How to Make Instagram Private
A private account hides your posts from strangers. It does not hide everything, so here is what changes and what does not.
By Siddharth ShankarUpdated October 18, 2026In the Instagram app, open your profile, go to Settings and privacy, then Account privacy, and turn on Private account. Only approved followers will see your posts, reels and stories. Your name, username, profile photo and bio stay visible to everyone. Business and creator accounts cannot be private, so switch to a personal account first.
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Instagram is public by default for adults. Instagram’s help page on public and private accounts says that, by default, anyone can see your profile and posts unless you are under 18. Switching to private takes a few seconds and is one of the quickest ways to shrink your digital footprint.
How to switch to a private account
1Open your profile
Tap your profile picture at the bottom of the app.
2Open Settings and privacy
Tap the menu at the top right, then Settings and privacy.
3Go to Account privacy
Under who can see your content, tap Account privacy.
4Turn on Private account
Switch it on and confirm. See Instagram’s guide to making your account private.
On the web, the same option is in your profile settings under account privacy.
If the option is missing: business and creator accounts
Professional accounts, meaning business and creator accounts, cannot be made private. You need to switch back to a personal account first, which Instagram explains on its switch to a personal account page. You will lose professional features such as insights.
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What stays public on a private account
Going private hides your posts, reels and stories from people who do not follow you. These usually stay visible to anyone:
- Your name and username
- Your profile picture
- Your bio, including any links and contact details you added
- Follower and following counts
Instagram also has guidance on hiding your bio or profile image. Review your bio carefully. Many people list their city, school, workplace or other handles there without thinking about it.
Other settings to check
1Review your current followers
Going private does not remove existing followers. Remove any you do not know.
2Turn off similar account suggestions
This can stop your profile being suggested to strangers.
3Check tags and mentions
Limit who can tag and mention you, and review photos you are tagged in. Posts on other people’s public accounts stay public even if you are private.
4Turn off activity status
Hide when you were last active.
5Check location on posts
Avoid tagging your home, school or regular places in posts and stories.
Teens and parents
Instagram applies extra protections to accounts of people under 18, including private-by-default settings in many cases. Parents can read our guide to children’s and teens’ digital footprints.
Check your account from the outside
After going private, look at your profile from a friend’s phone who does not follow you, or log out and search for your username in a browser. Check that only your name, username, profile picture and bio appear. Then read your bio as a stranger would. If it names your school, workplace, town or other social accounts, consider trimming it.
Remember to check old accounts too. Many people have a forgotten second account that is still public. See how to find your old social media accounts.
Stories, close friends and highlights
Stories on a private account are seen only by followers, but you can narrow that further. Use Close Friends for personal stories, and hide stories from specific followers if needed. Highlights stay on your profile, so review old ones that show your home, school or routine.
Messages from strangers
You can control who can message you and send message requests. Limiting messages to people you follow reduces spam, fake brand deals and scam approaches that often target public accounts.
Facebook is separate
Making Instagram private does not change your Facebook settings, even though Meta runs both. See how to make Facebook private.
Sources
- Instagram Help Center: Public and private accounts (public by default for adults)
- Instagram Help Center: Make your account private (how to switch to private)
- Instagram Help Center: Switch back to a personal account (professional accounts)
- Instagram Help Center: Hiding your bio or profile image (what stays visible)
Frequently asked questions
Can people see my posts if my Instagram is private?
Only your approved followers can see your posts, reels and stories.
Can strangers see my bio on a private account?
Yes. Your name, username, profile picture and bio stay visible to everyone.
Why can’t I make my Instagram private?
Business and creator accounts cannot be private. Switch to a personal account first.
Does going private remove my followers?
No. Existing followers stay. Remove any you do not know manually.
Are posts I was tagged in hidden too?
No. Posts on someone else’s public account follow their settings, not yours.
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