Note the old handle
Write it down now with the date it changed.
Home / Instagram account help
Hacker changed your Instagram username?
Your handle may be gone from view, but the account is probably still yours to recover. Act on the name early.
When a hacker renames the account, your old handle can be released for others to take. Recover access first, by the hacked-account route, then change the name back. Act on the name soon, because once someone else takes it, the options are fewer. Tell us the old handle and the new one if you can see it.
Recover access first
The name can only be changed back after you control the account.
Watch for the handle
If someone else takes it, a username claim may be an option.
Why the old name matters
Instagram releases a username once it is changed. A hacker who changes your handle may sell or abandon it, and others can register it.
- Your old handle appears available or shows another account.
- Links and tags to your name point nowhere.
- The hacker may use the old name to impersonate you.
What to do
- Use the hacked-account help flow and say that the username was changed.
- Check old emails for a message about the username change and use any revert link.
- Once in, change the username back if it is available.
- If it is taken, tell us and we will look at a claim or a report for impersonation.
What to send
- Your Instagram username (the public @handle).
- A screenshot of the notice or error, with the date visible.
- Which email address or phone number is on the account (just which one, never a code).
- What happened in the days before it started, in a few lines.
Please do not send passwords, login codes, card numbers or access tokens.
How it works with Unbanz
- Message us on WhatsApp or email with your Instagram username and what you can still see or do.
- We tell you honestly whether this is something we can help with.
- We map the recovery routes that fit what the hacker changed and prepare the reports.
- We stay in touch while you wait. Meta makes the final decision, and nobody can promise the outcome.
Who this is for
- Owners whose handle no longer matches their name.
- Brands whose old handle is now different.
- People whose followers see a changed profile.
Staying safe
Nobody needs your password or login codes to help you. If someone in your DMs offers to fix it, asks you to log in through their link, or wants to be paid in gift cards, walk away. Unbanz never asks for logins. We are an independent paid service, not affiliated with Meta: payment is upfront, with a 100% refund if the case fails. For Facebook and Instagram cases we work through our contacts at Meta, and Meta makes the final decision.
Username questions people also ask (2026)
How long until a released username is free?
Instagram does not publish a date. After you change your own username, Instagram usually lets you switch back for 14 days, so a name you just gave up can stay reserved for a while.
Does a trademark help with a username?
It can. Instagram’s trademark form is for accounts using a registered mark in a way that confuses people. Have the registration number, the owner name and the country of registration ready, and use the same name on the request.
Is a username claim safe for my account?
A claim should never need your password or login codes. Buying or selling usernames or accounts goes against Instagram’s Terms of Use and can get both accounts removed, so avoid marketplaces.
About Unbanz
Unbanz (unbanz.com) is an independent service that helps people, businesses and agencies with Instagram and Facebook account unbans, username claims, and Meta ad account recovery. Contact: WhatsApp +1 934 201 2490 or team@unbanz.com. Not affiliated with Meta.
CLIENTS
What clients say
Transcript
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QUICK ANSWERS
Good to know.
Can I get my old username back?
If it is available, yes, once you control the account. If someone else has it, it depends on the route.
Does reverting the name restore my account?
No. Recovery of access comes first.
Will the hacker keep my followers?
As long as they control the account, yes. That is why speed matters.
Do I need to share my Instagram password?
No. Your password and login codes stay with you. Unbanz works from your public username, the notice and the details you send. Anyone who asks for your login is not someone to work with.
How do I contact Unbanz about a hacked Instagram account?
WhatsApp +1 934 201 2490 or email team@unbanz.com. Send your username and a screenshot of the notice, if there is one.