Hello Reader technogigs,
Instagram is a powerful social media platform where people share their photos, videos, and stories with their followers. However, if you are trying to reconnect with an old friend or find someone with a changed username, it can be frustrating not to know their current username. In this guide, we will show you how to see old Instagram usernames, their strengths, weaknesses, FAQs and everything in between.
The Introduction: How to See Old Instagram Usernames
Instagram has over 1 billion monthly active users as of 2021, making it one of the largest social networking platforms. You can search for people on Instagram by their username, full name, or hashtag. However, if you are looking for someone’s old username either because you lost touch or they changed their username, Instagram doesn’t display old usernames, but there are a few different approaches you can use to recover this information.
This article will take you through different ways to see old Instagram usernames and explain the strengths and weaknesses of each method. We will also answer frequently asked questions about this topic and give you a comprehensive guide to see old Instagram usernames.
Approach 1: Search in your DMs
If you have previously messaged the person on Instagram, you can still recover their old username. Here’s how you can do it:
- Open the Instagram app on your smartphone.
- Go to your direct messages.
- Scroll through your conversations and try to find the conversation with that person.
- Check the top of the conversation where the group profile picture or the individual profile picture is displayed.
- The username of the person will be displayed right below their name.
Approach 2: Check Old Screenshots
If you previously took screenshots from your conversations with the person, you can find their old username by checking the screenshot’s file name. Here are the steps:
- Open the gallery app on your smartphone.
- Find the screenshot you took while chatting with the person whose old username you want to see.
- Long press on the image to see all its details.
- Look for the filename of the screenshot.
- Check if you see any username in the filename.
Approach 3: Use Google Cache
Google cache is a feature that caches web pages and stores them on its servers. You can use it to find old Instagram profiles and their old usernames by following these steps:
- Open your browser and go to Google.com.
- Type the person’s Instagram username, and search for it.
- Click on the small arrow next to the link.
- Select “Cached” from the drop-down menu.
- This will load the cached version of the profile, with the old username visible.
Approach 4: Use Archive.org
Archive.org is a web tool that archives websites, including their previous versions. You can use it to find old Instagram profiles and their old usernames by following these steps:
- Go to the Archive.org website.
- Enter the Instagram URL of the person whose old username you want to see.
- Select the date to view the archived version from the calendar.
- Click on the earliest archived date available.
- This will take you to an archived version of the profile, with the old username visible.
Approach 5: Contact the User Directly
The final approach is to contact the user directly and ask for their old username. You can do this by messaging them or by finding their contact information through other social media platforms. However, this approach is only effective if the person is willing to share this information with you.
The Strengths and Weaknesses of Each Method
Each approach to find old Instagram usernames has its strengths and weaknesses.
Strengths
Approach 1: Search in your DMs
- You don’t need any external tools or assistance to recover the username.
- If you have previously communicated with the user, the old username may still be available.
Approach 2: Check Old Screenshots
- If you have old conversations’ screenshots, you can quickly find the username.
- Even if you have deleted the chat, the screenshots can still provide the required information.
Approach 3: Use Google Cache
- You can find old or removed profiles this way.
- Google cache is entirely free to use.
- If the user had a public profile and you have seen it before, you can use Google Cache to retrieve old information.
Approach 4: Use Archive.org
- Archive.org stores a vast library of user data and is free to use.
- You can find the date when the user made significant changes to their profile.
- It enables you to recover the old usernames of even deleted profiles.
Approach 5: Contact the User Directly
- The most direct way to retrieve lost information is by asking the person directly.
- You can establish contact with an old, lost friend this way.
Weaknesses
Approach 1: Search in your DMs
- This approach is only viable if you have previously communicated with the user.
- You can’t retrieve any removed or deleted usernames by this approach.
Approach 2: Check Old Screenshots
- This approach is only viable if you have taken screenshots during conversations.
- You will not be able to recover any deleted conversations.
Approach 3: Use Google Cache
- Google Cache is only available if the user has a public profile.
- It doesn’t work with private profiles.
- If the user deleted their account, you won’t be able to see their old username.
Approach 4: Use Archive.org
- Archive.org only archives where data was collected from a specific period.
- If the user deleted their profile, you won’t be able to see their archived version.
- It may not always be entirely accurate, some information might be missing or changed in the archive.
Approach 5: Contact the User Directly
- Not everyone will be willing to share their old username with you.
- This approach only works if you have contact information for the user, which may not always be the case.
The Table of Different Approaches to Find Old Instagram Usernames
| Method | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| Search in your DMs | You don’t need any external tools or assistance to recover the username. If you have previously communicated with the user, the old username may still be available. | This approach is only viable if you have previously communicated with the user. You can’t retrieve any removed or deleted usernames by this approach. |
| Check Old Screenshots | If you have old conversations’ screenshots, you can quickly find the username. Even if you have deleted the chat, the screenshots can still provide the required information. | This approach is only viable if you have taken screenshots during conversations. You will not be able to recover any deleted conversations. |
| Use Google Cache | You can find old or removed profiles this way. Google cache is entirely free to use. If the user had a public profile and you have seen it before, you can use Google Cache to retrieve old information. | Google Cache is only available if the user has a public profile. It doesn’t work with private profiles. If the user deleted their account, you won’t be able to see their old username. |
| Use Archive.org | Archive.org stores a vast library of user data and is free to use. You can find the date when the user made significant changes to their profile. It enables you to recover the old usernames of even deleted profiles. | Archive.org only archives where data was collected from a specific period. If the user deleted their profile, you won’t be able to see their archived version. It may not always be entirely accurate, some information might be missing or changed in the archive. |
| Contact the User Directly | The most direct way to retrieve lost information is by asking the person directly. You can establish contact with an old, lost friend this way. | Not everyone will be willing to share their old username with you. This approach only works if you have contact information for the user, which may not always be the case. |
FAQs About How To See Old Instagram Usernames
1. Can I still see an old Instagram profile if the person deletes it?
No, you cannot. If someone deletes their Instagram profile, it no longer exists for public view, and all information about the profile, including usernames, cannot be recovered.
2. Is there any application that can reveal the old username on Instagram?
No, there isn’t. Instagram does not provide information about old usernames, and no third-party applications can recover it.
3. Can I retrieve a deleted conversation on Instagram?
No, you cannot retrieve a deleted conversation on Instagram. If you’ve deleted a conversation, it’s gone forever.
4. Can Instagram temporarily or permanently ban users for using certain tools to recover old usernames or other information?
Yes, Instagram may temporarily or permanently ban users for violating their terms of service, including using tools to access users’ personal information without their consent.
5. How can I keep track of changes in someone’s Instagram username?
You can turn on notifications for a specific user’s account. You will be notified of any changes in their posts, username, or profile information.
6. How can I mute notifications for a specific user on Instagram?
You can mute notifications from a specific user by going to their profile, clicking the three dots in the top right corner, and selecting “Mute.”
7. Can I report someone for changing their username on Instagram?
No, Instagram allows its users to change their usernames at any time and doesn’t have a policy against this.
8. How do you change your username on Instagram?
You can change your Instagram username by going to your profile, clicking “Edit Profile,” and then changing your username in the “Username” field.
9. Do you have to pay to use Google Cache and Archive.org?
No, both Google Cache and Archive.org are free to use and accessible worldwide.
10. Why are old usernames hidden on Instagram?
Instagram does not show old usernames to protect users’ privacy and prevent the misuse of usernames.
11. Can Instagram usernames contain special characters?
No, Instagram usernames can only contain letters, numbers, periods (“.”) and underscores (“_”).
12. Can Instagram users have the same username?
No, Instagram usernames are unique. If someone else already has the username you want to use, you will need to choose a different one.
13. Can Instagram suggest usernames for me?
Yes, when you create an account on Instagram, the platform may suggest usernames for you based on your name or email address.
Conclusion
Thanks for reading our guide on how to see old Instagram usernames. As you’ve learned, there are different approaches to recover old usernames, and each method has its strengths and weaknesses. Approach 1 through 5 all have their merits, depending on what you want to achieve. Moreover, using Google Cache or Archive.org can help you uncover usernames deleted or removed from Instagram. If you couldn’t find the desired username using these methods, you could always contact the relevant individual via other means.
If you happen to have any questions or contributions, please feel free to leave them in the comments section below. We will be more than happy to assist you.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only. We do not claim responsibility for any misuse of this information. Use these approaches at your own risk.