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How to Change Your Settings on Instagram (Complete Guide)

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How to Change Your Settings on Instagram (Complete Guide)

Instagram is a popular photo and video-sharing social media platform. It was launched in 2010 and since then, it has grown to become one of the most widely used social media platforms in the world.

One of the main uses of Instagram is for users to share their photos and videos with their friends, family, and followers. Additionally, the platform has evolved to include features such as Instagram Stories, IGTV, and Reels, which allow users to share more personal and candid moments with their audience. It is also a powerful tool for businesses and influencers to market their products and services and build a strong online presence.

Instagram offers a wide range of settings that allow you to customize your experience on the platform. From privacy settings, to account settings, and even features such as Instagram Shopping, the platform provides a variety of options for users to make the most out of their experience. Additionally, Instagram’s algorithms can be confusing, but with the right settings, you can control your feed, who can see your posts, and how your content is shared. In this way, users can tailor their experience to best suit their needs.

Today, we are going to go over the basics of viewing your Instagram settings, plus a bit about what they all do. Let’s get started.

Quick Steps to Change Your Settings, Plus What They Do

Before we start, it’s important to note that almost all of these settings are only available on mobile platforms like Android and iOS. The Instagram web browser does have some settings that can be changed within it, but generally speaking, the web platform is much more limited than the mobile platforms. For full access (and to follow this guide), this mobile platform is going to be your best bet.

Additionally, we have written individual guides for each settings menu in order to understand how to change or edit that particular settings menu. They will each be linked in the following overview.

To access all of the following settings, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open the App and Select Your Profile Icon

Tap on the Instagram icon or look it up on the app search on your phone. Then, select your profile icon at the bottom of the screen.

Instagram security settings
Tap on your profile picture in the bottom right corner.

Step 2: Select the Three-Lined Menu

Select the horizontal lines icon in the top right corner of the screen.

Step 3: Select the Settings Menu from the List

By following these steps, you should now see the primary Settings page, where Instagram places all of its breakout pages. For more information on these breakout pages, see the headings below.

Instagram security settings
Tap on the three lines in the top right corner of your profile page, then select “Settings” at the top of the menu that opens.

Follow and Invite Friends

Instagram offers a few features when it comes to its Follow and Invite settings. This section of the settings menu allows users to invite friends to follow them without having to look up their profiles. These settings allow users to connect with friends and family who are not currently on Instagram. They can simply invite them to join the platform and follow their account. Users can also see who they have invited and track whether they have accepted or not.

However, it’s worth noting that these settings are somewhat outdated, and these features are not often used often. With the rise of other social media platforms, many users already have a large network of friends and followers on other platforms. So sending “follow invites” on Instagram is not as prevalent. However, for new users or those who are just starting to build their network on Instagram, these settings can still be useful for sending follow invites through email or other mediums.

Notifications

The Notifications settings on Instagram allow users to control the types of notifications they receive and when they receive them. This feature is located in the settings menu and can be accessed by all users.

Users can customize their notification settings to receive alerts for new post notifications, direct messages, comments, and more. They also have the option to turn off notifications for specific accounts or specific types of content. For example, a user can turn off notifications for post likes or turn off notifications from accounts they don’t follow. This can help to control the number of notifications received and make it easier for users to manage their Instagram experience.

Moreover, Instagram also offers the option to customize notifications based on the device you are using. Users can choose to receive push notifications on their phones, email notifications, or both. Additionally, Instagram allows users to set “quiet hours.” This means during that time, the users will not receive any notification from the app.

Business

The Business settings on Instagram allow businesses and brands to manage their Instagram account as a “professional profile.” This feature is available to all users who have a personal account. It can be accessed by going to the settings menu and switching to a business profile.

By switching to a business profile, businesses can access additional features such as Instagram Insights, Instagram Shopping, and the ability to create ads. Instagram Insights provide businesses with detailed analytics on their account performance, such as the number of impressions, reach, and engagement. Additionally, Instagram Shopping allows businesses to tag products in their posts and stories, making it easier for customers to purchase products directly from the app.

Another important feature is that business accounts can connect to their Facebook page. This means that businesses can manage both accounts from a single place. This can help save time and increase the reach of their content. Also, having a business account allows businesses to add contact information such as email and phone numbers, making it easy for customers to get in touch with them.

Privacy

The Privacy settings on Instagram allow users to control who can see their posts, stories, and profile information. This feature is located in the settings menu and can be accessed by all users.

