Instagram lets users easily change their name and username on Android, iOS, and the web, but there are a few caveats that people need to keep in mind. Also worth noting is the difference between a display name and a username on the platform. While the former can be the user's own name or an alias, the latter comes with the “@” tag and is unique to each profile. Often referred to as the Instagram handle, the username goes at the end of a user's Instagram URL and has several restrictions on what’s acceptable and what’s not.
For most users, Instagram says it will update their username immediately once it is changed. However, for accounts that reach "a lot of people," the company says that the username change may need to be reviewed before the change is implemented. While a name change will only change the user's display name, the username change will change the account URL. The account link will auto-update everywhere, such as embedded posts, etc., allowing followers to engage with that profile as usual. However, navigating directly to the old account URL will return a 'Profile not Found' error.
To change the name and username on Instagram, open the app, tap on the profile image at the bottom-right corner and then select 'Edit Profile.' On the next page, users will be presented with the option to change their name and username. So make the required changes and hit the blue tick mark at the top-right corner on Android or tap on 'Done' on iOS to save the changes. The new name/username will reflect immediately in most cases. As mentioned already, if the account has a lot of followers, Instagram will take some time to review the changes before implementing them.
Caveats For Changing Instagram Username
Users can also change their Instagram name and username on the IG website. To do that, first log into the Instagram website using any standard web browser. Next, click on the profile image at the top-right corner, and then on the drop-down menu, select 'Profile.' On the profile page, click on the 'Edit Profile' button next to the username. Now change the profile name and/or username and hit 'Submit' at the bottom of the page to save the change(s).
While the name change is a relatively straightforward process, Instagram puts some restrictions on what the username may or may not include. According to Instagram, a username must be unique, which means no two Instagram users can have the same username. It should also have less than 30 characters and contain only "letters, numbers, periods, and underscores." Spaces and other symbols are strictly off-limits. Finally, usernames cannot have any profanity or objectionable language.
Once the change is implemented, Instagram says it will preserve the old username for 14 days, allowing the user to revert to their old handle if they want. Once the two-week period is over, the old username will be up for grabs for other users. Overall, the process is simpler than on Facebook and doesn't have half as many restrictions as it does on the parent platform. Most of all, while Facebook demands that the user's profile should carry their real name, there's no such demand on Instagram, which means any alias or nickname can be used without any issue.
Source: Instagram