How to become private on instagram
Want to set your Instagram account private? Follow below-given steps
Here is a complete step by step guide which you can follow so that only approved followers can see what you share.
India Today Web Desk
New Delhi,UPDATED: Mar 13, 2020 18:55 IST
Steps you can follow to set your Instagram account to private | Representational image
By India Today Web Desk: If you want to hide your post content by a particular individual or group of people who might go looking for you on Instagram, you can change your privacy setting. By default, anyone can see your profile and posts on Instagram, but Instagram gives you the option to make your account private so that only followers you approve can see what you share.
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Do you know how to set your Instagram account to private? Here is a step by step guide which you can follow to set your Instagram account to private. If your account is set to private, then only would the followers you approved be able to see your photos or videos on hashtag or location pages.
Here is a step-by-step guide which you can follow to set your Instagram account to private from the Instagram app. You can set your Instagram account to private from your Android as well as an iOS device.
Step 1: First you need to open the Instagram app on your Android or iOS device.
Step 2: Then go to your profile, then tap Settings.
Step 3: From the given option tap Privacy and then Account Privacy.
Step 4: Next you need to tap next to Private Account to make your account private.
If you want to set your account to private through your computer or using a mobile browser, you can follow the below-given steps:
Step 1: At first you need to go to instagram.
com on your computer or mobile browser.
Step 2: After that you need to click Human icon, then click Menu.
Step 3: Next you need to click Privacy and Security.
Step 4: Below the Account Privacy, click to check the box next to Private Account.
So Instagram allows you to make your account private at any time. You can follow the above-given steps to make your account private. Remember, when you make your account private, your existing followers won't be affected.
Important points about private accounts- Remember that the private posts you share to social networks may be visible to the public depending on your privacy settings for those networks. For example, If you share a post to Twitter that was set to private on Instagram may be visible to the people who can see your Twitter posts.
- Once you make your Instagram account private, people who want to follow you will have to send you a follow request to see your posts.
- All the follow requests which you will receive will appear in
- Activity, where you can approve or ignore them.
- If someone who is already following you before you set your posts to private and you don't want them to see your posts, you can simply block them.
- Any Instagram user can send a photo or video directly to you even if they're not following you.
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Apart from the above points, keep in mind that business profiles users will not be able to make their accounts private. In case if you want to make your business account private, you first have to switch back to a personal account.
(Information source: Instagram help)
READ | How to share someone's Instagram post from feed to your story
ALSO READ | How to upload video to IGTV on Instagram: Know steps here
Edited By:
Roshni
Published On:
Mar 13, 2020
How to Change an Instagram Profile From Private to Public | Small Business
By Ashley Donohoe Updated January 19, 2021
When you made an Instagram profile to showcase your company or interact with other professionals in your field, you may have initially opted for a personal account that you can choose to make private or public.
While having an Instagram private account offers some security benefits, you might prefer to go public to make your content accessible to more users. Fortunately, Instagram makes it easy to switch your account from private to public. You also have the option to switch to a professional public account that can provide you with marketing and analytical tools.
Comparing Instagram Account Types
Instagram offers both personal and professional accounts, and the privacy options and account features differ for these types.
MailUp mentions that some businesses might forego the professional account since it doesn't have a private option. Instead, they might prefer a personal Instagram account and make it private to protect their privacy, reduce spam and filter followers. However, Instagram public professional accounts include extras such as a contact button, permissions for others to help manage the account, and marketing analytical tools that aren't available for personal accounts.
While public accounts of any type are visible to any non-blocked user and make it easy to reach a large audience, private accounts require a follower request to view. Instagram warns some private posts can still be spread around the web since followers might take a screenshot or download the images and post them online for others to see.
Changing Your Profile to Public
To change your personal Instagram private account to public, Instagram advises you to use either the Instagram website or app. If you have multiple Instagram accounts for your work, be sure to switch to the right one before proceeding with the following steps based on your device:
- Instagram mobile website: Go to your profile tab and click the gear icon on the top of the page. Go to "Privacy and Security" and uncheck the "Private Account" box.
- Instagram mobile app: As with the mobile website, go to your profile tab but proceed by selecting the "Settings" option from the hamburger menu on the top of the app screen.
The "Settings" option brings up a list of options where you'll see one for "Privacy." You can then clear the "Private Account" box.
- Instagram desktop website: Click your profile image on the top of the page to show the "Settings" option. Go to the "Privacy and Security" option to find the "Private Account" check box and clear it.
Regardless of which device you use, you'll see a confirmation message in which you need to OK the change to make your Instagram account public. Keep in mind that you can go back to the same check box at any time to set a personal account to private again if you change your mind.
