How to Change Your Instagram Handle

Changing your Instagram handle feels like a big commitment, but it's one of the easiest ways to refresh your brand or better align your profile with your current goals. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from the strategic thinking you should do before changing your username to the step-by-step process of making the switch.

Why Change Your Instagram Handle?

Your Instagram username, or "handle," is more than just a login - it's your digital identity on the platform. It’s what people type to find you, what they use to tag you, and the first piece of text someone sees when they land on your profile. People change their handles for all sorts of reasons, but most of them boil down to branding and clarity.

Here are a few common motivations:

• A Business or Personal Rebrand: If your company has a new name or you've shifted your personal brand, your Instagram handle should follow suit. It's the most visible part of your online identity.
• Your Current Handle is Awkward: Is your username hard to spell, remember, or pronounce? Handles like @bobs_lawncare_nj_1985 are forgettable and clunky. A simpler name like @BobsLawnNJ is cleaner and more professional.
• It No Longer Fits Your Niche: Maybe you started as @JennysCraftCorner but now exclusively focus on custom pottery. Changing to @JennysPottery makes it instantly clear what you're all about to new visitors.
• Your Desired Handle Became Available: Sometimes, the perfect username is already taken by an inactive account. If you've been checking and suddenly see it's free, it’s a good time to claim it.
• You’ve Outgrown an Old Name: That handle you created in college, like @Sk8rBoi4Lyfe, probably doesn’t reflect the professional photographer you've become. A rebrand helps you attract the right audience.

The Strategic Checklist: 5 Things to Do Before You Change Your Handle

Hitting "save" on a new username is easy, but a little prep work can prevent some major headaches down the road. Ticking off these boxes first will make your transition seamless for both you and your followers.

1. Check if Your Dream Handle is Actually Available

First things first: is the name you want even available? Don't just assume it is. To check, use the search bar on Instagram. If an active account shows up, it's obviously taken. If no account appears, you’re likely in the clear.

However, if the search turns up an account that looks inactive (zero posts, a default profile picture, etc.), don't get your hopes up just yet. Instagram doesn’t always release usernames from inactive or banned accounts. Your best bet is to try typing the handle directly into the username field during the change process (we'll cover that below). Instagram will give you an instant yes or no.

2. Secure the Handle on Other Platforms

This is a pro-level move that builds a powerful brand. Before you change your Instagram handle, check if that same handle is available on TikTok, X (Twitter), YouTube, Threads, and any other platform you use. Having a consistent username like @yourbrand across every channel makes you incredibly easy to find and reinforces your brand identity. It looks professional and removes any confusion. There's nothing worse than discovering your new handle is available on Instagram but is already a very active, popular account on TikTok.

3. Give Your Audience a Heads-Up

Don’t ghost your followers. A sudden name change can be confusing. People might think your account was hacked, or they might simply not recognize you in their feed and unfollow. The best way to manage this is to announce your plan before you make the change.

Here are a few ways to let people know:

• Make an Instagram Post: Create a simple graphic or a short video explaining that you're changing your handle from @oldhandle to @newhandle and why.
• Use Instagram Stories: Stories are perfect for this. You can use the countdown sticker to build anticipation for the switch. A couple of days leading up to the change, post reminders.
• Add it to a Reel: Create a quick, engaging Reel that visually shows the "before" and "after" of your rebrand.

This simple act of communication keeps your community in the loop, gets them excited about your new direction, and teaches them to look for your new username.

4. If You're Verified, Proceed With Caution

This is a big one. If you have that coveted blue checkmark, changing your username can potentially cause you to lose your verification. Instagram warns that changing certain profile information might trigger a review, and your badge could be removed. While it doesn't happen every time, it's a significant risk. If verification is critical for your account, you might want to rethink the change or contact Instagram support for more clarity before proceeding.

5. Audit Your Website and Marketing Materials

Your Instagram handle likely exists in more places than just the app itself. Make a list of every single place your current handle is displayed so you can update it immediately after the change. Think about:

• Your website (social media icons in the header/footer)
• Your "link-in-bio" service (like Linktree or direct links)
• Your email signature
• Business cards or printed flyers
• Other social media profiles that link to your Instagram
• Your YouTube video descriptions

Having this list ready prevents broken links and ensures that all traffic is directed to your newly named account without interruption.

