Simple Ways to Choose and Change Instagram Username in 2024
Whether you are yet to get a hang of Instagram settings or you want to become more searchable on Instagram, this article is for you!
Aside from being familiar with Instagram bio settings, you need to ensure that your account is easy to discover and remember. In addition, you might want to consider Instagram SEO when choosing a new username.
Before finally choosing the ideal instagram username for your account, you need to understand more about Instagram username, step to choosing one, and other things to consider before taking this significant step.
Let’s begin!
What Is an Instagram Username?
Your Instagram username, also called an Instagram handle is a unique identifier that makes your account easily discoverable on the platform. Note that an Instagram username is different from your display name.
Username on Instagram starts with the “@” symbol and can occupy the space of up to 30 characters combination of letters, numbers and symbols.
The Instagram username like those of other social media platforms, are key in building your online identity and visibility. Therefore, you need to consider several branding factors for choosing and changing your username.
What a Good Username Should Be Instagram
A good username for Instagram should be straightforward, easy to remember, and consistent across your other social media platforms.
Therefore, we will share some key tips to guide you in picking a good username.
1. It Should Be Simple
Your Instagram usernames does not have to include letters, numbers, underscores, periods, and underscores together. Find a name that is catchy or easy to spell, search, and remember.
2. Apply Creativity
While trying to make your username simple, it should not be boring. Coin your words creatively, making it easy to search for and improving your following.
3. Be Unique
You can scale through the 1 billion monthly active Instagram users on Instagram, and get noticed with a unique brand username. Your choice of name should make people find you easily through search
4. Stay Consistent
Before you choose your Instagram username, it’s a good idea to check if it’s also available on other social media platforms.
Not only is this important for consistency, but it’s a great way to cross-promote your social profiles.
With the same username, a follower on TikTok or Twitter can easily search and discover your profile on Instagram. Simple as that.
5. Consider Your Long-term Goals
Highlighting you or your brand’s niche in your Instagram username can be a great discoverability hack.
However, it’s important to keep your long-term social media and business goals in mind.
For example, if you’re a brand who plans on diversifying your product range in the future, don’t tie yourself to just one product in your Instagram username.
Instead, opt for more generic terms that give you the freedom to grow in the direction you’re aiming for.
2 Ways to Change Your Instagram Username in 2024
As soon as you get the perfect username for your Instagram account, the steps to changing into the new one is a piece of cake.
There are two methods to change your Instagram username. First is from your “profile”, while the other is from your “account center.”
How to Change Your Username from Your Profile
- Go to your profile page, then tap “Edit Profile” below your Instagram bio.
- Tap “Username” and type your new username in the provided space
- Ensure to tap on “Done” the “✔️” symbol at the right top of your screen to effect the change.
How to Change Your Username from Your Account Center
- On your profile page, tap on the “three horizontal lines” symbol at the top right of your screen to access your “Settings and Activity”
- Tap on Account Center and select Profiles.
- Tap on your preferred profile.
- Then tap on the profile information you want to update (in this case, your username), then replace your old username with the new one.
- Finally, tap on “Save,” “Done,” or Submit.”
There you have it!
How Often Should You Change Your Instagram Username?
As soon as you change your username on Instagram, we recommend that you stick with it. Always changing your username can confuse your followers and result in high unfollowing.
Nonetheless, if changing your username will improve your Instagram SEO and discoverability, then do the needful.
Instagram Username FAQs
We know that you might have more questions about Instagram usernames, so we answered a few.
How Can You See Your Old Instagram Usernames?
You can check your previous Instagram usernames in a few easy steps:
- Go to your profile and tap on the “three horizontal lines” symbols at the top right side of your screen.
- Tap on “Your Activity”
- Move down and tap on “Account History” and see all the changes you made to your account.
- Then select “Update type” on the top of your screen, and filter to “Usernames.”
You will see your old Instagram usernames.
When Inputting a New Username, Why Does It Show “Username Not Available?”
When a pop-up response says “username not available” as you change your username, it means that such username is already taken by another user.
How Can I Get an Instagram Username That Is Already Taken?
If you are willing to DM the original account owner and pay a large sum of money for their username, this might be ideal. But we often recommend to choose another Instagram username.
Takeaway: Instead of using an totally new username, create another variation of your target username, using a new word addition, introducing symbol or numbers.
For example, We used @thisistrendupp username in place of @trendupp. Other variations could include, @thisis_trendupp and @trendupp1.
How Often Can You Change Your Instagram Username?
You can change your username on Instagram twice. After that, you will have to wait for 14 days to change username again. However, if you mistakenly change to a new username, you can revert back to the previous one immediately.
And it is a wrap! We hope to have helped you out with things to consider and do when choosing and changing your Instagram username in 2024.
