Have you decided to make your Instagram account private? If yes, you are in the right place.
Switching from a personal or a business account to a private account is easy. But sometimes, the process can be confusing.
Worry not, in this guide, you’ll be learning how to turn your existing account into a private account whether you have a personal or a business account.
You can either do it using the app, a mobile browser, or a computer/laptop.
How to Make Your Instagram Account Private
If you have a personal or a public account, switching it to private is straightforward.
Using a Mobile Application
Step 1: Open the Instagram application and tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner.
Step 2: Tap the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner of the screen.
Step 3: Tap Settings from a list of options.
Step 4: Then, select Privacy.
Step 5: Tap the toggle button next to Private Account at the top.
Step 6: To confirm it, tap Switch to Private.
This will change your account type to private.
Using a Mobile Browser
Step 1: Go to instagram.com on your mobile browser and log in to your account if you aren’t already logged in.
Step 2: Tap your profile in the bottom right corner.
Step 3: In the top-left corner, tap the Settings icon.
Step 4: Select Privacy and Security.
Step 5: Under the Account Privacy section at the top, tap the checkbox to make your profile private.
Using a Computer, a PC or a Laptop
Step 1: Log in to your account on your browser.
Step 2: Tap your profile icon on the top right side and select Settings.
Step 3: From the left pane, select Privacy and Security.
Step 4: You can now turn your profile to private by checking the checkbox next to Private Account.
How to Make Your Instagram Account Private If It’s a Business or a Creator Account
If you have a business or a creator account, the procedure to change it to a private account is somewhat different from usual.
Whenever you try to change your business account to private, you get a message: Business Accounts Can’t Be Private. “If you want to make your account private, first switch back to a personal account.”
To make your business or a creator account private, you first need to switch it to a personal account.
Here’s how to switch a business account to a personal:
- Go to Settings.
- Tap Accounts.
- Scroll to the bottom and click Switch Account Type.
- Select Switch to Personal Account.
If you’re still unable to switch your account back to personal, here is the step-by-step guide with screenshots: How to switch from business account to personal account on Instagram?
Now, you can follow the steps mentioned above to turn your profile private.
What Happens If You Make Your Profile Private
If you make your account private, only your followers will be able to see your photos and videos. Your posts or stories can’t be seen by someone who isn’t following you.
If someone decides to follow you, you will be sent a follow request. You then have to manually approve the request before they start following you.
