Many Instagram users seek to have as many followers as possible. But there are also others who, even though they share bits and pieces of their private life on the social network, put their privacy above all else . And before learning some tips to improve security, such as reading Instagram messages without being seen or muting someone on Instagram without them knowing , the first step is to make our account private . This way, only those people we have previously given permission to follow us and see our images and videos will be able to do so.
- What does it mean for an Instagram account to be private?
- Make a private account on Android
- Make a private account on iOS
- Create a private account from the web
What does it mean for an Instagram account to be private?
Indication that an Instagram account is private
When an Instagram account is private, people who don’t follow us won’t be able to see our posts, reels, or stories .
Additionally, to follow our profile, they’ll need to send us a request . This way, we can decide whether or not each person interested in following us can access our content. This option is highly recommended for people with very personal accounts who don’t want just anyone to see their photos or videos .
Make a private account on Android
Button to make your account private on Instagram
If you want to make your Instagram account private and you have an Android phone , the steps you will have to follow to do so are as follows:
- Enter the Instagram application .
- Click on the icon with your profile picture that appears in the lower right corner.
- Click on the icon with three horizontal lines in the upper right corner.
- In the Who can see your content section, go to Account Privacy .
- Activate the button that says Private Account .
Of course, this procedure is completely reversible. If you change your mind at a later date and want your account to be public again, simply deactivate the Private Account button , and everyone will have access to your profile again.
You should also keep in mind that once you decide to make your account private, all of your previous followers will remain private . Therefore, if someone started following you when you had a public profile and you no longer want them to be able to do so, you’ll have to manually remove them , otherwise they’ll still be able to see your posts.
Make a private account on iOS
Menu to make your account private on an iOS mobile
If you have an iPhone or iPad , the procedure for making your account private is similar to the one we explained for Android, although there are some minor differences. The steps are as follows:
- Log into the Instagram app on your device.
- Click on the icon with your profile picture in the bottom right corner.
- Once you’re in your profile, tap the gear icon at the top.
- In the menu that opens, find Private Account and slide the button to activate it.
As you can see, the procedure on iOS is slightly faster than on Android , as the button to make your account private is located directly in the main options menu. But once you’ve clicked it, everything will be exactly the same.
This way, anyone who wants to become one of your new followers will have to send you a follow request , but your existing followers will remain. And when you want to make your account public again, you can easily undo the process.
Create a private account from the web
Button to make your Instagram account private from the web
Although we typically use Instagram on mobile, you can also make your account private from the web by following these steps:
- Go to the web version of Instagram and log in with your account.
- In the menu on the left, click Profile .
- Click the gear icon next to your profile name.
- In the menu that appears, tap Settings & Privacy .
- Slide the button that says Private Account .
Whether you make your account private from the web or from one of Instagram’s mobile apps, the result will be exactly the same . Therefore, even if you normally use the social network from your mobile device, if you find it more convenient to make the settings changes from your computer, you can do so without any problems.
The decision to make your Instagram account private depends on many factors , but now that you know how to do it, it’s entirely up to you.