Users can customize their privacy settings to control who can see their posts, stories, and profile information. They can choose to make their account private, which means that only approved followers can see their posts. Additionally, Instagram allows users to control who can tag them in posts and stories, who can send them direct messages, and who can see their stories. Users can also control who can see their recent activity by adjusting their activity status settings.

Supervision

Supervision settings on Instagram are a set of controls that allow parents or guardians to monitor and manage their teen’s activity. It requires parents to send a request to their children. It also requires that their children accept the request, although anyone can disable these controls at any time. The primary control that Supervision has is the ability to set hours of use and see who is following the supervised user and who the supervised user is following.

Supervision doesn’t give parents and guardians absolute control over the teen’s account or their Instagram activity. For example, parents will not be able to read messages (DMs) or control the accounts their child is allowed to follow. Also, Supervision does not stop teens from accessing other social media sites or going to the internet outside of Instagram. So it’s important not to use it as a total solution to parental monitoring.

Security

The Security settings on Instagram allow users to control and protect their account information and personal data. This feature is located in the settings menu and can be accessed by all users.

Users can customize their security settings to control how their account information is protected. They can set up two-factor authentication which requires a code to be sent to their phone number or email address. This confirms their identity when they log in. Additionally, users can also set up a security email, which can be used to reset the password or recover the account in case of a security breach.

Another important aspect of the security settings on Instagram is the ability to control the apps that have access to your account. Users can see the apps they have authorized to access their accounts. They can also revoke access if they no longer use that app or if they suspect a security breach.

Ad Payments

The Ad Payments settings on Instagram allow users to manage their payments for their ads and ad campaigns. This feature is located in the settings menu and can be accessed by business accounts and advertisers.

Ad Payments settings allow users to add and manage their payment methods, such as credit cards or PayPal. Users can also view their billing history and transaction details for their ad campaigns. Additionally, users can also set up automatic payments, so that their payment methods will be charged automatically when their ad budget runs low.

It’s important to note that these settings aren’t total ad campaign controls. For full access to social media campaigns, ad metrics, and more, a separate application, known as Ads, is required. The Ad Payments settings act more as a quick tool to check in than a comprehensive ad control solution.

Ads

The Ad settings on Instagram allow users to control the ads they see on the platform. This feature is located in the settings menu and can be accessed by all users.

Ad settings allow users to control the types of ads they see on their feed, by adjusting the interests and demographics that Instagram uses to show ads. Users can also hide ads from specific accounts or turn off ads from certain advertisers. Additionally, users can also provide feedback on ads they see. This allows Instagram to better tailor the ads to their interests. For example, Instagram may recognize that you enjoy organic farming content and have it listed in your ad preferences. You can add to this or simply remove it as an interest.

Account

The Account settings on Instagram allow users to manage and control their account information and preferences. This feature is located in the settings menu and can be accessed by all users.

Account settings allow users to manage their account information, such as their name, username, email address, and phone number. Users can also update their profile picture and bio, and control their account privacy, such as who can see their posts and stories. Additionally, users can link or unlink their Instagram accounts with other social media platforms.

Other features on the Account page include fundraiser management, Close Friends selection, caption control, browser settings, contact syncing, verification status, and a whole lot more.

Conclusion

Instagram offers a wide range of settings options that allow users to customize and control their experience on the platform. These settings provide users with the flexibility to tailor their accounts to their preferences and needs. This includes managing their account information and privacy settings to controlling the ads they see, and even protecting their accounts with security settings.

Instagram’s settings options allow users to have a more personalized and efficient experience on the platform. It’s important for users to explore and understand these settings, to make the most out of their time on Instagram. Whether it’s for personal use, or for businesses to reach their target audience, these settings options give users the power to control their experience on the platform.

For a quick overview of the steps required to change your settings on Instagram just check out the video below which walks you through the process.

Up Next:

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are Instagram's settings found?

The settings on Instagram can be found by accessing the profile menu, tapping the three horizontal lines located on the top right corner of the screen, and tapping the Settings icon.

Can you change Instagram settings from Facebook

While there are some settings you can control from Facebook, Instagram’s mobile platforms are the best place to find most of the settings options.

What is a private Instagram account?

A private Instagram account is an account that is set to private, which means that only approved followers can see the posts, stories, and profile information.

Can I change my account to a business account?

Yes, you can change your personal Instagram account to a business account. A business account on Instagram provides additional features such as Instagram Insights, Instagram Shopping, and the ability to create ads.

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