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Want the Instagram username that matches your artist name?
Fans make accounts with your name before you do. Here is how a handle held by someone else is assessed.
Artist names are often taken early by fans, fake accounts or unrelated people. The route depends on whether the account is active, whether it passes itself off as you, and what you can show: streaming profiles, release history, press and a website. A clearly labelled fan account is harder. We give you an honest read before anything is filed.
Check for a copy account
A fan page is different from a fake.
Keep the name consistent
Same name on every platform helps.
What we often see
- A fan account using the artist name and your photos.
- A namesake musician in another country.
- An abandoned account made years ago.
- A fake account used for ticket or merch scams.
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 artist profile.
- Links to streaming profiles and press.
- Screenshots of the other profile.
- How long you have used the name.
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
- Independent artists and bands.
- DJs and producers.
- Managers acting for artists.
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
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Yo, I needed an Instagram username but it was a dead profile. Unbanz really helped me with it. It took like 5 days and it was very quick so if you need an username hit them up.
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So, I run a management agency and I've been working with Unbanz for the last 3 months now. They're handling all the bans and unbans, username claims for my clients, taking down accounts, photos, so if you need help with Facebook or Instagram related, hit them up.
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My name on Instagram was taken by some random inactive account, so I couldn't use it. Unbanz claimed it within a week, so if you need help with usernames, they're highly recommended.
QUICK ANSWERS
Good to know.
Do I need many followers?
No. Proof of the name is what matters, not follower count.
What if two bands share a name?
Active namesakes usually keep their handle.
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.