Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms worldwide. It's a great way to connect with friends, family, and like-minded people. However, you might not want everyone to have access to your profile and the content you share. In that case, you can make your Instagram profile private. This guide will show you how to set up a private account from iOS, Android, and the web, and reveal some tricks on how to see a private Instagram profile without following it.

Public or Private Instagram Profile? Differences and What to Choose

When you create your account, if you are under 18, the default setting is a private account. If you registered on the platform when you were of majority age, then you can choose whether to make your profile public or private.

There are some differences between a public and private Instagram account:

• The public profile allows you to monitor your followers. In addition, you can switch to a company profile, thus accessing the features of an online store. The public profile gives you greater visibility; you can access sponsorships and appear in searches, on the "Explore" page, and in feeds. Users who want to follow you will be able to do so without asking your permission and will have access to your content even if they are not in your followers list.
• The private profile is visible only to your followers, the only ones able to interact with your content. It is not possible for you to open a business profile, and you will receive less coverage. Your content is protected from prying eyes and from people you don't know on the web. To follow you, users will have to send you a "friend request" that you can accept or not.

Why Have a Private Instagram Profile?

Choosing a public or private Instagram account is up to the user. A public profile poses greater security risks to the owner as it can be visited by anyone. On the other hand, having a private page is safer but is disadvantageous for those who want to increase followers or open a business profile.

Here are the benefits of a private Instagram profile:

• It grants your profile exclusivity as users have to follow you to get access to your content. This way, you automatically raise the hype for your page. This is not effective for companies or profiles that want to grow.
• Instagram protects private accounts from losing followers by sending them a confirmation message if they decide not to follow you anymore.
• The private account allows you to better control your audience and limit their access to your content. This reduces the likelihood of your account being hacked and your content or identity being stolen.

How to Put a Private Profile on Instagram

In the next paragraphs, you will find out how to put a private profile on Instagram from iOS, Android, and web. Before starting, I advise you to check that the application installed on your mobile device is updated to the latest version.

From iOS

To make your Instagram account private if you have an iPhone, follow the steps below:

1. Launch the application on your device and select your profile.
2. Tap on the three horizontal lines in the top right corner.
3. Select Settings.
4. Select Privacy.
5. Toggle on "Private Account."

From Android

To make your Instagram account private if you have an Android device, follow the steps below:

1. Launch the application on your device and select your profile.
2. Tap on the three horizontal lines in the top right corner.
3. Select Settings.
4. Select Privacy.
5. Toggle on "Private Account."

From the Web

To make your Instagram account private if you are using the web version, follow the steps below:

1. Log in to your account on the Instagram website.
2. Click on the profile icon in the top right corner.
3. Click on the three dots in the top right corner.
4. Select Settings.
5. Select Privacy.
6. Toggle on "Private Account."

With Company Profile

It's worth noting that if you have a company profile on Instagram, you cannot make it private. A company profile is always public.

How to See a Private Profile on Instagram Without Following It

There are a few ways to see a private profile on Instagram without following it, but none of them are guaranteed to work, and some of them are against Instagram's terms of service. Some methods include:

1. Creating a new account and requesting to follow the private profile.
2. Asking a mutual friend to view the profile and share the content with you.
3. Using a private profile viewer tool, which is against Instagram's terms of service and can get your account banned.

Conclusion

Making your Instagram profile private is a great way to protect your online privacy and limit the sharing of your content with other users. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can make your account private from iOS, Android, or the web. However, it's worth noting that having a private account may limit your visibility and ability to grow your followers or open a business profile. Additionally, viewing private profiles without following them is against Instagram's terms of service and can result in your account being banned.