Instagram Username Checker
See whether an Instagram username is taken, check it against Instagram's naming rules, and get variations to try. No login.
Letters, numbers, periods and underscores, up to 30 characters.
How to check if an Instagram username is available
- Type the name. No @ needed. Capitals don't matter; Instagram treats them the same.
- Press Check username. You see whether it breaks a rule, whether an account uses it, or whether it appears available.
- Claim it fast. In the app, go to Edit profile and change your username. Instagram gives the final answer there.
Instagram's username rules
- 30 characters at most
- only letters, numbers, periods and underscores
- no spaces and no two periods in a row
- can't start or end with a period
Why "appears available" and not "available"
From the outside we can only see whether an account uses the name. Instagram also holds names from deleted and banned accounts, recently changed names and names it reserves. Those look free here but Instagram may still refuse them.
If your name is taken
Small changes keep a handle readable: a period or underscore between words, a short word in front such as "the" or "its", or a word that says what you do. Avoid long strings of numbers; they make a handle harder to remember and to type.
Frequently asked
How do I know if an Instagram username is available?
Type it above. If no public Instagram account uses the name right now and it follows Instagram's naming rules, it appears available. The only final check is Instagram itself: try it in Edit profile.
Why does Instagram say a name is taken when it looks free here?
Instagram holds some names back: ones from deleted or banned accounts, names that were changed recently, and names it reserves. Those have no public profile, so they look free from the outside.
What are the rules for Instagram usernames?
Up to 30 characters, using only letters, numbers, periods and underscores. No spaces, no two periods in a row, and it can't start or end with a period. Usernames aren't case-sensitive.
When does a deleted account's username become free?
Instagram doesn't publish a fixed time. Deleted accounts can be restored for 30 days, so the name is held at least that long, and some names stay held for longer.
Does the account owner see that I checked their name?
No. Checking a name only reads the public profile. Nobody is notified.