Sorry that username is unavailable

Проверьте, существует ли имя пользователя Twitter

Есть ли способ проверить, существует ли имя пользователя Twitter?
Без аутентификации с помощью OAuth или базовой аутентификации twitter?

В соответствии с api docs вы можете передать адрес электронной почты пользователю /
show method, я бы предположил, что если пользователь не существовал, вы бы вернулись
404, что должно позволить вам определить, является ли пользователь
существует.

результат, если не существует:

Как сейчас, вам лучше использовать API, который использует форма регистрации, чтобы проверить доступность имени пользователя в реальном времени. Запросы имеют формат:

Причина, по которой это лучше, чем проверка 404 ответов, заключается в том, что иногда слова зарезервированы (например, “root” выше), или имя пользователя фактически принято, но по какой-то причине учетная запись исчезла. Например, имя пользователя ‘mort’ дает 404 на https://twitter.com/mort, но помечается как принятое на https://twitter.com/users/username_available?username=mort.

Вы также можете использовать API с именем пользователя:

Или, если не существует:

Поскольку API v1 больше не доступен, вот еще один способ проверить, существует ли учетная запись twitter. Заголовки страницы не существующей учетной записи содержат 404 (страница не найдена).

Вот как это работает на PHP:

Вы можете попытаться захватить страницу http://twitter.com/username и прочитать ответ, чтобы узнать, есть ли у вас “К сожалению, эта страница не существует!” стр.

Как отметил в комментарии @Pablo Fernandez в комментарии, будет лучше (быстрее и надежнее) проверить заголовок ответа, который будет “404 не найден”, если пользователь не существует.

Это сработало для меня, близко к тому, что отправил sferik.

Используя Ruby, вы можете установить драгоценный камень twitter, а затем определить следующий метод:

Затем просто передайте имя или идентификатор пользователя Twitter вашему методу, например:

%username% is unavailable in Windows that has OneDrive for Business installed

This article provides a solution to an issue where %username% is unavailable in Windows that has OneDrive for Business installed.

Symptoms

In a Windows installation that has OneDrive for Business installed, the %username% variable is intermittently unavailable. This causes applications that rely on this variable, such as User Experience Virtualization (UE-V), to work incorrectly.

Cause

In some cases, OneDrive for Business restarts the Windows Explorer process shortly after a user logs on. When this occurs, the %username% variable is not inherited by the new Explorer process. If you deployed UE-V by using the %username% variable as part of the «Settings Storage» setting, the literal string will be used. So all user accounts write to the same folder. This can cause high CPU activity on the server that hosts the network share.

Resolution

Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall the operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

To fix this issue, enable one or both of the following registry keys to prevent OneDrive from restarting Explorer.

Per user OneDrive installation

Per computer OneDrive installation

For 32-bit version of OneDrive:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\OneDrive
«HasPerMachineSystrayIconBeenPromoted»=dword:00000001

For 64-bit version of OneDrive:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\OneDrive
«HasAMD64PerMachineSystrayIconBeenPromoted»=dword:00000001

This Username Isn’t Available Instagram

Whenever you’re trying to use an Instagram username, but it says it’s not available, it can be annoying, especially when it’s the name of your brand or you’re trying to change your current name to something more brandable.

If a user is banned for inappropriate behavior, the username is not returned to the set of possible usernames. Deleted usernames also get included in this list. Or usernames that contain forbidden or inappropriate words.

This scenario is terrible because there is no way to know if the username you want is is banned. If that’s the case, the only solution is to choose a different username. Experiment with adding numbers, periods, abbreviations, or underscores.

Table of Contents

Why Instagram Username is Not Available

The username you wish to take has been utilized before, and at the moment, is not linked to any account but cannot be utilized again due to the following reasons:

1. The account proprietor deactivated their account permanently.

2. The account is disabled temporarily by the owner.

3. Instagram has deleted the information due to Violating the terms of Instagram.

One of the reasons above is why a username you want to choose for your accounts is unavailable, but you cannot find I when you search Instagram.

Once a username is taken, if the account gets disabled or deleted for any reason, the username remains on the Instagram databases, and that’s why you cannot re-use it.

1. The Account Has Been Disabled

If you’re seeing the Instagram username not available error when trying to change usernames, there’s a chance that the username that you’re trying to change it to has been disabled. Just because the username isn’t available doesn’t mean it’s not being used. When this occurs, their account will no longer appear in search results or other users in their follow/following lists. This means that you won’t be able to find their account, but you also won’t be able to use the username that account is using.

