Change your Instagram profile name in three steps

To change your profile name on Instagram, open the app, tap your profile icon in the bottom right, select "Edit profile," and change the text in the "Name" field. This is the display name that appears above your username — the one people see when they visit your profile. Instagram lets you change it as often as you want, and the change takes effect when ready across the platform.

The process is the same whether you use Instagram on your phone or through a web browser. Your username (the handle with the @ symbol) is separate and follows different rules if you want to change it later.

Key Takeaways

  • Your profile name is the display text above your username and can be changed anytime without restrictions.
  • On mobile, go to your profile, tap "Edit profile," and update the Name field directly.
  • On a web browser, visit instagram.com, click your profile icon, select "Edit profile," and change the Name field the same way.
  • Changes appear when ready on your profile and in search results where your name shows up.
  • You can use spaces, capital letters, and special characters in your profile name, unlike your username.

Step-by-step on your phone

Open Instagram and tap the profile icon (a person's silhouette) in the bottom right corner of your screen. This takes you to your profile page. At the top, you will see a button that says "Edit profile" — tap it.

The first field on the Edit Profile screen is labeled "Name." Tap inside it, delete the current text, and type your new profile name. You can use up to 30 characters, including spaces, numbers, and punctuation. When you are done, scroll down and tap "Done" or the checkmark button at the top right. Instagram saves the change when ready.

Step-by-step on a web browser

Go to instagram.com and log in if you are not already signed in. Click your profile icon in the top right corner of the page — it looks like a small circle with your profile picture. A menu will drop down. Select "Edit profile" from that menu.

You will see the same Edit Profile page as on mobile. The "Name" field is at the top. Click inside it, clear the current text, and type your new name. Click "Submit" or the button to save your changes. The update takes effect right away.

What you can and cannot do with your profile name

Your profile name has far fewer restrictions than your username. You can use spaces, capital letters, numbers, periods, hyphens, and other punctuation marks. You can change it back and forth as often as you want — Instagram does not limit how many times you change it or how quickly you change it.

The only real limit is the 30-character maximum. If you try to type beyond that, Instagram will not let you add more characters. Your profile name is also searchable, so if someone searches for your name on Instagram, your profile may appear in the results even if your username is different.

The difference between profile name and username

Your profile name is what people see when they visit your profile — it appears in large text at the top. Your username is your handle, the one that starts with @ and appears in your bio and in links to your profile. The profile name is for display; the username is your actual account identifier.

You can change your profile name whenever you want with no restrictions. Your username is harder to change — Instagram lets you change it once every 14 days, and you cannot use a username that is already taken or one you have used before within the last 14 days. If you want to change your username instead of your profile name, go to Edit Profile, scroll down to the "Username" field, and follow the same process, keeping in mind the 14-day rule.

Why your change might not show up right away everywhere

In most cases, your new profile name appears when ready on your profile and in search results. However, Instagram's servers sometimes take a few minutes to sync the change across all devices and locations. If you change your name and a friend does not see it right away on their phone, ask them to close and reopen the Instagram app or refresh the page.

If you change your profile name and then when ready change it again, you might see a brief delay or a cached version of the old name. This is normal and clears within a few minutes. If your new name still does not appear after an hour, try logging out and logging back in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use emojis in my profile name?

Yes. Instagram allows emojis in your profile name. You can copy and paste emojis from any source, or on most phones you can open your emoji keyboard and select them directly. Keep in mind that emojis count toward your 30-character limit.

Will changing my profile name affect my followers or posts?

No. Your followers stay with you, your posts remain on your profile, and your follower count does not change. Only the display name at the top of your profile changes. People who follow you will see your new name the next time they visit your profile.

What if my profile name change is not showing up?

Close the Instagram app completely and reopen it, or refresh the page if you are on a web browser. If the change still does not appear after a few minutes, log out of your account and log back in. This forces Instagram to reload your profile information from its servers.

Can I change my profile name back to what it was before?

Yes. There is no limit on how many times you can change your profile name or how quickly you can change it. You can switch back to an old name anytime by following the same edit process.