You can change your Instagram name in the app settings, and the change takes effect when ready

Instagram lets you change the name that appears on your profile — called your "name" field — separate from your username. The name field is what people see at the top of your profile; your username is the handle they use to search for you or tag you in posts. You can change your name as often as you want, and Instagram does not require you to wait between changes.

The process takes less than a minute and works the same way on iPhone, Android, and the web version of Instagram.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Instagram name (the display name) is different from your username (the handle), and you can change the name field without changing your username.
  • Go to your profile, tap Edit Profile, and change the text in the Name field to whatever you want.
  • Instagram does not limit how often you change your name or require you to wait between changes.
  • The change shows up on your profile right away, but it may take a few minutes to appear in search results or on other people's devices.

How to change your name on the Instagram app

Open Instagram and go to your profile by tapping the person icon at the bottom right. Tap "Edit Profile" — it appears as a button near the top of your profile screen.

Find the "Name" field at the top of the Edit Profile page. This is the text field that currently shows your display name. Tap it, delete the current text, and type the new name you want. You can use letters, numbers, spaces, and most punctuation marks.

Scroll down and tap "Done" or "Save" (the button label depends on your phone's operating system). Your new name appears on your profile when ready.

How to change your name on Instagram's website

Go to Instagram.com and log in. Click your profile picture in the top right corner and select "Edit Profile" from the menu.

The Name field appears near the top of the page. Click in the field, clear the current text, and type your new name. Click "Submit" at the bottom of the page. The change takes effect right away.

What happens when you change your name

Your new name shows on your profile when ready, but it may take a few minutes to update everywhere else — in search results, in your followers' feeds, or on other people's devices. If someone has your profile bookmarked or saved, they may still see your old name for a short time.

Your username does not change. If your username is @sarah.okafor and you change your display name to "Sarah O.", your username stays @sarah.okafor. People still search for you and tag you using your username, not your display name.

Changing your name does not affect your followers, your posts, your messages, or any other part of your account. Your follower count, likes, and comments all stay the same.

Limits and restrictions on Instagram names

Instagram allows up to 30 characters in the Name field. You can use letters, numbers, spaces, periods, hyphens, and underscores. You cannot use most special characters like @, #, or &.

Instagram does not require your display name to match your real name. You can use a nickname, a business name, a pen name, or any text you choose. There is no waiting period between changes, so you can change your name as many times as you want.

If you change your name very frequently in a short period, Instagram may temporarily limit how often you can make changes as a spam-prevention measure. This is rare and usually lifts within a few hours.

Changing your username instead of your name

If you want to change your username (the @handle), the process is different. Go to Edit Profile, scroll down to find "Username," and tap it. Type your new username. Instagram checks whether the username is available. If it is, you can change it. If it is taken, Instagram suggests alternatives.

You can change your username once every 14 days. If you change it and then want to change it back to your old username, you have to wait 14 days before someone else can claim it. Your old username becomes available for anyone to use after you change away from it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Instagram name on a computer?

Yes. Go to Instagram.com, log in, click your profile picture, select Edit Profile, and change the Name field the same way you would on the app. The change takes effect when ready.

Will my followers see my name change?

Your followers will see your new name the next time they visit your profile or see you in their feed. The change does not send a notification, so they may not notice unless they are looking at your profile.

Can I use special characters or emojis in my Instagram name?

You can use letters, numbers, spaces, periods, hyphens, and underscores. Most special characters like @, #, $, and & are not allowed. Emojis are not supported in the Name field.

What is the difference between my Instagram name and username?

Your name is the display name people see on your profile. Your username is the @handle people use to search for you or tag you in posts. You can change your name as often as you want, but you can only change your username once every 14 days.

If I change my name, will my old posts show the new name?

Yes. All your old posts, comments, and messages will show your new name. Instagram updates your name everywhere on your account when you make the change.