How to Create Another Instagram Account: Step-by-Step for iPhone, Android, and Desktop

How to Create Another Instagram Account: Step-by-Step for iPhone, Android, and Desktop

If you’re wondering how to create another Instagram account—whether for a side project, business, or simply to keep personal life separate—you can add and manage up to five accounts on the same device without logging in and out each time. Below is a clear, current guide for iPhone, Android, and desktop, plus best practices for staying organized, safe, and compliant with Instagram’s rules.

Why create a second Instagram account

• Separate personal and professional content to keep audiences focused and expectations clear
• Launch niche projects, experiments, or “finstas” without disrupting your main feed
• Improve privacy by limiting who sees what content
• Target different audiences with tailored tone, posting schedules, and hashtags
• Keep analytics clean for each brand or initiative

Requirements and rules before you start

• Unique contact info: Each Instagram account needs a unique email address or phone number. You can use either for signup and recovery.
• Username availability: Usernames are unique and must follow Instagram’s naming guidelines; have a few alternatives ready.
• Age policy: You must be at least 13 years old in most countries (local laws may require higher ages in some regions).
• Multi-account limit: You can add up to 5 Instagram accounts to the app on a single device for easy switching.
• Community and identity: All accounts must follow Instagram’s Terms and Community Guidelines. Impersonation and misleading identity are prohibited.
• Account Center linking: Meta’s Accounts Center can link profiles to share login info and features across Instagram and Facebook. Decide whether you want accounts linked or kept separate.

Create another Instagram account on iPhone or Android

The steps are nearly identical on both platforms. Menu labels may vary slightly depending on app version.

1. Open Instagram and go to your profile (bottom-right).
2. Tap the menu (three lines) > Settings and privacy.
3. Tap Add account.
4. Choose Create new account.
5. Pick a username. Instagram will check availability; tap Next when it’s free.
6. Choose Sign up with email or phone.

• Enter the email or mobile number you’ll dedicate to this account.
• Enter the verification code sent to your email/SMS.

1. Set a strong password (use a password manager if possible).
2. Add name and date of birth.
3. Optional setup steps:

• Profile photo and bio (you can skip and add later).
• Contacts syncing: Choose “Not now” if you prefer privacy and manual discovery.

1. Decide linking in Meta Accounts Center:

• You may be prompted to add this account to your Accounts Center or to share login info across accounts to simplify switching.
• If you want strict separation, choose options that do not link or share login info.

1. Finish and start customizing your profile (bio, links, pronouns, category).

Pro tip: Give this account a distinct profile photo and color aesthetic so you can instantly tell accounts apart when posting or replying.

Create another Instagram account on desktop (instagram.com)

1. In a browser, go to instagram.com and click Sign up.
2. Enter your mobile number or email, full name, username, password, and birthday.
3. Verify via code sent to your email/SMS.
4. Add a profile picture and basic profile info (or skip).
5. To manage multiple accounts on the web:

• Click your profile photo (top-right) > Switch accounts > Log into an Existing Account.
• Add up to five logins for quick switching without logging out.

1. Tip: Use different browser profiles (e.g., Chrome Profiles), separate browsers, or an incognito window to keep sessions isolated—useful if managing others’ accounts or if you prefer hard separation.

Switching between accounts efficiently

• Quick switch from profile: On your profile, tap your username at the top to open the account switcher and pick another account.
• Long-press profile icon: Long-press the profile icon (bottom-right) and select the account you want.
• Distinct avatars: Use different profile pictures for each account to avoid posting from the wrong one.
• Control cross-posting: In Accounts Center, review “Sharing across profiles” and turn off automatic sharing if you want to avoid accidental cross-posts.
• Manage notifications per account:
• Go to Profile > Menu > Settings and privacy > Notifications.
• Adjust push and in-app notifications separately for each account so alerts are meaningful and not overwhelming.

Choosing the right account type: Personal vs Creator vs Business

Use the right account type for features you need. You can switch types anytime in Settings and privacy > Account type and tools.

• When to upgrade: If you need analytics (Insights), branded content, or scheduling, switch to Creator or Business.
• Connect to a Facebook Page: For Business (and many Creator workflows), connect to a Facebook Page in Accounts Center to unlock scheduling, unified inbox, and more robust insights via Meta tools.

