Switch Between Multiple Instagram Accounts on the Same Phone

If you have more than one Instagram account, you can switch between them without logging out and back in each time. Open Instagram and tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner. At the top of your profile screen, you'll see your username. Tap it to see a dropdown menu showing all accounts linked to your phone.

Select the account you want to switch to from that list. Instagram will load that profile when ready. You can switch back and forth between accounts as many times as you need during a single session. This method works on both iPhone and Android phones.

Key Takeaways

  • You can switch between multiple Instagram accounts on one phone by tapping your username at the top of your profile and selecting a different account from the dropdown menu.
  • To edit your profile name, bio, website link, or profile picture, go to your profile, tap "Edit profile," and change the information you want to update.
  • Your username (the handle that starts with @) cannot be changed through the Edit Profile screen — you must go to Settings and Privacy, then Account, then Username to change it.
  • Profile changes save automatically when you tap outside the text field or hit the back button, so you don't need to look for a separate Save button.
  • If you want to hide your account from public view, use the Private Account setting in Settings and Privacy rather than deleting your profile.

Edit Your Profile Name, Bio, and Picture

To change the information that appears on your profile, tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner, then tap "Edit profile" near the top of the screen. This opens a form where you can update several pieces of information at once.

The Name field is what appears at the top of your profile in large text — this is different from your username. You can use spaces, capital letters, and special characters here. The Bio section holds up to 150 characters and appears directly under your name. You can include a short description, emojis, line breaks, or a link here.

To change your profile picture, tap the circular image at the top of the Edit Profile screen. You can upload a new photo from your phone's camera roll, take a new photo with your camera, or remove your current picture entirely. Instagram will crop the image to fit the circular frame.

The Website field lets you add one clickable link to your profile. This is useful if you want to direct followers to a blog, online store, or other page. Type or paste the full web address, including "https://" at the beginning.

Change Your Username (Handle)

Your username is the @handle that appears in your profile URL and in search results. It is different from your Name field. To change your username, do not use the Edit Profile button. Instead, go to Settings and Privacy at the bottom of your profile screen.

Tap "Account," then tap "Username." Type your new username in the field provided. Instagram will tell you when ready if the username is already taken or contains characters that aren't allowed. Usernames can only contain letters, numbers, periods, and underscores. Once you confirm the change, your new username takes effect right away.

Keep in mind that anyone who followed you using your old username will still be able to find you, but your profile URL will change. If you've shared your old username link elsewhere online, those links will no longer work.

Make Your Account Private or Public

A public account means anyone on Instagram can see your posts, follow you without your permission, and find you through search. A private account means only people you approve can follow you and see your posts.

To change this setting, go to Settings and Privacy, then tap "Account." Look for the "Private account" toggle switch. Turn it on to make your account private, or turn it off to make it public. The change takes effect when ready.

When you switch to a private account, all your current followers stay as followers, but new people will have to send you a follow request that you can accept or decline. If you switch back to public later, your posts remain visible to everyone, but you'll need to approve new followers again.

Add or Change Your Contact Information

You can add an email address and phone number to your profile so followers can contact you directly. Go to Settings and Privacy, then tap "Account," then "Contact options."

You can choose to display your email, phone number, or both on your profile. You can also turn off contact options entirely if you don't want followers to reach you this way. If you add contact information, Instagram displays it as a button on your profile that followers can tap to send you a message or call.

Remove or Deactivate Your Account

If you want to step back from Instagram temporarily, you can deactivate your account. This hides your profile, posts, and comments from public view, but Instagram keeps your data. You can reactivate your account anytime by logging back in.

To deactivate, go to Settings and Privacy, scroll down, and tap "Deactivate or delete account." Choose "Deactivate account," then follow the prompts. Instagram will ask you why you're leaving and offer options to stay, but you can proceed with deactivation.

If you want to permanently remove your account instead, choose "Delete account" from that same menu. This removes your profile, posts, comments, and likes permanently after 30 days. During that 30-day window, you can cancel the deletion by logging back in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username back to what it was before?

Yes. Go to Settings and Privacy, tap Account, then Username, and type your old username. As long as nobody else has claimed it, you can use it again. If someone else has taken it, you'll need to choose a different name.

What happens to my followers if I change my username?

Your followers stay as followers and can still see your posts. However, any links to your old username will break. If you've shared your profile link on a website or in another app, you may want to update those links to your new username.

Can I have two different names on my profile?

Yes. Your Name field (the large text at the top) and your Username (@handle) are separate. You can set your Name to something like "Sarah's Coffee Shop" while keeping your username as "sarahcoffee22." Only the username must be unique across Instagram.

If I make my account private, can I still see other people's public posts?

Yes. Making your account private only controls who can see your posts and follow you. You can still browse and interact with other accounts normally, whether they're public or private.

Will my followers know if I deactivate my account?

Your profile will disappear from their view, so they'll notice you're gone if they try to visit your profile. Instagram doesn't send a notification to your followers that you've deactivated, but they can see that your account is no longer available.