Change your Instagram name in the app or on the web

You can change the name that appears on your Instagram profile—called your display name—in about one minute from either the mobile app or a web browser. This is different from your username (the handle people use to tag you or search for you). Your display name is what shows up above your posts and in your profile header, and you can change it as often as you want with no waiting period.

Instagram does not limit how many times you change your display name or require you to wait between changes. You can use spaces, capital letters, numbers, and most punctuation marks in your display name, which gives you more flexibility than your username allows.

Key Takeaways

  • Your display name (what appears on your profile) is separate from your username (your @handle), and only the display name can be changed without restrictions.
  • On the mobile app, go to your profile, tap Edit Profile, and change the Name field to whatever you want.
  • On the web, visit instagram.com, click your profile icon, select Edit Profile, and update the Name field the same way.
  • Changes take effect when ready and are visible to everyone who views your profile.
  • If you want to change your username instead, you can do that once every 14 days from the same Edit Profile screen.

Steps to change your display name on the Instagram app

Open Instagram and tap your profile icon at the bottom right of the screen. This takes you to your profile page. Tap the "Edit Profile" button, which appears near the top of your profile under your current display name and username.

In the Edit Profile screen, find the field labeled "Name" at the top. This is your display name. Tap the field, delete your current name, and type in the new name you want. You can use up to 30 characters, including spaces and punctuation. When you are done, scroll down and tap "Done" or the checkmark button at the top right of the screen. Your new display name appears on your profile when ready.

Steps to change your display name on the web

Go to instagram.com and log in if you are not already signed in. Click your profile icon in the top right corner and select "Edit Profile" from the menu that appears. This opens your profile settings page in your browser.

Look for the "Name" field near the top of the page. Click in the field, clear your current name, and type your new display name. You can use up to 30 characters. Scroll down and click the "Submit" button to save your changes. Your new name appears on your profile right away.

The difference between display name and username

Your display name is what people see when they visit your profile or look at your posts—it is the human-readable name above your username. Your username is your @handle, the unique identifier people use to tag you, search for you, or visit your profile directly. For example, your display name might be "Sarah Chen" but your username might be @sarahchen22.

Display names have almost no restrictions: you can change them as often as you want, use spaces and capital letters, and repeat names other people use. Usernames are much stricter. You can only change your username once every 14 days, it must be unique (no one else can have it), and it can only contain letters, numbers, periods, and underscores. If you want to change your username instead of your display name, you can do that from the same Edit Profile screen, but you will see a message telling you when you can change it again.

What happens when you change your display name

When you change your display name, the change is public and when ready. Everyone who visits your profile, sees your posts, or receives a message from you will see your new name right away. Your old display name does not appear anywhere on your profile or in your post history.

Changing your display name does not affect your username, your follower count, your posts, your messages, or any other part of your account. People who follow you will still follow you, and any tags or mentions of your username still work exactly the same way. If someone saved a link to your profile, it still works because the link uses your username, not your display name.

Reasons you might not be able to change your name

In most cases, you can change your display name without any problems. However, if you are seeing an error message or the Edit Profile button is not appearing, check that you are logged into the account you want to edit. If you are using a business or creator account, the Edit Profile button is in the same place, but some business accounts have additional restrictions set by Instagram or by the account owner.

If you recently created your account, Instagram may temporarily prevent you from editing your profile while it reviews your account for spam or violations. If this is happening, wait a few hours and try again. If the problem continues, you can report it through Instagram's Help Center by going to Settings > Help > Report a Problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username as easily as my display name?

No. You can change your username only once every 14 days, and it must be unique—no one else can use it. Your display name has no restrictions and can be changed as often as you want. If you want to change your username, go to Edit Profile, find the Username field, and follow the same steps, but Instagram will tell you when you can change it again.

Will people lose the ability to find me if I change my display name?

No. People find you by your username (@handle), not your display name. Changing your display name does not affect your username or how people search for you. Your profile link and tags still work exactly the same way.

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

You can use most punctuation marks and spaces in your display name. Emojis usually work, though Instagram occasionally removes them if they violate community guidelines. If an emoji does not appear after you save, try a different one or use text instead.

What if someone else is using the display name I want?

Display names do not have to be unique on Instagram—multiple people can have the same display name. You can use any display name you want, even if someone else is already using it. Only usernames must be unique.

Does changing my display name affect my Instagram business account or ads?

No. Changing your display name does not affect any business features, ads, or promotions you are running. Your business account settings, ad campaigns, and audience insights all stay the same. Your username is what matters for business purposes, and that is not affected by display name changes.