Are you wondering how to make your Instagram private? Want to protect your photos, videos, and personal life from strangers? If yes, you’re in the right place. We will show you how to make your Instagram private from a personal account using simple and easy words. This way, only your approved Instagram followers can see your posts, stories, and activities.
This research helps you with everything you need to know to make your Instagram private in just a few minutes.
What Does a Private Instagram Account Mean?
Before we explain how to make your Instagram private, let’s first understand what a private account is. When your Instagram is private, only people who follow you can see your posts, stories, reels, and other content. If someone tries to follow you, they must send a request first, and you can choose to accept or reject it. This helps you control your privacy and protect your content from strangers.
A private account is perfect if you want to stay safe and only share your life with real Instagram followers.
Why Should You Make Your Instagram Private?
There are many good reasons why people want to make your Instagram private. Here are some of the most common reasons:
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Privacy: You control who sees your content.
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Security: Helps avoid spammers and fake accounts.
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Peace of mind: You share personal moments only with people you trust.
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Less pressure: No need to impress strangers or worry about public opinions.
If these benefits sound good to you, then it’s time to learn how to make your Instagram private.
Step-by-Step Guide to Make Your Instagram Private from a Personal Account
Here is a simple step-by-step guide on how to make your Instagram private using your smartphone:
Step 1: Open the Instagram App
First, open the Instagram app on your phone. Make sure you are logged in to the personal account that you want to change.
Step 2: Go to Your Profile
Tap the profile icon at the bottom right corner of your screen. This will take you to your own Instagram page.
Step 3: Tap the Three Lines
At the top right of your profile page, you will see three horizontal lines (also called the menu). Tap it.
Step 4: Tap on “Settings and Privacy”
From the menu, select the “Settings and Privacy” option. It usually appears at the top of the menu list.
Step 5: Tap “Account Privacy”
Scroll down a bit and tap on “Account Privacy.” This is where you can make your account private.
Step 6: Toggle the Private Account Button
You will see an option that says “Private Account.” Turn this switch on. Once you do this, Instagram will ask for confirmation. Tap “Switch to Private.”
Congratulations! You have successfully learned how to make your Instagram private.
What Happens When You Make Your Instagram Private?
Once you choose to make your Instagram private, here is what changes:
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Only approved Instagram followers can see your content.
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Your stories are hidden from people who don’t follow you.
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Your posts won’t appear in the Explore section.
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Hashtags on your posts won’t be visible to people who don’t follow you.
This gives you more control over your Instagram account and protects your personal content.
Can You Make Your Account Private on a Computer?
Yes, you can also make your Instagram private using your computer. Just follow these simple steps:
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Visit the Instagram website and log in to your account.
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Click on your profile picture in the top right corner.
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Click on “Settings.”
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Choose “Privacy and Security.”
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Under “Account Privacy,” check the box next to “Private Account.”
That’s it! Your personal account is now private, and only your Instagram followers can see your content.
How to Approve or Remove Instagram Followers
After you make your Instagram private, you have full control over your Instagram followers. You can accept or reject new follow requests, and remove followers if you change your mind.
To Approve a Follower:
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Go to the “Activity” tab.
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Tap on the follow request.
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Tap “Confirm” to approve.
To Remove a Follower:
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Go to your profile.
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Tap “Followers.”
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Find the follower you want to remove.
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Tap “Remove.”
Remember, when you remove someone, they won’t be notified. But they won’t be able to see your private content anymore.
Things You Should Know After Making Instagram Private
Now that you know how to make your Instagram private, here are a few things to remember:
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Your current followers will still see your content.
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New people must send a follow request.
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Your content will no longer be public.
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You can switch back to public anytime.
Making your account private is not permanent. You can always go to settings and turn off the private option if you change your mind.
What About Business Accounts?
If you have a business account, you cannot make your Instagram private. Instagram only allows personal accounts to be private. If you still want privacy, you need to switch back to a personal account first.
Here’s how:
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Go to “Settings.”
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Tap on “Account.”
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Tap on “Switch Account Type.”
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Select “Switch to Personal Account.”
Now you can follow the steps we shared above to make your Instagram private.
How to Make Stories Private From Specific Followers
Sometimes, you may want to share stories with only a few people. You can do this using the “Close Friends” feature. Even if you don’t make your Instagram private, this lets you hide your stories from some Instagram followers.
Steps:
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Go to your profile and tap the three lines.
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Tap “Close Friends.”
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Add the people you trust.
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When posting a story, choose “Close Friends.”
This gives you extra privacy, even without making your whole account private.
Can You Hide Posts From Certain Followers?
No, Instagram does not let you hide regular posts from specific Instagram followers. If you want to do that, you must remove them from your follower list or block them. But you can use the “Archive” feature to hide posts from everyone.
To archive a post:
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Open the post.
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Tap the three dots.
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Tap “Archive.”
This will hide the post from your profile but keep it safe in your account.
Tips to Stay Safe on Instagram
Besides learning how to make your Instagram private, follow these safety tips:
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Don’t share personal information like phone numbers.
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Report suspicious messages or users.
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Use a strong password.
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Turn on two-factor authentication.
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Be careful about what you post publicly.
These steps help protect your personal information and your Instagram followers.
About Making Your Instagram Private
1. Can someone still message me if I make my Instagram private?
Yes, they can message you, but the message will go to the “Message Requests” folder.
2. Can I go back to public after making my account private?
Yes, you can switch between private and public anytime from the settings.
3. Will my old posts become private too?
Yes, all past and future posts will only be visible to your approved Instagram followers.
4. What if I don’t want certain people to find me?
You can block them. Go to their profile, tap the three dots, and tap “Block.”
We hope this research helped you understand how to make your Instagram private from a personal account. It’s a great way to keep your posts, photos, and videos safe from people you don’t know. Whether you’re doing it for peace of mind or privacy, it’s a smart move.
Take control of your online life and follow the steps in this research to make your Instagram private today. Your trusted Instagram followers will still enjoy your content while you stay safe and secure.