Change Your Instagram Display Name in Three Steps
You can change the name that appears on your Instagram profile—called your display name—directly from the app or website in under a minute. This is different from your username (the handle with the @ symbol), which has stricter rules. Your display name can be anything you want, up to 30 characters, and you can change it as often as you like with no waiting period.
The process is the same whether you use Instagram on your phone or computer. Go to your profile, tap or click the "Edit Profile" button, find the name field at the top, delete the current text, type your new name, and save. Instagram will update it across your account when ready.
Key Takeaways
- Your display name (what people see on your profile) is separate from your username (@handle) and can be changed anytime without restrictions.
- You can change your display name from the mobile app or website by going to Edit Profile and updating the name field.
- Display names can be up to 30 characters and can include spaces, numbers, and most special characters.
- If you want to change your username instead, you can do that once every 14 days, and the old username becomes available for anyone else to claim.
- Changes take effect when ready and are visible to everyone who visits your profile.
Steps to Change Your Display Name on Mobile
Open Instagram and go to your profile by tapping the person icon at the bottom right. Tap "Edit Profile" below your profile picture. The name field is the first text box you see—it currently shows your display name. Tap it to select all the text, then delete it and type your new name.
Once you have typed the new name, scroll down and tap "Done" or the checkmark button at the top right (the exact button depends on whether you use iOS or Android, but both work the same way). Instagram saves the change when ready. Your new name will appear on your profile and in search results within seconds.
Steps to Change Your Display Name on Desktop
Go to Instagram.com and log in if you are not already signed in. Click your profile picture in the top right corner and select "Profile" from the menu. Click the "Edit Profile" button. The name field is at the top of the form—click it, select all the text, and type your new name.
Scroll down and click "Submit" to save your changes. The page will refresh and show your updated name. Like the mobile app, the change is live when ready and visible to everyone.
What You Can and Cannot Do With Display Names
Instagram allows spaces, numbers, periods, hyphens, and underscores in display names. You can use emoji as well. The only hard limit is 30 characters total. Unlike usernames, display names do not have to be unique—multiple people can have the same display name, so you do not have to worry about someone else "taking" the name you want.
You cannot change your display name to something that violates Instagram's Community Guidelines, such as content that is hateful, sexually explicit, or promotes violence. If you try, Instagram will reject the change and ask you to pick something else. You can change your display name as many times as you want with no cooldown period—there is no waiting between changes.
The Difference Between Display Name and Username
Your display name is what people see when they visit your profile—it is the large text at the top. Your username is your @handle, the unique identifier people use to tag you or search for you. They are separate things, and changing one does not affect the other.
Display names are straightforward to change and have no restrictions. Usernames are harder to change: you can only change yours once every 14 days, and the old username becomes available for anyone else to claim when ready. If you want to change your username instead of your display name, go to Edit Profile, scroll down to the "Username" field, and follow the same steps—but keep in mind the 14-day waiting period applies.
What Happens When You Change Your Name
When you change your display name, the old name disappears from your profile when ready. People who have you saved in their phone contacts will still see your old name in their direct messages until they refresh the app or close and reopen the conversation. Your followers do not get a notification that you changed your name.
If you have a business account or creator account, changing your display name does not affect your verification badge (the blue checkmark), your follower count, or any of your posts. Everything else on your profile stays exactly the same—only the name at the top changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my username instead of my display name?
Yes, but usernames have a 14-day waiting period between changes. Go to Edit Profile, scroll to the Username field, and tap or click it. Type your new username and save. Once you change it, your old username becomes available for anyone else to claim, and you cannot change it again for 14 days.
What if Instagram says my new name violates community guidelines?
Instagram will reject the name and show you an error message. Try a different name that does not include hateful language, slurs, or content that promotes violence or sexual material. If you believe the rejection was a mistake, you can try the name again or contact Instagram support through the app.
Will my followers see that I changed my name?
No, Instagram does not send a notification when you change your display name. Your followers will only see the new name if they visit your profile or see you in their feed. The change is when ready but not announced.
Can I use special characters or emoji in my display name?
Yes. Instagram allows spaces, numbers, periods, hyphens, underscores, and emoji in display names. The only limit is 30 characters total. Usernames, by contrast, only allow periods, underscores, and numbers—no spaces or emoji.
What if someone else has the display name I want?
Display names do not have to be unique on Instagram, so multiple people can have the same one. You can use any display name you want, even if someone else is already using it. This is different from usernames, which must be unique.