When you attempt to visit a profile of a person who temporarily deactivated their account, you will encounter a “User not found” warning, which is similar to permanent account cancellation. In this situation, you’ll know that their account has been disabled which is why their username isn’t available.

2. Instagram Has Suspended the Account

If an Instagram account has been suspended, then you won’t be able to use the account’s username when trying to change your current username. Just because the username isn’t available doesn’t mean it’s not being used.

When this occurs, their account will no longer appear in search results. This means that you won’t be able to find their account, but you also won’t be able to use the username that account is using. The most frequent cause of an Instagram account getting deactivated is the owner’s failure to follow Community Guidelines.

However, various additional factors might result in a suspension, such as suspicious conduct, numerous devices, or a large number of complaints.

3. They Blocked You

If they blocked you, then this is another reason why you’ll see the Instagram username not available error when trying to change usernames. When someone blocks you on Instagram, their profile will no longer display in Instagram’s search results.

You may still see their profile in your recent searches, but you will see this error notice when you click on it. This is why you think that the username isn’t being used whilst being unavailable meanwhile the account is actually being used, but they’ve just blocked you.

4. Instagram Blocked the Username Since it’s Inappropriate

As expected, Instagram blocks possible usernames that one can consider inappropriate due to various reasons. It can be a cursing word, a word with a specific connotation, hate speech, or harassment, or it can be seen as lewd, violent, or hurtful. This means that the username will be unavailable when you’re trying to use it.

5. They’re Shadowbanned, So You Can’t Find Them

Although “Shadowban” is not an official Instagram word, we know that Instagram can deprioritize accounts on the platform. Posts may be hidden or limited, frequently without the user’s knowledge.

Using hashtags and the Explore page may render their content (or account) unfindable. In certain situations, the material may be removed. If they are shadowbanned, then this is another reason why you think their username isn’t being used when you’re trying to change your username.

It is in fact being used, but you just can’t find it. When someone is shadowbanned, their profile will no longer display in Instagram’s search results. You may still see their profile in your recent searches, in tags, and on your feed, but it’ll be hard to find them in search. This is why you think that the username isn’t being used whilst being unavailable meanwhile the account is actually being used, but they’re just shadowbanned.

What Can I Do If Instagram Says a Username is Unavailable But it Isn’t Being Used?

There’s a straightforward way to accomplish this. You either have to wait for the disabled or suspected account to come back and then ask them if you can have their username, or you’ll have to think of an alternative.

1. Directly DM the Nonactive Account.

If you get a response after sending a DM, you’ll need to decide what to do next.

2. Get in touch with Facebook Ad Support

Going through your Facebook Ad rep to resolve this issue has worked for many Social Media Managers. You should reach out to them to fix the unavailable username problem when trying to change your username. They might give you more information on why you’re unable to get the username.

4. Show Trademark Proof

Suppose your company has a trademark on the username, and somebody is using it. In this case, you can send a cease-and-desist letter describing the trademark law and requesting that the account be handed over, as well as providing Instagram with evidence of trademark ownership. NOTE: You may need the help of an attorney to resolve this issue.

5. Use A Similar Name

Choosing a similar username is the easiest way to get started on Instagram. It’s easy and practical to add an underscore or a number.

You may use letters, digits, periods, and underscores in your Instagram username. There is a lot of room for creativity here, so you can come up with a name that closely resembles the one you want. Imagination is needed, but the rest of the process should be easy.

6. Get A Trademark

The first step is to apply for a patent on the internet. Once you’ve secured a patent, you may notify Instagram about the dormant account. If you have the time and money, you may want to consider this alternative.

Many people have experienced success by requesting that Instagram switch their account to another person or service. Having a trademark on a name allows you to claim that your clients’ current accounts are ambiguous. Using copyright infringement to get your Instagram account is a viable option.

If you are the owner of a trademark or copyright and want to assert ownership of the domain name in question, there are procedures. This method may not work if the account is active and frequently used.

Obtaining a new trademark is time-consuming and costly, whereas getting copyright protection is quite simple. You have implicit copyright whenever you produce anything new; you may formally register your copyright claim to strengthen your legal position, but the claim is made by citing the work in question, not submitting a claim. As a result, you must be consistent in using the name and demonstrate the potential harm it may cause if someone else uses it.

