How to Change Your Instagram Name: A Comprehensive Guide

Your Instagram name is a core part of your online identity. It’s how people find you, how they remember you, and how you present yourself to the world. Whether you’re rebranding, changing your business focus, or simply want a name that better reflects who you are, knowing how to change your Instagram name is crucial. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process step-by-step, ensuring you can update your profile with confidence.

Understanding the Difference: Name vs. Username

Before we dive into the how-to, it’s important to understand the difference between your Instagram Name and your Instagram Username. They’re both visible on your profile but serve different purposes:

• Name: This is the name displayed prominently at the top of your profile, often in bold. It’s more flexible and can include spaces, special characters, and even emojis. This is the name people will see when they visit your profile or when you appear in search results. Think of this as your ‘real’ name, or the name you want people to associate with your brand or personality.
• Username: This is your unique identifier, also known as your handle. It’s what appears in your profile URL (e.g., instagram.com/yourusername) and is used for tagging and mentions. Usernames are typically lowercase, cannot contain spaces, and are required to be unique on Instagram. It’s the ‘address’ for your profile.

This guide will primarily focus on changing your Name. While you can also change your username, it’s a separate process and carries slightly different implications (such as changing your profile URL). We’ll touch upon username changes briefly later.

Why Might You Want to Change Your Instagram Name?

There are various reasons why you might want to change your Instagram name. Here are some common scenarios:

• Rebranding: If you’ve changed your business name or brand identity, updating your Instagram name is essential to reflect this change.
• Personal Evolution: As you grow and evolve, you might want your online presence to mirror your current personality and interests.
• Name Correction: Sometimes we make mistakes when setting up accounts. You might need to correct a typo or inaccurate spelling in your name.
• Marital Name Change: If you’ve recently gotten married and changed your name, you’ll likely want to update it on your social media platforms as well.
• Better Representation: You might feel your current name doesn’t adequately represent your content or what you’re trying to communicate.
• SEO (Search Engine Optimization): In some cases, incorporating relevant keywords into your name can slightly improve your visibility in search results.
• Starting Over: Sometimes, a fresh start requires a fresh name to align with your new goals.

Step-by-Step Guide: Changing Your Instagram Name

The process for changing your Instagram name is straightforward, whether you’re using the mobile app or the desktop version.

Using the Instagram Mobile App (iOS and Android)

The most common way to access Instagram is through the mobile app. Here are the detailed steps for both iOS and Android devices:

1. Launch the Instagram App: Find the Instagram icon on your phone’s home screen or app drawer and tap it to open the app.
2. Go to Your Profile: Tap on the profile icon located in the bottom-right corner of the screen. This will take you to your profile page, where you can see all your posts and your current name/username.
3. Tap the ‘Edit Profile’ Button: Below your bio, you’ll find a button that says “Edit Profile.” Tap this button to access the profile editing screen.
4. Locate the ‘Name’ Field: On the edit profile page, you’ll see various fields, including “Name” and “Username.” Tap on the field labeled “Name.”
5. Enter Your New Name: Carefully type in your new name. Remember that this field allows spaces, numbers, special characters, and even emojis. Take your time to ensure there are no typos and that the name accurately reflects your intention.
6. Tap the ‘Done’ or Checkmark Button: Once you’re satisfied with your new name, look for a “Done” button (on iOS) or a checkmark button (on Android) typically located in the top-right corner of the screen. Tap this to save the changes.
7. Review Your Profile: You’ll be taken back to your profile page. Verify that your new name is displayed correctly. If you need to make further changes, you can repeat steps 3-6.

Using Instagram on a Desktop Browser

You can also change your Instagram name using a computer’s web browser. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open Instagram in Your Browser: Go to instagram.com in your preferred web browser and log in to your account.
2. Navigate to Your Profile: Click on your profile picture icon in the top-right corner of the screen. This will open a small drop-down menu. Click on “Profile” to go to your profile page.
3. Click the ‘Edit Profile’ Button: On your profile page, you’ll find a button labeled “Edit Profile” near the top of the screen. Click this button to access the profile editing page.
4. Locate the ‘Name’ Field: You’ll see several text fields on the edit profile screen. Find the field labeled “Name.”
5. Enter Your New Name: Type your desired new name into this field. Remember to double-check for any errors.
6. Click ‘Submit’ Button: After you have entered your new name, look for the “Submit” or “Save Changes” button at the bottom of the page. Click this button to save your new name.
7. Check Your Profile: Your profile page will reload. Verify that your new name is displayed as you intended. If not, you can repeat steps 3-6.

Important Considerations When Changing Your Instagram Name

While the process is straightforward, there are a few important things to keep in mind when changing your Instagram name:

• Name Changes Limits: Instagram doesn’t impose strict limits on how often you can change your name, but it’s generally advisable to make changes judiciously. Frequent and excessive changes might raise flags on the platform, suggesting potential misuse or suspicious activity.
• Character Limits: Your name can only be a certain length. Instagram’s name character limit is 30 characters. Make sure your new name fits within this limit.
• Impact on Searchability: Think carefully about how your name impacts your searchability. If you’re a business, using keywords in your name can be a useful strategy, but be mindful of how it sounds and appears.
• Consistency Across Platforms: If you have a brand, try to use the same name or a variation of it on other social media platforms and websites to maintain brand consistency and recognition.
• Clarity and Memorability: The best names are clear, easy to remember, and reflective of your content or personal brand. Avoid overly complex or confusing names.
• Consider Your Audience: Choose a name that resonates with your target audience and is appropriate for your niche.
• Potential Issues with Inappropriate Names: Instagram may remove names that violate their community guidelines. Avoid using any offensive, hateful, or inappropriate language.
• Name Availability: While there’s no restriction against using the same name as others for your ‘Name’, remember that your username needs to be unique. Even if you’re changing your name and not your username, consider the fact that if you grow big enough, it might get hard for your fans to find the real you if someone else is using the same name. It will be hard for fans to differentiate between you two. So it’s always a good idea to be mindful of this.

Brief Note on Changing Your Instagram Username

As mentioned earlier, your username is different from your name. Changing your username has more significant implications. Here’s a very brief overview:

• Availability: Your username must be unique, so the username you want might already be taken. You will need to come up with a unique username.
• URL Change: Changing your username changes your Instagram profile URL. If you have shared your profile link elsewhere, you’ll need to update those links. This also means if you want to go back to your old username you might not be able to as someone else might take it after you change it.
• Mentioning/Tagging: People who have tagged or mentioned you with your old username will no longer be linked to your profile. They will still see you in the tag but the tag will not take them to your account.
• Process: The process of changing your username is similar to changing your name: go to ‘Edit Profile’ and update the username field.

Conclusion

Changing your Instagram name is a straightforward process that allows you to better represent yourself or your brand. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can update your name with ease, whether you’re using the mobile app or a desktop browser. Remember to consider the implications of your name choice, adhere to character limits and ensure your name is appropriate and reflective of your goals. Be mindful of how often you change your name so that it doesn’t flag any suspicious activity on your account. Keep these tips and guidelines in mind and your Instagram profile will always reflect who you are. Now you can manage your online identity with confidence and ease!