Open Search, type a name or a handle, then tap Accounts to see only people and pages. A handle finds one account; a name can find many, so check the picture and bio. On a computer, click Search on the left and type in the box.
Instagram's help page describes search in one line: you can search using keywords to find photos and videos, hashtags, accounts, audio, tags and places. Finding a person is the accounts part of that, and it works the same way whether you type their name or their handle. This guide is part of the Profiles section of the blog.
In the Instagram app
- 1
Open Search
Tap Search at the bottom of the screen to go to Search and Explore.
In the appSearch - 2
Tap the search bar
Tap Search in the bar at the top.
- 3
Type the name or handle
Type who you are looking for, then tap the search button on your keyboard.
- 4
Filter to accounts
Tap Accounts below the search bar. The other filters are For you, Audio, Tags, Places and Reels.
In the appAccounts
On a computer
- 1
Open Search
Click Search on the left of instagram.com.
In the appSearch - 2
Type in the box
Click Search in the top left and type who you are looking for.
- 3
Pick the account
Click the account in the list of results.
Instagram's web search is part of the signed-in site. If you only have a handle and no account, the username search page opens a public profile from its exact username, and the Instagram profile viewer shows the whole public profile without signing in.
Why the same search gives different results
| What you typed | What it matches | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| A full name | Every account that uses that display name | Picture, handle and bio |
| An exact handle | One account only | That it is spelled with every period and underscore |
| A business name | The business and accounts that mention it | The handle in its bio or website |
Instagram's help page says it uses an automated system to choose and rank what you see in search, and points to the Meta Transparency Center for how that system works. That is why two people searching the same name can see the results in a different order.
Three worked searches
- IfYou know the full name, Emma CarterThenSearch the name, tap Accounts, then match the picture and bioName
- IfYou know the handle, daniel.moreauThenType it exactly; the account with that handle opensHandle
- IfYou know the business, Maison ClaireThenSearch the name, then look for the handle on its website or signBusiness
When the handle is the thing you are unsure about, the Instagram username checker explains how handles are formed and why one character changes the account. Instagram Search Without Account: Fixing the Login Wall covers the login wall when you have no account, and Can You Find Someone on Instagram With Their Phone Number? goes through what a phone number can and cannot find.
Questions
01How do I find someone on Instagram by their name?
02Is it better to search by username or by name?
03Can I search Instagram on a computer?
04Why can't I find someone I know is on Instagram?
05Do private accounts show up in search?
- Search on InstagramInstagram Help Center
- Unfollow someone on Instagram (blocking note)Instagram Help Center
- How to change your Instagram profile informationInstagram Help Center