You may, of course, file a copyright complaint with Instagram directly.

7. Add an Underscore

You can’t get in touch with the owner, the account has been dormant for days, yet it doesn’t seem to be violating Instagram’s rules of service. So, there’s no use in waiting for an Instagram cleanup to take effect.

But don’t worry! You may still acquire the username of your dreams without violating service rules. When an account owner is no longer active, you can’t use their username, but you may come up with a somewhat different one by adding an underscore.

As a result, you may have the Instagram name of your dreams, regardless of whether it’s important from a commercial perspective or whether it’s something more personal. When utilizing this approach, use no more than one underscore. Because underscores make it harder for anyone to predict how many got used unless you wish to stay relatively anonymous.

How to Find a Favorite Instagram Username

Verify out sites like when you’re brainstorming business names.

Before deciding on a company name, use Namechkr and Namechk!

Type your desired business name into the search bar to see if it is available and, if so, on which social media platforms. If the name you want isn’t accessible on any social media site, it’s likely that someone else already owns the URL; you’ll have to restart your search for a new business name.

Even if you think you’ve come up with the best name for your company and are convinced it’s clever, witty, marketable, and just right, if you can’t get the web URL or social manages to go with it, it’s useless!

If your client already has a business name and you need to incorporate Instagram into their social networking mix, check availability on Instagram.

If the Instagram login name your customer wishes is already taken, there are some things you can do to help them get their hands on it.

How To Claim an Inactive Instagram Username Without A Trademark?

To optimize their database, Instagram deleted fake or inactive Instagram accounts. If you don’t have the trademark, you’ll have to wait for a similar opportunity to grab the username you desire

If your Instagram profile has 5000 or more supporters, you can track the number of people who follow you. Suppose you lose a lot of followers in a day. In that case, it means Instagram has eliminated a lot of inactive or fictitious transactions from their directory – Make an immediate attempt to secure the username you desire.

If you cannot connect directly to the Instagram user you desire, you must proceed. The next thing is to look for a suitable alternative Instagram username.

Why an Instagram Username Says It’s Not Available (When It Really Is)

Published: Oct 6, 2019 · Modified: Jan 24, 2022 by Kelsey Smith

Okay, so you’re trying to register an Instagram username, but it says it’s unavailable.

I know how frustrated you are because I was in the same boat. But, I knew the username was, in fact, available.

My story

I had two Instagram usernames registered (@bykelseysmith and @modernmartha). I wanted to swap the two usernames.

I changed @bykelseysmith to something different to free it up. I planned to quickly change @modernmartha to @bykelseysmith, but Instagram said the username was unavailable.

Skip ahead to find out why.

The long version

My blog name changed from Modern Martha to Kelsey Smith this summer. I knew for more than a year that I wanted to make this transition, so I reserved my new username on Instagram (@bykelseysmith) in advance with a dummy account.

I’ve done this previously in my professional career, so I knew this was possible.

I planned to change the username on the dummy account right before the swap so @bykelseysmith would become available, and then quickly change my main profile.

Unfortunately, it told me the Instagram username was not available, even though it clearly was.

I panicked. Did a bot still my username? The answer it seemed was no.

When I searched @bykelseysmith, no one had the username.

Here are a few possible reasons you can’t register a username that appears available:

On Hold

When you change your username, Instagram reserves your old username for 14 days. This is just in case you decide to switch it back.

When you go to «Edit Profile» and tap into the username field, a message reads, «In most cases, you’ll be able to change your username back to (blank) for another 14 days.»

I previously reserved usernames in the same method I mentioned above and didn’t have any issues, but Instagram implemented this 14 day hold early-to-mid 2019.

A commenter suggested that bots can quickly register usernames after they’re abandoned. This is actually why Instagram implemented the 14-day hold rule.

That means though, if you’re reserving a username like I did, you’ll have to wait 14 days to make your final switch.

Better set a calendar alert.

Recently, I received a comment that said they received the message I shared above, but it said 12 days, not 14. So, which is it?

This article was originally written in October 2019, but as of June 2020, the message on my app still reads 14 days.

The truth is, Instagram changes its app constantly, and they often roll out updates to select groups of users as a test. If you receive a message that says 12 days, trust the app.

So, what happened to me, you ask?

After 14 days, I was able to register my old username on my main account.