Choosing Your New Handle: Tips for Picking a Winner

Picking the right username is both an art and a science. It sets the tone for your whole profile. Here are a few guidelines to help you find one that sticks.

• Simple and Memorable: The best handles are easy to type and easy to say. Avoid hyphens, multiple underscores, and numbers that don’t have meaning. For example, @ModernHomeDesign is way better than @modern-home_design-22.
• Relevant to Your Brand or Niche: Your username should give people a clue about what you do. If you're a coach, including words like "coach" or "coaching" can help. If your business is location-specific, like a coffee shop, adding your city (e.g., @TucsonCoffeeCo) works wonders for local discovery.
• Brainstorm with Modifiers: Is your dream name taken? Don’t give up. Try adding simple words that add context. For instance, if @JaneTravels is taken, you could try:
  • @TheJaneTravels
  • @JaneTravelsOfficial
  • @GoJaneTravels
  • @HelloJaneTravels
• Say it Out Loud: This is a simple test that catches a lot of awkward names. Does it sound good? Does it flow nicely? If you were on a podcast, would it be easy to tell people your handle? A name like @SarahSmithTherapy is clear, while @SsmithTherapy could be misinterpreted as "smith etherapy."

The Step-by-Step Guide: How to Change Your Instagram Handle

You’ve done your research, picked the perfect name, and prepped your audience. Now it's time to actually make the change. The process is identical on both iPhone and Android and only takes about a minute.

On the Instagram Mobile App (iOS and Android)

1. Open the Instagram app and go to your profile page by tapping your profile picture in the bottom-right corner.
2. Tap the "Edit Profile" button located just below your bio.
3. On the Edit Profile screen, tap the field labeled "Username".
4. Delete your old username and type in your new one. As you type, Instagram will check its availability in real-time. If it's available, you'll see a green checkmark.
5. Once you see the green checkmark, tap "Done" (on iOS) or the blue checkmark icon in the top-right corner (on Android).

That's it! Your username is instantly updated across the platform.

Important Note: Instagram gives you a 14-day grace period to change back to your old username, as long as no one else has claimed it in the meantime. Your old username is released immediately, so it's a good idea to be certain before making the switch, especially if you have a well-known handle.

On a Desktop Computer (Instagram.com)

You can also change your handle from your computer's web browser.

1. Go to Instagram.com and log into your account.
2. Click your profile picture in the top-right corner, then select "Profile" from the dropdown menu.
3. Click the "Edit Profile" button next to your existing username.
4. In the "Username" field, type your new, desired handle.
5. Scroll down and click the blue "Submit" button. If the change is successful, you'll see a small confirmation pop-up that says "Profile saved."

What Happens After You Change Your Handle? (The Post-Change Checklist)

Your work isn't quite done. A few simple follow-up steps will make the transition perfect.

• Announce It Again: Make a "we've moved!" style post or Story. A simple graphic stating, "Hey everyone, we've officially changed our username to @newhandle! Be sure to save it." This reinforces the change and helps solidify it in your followers' minds.
• Run Through Your Links Checklist: Immediately go back to the list you made earlier and update your username on your website, email signature, other social bios, and everywhere else. This is the most important step to avoid losing traffic from old connections.
• Nothing Else Changes: Rest assured, changing your username does not affect anything else on your account. All your followers, posts, comments, likes, DMs, highlights, and engagement history will remain intact just as you left them.
• Be Aware of Old Mentions: Anyone who tagged you in a post or story using your old handle will now have a broken link. When someone clicks on @oldhandle, it will lead to a "user not found" page. This isn't something you can fix, but it's important to be aware of. All new tags and mentions will, of course, use your new active handle.

Final Thoughts

Changing your Instagram handle is a straightforward technical process but a highly strategic decision for your brand. By preparing in advance - checking for availability across platforms, communicating with your audience, and building a checklist for what comes next - you can make the switch smoothly and confidently.

We know how much brand consistency matters across every platform. A unified identity, from your handle to your content strategy, is critical. Once you’ve settled on the perfect new username, keeping all your content organized can feel like its own full-time job. That’s why we built Postbase. With our clean, visual calendar, you get a bird’s-eye view of your entire content strategy across Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and more, letting you plan and schedule posts easily to build that consistent brand presence you're working so hard for.