Instagram is an increasingly popular social media platform focused on photos. You can find family and friends, and let them know what you're up to, where you've been, and what you're interested in. But it's difficult juggling which topics your followers will engage with.
So you've decided to separate your hobbies by creating multiple Instagram accounts. Is that possible? Is it easy to switch between them? And is it the right decision? We answer all of your questions about creating multiple Instagram accounts.
Can You Have More Than One Instagram Account?
Yes, you can have two or more Instgram accounts!
What's more, it's easy to create multiple accounts on Instagram. That means you can separate your interests, start up a new profile for your business, or post pictures in private that your real-life friends won't see (just your online buddies).
Tip: If you're building different brands, be sure to give each of your Instagram accounts its own unique theme.
Reasons to Create Multiple Instagram Accounts
Why should you create and manage more than one Instagram account? There are a few benefits of having numerous profiles.
- Separating personal life from your work: If you have a business, it's important to keep your professional life separate from your private life. You don't want potential customers seeing what you get up to each weekend. Equally, bombarding mates with business-related posts won't strengthen your friendship. It's the same reason you shouldn't add colleagues on Facebook!
- Taking advantage of business perks: Having a work account gives you access to more analytical data which will help you grow your customer base. You can also pay for promoted advertisements, which isn't possible through a personal account.
- Changing Privacy Settings: You don't always want everyone knowing what you're doing. By having numerous accounts, you can have one accessible to anyone and another solely for people you personally know. It's also handy if one is linked to Facebook and/or Twitter but you don't want peers on those networks to automatically see all your posts.
- Maintaining different interests: If you want to keep followers, you need to cater to their expectations. By creating numerous profiles, you can manage what you put online and pitch certain interests to particular audiences.
Are there any drawbacks of having multiple accounts? There are, but they're minor. Namely, you have to switch accounts before posting, which, as we'll cover, isn't as stressful as it sounds.
The other potential problem is if you post to the wrong account. But that's easily remedied: go on the ellipsis at the top right-hand corner of your post and click Delete. You can also Archive the post to hide it from your profile.
Now that we have tackled the why, let's delve into the how.
How to Create a Second Instagram Account
How do you create a new Instagram account? It's very simple: you do it in much the same way you created your first one.
The easiest way is by using a different sign-in method. Instagram gives you the option to sign up using an email address, phone number, or Facebook account. If you can remember which you used to originally create an account, choose one of the other options. Check your Inbox, Facebook Profile, and SMS history to make sure.
You can create another account via your browser, by navigating to the Instagram login page then clicking on Sign Up and following the instructions. But it's easier if you do it using your smartphone.
Open the Instagram app and go to your Profile by clicking on the symbol in the bottom-right of your screen. This will either show your profile picture, Story, or, if you haven't set a featured image, a silhouette. Click on the three horizontal lines at the top right, then Settings then either Add account or navigate to Account > Add new professional account if you're creating a business page.
A new tab will appear at the bottom of your page. It lists two options: Log In to Existing Account and Create New Account. You'll need to click on the second one, then choose the method you want to use to make a new account: email address or phone number. In the case of the latter, Instagram will send you a confirmation code to make sure it's properly linked.
How Can You Switch Between Instagram Accounts?
This is probably what you're worried about—after all, by creating a new profile, you don't want to get locked out of your old one and lose precious photos! But you needn't be concerned. It's incredibly simple.
Through a desktop, you just need to sign in and out of each account as you would other services. If you're using Instagram on your smartphone or tablet, though, it's an intuitive app that remembers if you have multiple profiles.
Go to your profile and click on the down-arrow by your username at the top of your screen. Just click on the account you want to switch to. No, you won't have to log in again (unless you have updated or uninstalled and reinstalled the app).
How to Create More Instagram Accounts
Once you've effectively let Instagram know you're interested in having numerous accounts, it makes adding a third, fourth, and fifth easier still.
Just go to your profile and click on your username, as if you're switching logins. At the bottom, go to + Add Account. This redirects you to the interface asking you to link to Facebook or sign up otherwise. Alternatively, you can go on Settings > Add account > Create New Account as before.
You've Made a New Account: Now What?
Approach this as you did when you first signed up to Instagram.
You need to add your name, which is the account display name. It will suggest a username based on existing accounts, but you can change this.
The next page will require a password—don't reuse the one connected to your other profile in case that gets leaked. Ideally, you want different passwords for all your online accounts anyway. If that's an issue, you should try using a password manager.
You'll then need to confirm your age.
Instagram is pointless if you don't follow anyone, so connect with friends, family, and similar accounts. Obviously, you need to add a profile photo and short biography, utilizing hashtags. If it's a business account, you should consider adding links to your Instagram posts.
How Many Instagram Accounts Can I Have?
It depends entirely on how many different options you have to sign up.
Instagram encourages you to sign in using an email address, phone number, and Facebook profile. If you don't connect your Facebook to a single Instagram account, that's three separate ways. You can also add more using different email addresses, so if you have one for work and one for your private life, you could use both of these.
Instagram only lets you add five accounts to one device. In theory, you can create more by changing names between profiles; however, you won't be able to easily switch profiles through the single app. Don't forget that you can sign in through a web browser too.
But do you really need more than five? It's up to you, but things can certainly get complicated.
How to Unlink Two or More Instagram Accounts
How do you remove an Instagram account you've added to a device?
Once more, this is done through your Profile. Visit the account you want to unlink, and click on the three horizontal lines. Then go to Settings > Log out.
Some have reported problems unlinking single profiles, so if this happens to you, check for an update in the App Store. If updating does't work, you might have to try deleting the app then reinstalling it.
Just make sure you remember all of your passwords, or you'll need to reset those too.
If it still doesn't work for you, go back to Settings then click Help & Report a Problem. Instagram should get back to you with instructions on what to do next.
How to Delete Your Instagram Account
So what happens if you want to leave the platform altogether or remove your second profile? You have two main options, one less "Scorched Earth" than the other. So you need to know how to deactivate or delete your Instagram account in just a couple of easy steps.
Instagram isn't for everyone. And even if you like Instagram, having multiple accounts may not be for you.