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Ever wondered how many websites contain the same username?

Someone might use one username on GitHub, another forum, a gaming platform, and several social media websites without realising how easily those accounts can be discovered.

There's a free, open-source OSINT tool called Sherlock that searches for usernames across more than 400 supported websites.

You enter a username, and Sherlock automatically checks which platforms appear to have an account using that name.

No paid subscription or API key required for basic searches.

WHAT CAN IT DO?
- Search usernames across 400+ websites

- Discover publicly accessible account profiles

- Identify where a username appears to be registered

- Search multiple usernames at once

- Export results to text files

- Generate CSV and Excel reports

- Search specific websites

- Open discovered profile URLs

- Help investigate your own digital footprint

LINKSOfficial GitHub:

https://github.com/sherlock-project/sherlock

Official Website:

https://sherlockproject.xyz/

Latest Releases:

https://github.com/sherlock-project/sherlock/releases

Documentation:

https://github.com/sherlock-project/sher.../README.md

Python Download:

https://www.python.org/downloads/

STEP 1 — INSTALL PYTHONDownload Python:

https://www.python.org/downloads/

Install a compatible version.

On Windows, open PowerShell and run:

 

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If Python displays a version number, continue.

STEP 2 — INSTALL PIPXSherlock's official documentation recommends installing it through pipx, uv, pip, or Docker.

We'll use pipx to keep its dependencies separate from other Python projects.

Open PowerShell:

 

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Then run:

 

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Close and reopen PowerShell.

STEP 3 — INSTALL SHERLOCKRun:

 

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Once installed, check:

 

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You should see the installed Sherlock version.

STEP 4 — SEARCH YOUR FIRST USERNAMELet's say you want to investigate your own online footprint.

Run:

 

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Replace

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with your username.Sherlock will begin checking supported websites.

Results might look something like:

 

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These are illustrative results, not verified accounts.

Sherlock will report websites where the username appears to exist.

STEP 5 — SEARCH MULTIPLE USERNAMESYou can search more than one username in a single command.

For example:

 

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Sherlock will check each username.

This is useful if you've used several aliases across different websites.

For example:

 

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You can compare where your different usernames appear online.

STEP 6 — SAVE RESULTSSherlock supports exporting the discovered accounts.

For a CSV report:

 

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For an Excel report:

 

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You can open exported reports in compatible spreadsheet applications.

This is useful for organising findings from your own digital-footprint assessment.

BONUS — SEARCH SPECIFIC WEBSITESDon't want to search hundreds of websites?

You can restrict the search.

For example:

 

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Or search multiple selected platforms:

 

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This can make your investigation quicker when you're only interested in particular services.

BONUS #2 — OPEN FOUND ACCOUNTSSherlock provides an option to open discovered URLs using your default browser.

Run:

 

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This is useful when manually reviewing the returned profiles.

Remember that a matching username doesn't prove two accounts belong to the same person.

BONUS #3 — SEARCH USERNAME VARIATIONSSherlock supports trying common username separator variations.

For example:

 

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The

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placeholder expands into variations using:

 

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This can help you check variations of your own username without entering each one separately.

BONUS #4 — USE DOCKER INSTEADDon't want to install Python packages directly?

Sherlock also supports Docker.

Download Docker:

https://www.docker.com/products/docker-desktop/

Once installed, run:

 

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This runs Sherlock inside a temporary Docker container.

HOW CAN THIS HELP WITH DIGITAL PRIVACY?Imagine you've used the same username for years.

You might have accounts on:

 

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Some accounts may be forgotten but still publicly accessible.

You can use Sherlock to identify possible matches and then manually investigate accounts you own.

Useful privacy steps include:

- Reviewing old profiles.

- Removing information you no longer want public.

- Closing accounts you no longer use.

- Checking privacy settings.

- Using distinct usernames where appropriate.

IMPORTANT — FALSE POSITIVESSherlock isn't perfect.

Some websites may:
- Return misleading HTTP responses

- Block automated requests

- Temporarily rate-limit searches

- Change their account URL structures

- Return incomplete results

A positive match does not automatically mean an account exists.

More importantly:

Two accounts sharing a username do not necessarily belong to the same person.

Always verify results individually.

Do not use username matches alone to identify, accuse, harass, or expose someone.

WHAT SHERLOCK CANNOT DOSherlock does not:
- Hack social media accounts

- Reveal account passwords

- Access private messages

- Bypass authentication

- Prove the real-world identity of an account owner

- Guarantee that every website is covered

It's a public username reconnaissance tool, not an account exploitation tool.

IS IT STILL MAINTAINED?Yes.

The Sherlock project remains active in 2026.

Version 0.16.2 was released on 9 September 2026, and its official documentation continues to describe support for more than 400 websites.

Recent releases have also focused on reducing false-positive results.

SOURCEShttps://github.com/sherlock-project/sherlock

https://github.com/sherlock-project/sherlock/releases

https://github.com/sherlock-project/sher.../README.md

https://sherlockproject.xyz/

If you're interested in OSINT, digital privacy, or researching your own online footprint, Sherlock is a useful tool to have.

Sometimes one reused username is enough to uncover years of forgotten public profiles.

 

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