The simplest way to add a second account

You can create a second Instagram account without deleting your first one. Instagram lets you add up to five accounts to the same app, then switch between them without logging out and back in each time. The fastest route is to use the account you already have to set up the new one, rather than starting from scratch with an email address.

On your phone, open Instagram, go to your profile (the person icon at the bottom right), tap the three horizontal lines at the top right, scroll down to "Accounts", and tap "Add account". You'll see the option to create a new account right there. On a computer, you can click your profile picture in the top right, select "Create accounts", and follow the same process. Either way, you'll need an email address or phone number for the new account, plus a username and password you haven't used before.

Key Takeaways

  • You can add up to five Instagram accounts to the same app and switch between them without logging out each time.
  • The fastest method is to use your existing account's settings to create a new one, rather than downloading a separate app or browser.
  • Each account needs its own email address or phone number, username, and password.
  • Once you've added a second account, you can switch to it by tapping your username at the top of your profile and selecting the other account from the list.
  • You can remove an account from your phone's app without deleting it from Instagram — it will still exist if you log back in later.

Creating the account through your existing profile

The easiest path is to create the new account while you're already logged into your first one. On your phone, tap the three-line menu icon in the bottom right corner of your profile, scroll down until you see "Accounts", and tap it. You'll see a button that says "Add account". Tap that, then choose "Create new account".

Instagram will ask you for a phone number or email address. Use one that's different from your first account — you can't use the same email for two accounts. Enter a username (this is what other people see and what you use to log in), then create a password. You'll also need to add a name, birthdate, and confirm your email or phone number by entering a code Instagram sends you. Once you've done that, your second account is live.

Creating an account on a computer

If you prefer to set up your second account on a desktop or laptop, the process is similar. Go to Instagram.com, click your profile picture in the top right corner, and look for "Create accounts" in the menu. Click it, then select "Create new account".

You'll fill in the same information: email or phone number, username, password, name, and birthdate. Confirm your email or phone number when Instagram sends you a code. Once you're done, you can switch between your accounts by clicking your username at the top right and selecting the account you want to use.

Switching between your accounts

Once you've added a second account, switching between them takes one tap or click. On your phone, go to your profile and tap your username at the very top. A list of all your accounts will appear — tap the one you want to switch to. On a computer, click your profile picture in the top right, and you'll see the same list.

When you switch accounts, you stay logged in to both. You don't have to enter your password again. This is the main advantage of adding accounts within the app rather than logging out and back in — it's much faster if you move between accounts regularly.

What you need before you start

Have an email address or phone number ready that you haven't used for any other Instagram account. Instagram won't let you use the same email for two accounts, even if one is deactivated. If you've used up your personal email addresses, you can create a free one through Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo in just a few minutes.

You'll also need to decide on a username and password for the new account. The username is public — other people will see it — so choose something you're comfortable with. The password should be something you can remember or write down safely, since you'll need it if you ever log in from a different device.

Removing an account from your phone without deleting it

If you add a second account but later want to remove it from your phone's app, you can do that without deleting the account from Instagram. Go to the three-line menu, tap "Accounts", find the account you want to remove, and swipe left on it (on iPhone) or long-press it (on Android). You'll see a "Remove" option — tap it.

Removing an account from your phone just logs you out of it on that device. The account still exists on Instagram, and you can log back in anytime by going to the login screen and entering the username and password. This is useful if you want to clean up your phone but might need the account later.

Using a separate app or browser if you have more than five accounts

Instagram limits you to five accounts in the app at once. If you need more than five, you have two options: use a second app (like a different browser or a third-party app designed for multiple accounts), or log out of one account and log back in with another.

If you use a separate browser — like Chrome instead of Safari on your phone, or Firefox instead of Chrome on your computer — you can stay logged into different accounts in each browser. This works because each browser keeps its own login session. It's slower than switching within the app, but it lets you have more accounts available at once.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same email for two Instagram accounts?

No. Each Instagram account must have its own email address or phone number. If you've already used an email for one account, you'll need a different one for the second. You can create a free email address through Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo in a few minutes if you need one.

Do I have to confirm my phone number or email for the second account?

Yes. Instagram will send a code to the email or phone number you provide, and you'll need to enter that code to finish setting up the account. This is how Instagram verifies that you actually own that email or phone number.

What happens if I delete my first account — does my second account get deleted too?

No. Each account is separate. If you delete your first account, your second account will still exist and you can still log into it. Deleting one account doesn't affect the others.

Can I switch between accounts on my phone and computer at the same time?

Yes. You can be logged into the same account on both your phone and computer, or logged into different accounts on each device. Instagram doesn't limit how many devices you can use — just how many accounts you can have in the app on a single device.

If I remove an account from my phone, can I add it back later?

Yes. Removing an account from your phone just logs you out on that device. You can add it back anytime by going to "Add account" and entering the username and password for that account.