Got multiple Instagram accounts?
One for business, one for fun?
Another one for another business? 😉
This is a highly recommended, yet frustrating, tactic.
Recommended, because Instagram users love to follow laser-focused accounts.
Frustrating, because you’ve had to sign in and out of one account to access another.
Instagram finally announced account switching February 8, 2016.
I got it that same day, after checking obsessively for days. It had already been rolling out for a week.!
Note: This post was originally published on Feb 8, 2016, and updated with troubleshooting tips on Dec 2, 2017.
How to Add Instagram Account Switching
Account switching became available as part of Instagram version 7.15 for iOS and Android. Make sure your app is updated. If it IS and you still don’t have account switching, one user reported that deleting and reinstalling the app solved this issue.
You can add multiple Instagram accounts to switch between them without having to log out and log back in.
To add multiple Instagram accounts:
- Go to your profile and tap the gear or settings icon in the top right.
- Scroll down and tap Add Account. It’s near the bottom.
- Enter the username and password of the account you’d like to add.
To switch between accounts you’ve added:
- Go to your profile.
- Tap your profile picture at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap the account you’d like to switch to.
Note that you can add up to 5 accounts. source
From now on, just tap your Instagram profile picture at the bottom of your profile to switch between accounts.
Once you have multiple accounts added, you’ll see your profile photo appear in places throughout the app so you can always tell which one you’re using at the moment. I noticed that my account name appears in the comment field so I’m sure which account I’m using. Nice!
Here’s a short video demonstration from Donna Gilliland:
Instagram is rolling out multiple account switching to some iOS users. I was thrilled to have the option this morning. I created a quick video on how to setup multiple account switching on your iPhone. Hopefully you have this feature now.
Posted by Donna Gilliland on Thursday, February 4, 2016
What about push notifications on multiple Instagram accounts?
If you’ve added multiple Instagram accounts, you may get push notifications from any account that has them turned on. This depends on when you last logged in and the number of devices that are logged in to an account.
How do I remove an Instagram account I’ve added?
To remove an Instagram account you’ve added, you can log out of the account:
- Go to your profile and switch to the account you’d like to remove.
- Tap the gear or settings icon in the top right.
- Scroll down and tap Log out of [username] or Log out of All Accounts. Logging out of all accounts will remove all the accounts you’ve added.
My removed Instagram account is still showing!
If you’re still having problems, a reader offered these tips:
- Go log out of both accounts.
- Then go back to the home page where you log in. It’ll show the extra account still.
- The name will appear on the left and on the right will say log in for both.
- Hold down on the page and next to the log in tab an X will appear. Hit the X.
- It will prompt you that you will need all the info to log in again and ask if you’re certain.
- Hit accept.
If this isn’t working for you, use the Report a Problem feature in your account settings.
Unfortunately I can’t provide additional assistance, because I haven’t experienced this problem myself. Would love to get your insights if you’ve been able to solve it!
Wrapping Up
This is a long-awaited feature, and I’m so excited to have it!
Have you tried Instagram account switching yet?
Has it made your life easier for managing multiple Instagram accounts?
Will this show up on other devices because I have a shared account and I don’t want anyone to go into my private account?
No one should be able to get into your account without your password. I have different accounts linked on different devices and other accounts don’t automatically pop up.
How can get my account back I forgot my password and can login in no more
Request a password reset on the login screen.
There’s other people using my email address’s as they’re own. I’ve tried to delete them ,. Did on my phone but they are still showing up in other people account. This is Facebook and Instagram account. I deleted my original Facebook, created a new one same as Instagram account, but already there are multiple accounts again
If your email account has been hacked, it sounds like you need a new email with better passwords and security for all your accounts.
How do I log back into my added account…it won’t work
If you can’t log in to your account, you should contact IG. You shouldn’t need to log back in after you’ve added it. At least that’s been my experience.
I’m having the same problem, I was logged out of my design account, but not my personal account and don’t have the option to switch between the two anymore
Hi! Wondering if you can help . . . I run an account for a friend and suddenly, since this switching, all my contacts are on her insta feed! Embarrassing. Hers is a business, mine is family and friends. How do I separate them?
