How to switch your Instagram account from professional to personal
To turn off a professional account on Instagram, you go to your account settings, find the "Account type and tools" section, and switch from Professional to Personal. The process takes about two minutes and doesn't delete your account, posts, or followers — it just changes how Instagram displays your account and what features are available to you.
Instagram lets you move back and forth between account types as many times as you want. When you switch to Personal, you lose access to features like Insights (which shows you how many people viewed your posts) and the ability to run ads directly from your profile. You keep everything else: your username, your follower list, your photos, and your messages.
Key Takeaways
- Switching from Professional to Personal takes about two minutes and happens entirely within the Instagram app or website.
- Your posts, followers, and messages stay exactly as they are — only your account type changes.
- Professional accounts show Insights and let you run ads; Personal accounts don't have these features.
- You can switch back to Professional at any time if you change your mind.
- Instagram may ask you to confirm the change, but there's no waiting period or approval process.
Step-by-step: switching to a personal account on the Instagram app
Open Instagram and tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner. Then tap the three horizontal lines (called a menu) in the top right of your profile screen. Scroll down and tap "Settings and privacy."
In Settings and privacy, tap "Account type and tools." You'll see your current account type listed — it will say "Professional account." Tap "Switch to personal account" or "Switch account type," depending on your version of Instagram. Instagram will ask you to confirm that you want to make the change. Tap the confirmation button, and you're done.
Switching on Instagram's website
If you're using Instagram on a computer, go to your profile and click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right. Click "Settings and privacy," then "Account type and tools." You'll see the same option to switch to a personal account. Click it, confirm, and the change takes effect when ready.
The website version works the same way as the app — no difference in how long it takes or what happens afterward.
What you lose when you switch to personal
The main thing you lose is Insights, which is Instagram's built-in tool for seeing how many people viewed your posts, which posts got the most engagement, and when your followers are most active. If you were using Insights to track your content, you won't have access to that data anymore on a Personal account.
You also lose the ability to run ads directly through Instagram's ad tools. If you were paying to promote posts, you'll need to stop those campaigns before switching. Any ads you have running will pause automatically when you switch account types.
You keep your direct messages, your follower list, your photos, your stories, and your ability to post. The only real difference is that your profile won't show the "Professional" label, and you won't see business-focused features.
When you might want to switch back to professional
If you run a small business, sell products, or create content regularly, a Professional account gives you tools to understand what's working. Insights show you which posts get the most views and when your audience is online, which helps you decide what to post and when.
Professional accounts also let you add contact buttons to your profile — things like "Call," "Email," or "Book Now" — that make it easier for customers to reach you. Personal accounts don't have these buttons.
You can switch back to Professional whenever you want by going to the same Settings and privacy menu and choosing "Switch to professional account." Instagram will ask you to pick a category (like "Creator" or "Business"), and then you're back to having Insights and ad tools.
What happens to your data when you switch
Switching account types doesn't delete anything. Your posts stay up, your followers stay connected to you, and your messages stay in your inbox. If you had Insights data from when you were Professional, that data disappears from your view once you switch to Personal, but Instagram isn't deleting it — you just can't see it anymore.
If you switch back to Professional later, your old Insights data may or may not be available depending on how long you were Personal. Instagram doesn't may provide that old data will reappear, so if you're tracking something important, take screenshots before you switch.
Troubleshooting: the switch option isn't showing up
If you don't see the option to switch account types, make sure you're looking in the right place. Go to Settings and privacy, then Account type and tools. If that section doesn't exist on your account, you might have a Personal account already.
If you're certain you have a Professional account but the switch option isn't there, try logging out and logging back in. Sometimes Instagram needs you to refresh your session to show all options. If it still doesn't appear after that, try using the website instead of the app, or the app instead of the website — the option sometimes shows up in one place before the other.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I lose my followers when I switch to a personal account?
No. Your followers stay exactly where they are. They'll still see your posts in their feed, and you'll still see their accounts. The only thing that changes is that your profile won't show the "Professional" label anymore.
Can I switch back to professional after I go personal?
Yes, anytime. Go back to Settings and privacy, then Account type and tools, and choose "Switch to professional account." You'll pick a category like Creator or Business, and you'll have Insights and ads again.
What happens to my ads if I switch to personal?
Any ads you're currently running will pause automatically when you switch. You can't run new ads from a Personal account, but you can switch back to Professional and restart them whenever you want.
Will my followers know I switched to a personal account?
They won't get a notification about it. The only way they'd notice is if they visit your profile and see that the "Professional" label is gone. Your posts and stories look the same to them either way.
Does switching account types cost money?
No. Switching between Personal and Professional is free. The only costs on Instagram come from running ads, which you can do on a Professional account if you choose to.