How to make an Instagram account private

It seems like everyone is using Instagram these days. People from all walks of life have an Instagram account as part of their social media presence. Their profile and posts can be viewed by anyone accessing Instagram.com if they set their account to “Public”.

But what if you don't want your Instagram posts to be accessible to anyone on the site? This is where the “Private” setting comes in. The “Private” setting allows only your approved followers to see. And all the hashtags you use will be hidden from searches.

This article will walk you through how to set your Instagram account to "Private" using various devices. Our FAQ section offers seven tips to help you make your Instagram account even more private and protected.

How to Make an Instagram Account Private on an iPhone

To set your profile to "Private" using your iPhone, follow these steps:

1. Open Instagram.
   
2. At the bottom right, tap your profile icon.
   
3. At the top right, tap the hamburger icon.
   
4. Tap "Settings" in the pop-up window.
   
5. Tap "Privacy".
   
6. At the top of the "Privacy" page, tap the "Private account" slider to turn it on. Its color will change from gray to blue.
   
7. In the confirmation pop-up window, choose “Go to private mode”.
   

You now have a private Instagram account.

How to Make an Instagram Account Private on an Android Device

Follow the steps below to set your Instagram account to "Private" using your Android device:

1. Open Instagram.
   
2. Tap your profile icon, bottom right,
   
3. At the top right, tap the hamburger icon.
   
4. Select "Settings" from the pop-up window.
   
5. Tap "Privacy".
   
6. At the top of the "Privacy" page, tap the "Private account" switch to turn it on. The switch will turn blue.
   
7. In the confirmation pop-up window, tap "Go to private mode".
   

Your Instagram profile is now private.

How to Make an Instagram Account Private on a PC

To make your Instagram profile private using the web version on your PC, follow these steps:

1. Visit Instagram.com and log into your account.
   
2. At the top right of your screen, click on your profile icon.
   
3. Choose "Settings" from the drop-down menu.
   
4. In the left side menu, choose the "Privacy and security" tab.
   
5. At the top of the page, check the box next to "Private account" to make your account private.
   

Make your Instagram experience private

Instagram, by default, sets your account to “Public”. This means that anyone who knows your username can access and view your profile from the web. If you want more control over who sees your content or to avoid certain people, you will greatly benefit from creating a "Private" account setting. When your account is private, only approved followers can see your posts.

There are also plenty of other ways to make your Instagram experience a private affair. You can use features like the ability to turn off your activity status or approve flagged photos before they're added to your profile.

What do you like the most on Instagram? Do you use your account for work, play or both? Tell us in the comments section.