I set a calendar alert to remind myself because I didn’t want a bot coming in and stealing my thunder. I was incredibly relieved when it worked.

Once my old username (@modernmartha) was freed up, I had to wait another 14 days to register it on my dummy account.

Why did I reserve my old username, you ask?

On my dummy account, now outfitted with my old username, I added a «moved» notice to the profile. This saves you for two reasons:

1: There may still be links floating around the internet to your old username. Since I’m a blogger and a YouTuber, I link my Instagram in every single video I upload.

2: Someone may manually look up your old username, so it’s best to have a «redirect» of sorts in place.

I searched to see if Instagram has an anti-squatting policy that makes this against the rules, but I couldn’t find any evidence that it is.

Deleted Username

Deleting an account removes the username from the pool of available usernames. If someone had that username registered at some point in time but deleted the account, it’s possible that username has been taken off the market for good.

This is from Instagram’s help website:

If your account was deleted by you or someone with your password, there’s no way to restore it. You can create a new account with the same email address you used before, but you may not be able to get the same username.

Banned Username

Though unlikely, it’s possible the username you are trying to use has been banned. I haven’t read confirmation from Instagram, but this is the word on the street.

If a user is banned for bad activity, their username does not go back into the pool of available names.

I’ve read that deleted account usernames may also fall into this bucket. Or usernames containing blocked or inappropriate words.

This scenario really stinks because there’s no way to confirm if the desired username is banned.

There does not seem to be a resolution if this is the case other than selecting a slightly different username. Try adding periods, numbers, underscores, or abbreviations.

It’s In Use

Maybe triple check that username one more time to be sure it’s not connected to an active account.

Your Stories

Share your success (or failure) story in the comments, and feel free to leave your Instagram link or username. I’m going to list anything that I think would be helpful to a wider audience below.

Check Out My Instagram Tutorials

Check out my Instagram tutorials, including how to use questions on Instagram Stories.

More Instagram

About Kelsey Smith

I am a freelance content writer for college-level textbooks by day, mommy by night, and a blogger in between. I live in Knoxville, Tennessee with my husband, Xavier. When I’m not working on college textbooks, you might find me here, sharing recipes, social media tutorials, and more.

Reader Interactions

Comments

Vikas verma says

May 01, 2022 at 3:14 pm

I have two accounts with different username, i want to swap username, how can i do it? Please help.

May 02, 2022 at 8:38 am

This post explains how to achieve this. Give it another read and that should help.

March 31, 2022 at 3:40 pm

I did this and it’s been longer than 14 days, but it still says it’s not available. It’s not taken when I search, so I wonder if they’ve changed the timing again but didn’t update the message? My message still said 14 days.

April 04, 2022 at 9:52 am

I can’t say for sure why that is happening, but I don’t think they’ve changed the time frame.

June 21, 2022 at 1:43 pm

I had the exact same issue and today I discovered someone took my name I was using for over 6 years. i wanted to start a fresh acc and waited 14 (ok) and when I tried to change it still declined. And it was like this every time I checked. And today I saw someone, with no posts, 3 followers and following 4 people has taken my username. I’m so angry rn at instagram

December 21, 2021 at 3:23 am

I want to change my username but instagram won’t let me. I tried to change it but it says it is taken. Then I tried to make a new account with that exact username and it says it’s available, but on my main account it is not. I really wanna change it with that one and I don’t understand why it won’t let me do so. Please help!

December 21, 2021 at 10:19 am

That is the first I’ve heard of this scenario. It’s a risk, but you could secure the username with the new account and then try to do a 14-day username swap (like my story). It wouldn’t be a sure thing though, and it would take time. I don’t know why it would allow a username to be newly registered but not by your existing account.

January 23, 2022 at 10:31 pm

January 24, 2022 at 9:05 am

Hey Don. Though it seems unlikely, it’s possible someone used that full username smartwayamericarealty at some point and deleted the account. Deleted usernames cannot be restored. Your best bet is to keep trying to get access to your old smartwayamerica account. Don’t forget to check your spam folder. Wish I could be of more help!

Adriel Ruiz says

March 30, 2022 at 11:00 am

I am trying to change username to a name that has never been taken but for some reason it keeps showing me error message even if i try to just edit any part of my profile. Bio or anything it shows error message. I don’t even have to change anything just every time i hit “edit profile” then hit “done” the error shows up. My first time ever trying to change the username this problem started. Do you know what i can do to fix this issue?