Upgrading to a Professional Account
If you want to move forward with a professional Instagram account, select the "Account" option from the "Settings" in the Instagram app; this feature isn't available through the mobile or desktop website. You'll find an option there to set up or switch to a professional account.
If you proceed, you can expect to walk through several steps for filling out your new business profile and linking it to your Facebook page if you have one.
Viewing an Instagram Private Account
If you're on the other side as a user who wants to view someone's private account, Business Insider notes that the easiest option is to use the profile's "Follow" button to send a request to get access. Other options include running a search for the person's Instagram account name to see if any photos have been posted elsewhere or have someone you know who is a follower show you the post.
While you might see a website or app that claims to be a private Instagram viewer, beware of using such a tool. Upleap warns that a private Instagram profile viewer might be a scam that steals your information or infects your device. Even if you gain access to the private profile with one of these services, the images may be low quality or blurry.
References
- Instagram: About Professional Accounts
- Instagram: How Do I Set My Instagram Account to Private So That Only Approved Followers Can See What I Share?
- Instagram: Privacy Settings & Information
- MailUp: Good and Bad Things About Using a Private Instagram Account for Branding
- Business Insider: How to View a Private Instagram Account in a Few Different Ways – Though the Best Way Is to Just Send a Follow Request
- Upleap: Should You Use a Private Instagram Viewer?
- Instagram: Set Up a Business Account on Instagram
Writer Bio
Ashley Donohoe started writing professionally online in 2010. Having a Master of Business Administration degree and experience running a small business, she is knowledgeable in the issues and decisions that small business owners face. Other places featuring her business writing include JobHero, LoveToKnow, Bizfluent, PocketSense and Study.com.
How to make a private account on Instagram and restrict access to the profile
Instagram is one of the most extensive platforms for maintaining personal pages and promoting businesses of various directions.
The social network has the ability to maintain public and private accounts. Each of them offers significant advantages and some disadvantages, so it is important to know how to make your Instagram account private. By default, the created page remains open, but if necessary, you can restrict access through special settings.
Private profile features
A private Instagram account means hiding everything that happens in the profile from unauthorized users. Publications, live broadcasts, subscriptions and subscribers will be available to a limited circle of people, the application of which will be approved by the owner. In this case, all users will be able to send a request for correspondence. In a private profile, you need to approve each incoming subscription request manually.
How to anonymously view stories on Instagram.
Advantages of a private profile
- More subscribers come to a private Instagram profile (intrigue is created and unsubscribed users want to know what kind of information is published on the page).
- Fewer unsubscribes (when you click on the "Unsubscribe" button, this window is displayed, which makes subscribers change their mind).
- Control who has access to published information (a valuable feature for personal pages - only approved subscribers can see posts).
- Posts, even those tagged with hashtags, don't show up in the Instagram search engine.
- Likes on private page posts are not displayed in the "Subscriptions" section (they are visible only to the one who liked and to the one who was liked)
Disadvantages of a private profile profile is interesting.
- Publications do not fall into the "Recommendations" (many users come from this section who increase the number of views, likes, reposts).
- Additional spending on advertising and long promotion of a business account (users learn about the profile through a recommendation or come from paid advertising from other pages).
- Inability to view statistics (data is available only for open accounts).
Features of an open personal Instagram account
Having an open account, you can share information with all users of the social network. Live broadcasts, publications and all activity on them will be available to everyone. Also, in open Instagram accounts, you can see not only the total number of subscribers and subscriptions, but also see who these users are. Non-private profiles are suitable for public people, businessmen and simple bloggers who like to share their own pictures, videos and other information online.
Benefits of an open account
- Fully accessible information (a plus for those who don't like to subscribe to private profiles).
- Posts are included in the "Recommendations" of Instagram.
— Hashtags are actively working and bringing in new subscribers.
- Posts with the most activity become available to more users.
- There is no need to manually confirm each application.
Disadvantages of an open account
- There is no way to hide personal information.
- There is a high possibility of stealing photos and videos from the page by intruders.
- No control over new subscribers.
Why you can't close a business account on Instagram
An Instagram business page is created to promote a brand or service. Targeted advertising is configured in accounts, which speeds up profile promotion and increases activity in it, including due to unsubscribed users. Also available in the business account are visit statistics and a report on each publication (the total number of likes, comments, saves and reposts). A business account cannot be private. It is possible to transfer it to personal (losing the ability to see the statistics) and only then make it private.
