How to switch to an Instagram business account

Before you switch

• Your account will become public. Instagram's help center says professional accounts can't be private. If your account is private now, switching makes it public and accepts all pending follow requests.
• Business or Creator? Instagram says Business accounts suit retailers, local businesses, brands, organizations and service providers. Creator accounts suit public figures, content producers, artists and influencers. Vidpop works with either.
• Your category is only a label. The category you pick doesn't decide whether you get a Business or Creator account. You can hide it from your profile later.
• Have a Facebook Page ready if you want to post there too. Linking a Page is optional for Instagram, but Vidpop needs a Page to post to Facebook.

Switch in the Instagram app

1. 01Tap Profile or your profile picture in the bottom right to go to your profile.
2. 02Tap More (the menu) to open Settings and activity.
3. 03Below For professionals, tap Account type and tools.
4. 04Tap Switch to professional account.
5. 05Pick the category that best describes what you do.
6. 06Choose Business (or Creator) and tap Next.
7. 07Add contact details for your business and tap Next, or tap Don't use my contact info to skip.
8. 08To connect a Facebook Page now, tap Login to Facebook. You can also tap Skip and do it later.

Switch on instagram.com

1. 01Click More, then Settings.
2. 02Below For professionals, select Account type and tools.
3. 03Click Switch to professional account.
4. 04Choose Business or Creator, then click Next.
5. 05Select your category.
6. 06Click Done, then Continue to confirm.
7. 07Add your business contact details and click Save, or select Don't use my contact info.

What you get, and what changes

According to Instagram's help center, a professional account gives you a professional dashboard, insights on your followers and posts, the ability to run ads, an optional Contact button, a category label under your profile picture, and an inbox with Primary, General and Requests folders.

Two things change that are worth knowing. Your account must stay public. And if you link a Facebook Page, you can only share Instagram posts to Facebook through that Page, not to another Page or a personal profile.

You can switch back to a personal account at any time from Account type and tools. Instagram notes that you then lose access to some Meta business tools, such as Meta Business Suite and Meta Ads Manager.

Connect the account to Vidpop

Once your Instagram is a Business or Creator account, you can let Vidpop post to it. Vidpop is an iPhone app that plans, designs and captions three carousels a week for your business and publishes them with Post for Me.

1. 01Open Vidpop and set up your business with your website, App Store link, or six short questions.
2. 02Open Post for Me and connect Instagram. You sign in through Instagram's own secure sign-in; Vidpop never sees your password.
3. 03Connect your Facebook Page the same way if you want posts on Facebook too.
4. 04Turn on "Ask me first" if you want to approve each post before it goes out.
5. 05Review your first week. It always waits for your approval before anything posts.

If something doesn't work

• You can't find "Switch to professional account". Your account may already be professional. Check Account type and tools for an Account type option.
• An app says your account isn't eligible. Make sure you switched to Business or Creator, not just changed your category.
• Facebook posting fails. You need a Facebook Page, not a personal profile. Create a Page, then connect it again.
• You want your account private again. Switch back to a personal account first. Apps that post for you will stop working on that account.

Frequently asked questions

Is an Instagram business account free?

Yes. Switching to a Business or Creator account costs nothing, and you can switch back to a personal account at any time.

Should I choose Business or Creator?

Instagram suggests Business for retailers, local businesses, brands, organizations and service providers, and Creator for public figures, content producers, artists and influencers. Vidpop can post to either.

Will I lose my followers or posts if I switch?

Instagram's help center doesn't list any loss of followers or posts. What changes is that the account becomes public, and any pending follow requests are accepted.

Can a business account be private?

No. Instagram's help center says professional accounts can't be set to private. To make your account private, switch back to a personal account first.

Do I need a Facebook Page?

Not to switch. Linking a Page is optional in Instagram. To post to Facebook with Vidpop, though, you need a Facebook Page.

Why does Vidpop need a business account?

Instagram only lets outside apps publish to professional accounts. Vidpop's Post for Me needs a Business or Creator account to publish your carousels and posts on schedule.