Your Instagram link is a URL that points directly to your profile
Your Instagram link is a web address that takes someone to your profile when they click it. Instagram creates this automatically when you set up an account. The link follows the pattern instagram.com/yourusername — so if your username is "sarah_photos", your link is instagram.com/sarah_photos.
You do not need to create or request this link. It exists as soon as your account exists. You can find it, copy it, and share it anywhere — in an email, a text message, on another website, or in a document. The link works the same way whether someone clicks it on a phone or a computer.
Key Takeaways
- Your Instagram link is instagram.com/ followed by your username, and Instagram creates it automatically.
- You can find your link by opening your profile, tapping the menu, and selecting "Copy profile URL" or by typing the address directly into a browser.
- Sharing your link does not change your privacy settings — a private account stays private even if someone has the link.
- If you change your username, your old link stops working and a new one is created with your new username.
- You can share your link in emails, text messages, websites, documents, or anywhere else you want people to find your profile.
How to copy your Instagram link on a phone
Open Instagram and go to your profile by tapping the person icon at the bottom right of the screen. Once you are on your profile, look for a menu icon — usually three horizontal lines or three dots in the top right corner. Tap that menu.
Scroll down until you see an option that says "Copy profile URL" or "Copy link to profile". Tap it. Instagram copies your link to your phone's clipboard. You can now paste it anywhere — open a text message, email, or document and hold down until a "Paste" option appears, then tap it.
If you do not see a "Copy profile URL" option, you can also type your link manually. It is always instagram.com/ followed by your exact username, with no spaces or capital letters.
How to copy your Instagram link on a computer
Go to instagram.com and log in if you are not already logged in. Click your profile picture or username in the top right corner, then click "Profile". You are now on your profile page.
Look at the address bar at the very top of your browser — the place where web addresses appear. You will see instagram.com/yourusername. Click on that address bar to select it, then right-click and choose "Copy". The link is now copied to your clipboard. You can paste it into an email, document, or anywhere else by right-clicking and selecting "Paste".
What happens when you share your link
Sharing your Instagram link does not change any of your privacy settings. If your account is private, it stays private — someone who clicks your link will see your profile, but they cannot see your posts or follow you without your permission. If your account is public, anyone who clicks the link can see everything you have posted.
When someone clicks your link, they land on your profile page. They see your username, profile picture, bio, and the number of followers you have. They can then choose to follow you, message you, or leave. The link itself does not give anyone special access or information they could not find by searching for your username.
Sharing your link in different places
You can share your Instagram link anywhere you share other web addresses. In an email, paste it into the body of the message or in a signature. In a text message, paste it as you would any other link. On a website or blog, you can paste it as a clickable link by using your website's link tool.
If you are sharing your link on another social media platform — Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, or LinkedIn — paste it into your post or bio the same way. Some platforms recognize Instagram links and display a preview of your profile. Others show it as plain text. Either way, the link works.
You can also print your link or write it down. Someone can type instagram.com/yourusername into a browser and reach your profile without needing to click a link.
What to do if you change your username
If you change your Instagram username, your old link stops working. Instagram automatically creates a new link based on your new username. Any link you shared with the old username will no longer work.
If you have shared your link in many places — a website, an email signature, printed materials — you will need to update those links after you change your username. Search for the old link in each place and replace it with the new one. This is one reason to think carefully before changing your username if you have shared it widely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone see my private messages if they have my link?
No. Your link only shows your profile page — the same information anyone can see by searching for your username. It does not give anyone access to your messages, and it does not notify you that someone clicked it.
Is my Instagram link the same as my username?
Your link includes your username, but they are not identical. Your username is just the name itself — "sarah_photos". Your link is the full web address — instagram.com/sarah_photos. You type the link into a browser; you search for the username in Instagram's search bar.
What if someone else has the username I want?
You cannot use a username that is already taken. If the username you want belongs to someone else, you will need to choose a different one. You can check if a username is available by trying to create an account with it or by searching for it on Instagram.
Can I make my link shorter or custom?
Instagram does not offer custom or shortened links for personal profiles. Your link is always instagram.com/ followed by your username. Some third-party services can create shortened links that redirect to your Instagram profile, but these are not official Instagram links.
Does sharing my link let Instagram track who clicks it?
Instagram does not tell you how many people clicked a link you shared outside of Instagram. If you have a business account, Instagram's analytics show you information about activity on your profile, but not about clicks on links you shared elsewhere.