You can create a second Instagram account using the same email, phone number, or a different one entirely

Instagram lets you add up to five accounts to a single app installation, and you can switch between them without logging out and back in each time. The fastest way is to open Instagram, go to your profile, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), scroll to "Accounts," and tap "Add account." From there you can either log in with existing credentials or create a brand new account with a new username, email, and password.

If you want a completely separate account that is not linked to your main one, you can create it on a different device or browser, or use Instagram's web version at instagram.com. This approach gives you more separation between the two accounts, though Instagram's systems will still recognize that both accounts are controlled by the same person if you use the same recovery email or phone number.

The second account works exactly like your first one — it has its own followers, posts, messages, and settings. You can make it public or private, use a different profile photo, and control who can see your content. The key difference is what happens behind the scenes with your data.

Key Takeaways

  • You can add up to five accounts to the Instagram app and switch between them without logging out, using the account switcher in your profile menu.
  • Creating a second account with a different email or phone number gives you more separation, though Instagram can still link accounts if you use the same recovery contact information.
  • Both accounts share the same device data, location history, and advertising profile unless you use completely separate devices or browsers.
  • Instagram treats multiple accounts from the same person as a single user for advertising purposes, so your second account will see ads based on the combined behavior of both accounts.
  • If you want genuine separation for privacy reasons, you need a different device, different email, different phone number, and a different payment method.

What Instagram knows about both your accounts at once

When you create a second account on the same device, Instagram's tracking systems see both accounts as belonging to the same person. This happens through device identifiers — unique codes that identify your phone or computer — rather than just your username or email. Even if your second account uses a completely different email address, Instagram's backend systems can connect it to your first account because they are both accessing the service from the same device.

This means Instagram builds a single advertising profile for you across both accounts. If you browse fashion on your main account and fitness on your second account, advertisers can target you based on the combined picture of your interests. Your second account is not truly separate for data collection purposes — it is an extension of your first account in Instagram's systems.

The same applies to location data. If you have location services turned on, Instagram logs where you are when you use either account. That location history is attached to your device, not to individual accounts, so both accounts contribute to the same location profile that Instagram and its parent company Meta use for targeting and analytics.

How your second account affects your privacy settings

Each account has its own privacy settings — you can make one public and one private, or restrict who can message each one separately. However, these settings only control who can see your posts and contact you. They do not control what data Instagram collects about you or how that data is used.

Your second account will still have access to the same settings menu where Instagram explains how it uses your data. If you go to Settings, then "Apps and Websites" or "Your Information," you will see the same data collection and sharing practices listed for both accounts combined. You cannot opt out of data collection on one account while staying opted in on another — the choice applies to your entire presence on Instagram, across all accounts on that device.

If you want to limit what Instagram knows, you have to do it at the device level or account level, not by creating a second account. Turning off location services, limiting ad tracking in your phone's settings, or using a private browser all affect both accounts equally.

When a second account actually gives you privacy

A second account is useful for separating your social circles — keeping a professional account separate from a personal one, or maintaining a private account for close friends while your main account is public. This separation is real for other people: your followers on one account cannot see the other unless you tell them about it.

But for privacy from Instagram itself, a second account on the same device provides almost no benefit. Instagram still knows it is you. If your goal is to prevent Instagram from building a profile of your interests, or to keep your activity on one account hidden from advertisers, creating a second account will not work.

The only way to achieve genuine separation is to use a different device entirely, with a different email address, different phone number, and ideally a different payment method if you ever make purchases. Even then, if you log in from the same WiFi network or use the same IP address, Instagram's systems may still connect the accounts. True separation requires deliberate effort and multiple devices.

What happens if you delete your second account

If you remove a second account from the app switcher, you are just logging out of it — the account still exists on Instagram's servers. To actually delete it, you have to go to that account's Settings, scroll to "Account," and select "Delete Account." Instagram will ask you to confirm and will give you a grace period (usually 30 days) during which you can change your mind.

Once the grace period ends, Instagram deletes the account and its content. However, this does not erase the data Instagram collected while that account was active. Your activity on that account — the posts you made, the accounts you followed, the ads you clicked — remains in Instagram's historical records and continues to inform your advertising profile on your remaining accounts.

If you are deleting the second account because you want to reduce the data Instagram has about you, deleting the account alone will not accomplish that. The data is already collected and stored. Deleting the account just stops new data from being collected going forward.

How to manage multiple accounts without sharing data

If you want two accounts that are truly separate in Instagram's systems, you need to use different devices. Create your second account on a phone, tablet, or computer that does not have your first account on it. Use a different email address, a different phone number for recovery, and a different payment method. Do not log into both accounts from the same WiFi network on the same day, and do not use the same browser on the same computer.

This level of separation is necessary only if you have a specific reason to keep accounts completely hidden from each other — for example, if you are managing an account for a business that should not be associated with your personal data, or if you are concerned about someone with access to your device discovering a second account. For most people, the convenience of having multiple accounts on one device outweighs the privacy cost.

If you do use separate devices, remember that Instagram can still connect accounts through other means: if you use the same phone number for two-factor authentication, or if you add the same recovery email to both accounts, Instagram's systems will flag them as related. Keep those details completely separate if you want the accounts to be genuinely independent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same email for two Instagram accounts?

No. Instagram requires a unique email address for each account. If you want a second account, you need a different email. You can use the same phone number for recovery on both accounts, but Instagram will recognize that both accounts are connected to the same person through that phone number.

Will my second account see different ads than my first account?

No. Instagram combines the activity from both accounts into a single advertising profile. If you browse different topics on each account, advertisers can still target you based on everything you have done across both accounts. Creating a second account does not isolate your advertising profile.

Can someone find my second account if they know my first one?

Not automatically. If you do not link the accounts publicly and use a different username, most people will not discover the connection. However, if someone has access to your device or knows your email address, they can find both accounts. Instagram's systems always know they belong to the same person.

Does Instagram notify my followers if I create a second account?

No. Creating a second account is silent — your followers on your first account will not be notified. The second account is completely separate from a visibility standpoint unless you tell people about it or link it publicly in your bio.

What if I want to keep my second account hidden from Instagram's tracking?

You cannot hide a second account from Instagram's internal tracking if you use the same device. Your only option is to use a completely different device with a different email, phone number, and payment method, and never access both accounts from the same location or network.