Creating an Instagram account takes about five minutes and requires only an email address or phone number
You can start a new Instagram account on your phone using the app, on a computer using a web browser, or both — your account syncs across devices. The process is the same either way: you provide a way to contact you, create a password, add a username, and fill in a profile. Instagram will ask for your birthdate and let you choose whether to make your account public or private before you're done.
This guide walks you through each step so you know what to expect and what information you'll need before you start.
Key Takeaways
- You need either an email address or a phone number to create an account, plus a password you haven't used elsewhere.
- Your username is what other people see and type to find you — it's different from your display name and can be changed later.
- Instagram requires you to be at least 13 years old and asks for your birthdate during setup.
- You can set your account to private (only approved followers see your posts) or public (anyone can see them) at any time.
- If you already have a Facebook account, you can use it to sign into Instagram instead of creating a separate login.
What you need before you start
Gather these three things before opening Instagram: an email address or phone number you can access right now, a password you've never used on another website or app, and your birthdate. Instagram requires the birthdate to confirm you're at least 13 years old — this is a legal requirement, not a choice.
If you're setting up an account on your phone, make sure you have the Instagram app installed. You can download it free from the Apple App Store (for iPhone) or Google Play Store (for Android). If you're using a computer, you can go directly to instagram.com in any web browser.
Steps to create your account on a phone
Open the Instagram app. On the login screen, look for the text that says "Create new account" or "Don't have an account?" and tap it. Instagram will ask whether you want to sign up with your email, phone number, or Facebook account. Choose email or phone number.
Type in your email address or phone number, then tap Next. Instagram will send you a code — check your email inbox or text messages for it. Type that code into the app. Then create a password: use something you don't use anywhere else, with a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols if possible.
Next, Instagram asks for your full name (this is your display name — people see this on your profile, but it doesn't have to be your real name). Then you'll choose your username. This is what people type to search for you, like @yourname. Usernames can only use letters, numbers, periods, and underscores. If the username you want is taken, Instagram suggests alternatives. You can change your username later, so don't worry if you're not sure right now.
Instagram then asks for your birthdate. Enter it and tap Next. On the final screen, you can choose whether your account is public (anyone can see your posts and follow you) or private (only people you approve can follow you and see your posts). You can change this setting anytime in your account settings later.
Steps to create your account on a computer
Go to instagram.com in your web browser. Click "Create a new account" or look for a link that says you don't have an account. You'll see a form asking for your email address or phone number. Type it in and click Next.
Check your email or text messages for a code from Instagram and type it into the form. Create a password using letters, numbers, and symbols — avoid anything you've used on other sites. Enter your full name (your display name) and choose your username using only letters, numbers, periods, and underscores.
Enter your birthdate and click Next. You'll see an option to make your account public or private. Public accounts let anyone find and follow you; private accounts require you to approve each follower. You can change this later in your settings.
What happens after you finish setup
Once you complete these steps, your account is live. Instagram may ask you to add a profile picture and suggest people to follow, but you can skip both of these. Your profile is now visible to others if your account is public, or only to people you approve if it's private.
You can edit your profile anytime by tapping your profile icon (usually in the bottom right corner on phones, or in the top right on computers) and then tapping "Edit profile." From there you can change your display name, username, add a bio, add a website link, or switch between public and private.
Using a Facebook account to sign in instead
If you already have a Facebook account, you can use it to create an Instagram account without setting up a separate email and password. When you see the login screen, look for an option that says "Log in with Facebook" or "Sign up with Facebook." Tap or click it, and Instagram will use your Facebook information to set up your account.
You'll still need to choose a username and set whether your account is public or private. Your Instagram and Facebook accounts will be linked, which means you can share Instagram posts to Facebook later if you want to. You can unlink them anytime in your Instagram settings.
Changing your mind about public or private
Your account's public or private setting is not permanent. On a phone, tap your profile icon, then tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), then Settings and privacy, then Account type. You'll see the option to switch between public and private. On a computer, go to your profile, click the menu icon, then Settings and privacy, then Account type.
If your account is public and you switch it to private, people who already follow you stay as followers, but new people can't follow you without your approval. If your account is private and you switch it to public, everyone can suddenly see all your old posts. Think about which setting matches what you want before you switch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create an Instagram account without an email or phone number?
No. Instagram requires either an email address or a phone number to create an account. If you don't want to use your personal email, you can create a free email account on Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo first, then use that to sign up for Instagram.
What if the username I want is already taken?
Instagram will tell you it's not available and suggest similar usernames you can use instead. You can also try adding numbers or underscores to your preferred username. You're not stuck with your first choice — you can change your username anytime in your profile settings, up to once every 14 days.
Do I have to use my real name as my display name?
No. Your display name can be anything you want. Your username is what people search for, but your display name is just what shows on your profile. You can use a nickname, a business name, or anything else. You can change it anytime.
Can I create multiple accounts with the same email address?
No. Each Instagram account needs its own email address or phone number. If you want a second account, you'll need a different email or phone number to sign up with. Once you've created both accounts, you can switch between them in the app without logging out and back in each time.
What does it mean if Instagram asks me to verify my account?
Sometimes Instagram asks new accounts to verify they're real by entering a code sent to your email or phone. This is normal and takes a few minutes. If you don't see a verification request, you don't need to do anything — your account is ready to use.