The steps to convert your business account back to personal
You can change your Instagram account from business to personal in about two minutes through the Settings menu. The process removes your business label, hides your business contact button, and stops showing your followers when your account was active. Instagram keeps all your posts, followers, and messages — nothing is deleted.
The conversion works the same way whether you use Instagram on your phone or computer. You do not need to contact Instagram support or wait for approval. The change takes effect when ready.
Key Takeaways
- Open Settings, tap Account, then select Account Type, and choose Personal to complete the switch in under two minutes.
- Your posts, followers, followers list, and direct messages all stay on your account after you convert to personal.
- A personal account hides your business hours, location, email, and phone number from your profile.
- You can switch back to a business account at any time using the same Settings menu.
How to change your account type on the Instagram app
Open Instagram and go to your profile by tapping the person icon in the bottom right corner. Tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) in the top right, then tap Settings and Privacy. Scroll down and tap Account Type and Controls.
Tap Account Type. You will see your current account type listed. Tap Personal, then tap Switch to Personal at the bottom of the screen. Instagram will ask you to confirm — tap Switch to Personal again. The change is complete.
If you do not see Account Type in your Settings menu, make sure you are using the latest version of Instagram. Go to your phone's app store, search for Instagram, and update if an update button appears.
How to change your account type on Instagram.com
Log into Instagram on a web browser and click your profile picture in the top right corner. Click Settings and Privacy, then click Account Type and Controls on the left side of the screen. Click Account Type.
Select Personal from the options shown. Click Switch to Personal, then confirm by clicking Switch to Personal again. The change takes effect right away.
What disappears when you switch to personal
Your business contact button — the one that shows your email, phone number, or business address — will no longer appear on your profile. Your business hours, if you set them, will be hidden. Your followers will no longer see when you were last active on Instagram.
The business category you selected (such as "Clothing Store" or "Fitness Coach") will be removed from your profile. Any Instagram Insights data you collected about your audience and post performance will no longer be visible to you, though Instagram stores it in case you switch back.
What stays on your account
All your posts remain exactly as they are. Your follower count and your followers list do not change. Your direct messages stay in your inbox. Any Stories you have posted are still there. Saved posts and collections are not affected.
If you have linked your Instagram account to a Facebook Page or other social media accounts, those connections stay active. You can remove them separately in Settings if you want to.
Switching back to a business account later
You can convert back to a business account whenever you want by following the same steps. Go to Settings and Privacy, tap Account Type and Controls, select Business, and confirm. You will need to choose a business category again, but you do not lose any posts or followers in the process.
If you want a business account but do not want to use all the business features, you can keep the account type as business and straightforward not use the contact button or Insights. Switching to personal is only necessary if you want those features hidden from your profile.
Why you might want to switch to personal
A personal account gives you more privacy. Your active status is hidden, and your contact information does not appear on your profile. If you no longer use Instagram for business purposes, a personal account better reflects how you use the platform.
Some people switch to personal because they want to avoid messages from customers or clients. Others do it because they started a business account by accident and never actually used the business features. There is no penalty for switching — you can change back and forth as often as you need to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I lose my followers if I switch to personal?
No. Your follower count and your list of followers stay exactly the same. The only thing that changes is your account label and the business features that appear on your profile.
Can I switch back to business after I change to personal?
Yes. You can switch between personal and business accounts as many times as you want. Go back to Settings and Privacy, select Account Type and Controls, choose Business, and confirm.
What happens to my Instagram Insights when I switch to personal?
Your Insights data becomes hidden, but Instagram keeps it stored. If you switch back to a business account later, your Insights history will be there. You will not see Insights while your account is personal.
Do my direct messages disappear when I change to personal?
No. All your direct messages stay in your inbox. Switching account types does not affect your messages or conversations with other users.
Will my followers know I switched my account to personal?
Your followers will see that your business label is gone and your contact button is no longer visible. Instagram does not send a notification about the change, but people who visit your profile will notice the difference.