I don’t know what you mean. Unless her account is following those accounts, their posts shouldn’t show in her own account’s feed.
On second thought – do you mean they’re showing as suggested accounts to follow?
Did this ever get fixed? This just started happening between my personal account and the business account I run for someone else. Mine just started last night. I try to switch accounts and instead of seeing the business account’s activity or news feed, all I see is my personal ones even though I am in the business account. Same for posting. I post from the business account and it shows up on my personal account instead. It’s happening with stories too.
Which device are you using? I’m wondering if this glitch is limited to a specific device. I would keep reporting it to IG though – even daily.
I have had the same issue, how did you get it resolved?
I’m having this same problem… has anyone resolved it? It started about the same time as everyone else’s account did.
Mine is doing this as well! So frustrating!!
Same thing is happening to me. I have an Apple 6 and IOS 11. I just posted on my work account and when I switched to my own account I can only see my work feed even though I am on page and see all my posts!
Im experiencing the same problem! All my posts from my personal account show up on my business account.Were you able to fix the problem?
Did you get this fixed, having a similar issue with my account.
I am attempting to add another (bus) Instagram account as you have mentioned but when I type the new username that I wish the page to have and a new password – and click the blue ‘log in’ button I get the message:
“Incorrect Username
The username you entered doesn’t appear to belong to an account. Please check your username and try again”.
It may be something simple that I’m missing but would love your advise please.
I have checked the username’s availability and does it matter if I use the same or different password to my original account?
You can’t create a NEW account this way. You can only add an existing account. So, log out of your current account and create the new account.
How do you do multiple business accounts? Can I make my new account I want to add a business account? I’ve been trying to figure this out for longer than I’m willing to share.. lol. Thank you!
Yes you can! You just have to use a different email or phone number for each account.
Hi! Question,I have two IG accounts made with different email addresses. I would like to activate now the two authentification method,which means I need to save phone numbers.Can I use the same phone number for both? Thank you!
This may have changed, but previously you could not.
I have this problem too. I thought if you log out of an account you delete it. My friend added my second account but I can’t add a third. I know how to go between them that’s not th problem
Were you ever able to get it to work? I am having this issue now…
Hi, is it possible to manage 20-30 accounts on IG on my smartphone? I need for my work?
You can only link 5 on one device. After that you need to log out and link another chain of 5. I think this would work on one device, but very cumbersome.
How can I add a link to my story on my second account which is for my business? I can add a link to my story on my personal IG, but not my second account. What can I do?
Sorry, I don’t know.
On my iPhone and iPad it’s 3rd from the bottom. If it’s not there, I have no way to help.
Hi!
I’ve just sold my business & would like to unlink this account from my personal
IG menu. It still appears in my ‘switch between’ menus even though I’m locked out of it.
How can I remove it please? Obviously the new owner needs to keep the page running & I don’t want to jeopardise this.
Thanks
Sorry, I don’t know. They may have to do it from their end, possibly in the related FB account.
Hi, did you have any luck, I have same problem? Thanks in advance 🙂
Yep! Same issue- I have logged out of an account but it still shows in my accounts list. I think this is because i chose to remmember the password. How can I unlink the account ?
Try “Log out of all accounts” and if that doesn’t work “Report a problem.”
The latest feature allows you to manage accounts and delete accounts. Simply select manage accounts and press x. If it doesn’t work, try tilt your phone to horizontal, mine worked like that. Strange. Hope this helps.
Hi It doesn’t work now, I have IOS but when I logged out from one of the 5 accounts to add a new one, it’s still showing and it said that I have the max number of accounts and can’t add more. please advice
I have 2 Instagram accounts. I am able to switch between the two without logging out but now I can’t post anything anymore under my private account. It gets deleted and then gets posted to my business one! Why does it to that. I want to be able to mange both separately.
Sorry, I’ve never heard of this before.
This happens to me as well. It didn’t in the beginnning. Only in the last week or so. Very frustrating. No matter which account i am actuvely using (account A or account B) it automatically switches and posts as “account A”. If you figure it out i’d kive to learn how.
