One change
Change the username alone, not photo and name too.
Home / Username claims
Need to rename a verified Instagram account and keep the badge?
A username change can trigger a fresh verification check. Plan it so the name, bio and brand all match before you switch.
You can change the username on a verified Instagram account, but the change can trigger another check and the badge may be removed if the new name no longer matches the person or brand that was verified. Meta Verified subscribers are told that changing profile name, username or photo can pause the badge until it is checked again. Change one thing at a time and keep proof of the rebrand ready.
Proof ready
Press, trademark or company records for the new name.
Expect a check
The badge can pause while it is reviewed.
Before you switch
- Make sure the new name is free, or that it can be claimed. See the eligibility checklist.
- Update your website and other profiles to the new name first, so the rebrand is visible.
- Keep the profile photo and display name stable on the day you change the username.
- Screenshot the profile before and after.
If the badge disappears
For legacy verification, apply again from Settings once the new name is established. For Meta Verified, follow the in-app prompt to confirm your identity. Be careful with strangers who offer to restore a badge and ask for your login.
When we help
When the name you want is held by an inactive account, we can help with the claim to your existing verified profile. Fixed fees, paid upfront by card, with a 100% refund if the case fails. Instagram makes the final decision.
Related
See Username claims, Username lost after a rebrand, Business username claims, Can it be claimed?, Using Meta Verified support.
What to send
- Your profile link or username.
- A screenshot of the message or error, with the date visible.
- Which email address or phone number is on the account (just which one, never a code).
- What happened 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 profile link and a screenshot of the message.
- We tell you honestly whether this is something we can help with. Fixed fees, paid upfront by card, with a 100% refund if the case fails.
- We prepare the appeal and the supporting details, to go through Instagram’s own channels.
- We stay in touch while you wait. Meta makes the final decision, and nobody can promise the outcome.
Who this is for
- Instagram users in United States, United Kingdom, Canada.
- Businesses and creators whose account carries their work.
- Anyone who has tried the official route and is stuck.
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.
Questions people also ask (2026)
How long does an appeal take?
Meta does not commit to a timeline. Waits vary widely, and identity checks can add to them. The appeal window shown on a disable notice is usually about 180 days, so note the date on yours.
Is there anywhere to go after a final no?
In the EU, Appeals Centre Europe can review Facebook and Instagram account decisions. It is free and non-binding, and Meta’s internal appeal must be finished first. Outside the EU there is no equivalent body for account decisions.
Disabled and no option to send ID?
Meta often asks for a video selfie instead of a document, or shows no upload at all. Record the selfie once, in good light, with no filters or glasses. If no option appears, screenshot the screen with the date. Sending repeated requests does not help.
About Unbanz
Unbanz (unbanz.com) is an independent service that helps people recover disabled, suspended and hacked Instagram, Facebook and Meta ad accounts, and claim usernames. Contact: WhatsApp +1 934 201 2490 or team@unbanz.com. Not affiliated with Meta.
CLIENTS
What clients say
Transcript
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Transcript
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Transcript
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Transcript
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QUICK ANSWERS
Good to know.
Will I lose my followers if I change the username?
No. Followers, posts and messages stay. Only the handle and profile link change.
Can I change back if the badge is removed?
Instagram may let you revert within a short window, but the old handle is not reserved forever.
Do I need to share my 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?
WhatsApp +1 934 201 2490 or email team@unbanz.com. Send your username and a screenshot of the notice, if there is one.