Where to find the name change option on Instagram

Your Instagram account name (also called your username) lives in your profile settings, not in the app's main menu. Open Instagram, tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner, then tap the three horizontal lines (called a menu) in the top right. Scroll down and tap Settings and privacy, then Account center. From there, tap Personal information, then Name. This is where you can edit the display name that appears at the top of your profile.

The display name is different from your username. Your display name is what friends see at the top of your profile — it can have spaces, capital letters, and special characters. Your username is the handle people use to find you (like @yourname), and changing it works differently. If you want to change your username instead, go back to Settings and privacy, tap Account, then Username.

Key Takeaways

  • Your display name (the readable name on your profile) and your username (the @handle) are two separate things, and you change them in different places.
  • Display name changes take effect when ready and you can change them as often as you want with no restrictions.
  • Username changes are limited — Instagram lets you change yours once every 14 days, and you cannot use a username someone else is already using.
  • Changing your account name does not affect your followers, messages, or posts, but people who knew your old username may have trouble finding you until they learn the new one.

The difference between display name and username

Your display name is purely for appearance. It is what shows up in large text at the top of your profile, and it is what appears next to your posts and comments. You can change it to anything you want — "Sarah Johnson", "Sarah J.", "🌸 Sarah", or even just "S" — and you can change it back the next day. Instagram places no restrictions on how often you change your display name or what characters you use.

Your username is your account's permanent address on Instagram. When someone searches for you, they search for your username. When you send a link to your profile, it includes your username. If you change your username, the old one becomes available for someone else to claim. Instagram limits you to one username change every 14 days, and you cannot use a username that is already taken by another account. If you change your username, your old followers stay following you — they just have to search for your new username to find you again.

How to change your display name

Open Instagram and go to your profile. Tap the menu icon (three lines) in the top right, then Settings and privacy. Tap Account center, then Personal information, then Name. You will see a text field with your current display name. Delete it and type your new name, then tap Save or Done (the button name varies by phone type). The change takes effect when ready.

If you do not see a Name option under Personal information, you may be using an older version of Instagram. Update the app from your phone's app store and try again. On very old accounts, the display name setting may still be under Settings > Edit profile instead of Account center.

How to change your username

To change your @username, go to your profile and tap the menu icon, then Settings and privacy. Tap Account, then Username. Type your new username in the text field. Instagram will tell you when ready if the username is taken or if it contains characters Instagram does not allow (like spaces or most special characters — usernames can only use letters, numbers, periods, and underscores). Once you choose an available username, tap Save. The change takes effect right away, but you cannot change it again for 14 days.

If you change your username and then want to change it back within 14 days, you cannot — the 14-day rule applies to any change, including changing back to a previous username. Plan your username change carefully. If you are not sure about a new username, stick with your display name change instead, which has no restrictions.

What happens to your account when you change your name

Changing your display name or username does not affect your followers, your messages, your posts, or your account security. People who already follow you will continue to follow you. Your direct messages stay in your inbox. Your posts stay on your profile with the same likes and comments. If you had a verified badge (a blue checkmark), it stays with your account.

The main consequence is that people who knew your old username may not be able to find you. If you had a large following or a business account, consider telling your followers about the change before you make it — you can post a story or send a message to close friends. If you change your username and then regret it, you have to wait 14 days before you can change it again, so the old username will be available for someone else to claim during that time.

Reasons to change your account name and when to think twice

People change their Instagram names for many reasons: they got married and want a new last name, they started a business and want a professional username, they want to rebrand their content, or they straightforward want something that feels more like them now. Changing your display name is risk-free — you can do it as many times as you want, and it does not affect how people find you or follow you.

Changing your username is a bigger decision. If you have a business account, a large following, or a username that people know you by, changing it can make you harder to find. If you are thinking about changing your username, ask yourself whether people search for you by that name, whether it appears in your email signature or on other social media, and whether you might want to change it back later. If the answer to any of those is yes, consider keeping your username and just changing your display name instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username back to what it was before?

Not when ready. You have to wait 14 days after your last username change before you can change it again. If someone else claimed your old username during that time, you cannot get it back — usernames are first-come, first-served. If you are thinking about changing back, do it within the 14-day window before someone else takes it.

What if the username I want is taken?

You cannot use a username that another account is already using. Try adding a number, a period, or an underscore (like sarah.johnson or sarah_johnson instead of sarahjohnson). You can also check if the account using that username is active — if it has not posted in years, you might try messaging the owner to ask if they would consider changing it, though they are under no obligation to do so.

Will my followers see my old username after I change it?

No. Once you change your username, your profile shows only the new one. Your followers will not see a notification about the change, but if they visit your profile, they will see your new username. If they try to visit your old username directly (like typing it into the search bar), they will not find your account.

Can I use special characters or spaces in my username?

No. Instagram usernames can only contain letters (a–z), numbers (0–9), periods (.), and underscores (_). You cannot use spaces, hyphens, or emoji in your username. You can use those characters in your display name, but not in your @username.

Does changing my name affect my account security?

No. Changing your display name or username does not change your password, your two-factor authentication settings, or any other security feature. Your account remains as find as it was before the change.