March 30, 2022 at 11:31 am

I’m not familiar with this issue. I wish I could be more helpful.

December 09, 2021 at 6:24 pm

Instagram keep telling me the name is taken but it is not. i don’t know shall i still wait for 14 days, and if so, started from when? i checked and the name is not taken. but Instagram’s rules are very weird.

December 13, 2021 at 1:15 pm

The 14 day window only applies to usernames that have been recently changed. If the username continues to be unavailable even though no one uses it, it’s possible the previous owner deleted their account. Deleted usernames are not restored.

November 29, 2021 at 6:23 pm

for years I’ve been trying to get ahold of either @corn or @corners, @corners has been taken up by some random dummy spam account for years, while @corn has just sat unavailable with no clear account connected to it, I wonder if maybe it was used by a meme page or something which then got banned

November 30, 2021 at 10:22 am

That’s possible. It’s also possible the previous owner deleted the account. When accounts are deleted, the username is taken off the market.

Xander Culnane says

November 08, 2021 at 5:04 pm

Hey Kelsey, so my account was deactivated and i am trying to put in a request to get it back. the only issue is its says my username is not in their records, do you know this issue. Thanks

November 09, 2021 at 11:22 am

Did you use the Temporary Disable Account feature or did you delete the profile? If you temporarily disabled it, you should be able to log in and re-enable it. But if you deleted it, it is my understanding that you cannot restore it.

November 01, 2021 at 8:06 pm

I deleted my account, but I wanted to make the same account with the same email/username. It says unavailable, but its available. Is there any information on when you delete it?

November 02, 2021 at 1:33 pm

Deleting an account removes the username from the pool of available usernames. This is from Instagram’s help website:

If your account was deleted by you or someone with your password, there’s no way to restore it. You can create a new account with the same email address you used before, but you may not be able to get the same username.

October 15, 2021 at 5:35 pm

Thank you very much for doing this blog. I did the exact same thing as you and was very worried. I changed the name of my main account to release it and put it in another account but Instagram told me that it was not available. Thanks to you, I have discovered the 14-day rule. I guess I’ll set an alarm too. Again, Thank you very much.

Vikas verma says

May 01, 2022 at 3:10 pm

I have got two accounts, i secure a username with my new account now i want to swap the username with my old account, what can i do, please help.

magdalena kolodziej says

June 01, 2022 at 2:52 pm

Somebody has changed my username and I can’t get access to my account.

September 20, 2021 at 9:56 am

Hi Kelsey, thank you for this very interesting post! I just need some help, unfortunately. I’ve been trying to get the username «mellova» for a while, but there’s no account with that name, yet I can’t get it. Here’s the weird part: it has never been used before, I’m pretty sure? I used the wayback machine to see if something like that might have happened, but they didn’t find anything! So I’m kind of lost 🙁

September 20, 2021 at 12:14 pm

Hey Nora. I wish I knew more, but everything I know is shared in this post. I hope you are able to get your username one of these days.

September 26, 2021 at 10:57 pm

It’s possible that the user deactivated the account. I did this with my other account to reserve a username. So let’s say I used «Mellova» as a username but deactivated, you still won’t be able to use it.

December 08, 2021 at 6:58 pm

so if we talking to support cant take this username?

John Queen says

July 29, 2021 at 7:01 am

July 29, 2021 at 10:15 am

Thanks, John. This should give people who aren’t able to secure a username after 14 days some hope.

August 07, 2021 at 5:19 pm

Hi baby, i had an account and i changed the name to put that name on my new account and it’s not available, if i wait 1 month it’ll be able to put that username on another account?

Ekene Ikwudogu says

July 06, 2021 at 4:47 pm

Can you please check the situation with the username «ekene»? It is definitely available and there is no one on Instagram who has the name but I am unable to change my name to it. I’ve been observing the username for years and can tell you that the former person who has this username was ekene_07 and has been inactive since 2014. What might be the case with this account? The change and adjustment were fairly recent because I remember still seeing the username taken in 2021, and as you may know, it is nearly impossible to get any word back from Instagram after calling and emailing them. My current username is «eikwudogu» and I’m almost at the point of trademarking the name just to see if that may work, after all, it is available. It will definitely help to uplift my personal brand and persona on the platform. I’m eager to hear your thoughts. Thanks!

