

Also Read: Best Private Instagram Viewer for Account & Profile Exploration 

Frequently Asked Questions

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