Oh no! That’s ridiculous. Hope they come up with an update that addresses this. Are you on Android? I have 5 accounts on my iPhone and 3 on my iPad and I’ve never experienced this.
How did you create so many accounts? The directions provided here and through Instagram itself, start after you’ve created the account. The directions to Add Account are simple, but you need to create an account before adding it. I have one already under my only email address. How do I create another using that same email address?
At the time I created my accounts, IG required different email addresses. Not sure if it’s still required, but you could have problems with password reset if you have more than one account on the same email.
Mine is doing this now… did you figure out a way to fix it? Kind of stressing me out
Mine is doing this now… did yours ever get fixed???
Hi,
Need to add a *business account* that will be opening in a 90 days. No phone # yet. Street address, yes.
Can I set up IG account using my cell # (I will manage IG account anyway) and enter street info later?
Thanks!
Yes, but you must use a phone number that’s not used on another IG account.
I have 5 linked accounts on Instagram and I want take one off. The one I wanna take off is on my phone but I don’t have access to it right now. If I change the password to the one I want to take off , will it just logout on all devices?
Maybe, but I don’t know. Don’t the instructions in the article above work?
I have a linked account and really need to remove it but it still appears on my insta linked accounts and yet will allow me to log back into it by tapping it I really need it removed please help!!
Unfortunately I don’t know anything more than what’s in the article. If “Log out of all accounts” doesn’t work, use “Report a problem.”
Go log out of both. Then go back to the home page where you log in. It’ll show the extra account still.
The name will appear on the left and on the right will say log in for both. Hold down on the page and next to the log in tab an X will appear. Hit the X. It will prompt you that you will need all the info to log in again and ask if your certain. Hit accept
Thank you!
I tried the “log out of both” that Alison recommended but then the x wasn’t active next to the account I wanted to remove. What did remove the 3rd account was removing Instagram completely from my iphone by holding down the icon and tapping the little x in the corner. Then I re- downloaded the application from the App Store. I logged into my main account with my username and password and then went into settings and then to Add Account and added my second account again. The third account is finally gone! PS. You have to be careful that you remember all of your usernames and passwords for this fix.
Terrific, thank you Jennifer.
The latest feature allows you to manage accounts and delete accounts. Simply select manage accounts and press x. If it doesn’t work, try tilt your phone to horizontal, mine worked like that. Strange. Hope this helps.
Is this still working? I had a linked account and one update deleted it and I don’t have the option to link another account now. Just want to be sure it actually works for others still.
I can’t speak to Android, but I haven’t had a single problem on iPhone or iPad.
I have tried on my iPhone app and on website and I don’t see the option to add another profile to my account like you described?? Please help
If you don’t see it in the account settings on your phone (it’s almost at the bottom) the use the “report a problem” option.
I have updated my Instagram. But yet it still doesn’t show up add an account. So now
I have to go back and forth from safari to the Instagram app. Can you help me fix it?
Nope, I do not know how.
The “add account” does not exists no that I have iPhone X Is there another way to add a switchable account on instagram. I don’t have the theee dots … I have a clock that does not show add account. Help
It’s now a gear icon, next to Edit Profile.
Hello, if i wanna delete an account from the lis of accounts i manage, but i have previously saved that account’s password, even after logging out it stays on the list. My problem is that i need to add nee accounts to manage but since the other ones are not getting deleted from the list, i am unable to add any! Help?
Use the “report a problem” option in your account settings.
The latest feature allows you to manage accounts and delete accounts. Simply select manage accounts and press x. If it doesn’t work, try tilt your phone to horizontal, mine worked like that. Strange. Hope this helps.
Great article and better than Instagram help desk!
I have heard of [x] from the friends working in marketing agency. Anyone tried it from here?
You mean like a spam bot? I doubt a real agency would use such a thing.
Please HELP! I deleted teo account from the lists of accounts I manage, so I cannot access them but it still is on the list. My problem is that I need to add new accounts to manage but since the other ones are not getting deleted from the list, I am unable to add any! And I cannot log in the ones I deleted because they are still active. My job depends on this. I already reported the issue with no help from Instagram.