July 06, 2021 at 5:15 pm

I’ve heard that when people terminate their accounts, sometimes Instagram takes the username off the market permanently. So, if the previous account holder of «ekene» deleted their account, that username may be unavailable permanently. I don’t have any details on why they do this but it could explain why Instagram won’t let you register it.

June 07, 2021 at 7:16 pm

Hello, Kelsey Smith Thank you for your information. I tried one of the username many times form more than 6 months, but it still says, the username is not available. I tried to search that username by typing the URL. That account is not taken. It’s still available, but it says it is not available, Can we say it’s banned account? I reported it to Instagram last week but it’s still not working.

June 08, 2021 at 10:28 am

If the person who previously used the username deleted their account, the username is out of commission permanently from what I’ve been told by other comments.

How To Claim an Inactive Instagram Username Account

Robert Hayes Robert is a freelance editor and writer living in Colorado. Read more July 11, 2022

The Market for Instagram Usernames

If you’re setting up an Instagram account and have thought of the perfect username that reflects your individuality or mission, you may realize that an inactive account has the username. Having the correct username for companies and influencers trying to jumpstart an Instagram presence is valuable.

An inactive account is one that a user abandoned or hasn’t used for an extended period. If the profile has the username you so desperately need, there’s no direct way to obtain it, but there are several things you can do.

Can You Get an Inactive Instagram Username?

Claiming an Instagram username can be tricky. Even when another user quits logging into their account, there are some rules and workarounds involved with claiming an inactive account’s username. Instagram users don’t have the option to fill out a form and claim a username; it just isn’t that simple.

Fortunately, Instagram does purge inactive accounts. But, you may not have the time to wait. We’ve included all of your options for obtaining an Instagram username in this article.

Buying an Instagram Username

There are numerous secondary markets where holders of good usernames can sell them for sums ranging from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands.

For the most part, the people making money selling names are those who staked out their accounts in the early days and had the foresight to pick usernames that other people or businesses will eventually want.

Sometimes, a name becomes valuable because a movie, show, or album comes out. Suddenly, ‘BigBangTheory’ goes from being an excellent account for a physics student to being a highly sought-after property. If the profile becomes “inactive,” you may be able to get the username.

If you choose to purchase an Instagram username, do beware: It’s important to buy a username from a reputable source. In 2021, Instagram banned hundreds of accounts for stolen usernames. Hackers confiscated usernames from innocent account owners and sold them to unsuspecting users.

Finding Their Contact Information

Just because the account is inactive doesn’t mean that the owner isn’t around. It may be that they would be delighted to sell you their old profile. However, getting in touch with them may be the tricky part.

Of course, you can send a Direct Message on the Instagram platform itself. Though, if the person isn’t active on Instagram, there’s a good chance that they won’t see your DM for quite some time if they even see it at all.

You can check the account’s bio to try and get information about it. There are a few things to look for here.

Some people put a contact e-mail address in their bio or even their personal website’s URL. If that’s the case, your quest is probably already successful.

Other people are more privacy-minded and don’t put that kind of direct contact information there. However, they may include links or references to their other social media accounts, such as their Facebook pages or LinkedIn bio. If you have this person’s name, you can always search through different social media sites and message them.

If you have no idea how much to offer, you might look up similar accounts at Instagram account market sites like InstaSale and see the pricing of profiles with similarities.

Will Instagram Delete Inactive Accounts?

Yes, they will delete inactive accounts, although the time it takes for them varies depending on the website’s needs.

For example, purges usually happen at random, or at least they seem random. Often these purges occur at the end of the year.

Wait for an Instagram Purge

If the account you want is genuinely inactive and doesn’t have much or any content on it, there is an excellent chance that it will eventually get purged from the Instagram database. It’s no guarantee, but the inactive account you want may get dropped, and the username will become available again.

Instagram does not announce the schedule for its purges, so you won’t get a heads up to alert you to start trying to grab any usernames on your list. The best way to detect a purge is to follow one of the perennially popular Instagram accounts with a relatively stable follower list and check their follower count daily.

If they have thousands of followers, then at least some of those followers are undoubtedly spam accounts or bots, and a purge will cut their follower list by some non-trivial quantity of users. If your monitored account goes from 9,341 followers to 9,102 followers overnight (and there’s not some apparent scandalous post driving the loss), the odds are good that Instagram did a purge, and some usernames are now up for grabs.

