Creating an Instagram account takes about five minutes
You can make a new Instagram account on your phone or computer using either an email address or a phone number. Instagram will ask you to create a username, set a password, and confirm your identity — usually by entering a code sent to your email or phone. Once you finish those steps, your account is ready to use immediately.
The process is the same whether you are starting your first account or adding another one. If you already have an Instagram account on your phone, you can add a second account without logging out of the first one, and switch between them whenever you want.
Key Takeaways
- You need either an email address or a phone number to create an account, plus a username and password you will remember.
- Instagram will send a confirmation code to your email or phone — you must enter this code before your account is active.
- You can create multiple accounts on the same device and switch between them without logging out each time.
- If you forget your password later, you can reset it using your email address or phone number.
- Your username is public and appears on your profile, but you can change it anytime without losing your account.
Creating an account on your phone
Open the Instagram app on your phone. If you do not have the app yet, download it from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android). When you open Instagram, you will see a login screen with two options at the bottom: "Create new account" and "Log in". Tap "Create new account".
Instagram will ask whether you want to sign up with your email address or phone number. Choose whichever one you use regularly — this is how Instagram will send you a confirmation code and how you will reset your password if you forget it. Enter your choice and tap "Next".
You will then enter your full name (this can be your real name or anything else), create a username, set a password, and enter your birth date. Your username is what other people see on your profile and in search results — it cannot have spaces and usually uses lowercase letters and numbers. Your password should be something you can remember but that is not easy for others to guess. Tap "Next" when you finish.
Instagram will send a six-digit code to your email address or phone number. Open that email or text message, copy the code, and paste it into the box Instagram shows you. Tap "Next". Your account is now active, and Instagram will ask you to add a profile picture and write a bio — you can do this now or skip it and do it later.
Creating an account on a computer
Go to instagram.com in your web browser. You will see the Instagram login page. Look for the text that says "Create a new account" or a link that says "Don't have an account? Sign up" — the exact wording changes sometimes, but it is near the login box. Click it.
Enter your email address or phone number, your full name, a username, and a password. Instagram will send a confirmation code to your email or phone. Check your email inbox or text messages, find the code, and enter it on the page Instagram is showing you. Click the button to confirm.
Once your code is confirmed, your account is created. You can now log in from any device using your username and password. If you want to add a profile picture or bio, click the profile icon in the top right corner and select "Edit profile".
Choosing a username you will not regret
Your username is permanent in the sense that it is what people use to find you, but you can change it anytime without losing your account, your followers, or your posts. This means you do not have to get it perfect on the first try.
Keep in mind that your username is public — anyone can see it, and it appears on every post and comment you make. If you use your real name, people who know you offline can find you easily. If you use something anonymous or a nickname, you have more privacy. There is no right choice; it depends on what you want Instagram to be for.
Usernames cannot have spaces, and Instagram will not let you use one that is already taken. If the username you want is taken, you can add numbers or underscores to make it unique — for example, if "sarah.photography" is taken, you could use "sarah.photography23" or "sarah_photography_".
Adding a second account to the same phone
If you already have an Instagram account on your phone and want to add another one, open the Instagram app and go to your profile by tapping the person icon at the bottom right. Tap the three horizontal lines (called a menu) in the top right corner. Scroll down and tap "Settings and privacy", then tap "Settings". Scroll to the bottom and tap "Add account".
Instagram will show you the login screen again. Instead of logging into your existing account, tap "Create new account" and follow the same steps as before. When you finish, you will have two accounts on the same phone.
To switch between accounts, go to your profile, tap the three lines at the top right, and look for your username near the top of the menu. Tap it to see a list of all your accounts on this phone. Tap the account you want to switch to. You can switch back and forth as many times as you want without logging out.
What to do if you cannot receive the confirmation code
If Instagram sends a code to your email but you do not see it, check your spam or junk folder — sometimes confirmation emails end up there by mistake. If it is not there, wait a few minutes and try asking Instagram to send the code again.
If you are using a phone number and not receiving a text message, make sure you entered the number correctly, including the country code if you are outside the United States. Try waiting a few minutes, as text messages sometimes take time to arrive. If the message still does not come, switch to using your email address instead — tap the option to change how you want to receive the code.
If you entered the wrong email address or phone number by accident, you will need to start over and create a new account with the correct contact information. You cannot change the email or phone number during account creation, only after your account is already active.
Resetting your password if you forget it
If you create an account and then forget your password, go to the Instagram login page and tap "Forgot password?" below the login box. Enter your username, email address, or phone number — whichever one you used when you created the account. Instagram will send you a link to reset your password.
Check your email for a message from Instagram with the subject line "Reset your Instagram password" or similar. Click the link in that email. Instagram will ask you to create a new password. Enter it twice to confirm, and you will be able to log in with your new password.
If you do not see the reset email, check your spam folder. If it is not there, make sure you entered the correct email address or phone number. You can only reset your password using the contact information you provided when you created the account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the same email address for two different Instagram accounts?
No. Each Instagram account must have its own email address or phone number. If you want two accounts, you need two different email addresses or phone numbers. You can use a second email address you already have, or create a free one through Gmail, Outlook, or another email provider.
What if my username is already taken?
Add numbers, underscores, or periods to make it unique. For example, if "jordan" is taken, try "jordan23", "jordan_", or "jordan.2024". You can also change your username later if you think of something better, as long as the new username is not already taken by someone else.
Do I have to use my real name?
No. The name you enter during account creation can be anything — your real name, a nickname, a business name, or anything else. You can change it anytime by going to your profile, tapping "Edit profile", and changing the name field. Your username is what people use to find you; your name is just what appears at the top of your profile.
Can I delete my account and create a new one with the same email?
Yes, but you have to wait a short time after deleting. When you delete an Instagram account, Instagram keeps that email address locked for a few days to prevent someone else from using it. After that waiting period, you can create a new account with the same email address.
What if I create an account by mistake?
You can delete it. Go to your profile, tap the three lines at the top right, tap "Settings and privacy", then "Settings". Scroll to the bottom and tap "Delete account". Instagram will ask you to confirm and will show you what happens when you delete — your posts, followers, and messages will be gone. If you are sure, follow the steps to delete it permanently.