Creating Your Instagram Account

To create an Instagram account, you need a smartphone or computer with internet access, a valid email address or phone number, and a username you want to use. Instagram is free to join. You download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, or you can go to instagram.com in a web browser and sign up there.

The process takes about five minutes. You'll enter your email or phone number, create a password, choose a username, add a profile photo if you want one, and you're done. Your account is live immediately, though you can add more details to your profile afterward.

Key Takeaways

  • You can create an Instagram account using either the mobile app or a web browser, and it takes only a few minutes.
  • You need an email address or phone number, a password, and a username — Instagram checks usernames against existing ones in real time.
  • Your profile starts blank, but you can add a photo, bio, and website link after you sign up.
  • Instagram requires you to be at least 13 years old, and accounts for people under 18 have different privacy settings by default.
  • You can change your username, email, and password anytime after you create your account.

Step-by-Step: Signing Up on Your Phone

Open the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android) and search for "Instagram." Tap the official Instagram app — it has a camera icon in a rainbow square — and tap "Get" or "Install." Wait for the download to finish, then tap "Open."

On the opening screen, tap "Create new account." Enter your email address or phone number in the field that says "Email or phone number." Instagram will check whether that email or phone is already attached to an account. If it is, you'll see a message saying so, and you'll need to use a different one or recover that account instead.

Tap "Next." Enter a password at least six characters long — use a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols if you can, because it makes your account harder to break into. Tap "Next" again. Enter your full name (this is what people see at the top of your profile, and you can change it later). Tap "Next."

Choose a username. This is the handle people use to find you and tag you in posts — it appears with an @ symbol in front of it. Usernames can contain letters, numbers, periods, and underscores, but no spaces. Instagram tells you immediately if the username is taken. If it is, try adding a number or underscore. Tap "Next" when you find one that's available.

Enter your birth date. Instagram requires you to be at least 13 years old. If you enter a date that makes you younger than 13, the app won't let you proceed. Tap "Next." Choose whether you want to receive marketing emails from Instagram — you can say yes or no, and you can change this later in your settings. Tap "Sign up."

Instagram will send a confirmation code to your email or phone number. Open that message, copy the code, return to the app, and paste it into the field that appears. Your account is now active.

Signing Up on a Computer

Go to instagram.com in any web browser. Click "Create a new account" or "Sign up." Enter your email address or phone number, then click "Next." Enter a password, your full name, and your birth date in the fields that appear. Click "Sign up."

Instagram will send a confirmation code to your email or phone. Check that message, copy the code, return to the browser window, and paste it in. Your account is created. You can now log in anytime by going to instagram.com and entering your email (or phone number) and password.

The web version of Instagram works the same way as the app, but some features — like Stories and Reels — are easier to use on a phone. Most people create their account on a phone and use both the app and the website depending on what they're doing.

Setting Up Your Profile After You Sign Up

After you confirm your account, Instagram shows you a screen asking whether you want to add a profile photo. You can skip this and do it later, or tap "Upload photo" to choose an image from your phone's camera roll. Your profile photo appears as a small circle next to your username everywhere on Instagram.

Next, Instagram asks whether you want to follow suggested accounts. You can skip this too. You'll land on your home feed, which is mostly empty at first because you haven't followed anyone yet. To add more details to your profile, tap the person icon at the bottom right (on mobile) or look for a menu icon (on desktop), then tap "Edit profile."

From there you can add a bio (a short description of who you are or what you post), a website link, and a profile photo if you didn't add one during signup. You can also change your username here, though Instagram limits how often you can do this. Save your changes when you're done.

Privacy Settings for Accounts Under 18

If you entered a birth date that makes you under 18, Instagram automatically sets your account to private. This means people can't see your posts, followers, or who you follow unless you approve their follow request first. You can change this to public in your settings anytime, but Instagram recommends keeping it private if you're under 18.

Instagram also restricts who can message you and comment on your posts when you're under 18. These restrictions exist to reduce contact from strangers. You can adjust these settings in "Privacy and safety" under your account settings, but the default is the safest option.

What to Do If You Forget Your Password or Can't Access Your Email

If you forget your password, go to instagram.com and click "Forgot password?" on the login screen. Enter your username, email, or phone number. Instagram will send a password reset link to your email or a code to your phone. Click the link or enter the code, and you can create a new password.

If you no longer have access to the email address you used to sign up, you can change it in your account settings. Go to "Edit profile," then "Personal information," then tap "Email" and enter a new email address. Instagram will send a confirmation code to the new address. If you can't access your old email and you can't remember your password, you may need to use the "Need more help?" option on the password reset page, which lets you verify your identity using your phone number or a photo of your ID.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create an Instagram account without a phone number or email?

No. Instagram requires either an email address or a phone number to create an account. You can use any email address, including a free one from Gmail, Yahoo, or Outlook. If you don't have an email address, you can create one for free in minutes.

What if my username is already taken?

Try adding numbers, periods, or underscores to the username you want. For example, if "jane_smith" is taken, try "jane_smith1" or "jane.smith." Instagram shows you in real time whether a username is available, so you can experiment until you find one that works.

Can I change my username after I create my account?

Yes. Go to "Edit profile," tap "Username," and enter a new one. Instagram lets you change your username as often as you want, but if you change it frequently, people who follow you may have trouble finding you because the old username will no longer work.

Do I need to add a profile photo to use Instagram?

No. You can skip adding a profile photo during signup and add one later, or never add one at all. However, accounts with profile photos get more engagement because people are more likely to follow accounts where they can see a face or image.

Is Instagram really free?

Yes. Creating an account and using Instagram's core features — posting photos, following people, messaging, and watching Stories — costs nothing. Instagram makes money from advertising, not from charging users.