How to Know if an Instagram Account Is Private or Public

Quick Tips

• Try to share a user’s post. If it’s private, you will see a message saying the account is private.
• If you don’t follow the user, you will see the Private message label. You can also open the user’s profile link in incognito mode.
• For your account, go to Instagram settings > Account privacy.

Method 1: By Trying to Share the User’s Post

This method will help you determine whether someone’s account is private or public on Instagram if you follow them.

For that, open any post shared by the user and press the Send icon under it.

• For private accounts, you will see the ‘This account is private’ message. If that doesn’t happen, scroll down a few times. You will see a message saying, ‘The people below may not be able to see this post unless they follow XYZ’ or a similar message if the account is private. And you can’t share the post with anyone other than the mutual followers.
• If no such message appears and you can share the post even with non-mutual friends, the account is public.

Method 2: By Checking if the User’s Posts Are Visible

The simple way to know if an Instagram account is private or not if you don’t follow them is to open their profile. If the account is private, you will see the ‘This account is private’ message label. Alternatively, if you can see their posts or followers list, the account is public.

Method 3: Check Whether Your Account Is Private

To check your Instagram account’s privacy status, go to your Instagram profile and tap the three-bar icon. Scroll down to the Account privacy option, where you will see whether the account is public or private. Tap on it to switch between private or public accounts.

Method 4: Check Using a Browser

Another simple way is to open the user’s profile link from a browser but without logging into your account or from incognito mode. Enter Instagram.com/username in a browser on your phone or PC, where the username is the actual username of the person. If the profile is public, you will see the user’s posts, otherwise, you will be greeted by the ‘This account is private’ label.

Tip: To know the user’s username, open their profile. The name or the text at the top of the screen is their username, whereas the name under the profile picture is their name.

Note: This method works whether you follow the user or not, as you don’t have to be signed in.

Before you go, know whether you can message a private account.