Instagram Private Account 101: Put a Padlock on Your IG Life

Have you ever dug up someone’s profile, excited to see their content, only to get disappointed by that lock symbol? It’s always a bummer to realize that a page you want to snoop around on is an Instagram private account. And you can’t help but wonder why they even lock it up. Do they feel self-conscious about their posts, hate people, or are they simply big on online privacy?

Today, we’re talking about what a private account is on Instagram and the motivations of those in private mode. We’ll also teach how to make your own profile private if you’re craving that cloak of invisibility from public scrutiny. Ready to go? Let’s jump into the world of private pages and how they differ from public social media accounts.

What Is an Instagram Private Account?

A private profile on Instagram is a page that is locked to the general public. Only people who follow that account can see all the cool stuff inside it, from posts to Stories.

Anyone who wants to follow a private Instagram account must send a follower request to the owner. The owner then has a choice to either accept or decline the request. If you do get in, you’ll be able to see their content, view their follower list, DM them, and more.

If your account is private, people won’t see your content on hashtag pages, location tags, and the Explore page. No one will be able to download or remix your Reels as well, although your followers can watch them.

If someone who doesn’t follow you tries to slide into your DMs, their message will appear as a message request. From there, you can choose whether to respond or delete the message and even block the user if you want.

But being private doesn’t cut you off from the Instagram world entirely. You can still see public posts and engage with them however you want. And when a private account owner comments on public content, it’s still visible to everyone.

Not everyone can switch to a private page on a whim. It’s only available for personal accounts. Business profiles, on the other hand, aren’t allowed to go in private mode. If you want to make your professional page private, you need to switch back to a personal account first.

Brands and creators are considered public figures, after all, and their constituents need to be able to see that online. With so many perks for business accounts, as it is, this one little hiccup shouldn’t hurt.

Benefits of Having a Private IG Account

Setting your Instagram to private has huge advantages. Whether you want to lock up your page for personal reasons or safety concerns, you can reap the following benefits:

• Control over who sees what you post: Anyone can see anything published on a public profile. But if you have a private page, only people you approve see your posts. This is perfect if you post sensitive content you don’t want strangers to see. If you post family pics, work updates, or photos of where you are in real time, consider going private.
• More freedom to express yourself: If you’re private, you don’t get unwanted attention from other onlookers. There’s a sense of exclusivity among those who can follow you. You can accept follower requests only from those you’re comfy expressing yourself in front of. As a result, your content can be more authentic and unfiltered.
• You can avoid bot and spam accounts: Being public exposes you to copious amounts of bot accounts on the app. They’re insanely annoying, especially when they leave generic comments or harass your DMs with suspicious offers. Thankfully, with the private account Instagram setting, you ice them out completely.
• Higher internet safety: With a private page, you won’t be an easy target for stalkers and online harassers. There’s no easy way for them to leave mean DMs or nasty comments on your photos and videos.
• Lower risk of identity theft: In 2021 alone, the Federal Trade Commission reported 15,300+ social media identity theft cases in the U.S. This is because it’s so easy to steal people’s photos and learn about their lives through public social media accounts. But no one can steal photos or profile info if you have a private account profile.

How To Make Your Account on Instagram Private: An Easy Guide

Switching to a private profile is super easy and takes just a minute or two on the app. Here’s how to make your account on Instagram private, step by step:

1. Open the Instagram app and go to your profile.

2. Click the three horizontal lines at the top-right corner of the page.

3. Select Account privacy under “Who can see your content.”

4. Tap the toggle button next to the label Private account.

5. Click Switch to private to confirm your decision.

6. Instagram might prompt you to look through your followers to double-check if you’re comfy with them following you. If you want to do so, click Review followers. You can also choose to do it on your own time.

And that’s it! You’ve now switched to a private page.

How To View Private Instagram Accounts

Wondering how to view private Instagram accounts if you’re locked out of the page? The answer is pretty simple—send them a follower request and hope they accept it. To do that, simply visit the user’s profile and hit the blue follow button under their bio. Then, sit tight and be patient as they go through your request and decide whether you can follow them.

This is the most respectful method for viewing a private page on Instagram. It’s exactly how the platform intends it. You ask permission first, and the private user gets all the power to allow or deny you access to their page. It’s all about the page owner’s safety and security. And if they choose to deny you, you’ll have to find another way to peek into their profile.

Is It Safe To Use a Third-Party Instagram Private Account Viewer?

An Instagram private account viewer is a third-party tool that claims to show people the contents of a private page. And while they sound super useful and convenient, they’re not always safe to use.

These private Instagram viewers are notorious for being absolutely inaccurate. Most if not all of the time, they don’t work. Instagram has many hard-to-bypass layers of security that prevent any third-party tool from fetching data on private accounts. It’s basically impossible for them to deliver their promise. So, any tool claiming to help you do this is automatically a red flag.

Plus, these tools often ask you to do sketchy stuff, like click on phishing links or give your Instagram password. This should instantly set the alarms off for you. Never do these things, lest your Instagram page gets compromised. And while you’re at it, stay as far away as possible from these third-party private account viewers!

Is There an Anonymous Instagram Story Viewer (Private Account) You Can Trust?

Nope, there are also no trustworthy anonymous Instagram Story viewers (private accounts). There are a ton of free Story viewers for public profiles, sure. But those that promise the same results for private pages are likely lying to your face. 

As with private account photos, there’s no way for third-party viewers to gain access to private Stories. So, don’t fall for it!

How To See Private Accounts on Instagram Free and Without Following Them

So, if not through third-party tools, how can you see private pages without them knowing? Here are some sly tips on how to see private accounts on Instagram free without following them:

• Ask a mutual friend you have with that private user if you can take a peek at their page through their phone.
• Make a finsta (aka a second Instagram account) and follow them with that instead of your primary one.
• Look at their other public social media accounts, as they might be cross-posting their Instagram content there.

How To Hide Your Followers on Instagram Without a Private Account

One pressing concern for public users is that their follower list is public on the internet, too. Essentially, anyone can look through the list, jeopardizing their fans’ identities. Do you often wonder how to hide your followers on Instagram without a private account?

Sadly, there’s no way to directly hide your follower list from other users. What you can do, though, is block suspicious users who could be dangerous if they have access to your followers. This might include stalkers and harassers you think would be capable of harming your friends, family, and fans.

Blocking a page is super easy. Here’s how:

1. Go to that user’s profile.

2. Click the three dots at the top-right of the page.

3. Select Block.

Once they’re blocked, they won’t be able to see your page. That means your follower list will no longer be within reach for them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Take the Lock Off Your Profile and Grow Your Audience With Path Social!

Going private is great if you want to ward off stalkers and bot accounts or keep content within your circle. But if you’re an aspiring creator, it’s not the best route to take. How are people going to know your name if you have a locked page they can’t see?

If you truly want to grow online, don’t even consider keeping an Instagram private account. Be brave and go public so more people discover and appreciate your content.

Need more help getting that kind of attention? We’re here to help. Path Social uses organic growth strategies like influencer shout-outs and newsletters to promote your posts to your target market. This lures real, interested users to your page, boosting your follower count and engagement rates.

Thousands of struggling creators like Margene Beaver have seen how we can triple their engagement fast, and you can, too. Get more authentic Instagram followers with Path Social’s expertise today!