Can I recover without the email or phone?

Instagram may offer an identity check, such as a selfie video, for some accounts.

Will Instagram move the name back?

It may act on an impersonation report. It decides the result.

Should I report the hacker's account?

Yes, once your own account is safe.

My Instagram was hacked and the handle is gone

Short answer: Recover the account first, then deal with the name. Use Instagram's hacked account flow from the login screen or at instagram.com/hacked. Once you are back in, check whether your old handle is free. If the hacker moved it to another account, report that account for impersonation.

By the Atclaim team · Published 30 October 2026 · Last updated 30 October 2026

Do this now

On the login screen, tap Forgot password or Get help logging in, or go to instagram.com/hacked.
Use the email or phone that was on the account, or the identity check if Instagram offers one.
Once in, change the password and turn on two-factor authentication.
Check Edit profile. If the old handle is free, take it back at once.
If another account holds it, screenshot it and report it for impersonation.

What to write

"My account, now called @[new name], was hacked on [date]. The attacker changed my username from @[old name] and moved it to @[other account], which now poses as me."

Deadlines to know

Instagram's 14-day window to switch back to a previous username only helps if the name is still free.
Act the same day. Freed short names are often taken quickly.

What to avoid

Paying people who say they are recovery experts. See handle claim scams.
Sharing login codes with anyone.

Official sources

Platforms change their help pages and forms often. Follow the wording on your own screen and the current Help Center. Atclaim is an independent service and is not affiliated with Meta or any platform named on this site.