Instagram instagram.com How to make your Instagram private
Open your profile, tap the menu in the top right, tap Account privacy under Who can see your content, turn on Private account and confirm with Switch to private. Business profiles can't be private, so switch to a personal account first.
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- instagram.com
- Type
- Privacy settings
- Last updated
Step by step
- 1
Open your profile
In the Instagram app, tap your profile picture in the bottom corner to open your profile.
- 2
Open the menu and tap Account privacy
Tap the menu in the top right. Under Who can see your content, tap Account privacy.
- 3
Turn on Private account
Tap the toggle next to Private account, then confirm with Switch to private.
Watch out for
- Business profiles can't be private. To make a business account private, switch it back to a personal account first.
- Accounts for people over 16 start out public. People under 16 who sign up can choose public or private, and private is selected by default.
- Menu names can differ by app version, so if you don't see Account privacy, check the Instagram Help Center page for your device.
What stays out there
A private account controls who can see what you post on Instagram from now on. It doesn't reach copies that already exist elsewhere: a screenshot someone took, a profile that a people-search site listed earlier, or an old search result that still shows your name and username.
If your name, address or phone number is listed on sites outside Instagram, those listings stay until someone removes them. Serus finds where your details are listed and removes them. Start at serus.ai.
Frequently asked
Is Instagram private by default?
For people over 16, accounts start out public. For people under 16 who sign up, private is selected by default and they can choose public or private.
Can I make a business account private?
No. Instagram says business profiles can't be private. You'd need to switch back to a personal account first, then turn on Private account.
Does making Instagram private remove me from Google or people-search sites?
No. The setting changes who can see your content on Instagram. Pages other sites already published about you aren't affected.
Sources
Related guide Guide: How to Delete Yourself from the Internet Something changed? If these steps no longer match what you see, tell us and we'll re-check it.
