What to Do if a Username is Already Taken?

You can’t have the same username as someone else. You need to have a unique username. Hence, if you enter a username that is already taken by another user, Instagram will notify you. In this case, you have to try different variations of your username. Specifically, try putting underscores or numbers in your username. You can even shorten your username, if you want.

For example, if the username catherine_anabel_white is taken, you can try the below alternatives:

• anabel_catherine98
• catherine_white45
• anabel_24

Keep repeating the process until you find yourself a unique username. When you do get one, click Submit to save the new username.

Moreover, keep trying your preferred ones occasionally. Maybe, the current owners have changed or deleted their respective Instagram handles. Plus, Instagram occasionally deletes fake accounts. In these cases, the usernames will become available for you. 

Instagram is one of the most widely-used social media platforms in the world. In this article, we will see how to change your Instagram username on both the desktop and the mobile version. Unlike other platforms, Instagram offers to change the username of their account whenever they want to with certain obligations.

Before moving on, one thing to note here is that people tend to get confused between the display name and the username. Your display name, which is effectively your personal or business name, has very few restrictions. It doesn’t have to be unique, and you can change it whenever you choose. 

So, if you want to change your username on Instagram, follow these steps below: