Alex Ruben
How To Hide Your Name on Instagram
Trying to make your name less visible on Instagram? Not sure if it’s actually possible, but there’s a workaround that sort of works. Basically, you want to hide your name so it doesn’t show up when someone visits your profile. It’s kind of weird, but deleting your name and replacing it with a zero-width character can do the trick. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but hey—worth a shot.
Step 1: Open the Instagram App
Open up Instagram on your phone. Log in if you haven’t already. No fancy tricks here; just make sure you’re in your account.
Step 2: Go to Your Profile
Tap that profile icon at the bottom right. That takes you to your profile page. Easy enough. If you’re already there, good.
Step 3: Tap on Edit Profile
Look for the Edit Profile button — it’s usually in the middle of your profile page. Tap it. This lets you change your name, username, and other details.
Step 4: Clear Your Name
In the Edit Profile section, find your current name. Tap on it. Most likely, it’s there, just waiting for some editing. Try deleting it completely. No luck? Sometimes Instagram nags if you leave it empty, so move on to the next step.
Step 5: Use a Zero-Width Space Character
This part’s kind of sneaky. Instead of leaving it blank (which sometimes gets rejected), copy a zero-width space character from here: Zero-width space. It looks like nothing—just a tiny invisible character. Paste it into the name field.
Tip: On some systems, the zero-width space might not work right away, or Instagram might strip it out. If that happens, try using a different invisible Unicode character or a special symbol. Weird, but hey, it’s Instagram.
Step 6: Save Changes
Tap Done or Save — top right corner. Wait a sec, then go back to your profile. Your name should look blank now, which is the goal. Sometimes it takes a refresh or logging out and back in, but most of the time it sticks after saving.
Step 7: Verify It
Just check your profile. If your name is gone or looks blank, success! Your profile looks cleaner, more anonymous, whatever. Note: Your username is still there and visible, so don’t expect total invisibility if someone digs around.
Extra Tips & Common Troubles
Few things worth noting — Instagram can be picky about blank fields:
- Profile Visibility: Your username stays visible, so be mindful if you want full anonymity. Your profile’s still findable by username.
- App Updates: Instagram sometimes changes how these things work, so if copying that invisible character doesn’t work, look for newer Unicode tricks or wait for the app to update.
- Privacy Settings: If you’re posturing privacy, it’s good to review Settings > Privacy. Lock down who can see your info or follow you.
Summary
- Use a zero-width space to replace your name — it’s not perfect but enough sometimes.
- Remember your username still shows, so no illusion of total invisibility.
- Hit save and refresh to see if it worked.
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. Tech sometimes just refuses to cooperate, but at least there’s a hack around it.