How to make your instagram private after making it a business
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 Your Instagram Private
- You can make your Instagram private on a mobile device or a desktop computer.
- When you make Instagram private, you keep current followers but have to approve all new follower requests.
- Once your Instagram is private, anyone who doesn't follow you won't be able to see your posts or stories.
- This story is part of Business Insider's Guide to Instagram.
By default, Instagram accounts are set to be public. But there is always the option to go private, meaning only followers you approve will be able to see your posts.
When you make your Instagram account private, everyone who is already following you will still follow you. But new followers will only be able to request to follow you (those requests will appear in your Instagram notifications tab) and you'll be able to approve or decline those requests.
Here's how to make your Instagram private, whether you're on your mobile device or a desktop computer.
- Approving followers. When your Instagram account is private, you'll have to approve all follow requests, and only those you approve will be able to see your content.
- Seeing requests. If someone requests to follow your private account, you'll see a notification by clicking the heart icon at the top-right of the app homepage.
- Removing followers. When you set your account from public to private, everyone who was already following you will still be following your private account. You can remove a follower, or block a user so they can no longer view your private account without sending a request.
- Getting messages. Anyone who doesn't follow your private account can still send you a message.
1.
Open the Instagram app on your iPhone or Android.
2. Tap your profile icon in the bottom-right corner of the app.
3. Tap the icon of three horizontal lines in the top-right corner of your profile page.
Click on the icon in the top-right. Grace Eliza Goodwin/Insider4. In the pop-up, select Settings.
Click Settings. Grace Eliza Goodwin/Insider5.
On the Settings page, select Privacy.
6. At the top of the Privacy page, swipe the button next to Private Account to the right, turning the button from grey to blue.
Swipe the Private Account tab. Grace Eliza Goodwin/Insider7.
In the pop-up, select Switch to Private.
1. Go to the Instagram website and log in to your account.
2. Click your profile icon in the top-right corner of the screen and select Settings in the drop-down.
Go to Settings. Grace Eliza Goodwin/Insider3.
In the sidebar menu on the left of the Settings page, click the Privacy and Security tab.
4. At the top of the page, check the box next to Private Account to make your account private.
Click Private Account. Grace Eliza Goodwin/InsiderOnce you make your account private, you can always go back in and change it back to a public account via your account settings.
Devon Delfino
Devon Delfino is a Brooklyn-based freelance journalist specializing in personal finance, culture, politics, and identity. Her work has been featured in publications such as The Los Angeles Times, Teen Vogue, Business Insider, and CNBC. Follow her on Twitter at @devondelfino.
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How to make your Instagram account private?
Help Center
Instagram Features
Your Profile
Note. If you're under 18 when you sign up for Instagram, you can choose between a public account and a private account. However, the default will be Private.
If you are over 18, your Instagram account is public by default, but you can make it private at any time.
Learn more about how to make your account private.
Learn more about the differences between public and private accounts.
How to make an account closed?
Instagram app for Android and iPhone
Tap the or icon on your profile picture in the lower right corner of the screen to go to your profile.
Tap the icon in the upper right corner of the screen and select Settings.
Select Privacy.
Click the Closed account radio button to make your account private.
Instagram Lite app for Android
Tap the or icon on your profile picture in the bottom right corner of the screen to go to your profile.
Tap the icon in the upper right corner of the screen and select Settings.
Click Account Privacy.
Click the Closed account radio button to make your account private.
instagram.com in a browser on a mobile device
instagram.com in a browser on a computer
The account associated with the business profile cannot be made private. If you want to make your business account private, make it personal first.
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How to close an Instagram account 2021
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Someone actively promotes their profile, and someone wants to close their Instagram account from prying eyes. You can do this in a couple of clicks, you just need to find the desired item in the settings.
Now Instagram has updated the “Settings” section.
We are posting screenshots of how to close an Instagram account after the 2022 update.
How to close your Instagram account in 2022 after update
Below you will find instructions on how to close your Instagram profile so that posts and Stories are visible only to followers. Even on anonymous browsing sites, your Stories will not be viewable.
If you want to temporarily hide your account from everyone, you can block it. And if only from a specific person, then block his profile.
- Log in to your account, go to Settings (this is how they look after the 2022 update).
- On some phones in 2022, the settings menu looks like this:
- Scroll down and find the "Privacy" item, after - "Closed account" drag the slider to the right.
- Make account private? Click Make Private
How to add or remove followers on a private Instagram profile
When someone wants to follow you, you will need to go to notifications and confirm or decline the subscription.
In order for one of the already approved subscribers to no longer see your posts, he must be removed from the subscribers. Open the list of your subscribers, find the right one. Click the three dots on the right, select "Delete". Your subscriber will not know about this until he goes to your profile (he will no longer be able to see the posts and will understand that he was removed from the subscribers).
How to open a closed account on Instagram
To make your account open again, repeat all the same steps (screenshots above). Open the settings, find "Privacy and security", after - "Account privacy". "Closed Account" Drag the slider to the left. "Make the account public?" Click OK.
How to make a private business account on Instagram?
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None. If you have an account with connected statistics (business account), then you can make it closed only by transferring it back to your personal account.
Business accounts were invented to make promotion on Instagram more efficient. Accordingly, such an account should be open in order to attract a maximum of subscribers. Still want to close your profile? Switch to a personal account without statistics and then close it according to the instructions above.
How to switch back to a personal account is in the article: How to make a business account on Instagram.
What is the difference between a closed Instagram account and an open one?
In 2020, after the update, only the interface has changed, while all the advantages and disadvantages of a closed account have remained the same.
- All photos and videos in a closed account can only be seen by subscribers.
- Your posts will not appear in hashtag searches.
- Your Instagram profile can be found in the general search by account name, but when you go to it, posts will not be visible.
- If you want to subscribe to a private account, you must first submit an application and wait for the owner of the private profile to approve it.
