Find out who holds it
A former trainer, a previous owner and a fan page each need a different route.
Home / Username claims
Want the Instagram username that matches your gym or studio?
Members and new clients look for you by name. If the handle is held by someone else, here is the route.
Gym and studio handles are often held by a former trainer, a previous owner or a member who created a fan page. Check whether the account is active, whether it uses your logo or class names, and what you can show: a business registration, a lease, a class schedule and photos of the space. Those facts decide which route fits.
Show the space is yours
A lease, registration and photos link the name to your business.
Use a close variation meanwhile
Members can still find you while you check the claim.
Common situations
- A trainer who left opened the account under the studio name.
- The previous owner kept the handle when the gym was sold.
- A member created a community page with your name.
- An unrelated studio elsewhere uses the same word.
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 the one you use now.
- Your registration, lease or membership page.
- Photos of the signage with the name.
- Screenshots of the holder’s profile.
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
- Gym and studio owners.
- Yoga, pilates and martial arts clubs.
- Personal trainers with a brand name.
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.
A trainer opened the account. Is it mine?
It depends on the facts. If it uses your name to pose as the studio, a report may apply.
Does a franchise matter?
A franchise may control the brand name. Tell us how the name is used.
Can the old owner hand it over?
Yes, they can change the profile details themselves. We do not buy or sell accounts.
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.