Multi-account management best practices

• Label your bio: Add a one-line descriptor (e.g., “Official support account” or “Personal photography journal”) for clarity.
• Content calendar: Plan ahead to avoid duplicate posts and keep cadence consistent. Example CSV template:

date,time,account,post_type,caption,assets,hashtags,cta,status,owner
2025-09-01,10:00,@brandA,Reel,"New launch teaser","/assets/reel1.mp4","#new #launch","Learn more","scheduled","Alex"
2025-09-02,14:00,@studioB,Carousel,"Before/After case study","/assets/case1/*.jpg","#design #process","Book consult","draft","Sam"

• Inbox organization: On Creator/Business, use Primary/General tabs and Saved Replies to speed up responses.
• Avoid cross-posting errors:
• Double-check the account avatar before tapping Share.
• Turn off “Share to other accounts” unless intentional.
• Use different default sticker styles or brand colors per account for quick visual cues.
• Scheduling: Use Meta Business Suite to schedule posts and stories, manage comments/DMs, and view insights across linked profiles.

Privacy and security essentials

• Separate recovery info: Use different emails/phone numbers and keep them updated. If one account is compromised, you’ll still have recovery access for others.
• Disable contact syncing if you want separation: Profile > Menu > Settings and privacy > Account Center > Your information and permissions > Upload contacts > Turn off for each profile.
• Control login info sharing across accounts:
• Accounts Center > Logging in with accounts / Passwords and security.
• Avoid sharing login info across profiles if you manage client accounts or want strict separation.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) with an authenticator app:
• Profile > Menu > Settings and privacy > Accounts Center > Passwords and security > Two-factor authentication.
• Prefer app-based codes (e.g., Authy, Google Authenticator) over SMS for stronger security.
• Device hygiene:
• Keep iOS/Android and Instagram up to date.
• Don’t use rooted/jailbroken devices for admin work.
• Use a screen lock and a password manager with unique passwords.
• Review active sessions: Accounts Center > Passwords and security > Where you’re logged in; sign out of unfamiliar devices.

Troubleshooting common issues

• Email/phone already in use
• Each account must have a unique email or phone. If you’re reusing an address, use a truly separate inbox or a sub-address that reliably receives mail (behavior varies by provider).
• If a phone number is tied to another account, switch to email signup or release it by changing that other account’s contact info first.

• Hitting the 5-account limit
• You can only be logged into up to five accounts in the Instagram app on one device. To add another, log out or remove one account first: Profile > Menu > Settings and privacy > Accounts Center > Logging in with accounts (or “Account settings”) > Remove account.
• Alternatively, use a second device, separate browser profile, or the web.

• Verification codes not arriving
• Check spam folders and ensure you entered the correct email or phone with the right country code.
• Wait a few minutes between requests to avoid rate limits.
• Temporarily disable VPNs that may block SMS or email providers.
• As soon as you’re in, set up app-based 2FA to reduce reliance on SMS.

• Login loops or can’t add an account
• Update the Instagram app and your OS.
• Force close and clear app cache (Android: Settings > Apps > Instagram > Storage > Clear cache).
• Try the web at instagram.com to complete verification, then return to mobile.
• Remove conflicting third-party apps with Instagram access (review in Accounts Center > Apps and services).

• Temporarily locked accounts (“We detected suspicious activity”)
• Follow in-app verification steps (email/SMS code, selfie video verification if prompted).
• Avoid rapid login attempts from multiple IPs, using automation tools, or aggressive follow/unfollow behavior.
• Wait 24–48 hours if rate-limited, then try again.

• How to remove or unlink an account
• Remove from the app (without deleting the account):
• Profile > Menu > Settings and privacy > Accounts Center > Logging in with accounts (or “Account settings”) > Remove.
• Permanently delete or deactivate:
• instagram.com/accounts/remove/request/permanent/ or Profile > Menu > Settings and privacy > Account > Deactivation and deletion. Read the prompts carefully; deletion is permanent after the grace period.

Final tips for smooth multi-account life

• Keep branding distinct: Different bios, avatars, and link-in-bio destinations lower posting mistakes.
• Name your devices: If multiple managers use the account, label devices in “Where you’re logged in” to spot anomalies.
• Document your workflows: A simple checklist for publishing reduces errors when switching accounts.
• Review quarterly: Audit linked accounts, admins, 2FA methods, and recovery info to keep everything current.

Summary

• You can create and manage up to five Instagram accounts per device, with streamlined switching on mobile and web.
• Follow the step-by-step setup, choose the right account type, and use Accounts Center, notifications, and scheduling tools to stay organized.
• Prioritize privacy and security (separate recovery info and app-based 2FA) and use the troubleshooting tips to resolve common issues quickly.