The quickest way to change your account type
To change your Instagram account from business to personal, open the app, tap your profile icon in the bottom right, then tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right. Select Settings and privacy, then Account type and tools, then Account type. Choose Switch to personal account and confirm. The change takes effect when ready.
This process works the same way whether you set up a business account originally or converted to one later. Instagram does not require you to wait or go through any verification step — the switch happens right away, and you keep your username, followers, and post history.
Key Takeaways
- Switching to a personal account removes business features like contact buttons, insights, and promotional tools, but keeps all your followers and posts.
- The change takes effect when ready and you can switch back to business at any time using the same menu path.
- Personal accounts cannot use Instagram's branded content tools or shopping features, even if you have access to them on a business account.
- Your username stays the same, and followers do not need to re-follow you after you make the change.
What you lose when you switch to personal
A personal account removes access to Instagram Insights, which shows you how many people viewed your posts, when your followers are most active, and which posts got the most engagement. You also lose the ability to add a contact button (phone, email, or directions) to your profile, and you cannot use Instagram's messaging tools for business purposes.
If you have a shopping feature set up on a business account, that goes away too. You will no longer be able to tag products in posts or use Instagram's checkout feature. Branded content tools — which let you label posts as paid partnerships — are also unavailable on personal accounts.
You keep everything else: your post history, your followers, your direct messages, and your ability to post Stories, Reels, and regular photos. The only thing that changes is the features Instagram offers you.
When to switch back to business
If you run a small business, sell products, or post regularly to build an audience, a business account gives you tools that a personal account does not have. Insights let you see which posts perform best, and contact buttons make it easier for customers to reach you without sending a direct message.
You can switch back to business at any time by going to Settings and privacy > Account type and tools > Account type and selecting Switch to professional account. Instagram will ask you to choose between business and creator — choose business if you are selling something or representing a company, and creator if you are a public figure or content maker. The switch back is also when ready.
Switching between creator and business accounts
If you already have a professional account, you can change between creator and business using the same menu. The difference matters: a business account is for companies, shops, and service providers, while a creator account is for people who make content and want to build a public following.
Both give you Insights and the ability to see when your followers are online. Creator accounts add tools like badges (which let followers pay for a special status), subscriptions, and the ability to see which accounts save your posts. Business accounts emphasize contact buttons and shopping features instead.
You lose neither followers nor posts when you switch between creator and business — only the tools available to you change.
What happens to your followers and messages
Your followers stay with you when you switch to a personal account. They do not get notified, and they do not need to re-follow you. If someone was following your business account, they are still following your personal account after the change.
Direct messages you sent and received stay in your inbox. Conversations do not disappear, and the person you messaged with can still see the history of your chat. The only difference is that you can no longer use features like automated replies or message templates, which are business-only tools.
Switching on desktop versus mobile
You can make this change on the Instagram app or on a computer. On a computer, go to instagram.com, click your profile icon in the top right, select Settings, then Account type and tools, then Account type. The steps are the same, and the change takes effect when ready on all devices.
If you are logged into Instagram on multiple devices, the change syncs across all of them within a few minutes. You do not need to log out and back in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch back to a business account after changing to personal?
Yes. Go to Settings and privacy > Account type and tools > Account type and select Switch to professional account. You will choose between business and creator. Your followers, posts, and messages stay with you, and the change is when ready.
Will my followers know I switched to a personal account?
No. Instagram does not send a notification when you change account types. Your followers stay the same, and they will not see any announcement about the change unless you tell them.
Do I lose my posts when I switch to personal?
No. All your posts, Stories, Reels, and saved content stay on your account. Switching account types only changes which tools Instagram offers you, not your content or history.
What if I have a shopping feature set up?
Shopping features are not available on personal accounts. If you switch to personal, your product tags and shopping links will not work. You can switch back to a business account at any time to use shopping again.
Can I have both a personal and a business account?
Yes. You can create a separate Instagram account for business and keep a personal one, or use Instagram's account-switching feature to manage multiple accounts from one login. Tap your profile icon, then tap your username at the top to switch between them.