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Want the Instagram username that matches your author name?
Your name is on your books, but the handle might be held by someone else. Here is how it is assessed.
Authors often find their name or pen name taken by a reader account, a namesake or an abandoned profile. A claim depends on whether the account is active, whether it poses as you, and what proof you hold: published books, a website, a publisher listing. Pen names and common names are harder, and we say so early.
Check for namesakes
A real person with the same name has equal claim.
Use the pen name consistently
Same name across book, website and profile.
Situations we see
- A reader or reviewer account using the author name.
- A namesake who is not a writer.
- An abandoned account with the pen name.
- A copy account using your cover art.
Every claim goes through the platform’s own processes. No bots, no false reports, no buying or selling accounts.
What to send
- The handle you want and your current author account.
- Links to your books, publisher page or website.
- A screenshot of the holder’s profile.
- Whether the name is a pen name, and how long you have used it.
What to send
- The exact @username you want.
- Your current Instagram profile, so the handle can go onto it.
- Why the name is yours: brand, business name, registered trademark, or the name you used before.
- What you have already tried, if anything.
Please do not send passwords, login codes, card numbers or access tokens.
How it works with Unbanz
- Message us on WhatsApp or email with the @username you want and your current profile.
- We tell you honestly whether this is something we can help with.
- We check the handle and pick the official route that fits it. Your password stays with you.
- We stay in touch while you wait. Meta makes the final decision, and nobody can promise the outcome.
Who this is for
- Self-published and traditionally published authors.
- Writers using a pen name.
- Small publishers.
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)
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.
Can I claim a username from an inactive account?
Instagram has no public form to request an inactive username. A name usually frees up only when the holding account is removed or deleted. A registered trademark adds an official route: Instagram’s trademark report form, which covers accounts that infringe the mark, not just accounts that share the name.
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.
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
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QUICK ANSWERS
Good to know.
What if there is another person with my name?
A real namesake who is active will usually keep their handle.
Does a book title count?
It can support a claim, but titles are rarely protected on their own.
Do I need a verified badge?
No. It is not required for a claim.
What if the username claim does not work?
If a username claim fails, you get a full 100% refund. A claim fails when the username is not successfully claimed onto your profile. Details are on the refund policy page.
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 an Instagram username claim?
WhatsApp +1 934 201 2490 or email team@unbanz.com. Send your username and a screenshot of the notice, if there is one.
Tell us what you need.
SERVICE FEES
Published fee.
An Instagram username claim is a flat $1,200 per handle, including handles held by banned or inactive accounts, paid upfront with a 100% refund if the claim fails.