How to use Instagram Username effectively - Everything you need to know about your Instagram Username


Instagram Username is your entry ticket as well as your visiting card into the world of Instagram. Therefore choosing a good username that resonates with you as a person or brand is a must.

In this article, we will explore all the questions you have regarding your Instagram username and every thing you need to know about your Instagram username in detail. Let's get started -

Contents

What is Insta username or Instagram username?

Insta username or Instagram username is your Instagram handle, through which your Instagram profile address is determined.

People often use Insta username to search for a profile on Instagram.

It can be made in any arrangement and may or may not be related to the actual name of the person or business.

What is the difference between your display name and username on Instagram?

When it comes to displaying names and usernames on Instagram, although they may sound the same to the average folk, they have different uses altogether.

In Instagram, the display name is your name, which is displayed on your profile page, near your avatar or display picture.

On the other hand, username works as your Instagram handle, often used to determine your Instagram profile's address.

Display name on Instagram need not be unique, and it can be defined as a combination of letters, special characters, and emojis. In contrast, an Instagram username is unique and cannot be the same for two people.

Also use of special characters is quite limited, and emojis are not permitted in Instagram usernames. But in the display name, users often put their creativity into defining their names.

How do I find my Instagram username?

Your Instagram username is visible on your profile page, on the top, just beside your display picture, when using the the Instagram web version.

On Instagram App, your username is visible in the top left corner above the display picture.

In all cases, your Instagram username will appear at the top of your profile page and towards the end of your Instagram profile's URL.

How do I change my Instagram username on Instagram?

You can change your username on Instagram by following the below steps;

  1. Open Instagram web at Instagram.com or Instagram App and login into your account.
  2. Once logged in, click/tap on your display picture in the circle at the top-right / bottom-right corner of the page to open your Instagram profile page.
  3. On your Instagram profile page, click/tap on the 'Edit Profile' button to open the profile editing section.
  4. In the 'Username' section, enter another username of your choice and click/tap on the 'Submit' button/tick mark to save your new username, and your Instagram username is now changed.

What can you do if your Instagram name is already taken?

Finding a good username that represents you or your business is a pain, especially when your chosen username is already taken.

Although, in this situation, you can't do much except wait for the username to be available unless you just go creative!

If your Instagram username is already taken, you can try the following things;

  1. Start your Instagram username with @official or @weare or @iam or @thisis or @real etc.
  2. Be creative with the use of numbers along with letters or use of underscore (_).
  3. If you have a brand, you can try creating multiple accounts according to a different country or use the country name in the end to differentiate your Instagram username.

A perfect Instagram username is a great asset. But when it is not available, be creative.

Also, ensure to create traction for your username so that people can know it's you and not someone else.

How can I use my old Insta username on Instagram?

In order to use your old username on Instagram, you must first get back your old username.

Usually, you can change your Instagram username back to your old username, subject to;

  • Your old username has not been taken by any new person on Instagram.
  • Your old username hasn't been recently removed from an active Instagram account that you don't own.

If your username is seen by many people, username change may be subject to review by Instagram and will be changed only when the review process is completed.

The username change will happen immediately if your Instagram account is fairly limited to a few people.

How to find my old Insta username on Instagram App?

Instagram usernames are also part of your login information on Instagram, and sometimes you may want to know about your previous usernames used on Instagram.

Fortunately, finding your old Insta username on Instagram is not difficult. To find your old Instagram username, just follow the below-mentioned process;

  1. Open Instagram App and login into your account.
  2. Tap on your display picture in the circle to open your profile page.
  3. Next, tap on the drop-down menu shown as three vertical lines on the top-right corner of the screen, and then scroll down at the bottom to open the 'Settings' page.
  4. On the settings page, tap on the 'Security' option.
  5. Next, tap on 'Access Data' and scroll down to 'Profile Info'.

All your former Instagram usernames will be listed here.

Can I hide my old Insta username on Instagram?

There may be a situation when you have just updated your Instagram username to a more defining or professional-looking username to boost your Instagram profile.

One problem to deal with is that your old username is still visible on your older Instagram posts. How to fix it? Well, although you can easily hide your old username by changing to a new username.

However, if your old username is still showing, it is usually because your old username is in cache memory and will be changed to your new username with time.

In certain cases, the old username may be visible for longer, especially if it's a business account and you do a lot of advertising. The quick fix is to switch to a new account altogether.

But this is not a practical solution. You can best give it time and let the Instagram algorithm do the work of replacing your old username with the new one on your older posts.

Another useful thing you can do is publicly post about the change in your username.

This is to let your followers know about the new username so that people following you will not get confused about your updated Instagram username and will mention your new username in the Instagram posts henceforth.

How do I find my old Instagram Username or email address used with the Instagram account?

You can easily find your old Instagram username or email address. Just follow the below steps;

  1. Open the Instagram website at Instagram.com and login into your account.
  2. Click on your display picture in the circle to open the drop-down menu and select 'Settings' to open the settings page.
  3. On the settings page, click on 'Privacy and Security' from the left-side menu options.
  4. In the 'Privacy and Security' section, scroll down to 'Account Data' and click on 'View Account Data' to see your account details.
  5. Scroll down to 'Profile Info,' where you will find all former usernames, along with email addresses and phone numbers used in your Instagram account.

The above process can thus also help you identify all the previous credentials used to login into your Instagram account.