See comment from Alison for tips. I’m updating the post too.
The latest feature allows you to manage accounts and delete accounts. Simply select manage accounts and press x. If it doesn’t work, try tilt your phone to horizontal, mine worked like that. Strange. Hope this helps.
Hi, where do you find this? I just updated my iPhone app and i don’t see it. Thanks 🙂
Hello,
I have two accounts that I use. When I’m in my Lightroom photo account and share from there it sends to the wrong account. Any idea how to change which account is the default to share to?
If I’m understanding correctly that you’re sharing from Adobe Lightroom, I suggest you reach out to Adobe. However, in general when sharing from another app to IG, it will post to whichever account is open.
Thank you for your post and continuing to answer questions. I had three accounts. I’ve logged out of one. But the drop down still shows three. I really need that one to disappear. Is it possible? Thanks in advance.
The only possible fix I’m aware of is what a reader shared. It’s near the end of the blog post under “My removed Instagram account is still showing!”
Hi
Whats your review about buying some Instagram followers to grow my account?
Nope, never, don’t do it.
Trying to add account but won’t show it’s been adding just saying it’s connected to my already made account.
I have three Instagram accounts and they all three had the same username (my email) and password. Now I can only get into one of the accounts. I need help getting back into my two accounts. Please help. Thanks
I’m not sure how you could have 3 accounts with the same username. I would have no idea how to recover them. Try IG support though.
Thank you for your reply. I login to all three accounts with the same username which is my email. The usernames are different. I’ve reported the problem to ig but have not received a reply. I was able to log in to one of them last night by putting the username and password, but still cannot get into my third account.
I would definitely keep trying to log in using the account-specific username rather than an email which is common to all 3 accounts. If you get in, you might consider setting different emails so it’s easier to get a “password reset” on a specific account if you need it. Perhaps using the same email is confusing IG.
I tried making a completely separate account with different email address but it still somehow linked to my original account. I want them to be 100% individual accounts. How do I do it? I thought the different email address, username, and password would have accomplished that. Is it because I access both from my mobile phone?
No, they shouldn’t be linked unless you added the second one inside the first. I can only recommend what’s been suggested in the article for unlinking accounts.
Thanks for the quick response. I logged in from IG online, not the app, created account with new email, username, etc. It suggests same people to add (who are not in my phone contact list) as on my other account. Even did a test by having someone block me on original account – blocked on new one too. Very odd. I’ll try to get some answers from IG directly. Thanks so much for your help.
Is there not any way to have more than one account with the same email? I have already got an account which is a personal one and wanted to add a professional one but wanted to have the same email info for both? Is that possible??
When I signed up for my accounts, it was definitely not possible. Sounds like the previous commenter set up 3 accounts with the same email – but was having trouble logging into them. So proceed at your own risk.
This is how I did it –
1. Log out of All Accounts
2. It will show the list of accounts you have, and ask which account login you’d like for Instagram to remember on your next login. Disable/Turn off the account that you want to delete.
3. The next time you login, you will only be shown the accounts that you only want.
Thanks Thara
Hi, I currently have an Instagram account for personal things. I’d like to make an account for a blog/ business I run. However I don’t want the accounts to be linked, so I don’t want my current insta followers to receive a notification that I have another page when I create it for example (which I know has happened to a lot for other people).
I’d essentially like to have an almost anonymous account that I can work from the ground up as a completely new Instagram.
In my experience, the notifications come from linking with Facebook, not other IG accounts. I don’t know of any way to disable it. Perhaps they’ve fixed this for business accounts, which do need to be linked with FB to enable all features.
I have a personal account and a business page account on instagram connected to my facebook account. I deleted the app and uploaded again for some reason. Now i can only access mu personal account but not the one for business. Since it doesnt have a separate password, i dont know how to gain access to mu business account, it is still open but i cant access 🙁
question i run an account fr a business and we couldnt log into our old account instagram told usto start a new account i really want to get into the old account is there anyway to do this we forgot the email address and phone number so we can’t get in and second anyway to reach instagram to speak to someone to close our old account ??
