Instagram personal accounts explained
A personal account and a professional account differ mainly in which tools and visibility settings are available.
Is this your situation?
You are deciding whether your Instagram account should stay personal or switch to a professional type. You want to know what changes before you make that switch.
What it is
A personal Instagram account can be changed to a business or creator account. Business accounts are best suited for retailers, local businesses, brands, organizations and service providers. Creator accounts are best suited for public figures, content producers, artists and influencers. Setting up a professional business or creator account gives access to features to help grow the account, monetize, create ads, understand growth, and manage messages. A professional account can be switched back to a personal account at any time.
How Instagram handles this
- A user can have up to 10 Instagram accounts logged in at once.
- If a private personal account switches to professional, the account becomes public.
- Pending follow requests are automatically accepted once the account goes public after switching.
- Account type can be switched between at any time.
- Switching to a personal account loses access to ads and possibly other tools.
Side by side
| Aspect | Personal account | Professional account |
|---|---|---|
| Account type change | Can be changed to a business or creator account. | Can be switched back to personal at any time. |
| Privacy on switch | May be private before switching. | Becomes public if the personal account was private. |
| Follow requests | Pending requests exist before the switch. | Pending requests are automatically accepted on going public. |
| Facebook Page connection | No Page connection applies. | A connected Page is disconnected if switched back to personal. |
| Access after switch to personal | N/A, already personal. | Loses access to ads and possibly other tools when switched to personal. |
Common mistakes
- Switching a private account without expecting visibility change The account becomes public if it was private before switching to professional.Why it happens: Pending follow requests are automatically accepted once the account goes public.Already happened: If this changed who could see your content, review who controls an Instagram account.
- Switching back to personal and losing tools Switching from professional to personal results in loss of access to ads and possibly other tools.Why it happens: A connected Facebook Page is disconnected on the switch.
- Assuming account type is permanent Account type can be switched between at any time.Why it happens: A professional account can be switched back to personal at any time.
Quick reference
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Can a personal account become professional? | Yes, it can be changed to a business or creator account. |
| Who is a business account for? | Retailers, local businesses, brands, organizations and service providers. |
| Who is a creator account for? | Public figures, content producers, artists and influencers. |
| Can you switch back to personal? | Yes, at any time. |
| Does switching affect privacy? | A private account becomes public when switched to professional. |
| What happens to follow requests? | Pending requests are automatically accepted when the account goes public. |
| What happens to a connected Page on switching back? | It is disconnected. |
| How many accounts can be logged in at once? | Up to 10 accounts. |
Frequently asked questions
Will my account's privacy change if I switch to professional?
If the personal account was private, switching to professional makes it public.
What happens to pending follow requests after switching?
They are automatically accepted once the account goes public.
Can I undo switching to a professional account?
Yes, a professional account can be switched back to personal at any time.
What do I lose by switching back to personal?
Loss of access to ads, and possibly loss of access to select other tools.
Keeping track of who has access
Confusion about who can access or change an account often builds as account type and connections shift over time. Delvia gives you a clear view of those connections so the picture stays current.
Was this helpful?