How to Change Your Name on Instagram When Linked to Facebook

Trying to change your Instagram name, only to have it frustratingly update your Facebook profile as well? You’re not alone. This happens because Meta syncs your profile details across its platforms through the Accounts Center, a feature designed for convenience that can sometimes feel like it's taken away your control. This guide will show you exactly how to disable that name sync, allowing you to have different names on Instagram and Facebook again.

Decoding the Link: Why Your Names Are Synced

In 2020, Meta (then Facebook) introduced the Accounts Center to integrate its family of apps, including Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger. The goal was to streamline logins, information, and features like cross-posting Stories. When you link your Instagram and Facebook accounts, the Account Center often activates a "Sync profile info" setting by default. This bundles your name and profile picture together, meaning a change on one platform automatically reflects on the other.

While helpful for someone wanting perfect brand consistency, it’s a big headache for users who want to separate their personal and professional lives - for example, using a personal name on Facebook for family and a business or creator name on Instagram for their audience.

Name vs. Username: The Important Distinction

Before we go any further, it's essential to understand the difference between your Instagram name and your username. Getting this straight clarifies what is actually being synced.

• Your Name: This is your display name. It appears below your profile picture and in your bio. It doesn't have to be unique, and it can include spaces, emojis, and special characters. This is the profile detail that syncs with Facebook.
• Your Username: This is your @handle. It appears at the very top of your profile and is part of your unique profile URL (instagram.com/yourusername). It must be unique, can't contain spaces, and has more character limitations. Your username is not synced with your Facebook display name.

The frustration users typically face is with the display name. You want to be "Jane Smith" on Facebook but "Jane's Keto Kitchen" on Instagram, and the sync feature makes that difficult right out of the box.

The Fix: How to Change Your Instagram Name Independently

The good news is that you can disable this sync without completely unlinking your accounts. You'll retain the benefits of a linked account (like easier logins and cross-platform sharing) while regaining individual control over your profile names. The setting is a bit buried, so follow these steps carefully.

Step-by-Step Guide to Unsyncing Your Profile Names

This process is done through Meta's Accounts Center, which you can access directly from your Instagram settings. Grab your phone and let's walk through it.

1. Open Instagram Settings: Launch the Instagram app and go to your profile page by tapping your profile picture in the bottom-right corner.
2. Access the Main Menu: Tap the "hamburger menu" (the three horizontal lines) in the top-right corner to open up your options.
3. Navigate to Accounts Center: In the menu, tap on Settings and privacy. At the very top of this screen, you’ll see the Meta Accounts Center panel. Tap on it.
4. Select Your Profiles: Within the Accounts Center, under "Account settings," tap on Profiles. You'll see your profile group listed, which typically includes your connected Facebook and Instagram accounts. Tap on this group.
5. Choose the Instagram Profile: On the next screen, you’ll see the individual profiles that are part of the group. Tap on your Instagram profile to manage its specific settings.
6. Find the Sync Setting: Here, you’ll see categories for Name, Username, Profile picture, and Avatar. Any item being synced will have the corresponding Facebook profile icon next to it. Tap on Name.
7. Disable the Name Sync: This is the most important step. On the "Manage name" screen, at the bottom, there is a toggle labeled Sync name. Turn this toggle off.
8. Confirm Your Choice: A pop-up window will appear asking if you want to "Stop syncing name." Tap the blue Stop syncing button to confirm.

That's it! You've successfully severed the connection between your Instagram display name and your Facebook display name. Now, changing one won't affect the other.

Now You're Free: Editing Your Instagram Name

Once you’ve disabled the sync, changing your Instagram name becomes the simple process it used to be. You can even do it directly from the Accounts Center screen you were just on, or you can go back to the standard "Edit profile" method.

Here’s the familiar way:

1. Go back to your Instagram profile page.
2. Tap the Edit profile button.
3. Tap on your Name.
4. Enter the new name you want for your Instagram account.
5. Tap the checkmark (or "Done") in the top right to save your changes.

A Quick Heads-Up: The 14-Day Rule

Keep in mind that Instagram has a rule regarding how often you can change your display name. You can only change your name twice within a 14-day period. If you try to change it a third time, you will have to wait until the 14-day window resets. So, double-check for typos and make sure you’re happy with your new name before you save it.

Managing More Than Your Name: The Profile Picture Sync

The profile name isn't the only thing that Meta syncs. Your profile picture and avatar are often looped into the same sync setting. For a small business owner, for instance, you might want a professional headshot on your personal Facebook page but a company logo on your business's Instagram page. Thankfully, you can manage these independently as well.

How to Unsync Your Profile Picture

The steps are nearly identical to unsyncing your name. You'll just select a different option in the Accounts Center.

1. Follow steps 1-5 from the guide above to get to your Instagram profile's settings within the Accounts Center (Settings and privacy → Accounts Center → Profiles → Your Profile Group → Your Instagram profile).
2. Instead of tapping "Name," tap on Profile picture.
3. Just like before, you’ll see a Sync profile picture toggle at the bottom. Turn it off.
4. Confirm your choice by tapping Stop syncing.

With this done, your profile picture on Instagram will stay separate from your Facebook one, giving you complete visual control over each profile’s identity.

Branding Consistency: Should Your Names Match Anyway?

Now that you know how to give your profiles different names, the bigger question is: should you? The answer depends entirely on your strategy and how you want people to perceive your presence on each platform.

When Keeping Names Consistent Makes Sense:

• For Public Figures &, Brands: If you are a brand, a creator, or a public figure, having the same name and profile picture everywhere makes you instantly recognizable. It builds brand trust and makes it easier for your audience to find you across different social channels.
• For Cross-Promotion: If you actively use both platforms to engage the same audience, a unified identity simplifies your messaging. People will immediately know the Instagram page they've discovered belongs to the same Facebook creator a friend shared.

When Using Different Names is the Better Move:

• Separating Personal and Professional Life: This is the most common reason. Your Facebook might be for keeping up with Aunt Carol and old college friends under your full name. Your Instagram might be a platform for your side hustle - a bakery, a freelance photography business, or a lifestyle blog - that needs a unique brand name.
• Platform-Specific SEO: You may want to include keywords in your Instagram name (e.g., "Sam - Bay Area Real Estate") to appear in relevant searches, which wouldn't be appropriate or necessary on your personal Facebook profile.
• Different Content Strategies: If your content on Instagram is purely for your business audience and your Facebook is completely personal, different names help set an immediate expectation for anyone who lands on your profile. It defines the space clearly and prevents audience confusion.

Ultimately, a successful social media strategy isn't about following a rigid set of rules, it's about making deliberate choices that serve your goals. Knowing how to technically separate your profile details gives you the flexibility to build the exact online presence you want.

Final Thoughts

Unsyncing your Instagram name from Facebook all comes down to finding that one hidden toggle in Meta’s Accounts Center. By following these steps, you can easily regain individual control over your profile names and pictures, allowing you to tailor your identity for each platform without having to completely disconnect your accounts.

Once your profiles are set up just right, the real work of managing content for them begins. We built Postbase because we know how challenging it is to keep different social media strategies organized. Our visual calendar lets you see all your scheduled content for Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and more in one place, so you can maintain a clear and consistent presence without the headache of switching between countless apps and spreadsheets.