Step-by-step instructions for creating a private Instagram account
To create a private Instagram profile, follow the instructions:
1. Enter this menu in the upper right corner to search for settings (this is how it looks after the update in 2021).
2. Next, click the "Settings" icon
3. Select "Account Privacy".
4. Drag the slider to the Closed Account field.
8 Tips to View Private Instagram Accounts Instantly
Agree, it's not very pleasant when you want to see a user's account, but it is closed for viewing. Especially if it's a business profile. We've put together 8 tips to help you see the content of a private Instagram profile.
Method #1. Submit a tracking request
Let's start with the simplest and most obvious: just try to follow an account. When you submit a tracking request to an account, you must wait for the owner to accept the request before you can view their profile. Perhaps the account is closed from bots, and the real profile can be approved by the user.
This method exactly complies with the Instagram rules.
Method #2. Contact Google for help
Go to Chrome or Safari and enter your username in the search bar. When an account owner closes their profile, Google is left with a library of their old messages — the ones they left when their account was public.
Search results will be displayed as "All", "Images", "News" and "Videos". Click on the "Images" tab. You'll see a collection of the person's public posts and profile pictures.
Method #3. Search other platforms
Check your private account through Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Snapchat, Pinterest and other social networks. By browsing other platforms, you can find as much information as you need. After all, an account can be closed on Instagram, and on other platforms it can be opened, and the content can be duplicated there.
If you don't want to fool around with private accounts, there are many different accounts that are not closed from the public. For example, here is our selection.
Method #4. Look through your friends
You may have a friend who is already following this account. You can ask them to view the information they need, or ask them to contact the account owner to accept your subscription request. The path is quite difficult, but it also works.
Method #5. Use IGmods.com
IGmods.com is one of the apps you can use to view Instagram accounts.
For iPhone users:
- Open "Settings" and go to "General" on your iPhone
- Find "Content refresh in the background" and make sure the option is enabled.
- Go to the "Battery" section and turn off the low power mode.
- Go to the App Store and enable automatic downloads.
- Now visit IGmods.com.
- In the displayed list of options, click View Private Account.
- After the page loads, you will see a box that says "Instagram Target Username". Enter the username of the account you are trying to view in this field.
- Click "Connect" and wait for the system to respond.
- You will receive a message asking you to verify your account. This allows you to double check the username you entered. After you enter it, click "Confirm".
- A progress bar will appear, so just wait a few seconds.
How long the progress bar is displayed will depend on the number of messages in the account.
- You will receive the message "Private unlocked successfully for XYZ".
- Now go back to Instagram and search for the username. You should be able to see everything in the account.
What about Android and PC users?
For Android devices, this process is a bit easier. You don't need to change any settings on your phone. Just go to IGmods.com and follow all the steps above.
Method #6. Use InjectBox.com
This injectbox.com site works directly for iPhone and Android users. Here are the step by step instructions.
- Go to Instagram and find the username of the private account you are trying to view.
- Now go to InjectBox.com and scroll down until you find "Private Instagram Viewer".
- Click on it and enter your username.
- Click View Personal Account.
- Once the system responds, you will see the number of followers and subscribers in the account.
You can double check this on the original account page to make sure everything is correct.
- Click the Verify Username button.
The system will ask what you want to do:
— View photo? This allows you to see only photos.
- View subscribers? This allows you to see only subscribers.
- Unblock profile? This allows you to see the full profile.
After you click the "Unblock profile" button, the system will ask you to fill in a CAPTCHA. Now go back to Instagram and refresh your profile page. It should now be PUBLIC, which means you can see everything on it.
Method #7. Use Instagram++ extension
For iPhone users:
- Disable auto-rotate.
- Open "Settings" and go to "General" on your iPhone
- Find "Content refresh in the background" and make sure the option is enabled.
- Open your browser and go to HXTweaks.com.
- On the homepage, scroll down to the search bar (next to the All Apps icon) and type "Instagram".
- The Instagram app called "Instagram++" will open. Click on it to download and embed the app extension into your main Instagram app. After that, you will be taken to a new window where you will need to execute a few simple commands.
Wait a few seconds for the commands to activate, then return to Instagram.
- Find the private account again. It must become available.
For Android users:
The only setting you need to change for Android is auto-rotate. Once you have successfully disabled auto-rotate, you can go to HXTweaks.com and follow all the steps mentioned above. After that, you can easily view all private profiles.
Method #8. Use the UnlockPrivate app
So far we have used the web options. Now let's see how we can unlock private Instagram accounts using the mobile app.
How to download the UnlockPrivate app on your iPhone
- Open "Settings" and go to "General" on your iPhone
- Find "Content refresh in the background" and make sure the option is enabled.
