Instagram Privacy Settings: 10 Ways to Protect Your Account
Quick answer
Make your account private, turn on two-factor authentication, hide stories from specific people, limit tags and mentions, review connected apps and check your login activity regularly.
1. Make your account private
Go to Settings → Account privacy. Only people you approve will see your posts and stories.
2. Turn on two-factor authentication
Use an authenticator app instead of SMS when you can. Most account takeovers start with weak or reused passwords.
3. Hide stories from selected people
In story settings you can hide specific accounts, or share only with your Close Friends list.
4. Limit tags and mentions
Require manual approval of tags and restrict who can tag you to “people you follow”.
5. Turn off activity status
If you do not want people to see when you are online, switch the activity status off.
6. Clean up connected apps
Remove third-party apps you no longer use. Never type your password into another site.
7. Check login activity
Under Accounts Center → Password and security you can see devices you do not recognise and log them out.
8. Mind location tags
Location info on posts can make it easier to guess where you live or your routines.
9. Keep sensitive details out of your bio
A phone number, address or school name does not belong in a public bio.
10. Be careful with messages from strangers
Do not open links from people you do not know. Phishing attacks mostly arrive through direct messages.
Frequently asked questions
Does going private affect my current followers?
No. Your existing followers stay, only new followers need your approval.
How can I stop third-party tools from viewing my public account?
Making your account private is the most effective way to keep public content from being viewed by such tools.
