Username Checker
Find out whether a username is free before you build a brand on it. Check Instagram and TikTok names instantly, and see the length and character rules for Instagram, TikTok, X and YouTube in one place.
Instagram username checker
Check if an Instagram username, name or IG handle is taken. No login needed.
Check an Instagram usernameTikTok username checker
See if a TikTok username is taken or available, with the TikTok rules explained.
Check a TikTok usernameHow username availability checking works
A username checker looks for a public profile that already uses the name. If a profile loads, the name is taken. If none is found, it may be free. That is a signal, not a reservation: a name can still be unavailable if it belongs to a suspended or deactivated account, was recently changed, or is reserved. Claim the name inside the app to be sure.
posterly checks Instagram and TikTok names. For X and YouTube, the app itself tells you when you type or save the name, so use the rules below to pick a valid name first.
Username rules by platform
Instagram and TikTok rules match the rules the posterly checkers apply. X and YouTube rules come from X Help and YouTube Help. Platforms can change their rules, so confirm in the app.
| Platform | Length | Allowed characters | Also good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 30 characters | Letters, numbers, full stops and underscores | Not case-sensitive. Cannot end with a full stop or use two full stops in a row. | |
| TikTok | 2 to 24 characters | Letters, numbers, underscores and periods | Cannot end with a period. Not case-sensitive. |
| X | Up to 15 characters | Letters, numbers and underscores | No spaces, dashes or other symbols. Suspended or deactivated names are not immediately free. |
| YouTube (handle) | 3 to 30 characters | Letters, numbers, underscores, hyphens, periods and Latin middle dots | Underscores, hyphens, periods and middle dots cannot be at the start or end. Not case-sensitive. Cannot look like a URL or phone number. |
Pick one username for every platform
- Choose a name that fits the tightest rule in the table, which is X at 15 characters.
- Check it on Instagram and TikTok.
- Type it into the X and YouTube sign-up or handle fields to confirm it there.
- If one platform has it, try a variation you can use on all of them rather than a different name per platform.
Taken names that look abandoned are covered in how to catch a released Instagram username. Once the accounts exist, schedule posts across them with posterly.
Do this with your AI agent
Names claimed? Connect posterly over MCP and ask your assistant to post to them.
Show me which social accounts I have connected, then schedule this post on Instagram and TikTok for tomorrow at 9am and check it with validate_post first.
Got the username? Start building your brand with posterly.
posterly lets you schedule posts across 18 platforms with AI-powered captions. Start with a free 7-day trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if a username is available?
Use the Instagram username checker or the TikTok username checker on posterly: type the name without the @ and the tool looks for a public profile. For X and YouTube, type the name into the sign-up or handle field inside the app, which checks it when you set it. A result from any checker is a signal, and trying to claim the name is the only definitive check.
Can I check a username on every platform at once?
Not with a single lookup. posterly checks Instagram and TikTok usernames. X and YouTube do not offer a public lookup we can rely on, so the table on this page gives their rules and you confirm the name inside the app.
Is a username the same as a handle?
Yes. Username, handle and @name all mean the unique identifier in your profile link. A display name is different, because many accounts can share one.
Why does a checker say a name is free when I cannot claim it?
A checker reads public profiles. A name can still be unavailable if it belongs to a suspended or deactivated account, was recently changed, or is reserved. Treat a free result as a signal and confirm in the app.
Should I use the same username on every platform?
It makes you easier to find and tag, so check your first-choice name on every platform you plan to use before you commit. If one platform has the name taken, pick a variation you can use everywhere.
Is the username checker free?
Yes. The Instagram and TikTok checkers are free, with no limit on how many usernames you check.
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