Action
How to stop sharing your Instagram password
Stop handing out your password and move collaborators to shared access instead.
Is this your situation?
You gave someone your Instagram password so they could post or manage the account. You want them working with shared access instead, and a record of what they can do.
The short answer
Invite the person through shared access instead of handing over your password. They act on the account with your consent, not as you.
Before you start
- Confirm the account is eligible Shared access is only available to eligible accounts.Verify: Check whether your account is a teen account.
- Decide who to trust Shared access lets you invite people you trust to access the account.Verify: List the people who currently have your password.
- Set expectations outside Instagram Instagram encourages owners to set rules with people they share access with.Verify: Write down what the person is allowed to do.
- Know what you can review You can see and download any activity taken by someone you've shared access with.Verify: Check the activity log after granting access.
How Instagram handles this
- Shared access provides an additional layer of security and flexibility for people who manage other accounts or want to collaborate without sharing a password.
- A person with shared access does not have access to the content itself, such as pictures, videos or reels, on the shared account.
- When someone takes action on a shared account, they appear as the account owner to other people on Instagram.
- If you block someone you've shared access with, they automatically lose access to the shared account.
Step by step
- Open account settings Go to your Instagram account settings to begin granting shared access.Where: Instagram app → Menu (top right)Confirm: Check the Settings menu for an access or security option.
- Find shared access Locate the option to invite someone to share access to your account.Where: Menu → SettingsConfirm: Check for an option naming shared access.
- Invite the trusted person Shared access allows an account owner to invite people they trust to access their account.Where: Settings → Shared accessConfirm: Check that the person's name appears as invited.
- Wait for acceptance People given shared access are acting on the account with the owner's consent, but not as the owner.Where: Settings → Shared accessConfirm: Check the shared access list for their accepted status.
- Remove the shared password You want no one else holding your login once shared access is active.Where: Password manager → notesConfirm: Check that no copy of the password remains with that person.
- Review their activity An account owner can access and download a copy of their account activity, including shared access activity.Where: Settings → Account activityConfirm: Check the downloaded activity log.
- Check for the shared label People can go to About this account to see that the account is shared.Where: Profile → About this accountConfirm: Check the About this account section for the shared label.
- Decide if a password reset is also needed You want the old password to stop working if that person still holds it.Where: Settings → PasswordConfirm: Check that the old password no longer logs the person in.
Common mistakes
- Assuming they get content access A person with shared access does not have access to the content itself, such as pictures, videos or reels.Why it happens: Owners assume shared access works the same as a full login.
- Not setting outside rules Instagram encourages owners to establish rules or expectations outside of Instagram.Why it happens: Owners skip this step because the platform does not require it.
- Blocking without expecting the loss If an account owner blocks someone they've shared access with, that person automatically loses access to the shared account.Why it happens: Owners block for unrelated reasons and do not expect this effect.
Roles at a glance
| Role | Can act on account | Sees content itself | Appears to others as |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account owner | Invites people they trust to access the account | Not stated by Instagram | Not stated by Instagram |
| Person with shared access | Acting on the account with the owner's consent, not as the owner | No access to the content itself | The account owner |
| Person holding a shared password | You wonder how long they can keep acting on the account | You wonder whether they can see the account's content | You wonder how the account appears to others |
| Account owner, blocking a person with shared access | If an account owner blocks someone they've shared access with, that person automatically loses access | Not stated by Instagram | Appears as the account owner |
| Person with shared access, blocking the account owner | If a person with shared access blocks the account owner, that person automatically loses access | Does not have access to the content itself | Not stated by Instagram |
Keeping track of who has access
After you move someone off your password, keep track of who still holds shared access. Delvia keeps that record in one place as your team changes.
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