How to create multiple Instagram accounts and switch between them: Header image

Sometimes, one Instagram account is not enough. Whether you're starting a business, managing a feed for your job, or just want a place specifically reserved for showcasing your photography, it's easier than ever to manage multiple Instagram accounts at once.

Back in the day, you had to log completely out of one Instagram account before you could sign in to another. But nowadays, Instagram allows you to switch back and forth between accounts without logging out. Here's everything you need to know about juggling several Instagrams.

How many Instagram accounts can you have?

According to Instagram's Help Center, you can have up to five different Instagram accounts, which you can switch between without logging out. (This is not to say that you can't have more than five, but after you reach that limit, you'll have to log out and log back in to access additional profiles.)

It's also important to note that this option is only available for iPhones and Androids with the 7.15 update (available in the App Store and the Google Play Store). So if you are unable to add additional accounts, you may need to update your Instagram app.

Can you create multiple Instagram accounts with one email address?

No. At this time, every Instagram account must have an individual email address. You can't create multiple Instagram accounts with the same email address.

However, that doesn't mean you have to create a new email address for every new account you make. If you create a second Instagram account via the app, you can sign up with your phone number instead of your email address.

Creating and managing multiple accounts on Instagram

Now that we've covered the basics, it's time to dive into all the different ways to create and manage several accounts on Instagram. In the following section, you'll find all the instructions you need to create new profiles, along with the answers to some of the top questions about having multiple accounts.

How to create a new Instagram account

Before share how to manage multiple accounts, let's start with the basics: creating an Instagram account. Whether it's your first account or your third, the same rules apply.

There are two ways you can create an Instagram account: from the app on your iPhone and from the website on your computer. Below are instructions for creating an Instagram account on your iPhone:

  1. Open your Instagram app.
  2. Press the icon of your profile photo at the bottom-right of the screen.
  3. Press your account name.
  4. Select Add Account
  5. Select Create New Account.
  6. Create a username and password and fill out your profile details.
  7. Press Next.

If you want to create an Instagram account from your desktop, follow these instructions:

  1. Open your desktop browser.
  2. Go to www.instagram.com.
  3. If you already have an Instagram account, log out of it.
  4. Click Sign Up.
  5. Enter your email address.
  6. Create a username and password and fill out your profile details.
  7. Press Done.

Using either of these options will create a brand new Instagram account for you to use.

How to create a second Instagram account

When you add a new account to your app following the instructions in the previous section, the account will automatically be added in your app. That way, you can easily switch back and forth between them.

However, if you need to add a second account that you created elsewhere or at an earlier time, here's how you can do that:

  1. Open your Instagram app.
  2. Press the icon of your profile photo at the bottom-right of the screen.
  3. Press the three horizontal lines at the top-right of the screen.
  4. Select Settings
  5. Scroll to the bottom of the screen and select Add Account.
  6. Select Log Into Existing Account.
  7. Enter your account information and log in.

Note that after you add a new account to your Instagram app, you will receive notifications from all of the profiles you've added unless you manually turn off your notifications. So if you don't want your phone to blow up all day with messages and likes, it might be a good idea to put your secondary account on silent.

How to switch accounts on Instagram

Here's how to switch between multiple Instagram accounts using the app:

  1. Open your Instagram app.
  2. Press the icon of your profile photo at the bottom-right of the screen.
  3. Press your username at the top of the screen.
  4. Select the account you'd like to switch to.

And that's it! After you've added your new account to the app, you can switch back and forth whenever you want.

How to remove a second Instagram account from the app

Not all Instagrams were meant to last forever. So if you find yourself needing to remove an Instagram account from your app, there are just a few simple steps you need to follow.

Here's how to remove a secondary account from your Instagram app:

  1. Open your Instagram app.
  2. Press the icon of your profile photo at the bottom-right of the screen.
  3. Press the three horizontal lines at the top-right of the screen.
  4. Select Settings
  5. Scroll to the bottom of the screen and select Login Info.
  6. Press the blue checkmark next to the account you wish to remove.
  7. Press Remove.

While following these steps will remove the account from your Instagram app, it will not disable or delete the account.

Can you merge Instagram accounts?

Even though you can jump back and forth between up to five Instagram accounts at a time, you cannot merge those accounts.

At this time, there is no way to merge followers and content from multiple accounts into a single account. The closest you can get is following the same people on both accounts and reposting the same photos.

In this modern-day world of social media and internet personalities, more people than ever are managing multiple social media accounts at once. Whether you're doing this for work or to show off your many cool hobbies, we hope this guide makes having multiple Instagram accounts a breeze. And for more Instagram tips, check out our guide to adding multiple photos to Instagram Stories and posts. Cheers!

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  • Instagram