If you’re looking to set up an Instagram Live Room, or just make your pet go viral, you might fancy switching to your dream handle first.
However, your username needs to be unique on the platform – so if someone has your coveted tag, you’ll have to think of an alternative.
Some social media sites don’t allow you to change names multiple times, but the photo-sharing platform doesn’t have a limit.
Here, Metro.co.uk has created an easy step-by-step guide to changing your Instagram username.
How to change your Instagram username
- Open the Instagram app on your iPhone or Android phone, and make sure you’re logged into the account you want to change.
- Tap your profile picture in the bottom right of the screen.
- Tap on ‘Edit Profile’ underneath your bio.
- In the ‘Username’ field, type in your new name.
- Tap ‘Done’.
You’ll receive a message at this point if the username is already taken.
This means someone has got there before you, so try adding in underscores or numbers to make it more unique.
If this doesn’t work, you might have to rethink your online alias.
The ‘Edit Profile’ section of the app also allows you to change your profile picture, official name, and bio – allowing you to get creative while you’re in the settings.
How do celebrities get the usernames they want?
Many celebrities have the ‘official’ version of their real name, with no pesky middle names or underscores in sight.
It’s been revealed that many actually pay for the privilege: so if you’ve got a famous namesake, you might be able to forfeit the IG handle for cash.
‘Valuable’ usernames are also more likely to be hacked for this reason.
If you got to the platform early, you might have a sought-after name – and therefore should make sure you have an extra-secure password, just in case.
