How to Set Privacy Settings on Instagram

1. Accessing Privacy Settings

Open Instagram:

• Launch the Instagram app on your mobile device.

Go to Your Profile:

• Tap on your profile picture icon in the bottom right corner to go to your profile page.

Open Settings:

• Tap on the three horizontal lines (menu icon) in the top right corner of your profile.

Navigate to Settings:

• Scroll down and tap on Settings at the bottom of the menu.

2. Managing Privacy Settings

Account Privacy:

Private Account:

• If you want to make your account private (only approved followers can see your posts and stories):
  • Go to Privacy > Account Privacy.
  • Toggle on the Private Account option.

Activity Status:

• Control who can see when you were last active on Instagram:
  • Go to Privacy > Activity Status.
  • Toggle on or off the Show Activity Status option.

Story Sharing:

• Decide who can share your Instagram stories as messages:
  • Go to Privacy > Story.
  • Adjust the settings under Allow Sharing to your preference.

Interactions:

Comments:

• Manage who can comment on your posts:
  • Go to Privacy > Comments.
  • Choose between Everyone, People You Follow and Your Followers, or Off.

Messages:

• Control who can send you direct messages:
  • Go to Privacy > Messages.
  • Choose between Everyone, People You Follow, or Off.

Restricted Accounts:

• Restrict accounts to limit their interactions with you without blocking them:
  • Go to Privacy > Restricted Accounts.
  • Add accounts to restrict them.

Content Control:

Tagging:

• Manage who can tag you in photos and videos:
  • Go to Privacy > Tags.
  • Choose between Everyone, Only People You Follow, or No One.

Photo Map:

• Control whether to add your photos and videos to your Photo Map:
  • Go to Privacy > Photo Map.
  • Toggle on or off the Add Automatically option.

Story Controls:

• Customize who can see your stories and reply to them:
  • Go to Privacy > Story.
  • Adjust settings under Story Controls as per your preference.

Additional Settings:

Linked Accounts:

• Manage which third-party accounts are linked to your Instagram profile:
  • Go to Settings > Security > Apps and Websites.

Blocked Accounts:

• View and manage accounts you’ve blocked:
  • Go to Settings > Privacy > Blocked Accounts.

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA):

• Enhance the security of your Instagram account:
  • Go to Settings > Security > Two-Factor Authentication.

Additional Tips:

• Regularly Review Settings: Periodically review and update your privacy settings to ensure they align with your preferences and needs.
• Be Mindful of Sharing: Be cautious about sharing sensitive information and adjust settings accordingly.
• Report Inappropriate Content: If you encounter inappropriate or abusive content, use Instagram’s reporting tools to take action.