Sherlock Username Search: 2026 GuideAudit your username footprint with Sherlock in 2026: scan 400+ sites for your own handle, export hits and clean up exposures. Lab-only educational guide.FAQ

What is Sherlock?

Sherlock (Sherlock Project) checks whether one username exists across 400+ websites — GitHub, Instagram, Reddit, forums — and reports the profile links it found. Investigators use it to map a person's public footprint from a single handle.

Is Sherlock illegal?

It only visits public profile URLs, which is passive recon. Still, use it on your own handles or permitted targets, and never use results to stalk, dox or harass anyone.

How do I run it on my own username?

python3 sherlock yourhandle --print-found prints only hits. Start with your own gaming or work handle and see how many public profiles tie back to you.

What do the check marks and question marks mean?

Check means the profile exists. Question mark means the site blocked the check or the detection rule is uncertain — verify those links by hand before trusting them.

How do I save results?

Add --csv or --xlsx to write a spreadsheet of hits, or --folderoutput to organize by username. Keep audits of your own handles for cleanup day.

Why do some sites time out?

Rate limits and anti-bot pages. Lower --timeout has the opposite effect — raise it, add --verbose to watch, and rerun misses later rather than hammering.

How is this different from Holehe?

Sherlock checks usernames on 400+ sites. Holehe checks one email across 120+ sites for registered accounts. Handle versus inbox — run both on yourself for the full picture.

How do I shrink my username footprint?

Set old profiles private or delete them, use different handles for work and play, and self-search monthly. Every profile Sherlock finds on you is one a stranger finds too.

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