Thank You
Not that I know of. Maybe someone else will have a suggestion.
Hi I’m hoping someone can please help?
I have 2 accounts linked to my Instagram and accidentally removed one of my accounts (one I created after my first Instagram) by clicking “log out of all accounts’
Is there a way to reverse this?
I can see the page is still live but I cannot find it to log in…
Thanks so much
Lucy
Don’t know, I could make some suggestions but I don’t know if they’d help or make matters worse. It’s possible if you update your app, do a hard shutdown, or log out of all accounts… but it’s at your own risk.
I am trying to add account and the screen it takes me too basically wants me to log in. I only have one account so I’m not sure why it isn’t working. I tried to report the problem to instagram but they haven’t responded. Thanks!
If you only have one account, then there’s nothing to add. Set up another account and then you can add it.
I have two accounts too. However type mode is only active on 1 account. Earlier I thought my iOS was not updated or app is not updated.. But it’s still the same with everything Updated. HELP
I have only been able to find out how to link a second account to my instagram. I know and understand how to do this already. I am only lookin for someone to help show me how to MAKE a second account. Any help?
Have you tried going to the signup screen? I don’t know of any tricks, other than you have to be logged out of your current account.
i was having an 3 accounts on my phone but it fell so now it is not working .so i opened it on another mobile but it is only one account is working and the other accounts do not want to open. and all of them is on one username and password.
So I added an account as directed above in your post (did this about 3 weeks ago before actually seeing your post) and created it successfully. Posted several photos to the 2nd account and then a couple of days ago, the switch back and forth option just disappeared from my main account??? Any idea where it went? The 2nd account is still there and I’m following it with my main account, but I can’t access it or switch back and forth anymore…I have updated my app and logged out and back in to no avail. Any suggestions? Thanks a bunch 🙂
Hey Meredith, I wish I knew. Maybe one of my readers will have a suggestion.
Sorry for the delay, just found a bunch of comments in the spam folder!
Hey wondered if you can help, I have 6 accounts at the moment and need to add another one for work however can’t. Any ideas on what I can do . Really appreciate any advice cheers lucy
You could try using a different device.
Hi
Awhile ago I created a second account and I haven’t been able to get into for awhile.. I did report it and see what happens. You can still look the account up but I cannot add or do anything with it even though it’s my account. What can I do? It’s called Tammy’s Nail Beautique . This happened when the change over happened.
Thank you
Tammy
I really don’t know. I have an inactive account and can log in but nothing else. So if you were inactive this could be a factor.
Hi Louise,
I manage three account of my Instagram and my friends/followers told me that sometimes on their Instagram on their Instagram notifications a message appears to let them know that I am managing those accounts. For example: Cristina Zenato (my personal account) is on Instagram as “Green leaf” account. I don’t want my managing of these accounts to be visible. How can I avoid that? I have yet to find a solution on the internet and I noticed you reply.
Thank you in advance for your kind consideration and time
Cristina
I don’t know of any way of disabling that
Thanks for sharing such article .Its a great article for Instagram lovers who wants to use more than 1 account. I had heard about handling more than 1 account but never tried it. This article will be really helpful for me.Thanks.
Does it work similar with the newer Android phones? I have a Galaxy 8s plus
It should! Have you tried it? Would love to know how it goes!
Hi,
If my account is linked to my brothers on my device, does that mean he can see mine on his device ?
Or is it possible for mine to be linked to his and his not to mine?
I believe it varies by device. I have one account that’s linked to 4 others on one device, and 2 different ones on another device. He can add yours to his if he knows your password.
However as others have noted, there can be glitches.
Question-there are 2 of us that are logged into a business account (as an additional account on insta). The other employee has quit but can still get in to our account even after I have changed the password. How is this possible? I would think if I changed the password, it would prompt her for a new password when she tries to switch from her personal to the business. We have asked her to delete it and she won’t…
Have you tried changing, then adding 2-step verification?
I have changed it and she still signed on this evening. I have since added 2-step verification to see if that will stop her. Not sure if it has worked…
How can I log out of other devices????