How to Check Old Usernames on Instagram: A Complete Guide

Instagram allows users to change their usernames anytime, but many people want to check old usernames for personal, business, or security reasons.

If you’re wondering how to check an old Instagram username, this guide covers multiple methods for both your own account and other users’ past usernames.

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I. Methods to Check Old Usernames on Instagram

A. Check Your Own Old Usernames from Instagram Settings

Instagram keeps a record of past usernames, which can be found in your Account History.

✅ Steps to Find Your Old Usernames:

1. Open Instagram and tap your Profile icon.
2. Tap the Menu (☰) in the top-right corner.
3. Select Your Activity > Account History.
4. Scroll to find all past username changes.

🚀 Why It Works: Instagram logs all major account changes, including username updates.

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B. Check Someone Else’s Old Usernames (If Publicly Available)

If you’re trying to find old usernames of another user, Instagram only shows this for business/verified accounts.

✅ Steps to Find Old Usernames of Public Accounts:

1. Go to the Instagram profile of the person you’re investigating.
2. Tap the three dots (⋮) in the top-right corner.
3. Select About This Account (only visible for verified/business profiles).
4. Check for Previous Usernames (if available).

🚀 Why It Works: Business accounts display username history to maintain transparency.

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C. Use Third-Party Username Tracking Tools

If Instagram doesn’t show the history, you may need external tools to track old usernames.

1. Check the Wayback Machine (Web Archive)

✅ Steps to Find Old Instagram Usernames via Wayback Machine:

1. Go to Wayback Machine.
2. Enter the Instagram profile URL (e.g., instagram.com/username).
3. Browse past snapshots of the profile to see old usernames.

🚀 Why It Works: Wayback Machine archives older versions of public pages.

2. Try Social Media Username Trackers

Some online services store username change records:

• Namechk – Checks if an old username is available.
• Username history lookup tools (availability may vary).

🚨 Caution: Use trusted websites only to avoid scams.

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D. Search for Mentions of the Old Username

If an Instagram user previously used a different username, it may still be visible:

✅ Where to Look for Old Usernames:

• Tagged posts or comments – If someone tagged the old username.
• Mentions in other users’ captions or DMs.
• Google Search – Try searching “instagram.com/oldusername” to find cached results.

🚀 Pro Tip: Search Twitter or other platforms where the user may have used the same username.

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II. Can You Recover an Old Username?

If you changed your username but want the old one back, follow these steps:

✅ Steps to Reuse an Old Username:

1. Open Instagram and go to Edit Profile.
2. Type in your previous username in the Username field.
3. If it’s available, you can switch back to it immediately.

🚨 Warning: If someone else claimed your old username, you cannot recover it unless they release it.

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III. Conclusion

Instagram keeps a record of old usernames, which can be found through:
✅ Your Activity > Account History (for your own username changes).
✅ About This Account (for business/verified profiles).
✅ Wayback Machine or username tracking tools (for external records).
✅ Searching mentions in comments, tags, or Google.

If you want to reclaim an old username, act quickly before someone else takes it!