Creating Your Instagram Account
To join Instagram, you need a phone or computer with internet access, a valid email address or phone number, and a password you will remember. Instagram is owned by Meta, the same company that owns Facebook. The platform is free to use, though Meta collects information about your activity — which is why you arrived here from the social media privacy section.
The fastest way to start is through the Instagram mobile app, available on iPhone through the App Store or Android through Google Play. You can also sign up on Instagram.com using a web browser on your computer. Both paths take about five minutes and lead to the same account.
Key Takeaways
- You can create an Instagram account using an email address, phone number, or by signing in through an existing Facebook account.
- Instagram requires you to be at least 13 years old and will ask for a birthdate during signup.
- Your username is public and visible to anyone on Instagram, but you can change it later without losing your account.
- Instagram collects data about what you post, who you follow, what you like, and how long you spend on the app — information covered in the social media privacy guide you came from.
Signing Up on Your Phone
Open the Instagram app and tap "Create new account" at the bottom of the login screen. You will see three options: sign up with email, sign up with a phone number, or sign up with Facebook. Choose whichever you prefer — they all create the same type of account.
If you choose email or phone, Instagram will ask you to enter your full name (this can be your real name or something else), then your birthdate. Instagram requires users to be at least 13 years old. You will then create a username — this is the name people will see and use to find you. Usernames can contain letters, numbers, periods, and underscores. You cannot use spaces. If your first choice is taken, Instagram will suggest alternatives. You can change your username later, so do not worry about making it perfect now.
Next, create a password at least six characters long. Instagram will ask you to confirm your email or phone number by entering a code they send you. Check your email inbox or text messages for that code, enter it into the app, and your account is created.
Signing Up on a Computer
Go to Instagram.com and click "Create a new account" near the bottom of the login page. You will be asked for an email address or phone number, your full name, a username, and a password. The process is identical to the phone version — you will receive a confirmation code to verify your email or phone, and once you enter it, your account is ready.
Some people find the computer version easier if they have a long email address or prefer typing on a keyboard. The account works the same way regardless of which device you use to create it.
What Happens After You Sign Up
Once your account is created, Instagram will ask you to add a profile picture and write a short bio — a few sentences about yourself. Both are optional. You can skip them and add them later by going to your profile and tapping "Edit profile."
Instagram will then suggest accounts to follow based on your email contacts or phone contacts, if you gave it permission to access those. You do not have to follow anyone. You can search for specific people, accounts, or topics using the search icon at the bottom of the app, or you can start with an empty feed and add people as you discover them.
Understanding Your Username and Privacy Settings
Your username is public. Anyone on Instagram can see it, search for it, and find your profile. Your full name is also visible on your profile page. If you want to limit who can see your posts, you can make your account private by going to Settings, then Privacy, and turning on "Private account." When your account is private, people must send you a follow request, and you must approve them before they can see your posts.
Your email address and phone number are not shown on your public profile — only you and Instagram can see them. However, Instagram uses this information to show you targeted ads and to connect you with people in your contacts. You can adjust these settings in Privacy and Security settings within the app.
What Information Instagram Collects
When you create an account, Instagram begins collecting data when ready. This includes your username, the email or phone number you provided, your birthdate, and your profile picture if you added one. As you use Instagram, the platform tracks what you post, which accounts you follow, which posts you like, how long you spend on the app, which ads you click on, and which videos you watch.
Instagram also collects information about your device — the type of phone or computer you use, your location (if you allowed the app permission to access it), and your internet service provider. This information is used to show you personalized ads, recommend accounts to follow, and improve Instagram's features. For details on how this data is used and shared, see the social media privacy guide you came from.
Troubleshooting Common Signup Problems
If you see a message that your email is already in use, someone else has created an account with that address. You can use a different email, or you can try to recover the existing account by tapping "Need help signing in?" on the login screen. Instagram will ask you to verify your identity and may let you regain access.
If you do not receive a confirmation code, check your spam or junk folder — sometimes the email lands there by mistake. If it is not there, wait a few minutes and request a new code. If you are using a phone number instead of email and do not receive a text, make sure your phone plan includes text messages and that you entered the number correctly.
If Instagram says you are too young, you entered a birthdate that makes you under 13. Instagram enforces this age requirement. You will need to wait until you are 13 or older to create an account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a fake name or nickname as my username?
Yes. Your username can be anything you want — it does not have to match your real name. Your full name field (the one you enter during signup) is also visible on your profile, but you can change it to a nickname, a business name, or anything else. Many people use usernames that are different from their real names.
What if I want to delete my account after I create it?
You can delete your Instagram account by going to Settings, then Account, then Delete Account. Instagram will ask you to confirm and will give you the option to read your data first. Once deleted, your account cannot be recovered, so make sure you want to do this before confirming.
Do I need to give Instagram my phone number or real name?
You need either an email address or a phone number to create an account — you cannot skip this step. Your full name is required during signup, but you can enter a nickname or business name instead of your real name. Instagram does not verify that the name you enter is your actual legal name.
Can I have more than one Instagram account?
Yes. You can create multiple accounts using different email addresses or phone numbers. Once you have created them, you can switch between accounts by tapping your profile picture at the bottom right, then tapping your username at the top, and selecting a different account from the list.
Is Instagram really free?
Yes, creating and using an Instagram account costs nothing. Instagram makes money by selling advertising space — the ads you see in your feed are targeted based on the information Instagram collects about you. This is why understanding what data Instagram collects, covered in the social media privacy guide, matters.