Trademark or Copyright the Name

You can go through the process of getting a patent online. Once the patent gets obtained, you can report the inactive account to Instagram. Although this may take time and an additional expense, this is an option for you.

Many users have reported success by asking Instagram to transfer an account. When you hold a trademark on a name, you can argue that your customers’ existing accounts are confusing. Copyright infringement can be an effective way to obtain your Instagram username.

If you hold such a trademark or copyright, you can file a copyright/trademark violation report and attempt to claim the name as your own.

If the account is active and frequently used, you may have difficulty succeeding with this method.

Getting a new trademark is complicated and expensive, but getting copyright protection is reasonably straightforward. Any time you create anything original, you have implicit copyright; you can file an official copyright registration to cement your legal claim, but the claim is made by referencing the work, not by the act of filing the claim. In other words, you must use the name consistently and prove the damages it could incorporate if someone else uses it.

Of course, you can also report a copyright issue directly to Instagram. Head over to this link on the Instagram website and file a report.

Choose a Similar Name

Although this may seem obvious, choosing a similar username is the simplest way to set up your Instagram account. Adding an underscore or a number is simple and effective.

Instagram usernames can be up to 30 characters long and contain letters, numbers, periods, and underscores. This specification gives you quite a bit of flexibility in creating a close name to the one you so desire. You may need to use a little imagination, but the rest should be straightforward enough.

Add a city or location to your name if you run a business. You can do the same for surnames or others. This move can help maintain your brand and add a quick local identifier that may work in your favor. You can also add the type of business to the name.

Workarounds For Larger Brands

If you’re a more significant business or a more established brand, adding ‘official’ or ‘real’ at the end of your Instagram account can work too. Artists with common names often do this, so you can too.

You do need to be careful about emulating established brands, however. Suppose you create an account for Microsoft Software. In that case, it’s a legal account name, but if you reach a level of success and visibility where Microsoft sees your account, they will shut you down promptly using the same trademark and copyright tools I described above. You can’t infringe on other people’s protected intellectual property just as much as they can’t intrude on yours.

If you’re having trouble obtaining a username but there are no accounts with it, remember that some get set to private. If this is the case, the username is unavailable, and you cannot search for the account.

Created Account But Can’t log in

Several users have reported that they’ve created a new Instagram account with the perfect username and received the “Sorry, Something Went Wrong” error message. Clicking the ‘Try Again’ option or trying to log in doesn’t work. Unfortunately, the username got taken, and you can’t log in. So what are you to do if this has happened?

The above situation can be incredibly frustrating when you’ve created the perfect Instagram username and can’t access the account. Trying the tips we’ve outlined may help you regain access.

Frequently Asked Questions

We’ve included the answers to more of your frequently asked questions in this section.

Does Instagram delete inactive users?

Yes, but after some time. Although we don’t know the exact process, Instagram states that it’s essential to log into your account to avoid a purge. The company does not give time frames for when a profile gets purged.

What can I do if I need help with my Instagram account or username?

Instagram does have a help site that you can visit to get assistance or answers for various things. If you can’t access your account or if someone is accessing it unlawfully, check out the Instagram Help Center.

How long does it take for a username to become available after someone deletes their account?

Instagram has not given us the official word on this. Still, many users have reported they could take the name as soon as the original owner deleted their account. Keep in mind; that the owner needs to permanently delete their account. If you’re trying to buy a username from another user, be sure you’ve obtained the username before sending payment.

Can I request an inactive username?

Unfortunately, Instagram doesn’t exactly give us the green light on requesting usernames. Here is what the company has to say on the subject:

“If a username you want is being used by an account that seems inactive, you can choose an available version of the username. You can add periods, numbers, underscores, or abbreviations to help you come up with a username that’s not already in use.“

Of course, this doesn’t mean you can’t try, at least. It won’t hurt to contact Instagram and request a username you think is inactive.

What happens to a user name after Instagram bans the original account?

Perhaps you’ve tried a username that does not appear in your search results, and yet, you cannot claim it. You may have tried different variations of the coveted username, and still, you are left wanting.

If the original creator of the username you’re looking for violated Instagram’s T&Cs, Instagram could remove the entire account, including the username, to prevent future use. Although Instagram won’t notify you that the username doesn’t exist anymore, you can try the Help feature to check.