How to Switch Instagram Account: Business to Personal Guide

Switching Instagram accounts from Business to Personal can be a refreshing change if you’re no longer using all the business features. Maybe you tried a Business account to access analytics, boost posts, or try out Instagram Shopping. But if you’re not actively promoting something, those features can end up feeling like unnecessary baggage.

Switching to a Personal account simplifies your Instagram experience by removing promotional prompts and engagement statistics, creating a personal space for sharing content without clutter.

But before you switch Instagram accounts, understand the differences between Instagram account types, what you might lose, and why making the change could be the best decision for you. Let’s break it down.

Understand Instagram Account Types Before Switching Instagram Accounts

Before you switch Instagram accounts, understand how each account type works and what they offer. Instagram provides three distinct account types: Personal, Business, and Professional (Creator) accounts. Here are the differences.

Personal Instagram Accounts

Switching Instagram accounts from Business to Personal transitions you to a simpler, stripped-down version of the platform.

Who It’s For:

• Casual users who prefer sharing personal moments with friends and family.
• People who don’t need analytics, promotional tools, or the pressure of metrics.

Features:

• Stories, Feed Posts, Reels, and DMs: The core functionalities of Instagram are available.
• Privacy Control: You can easily set your account to private, giving you complete control over who follows and interacts with you. With the help you a private Instagram viewer, anyone can anonymously see your stories. (only if your account is public)
• No Ads or Promotions: You won’t be prompted to boost posts or run ads.
• No Insights or Analytics: The account focuses solely on sharing, without any pressure to monitor engagement or growth.

Limitations:

• You can’t access audience insights, promotional tools, or shopping features.
• If you were previously running ads, those campaigns will be paused permanently.

Business Instagram Accounts

Business accounts offer analytics and promotional tools, which become unnecessary when using Instagram casually. Many businesses also manage their Instagram through Meta Business Suite, which provides a central dashboard for analytics, scheduling, and direct messaging.

Who It’s For:

• Brands, marketers, influencers, and businesses actively promote products or services.
• People who need detailed metrics to optimize their Instagram strategy.

Features:

• Audience Insights: Track follower demographics, engagement rates, and content performance.
• Ads & Promotions: The ability to boost posts, run targeted ads, and promote stories.
• Shopping Features: Product tagging, Instagram Shop integration, and call-to-action buttons.
• Contact Buttons: Allow users to contact you directly via email, phone, or directions.

Drawbacks:

• Privacy concerns due to extensive data tracking and promotion prompts.
• A cluttered interface that pushes analytics and ads, making it less enjoyable for casual use.

Professional Accounts (Instagram Creator Accounts)

Instagram’s Professional account category encompasses both Business and Creator accounts, with Creator accounts serving as hybrids that provide analytics without all Business account promotional tools. A creator profile gives influencers, artists, and content creators more control over how they present their brand and access insights tailored for creative growth.

Who It’s For:

• Influencers, artists, bloggers, and content creators focused on building a personal brand.
• People who want some access to insights but aren’t focused on advertising or e-commerce.

Features:

• Audience Insights: Limited analytics for engagement and follower growth.
• Collaboration Tools: Features designed for partnerships and branded content.
• Profile Customization: Ability to add tags that describe your niche (e.g., blogger, artist, public figure).
• Simplified Promotions: While you can still boost posts, ads aren’t the primary focus.

Drawbacks:

• No access to Instagram Shopping.
• Not as comprehensive as Business accounts when it comes to audience analytics.

Why You Might Want to Switch Instagram Accounts

There are plenty of reasons why you might want to make your Instagram account personal again. Below you’ll find instructions and information on how to switch a business account to a personal Instagram, but first, know why making the switch can be a smart move:

1. Privacy and Control

Switching from a Business account to a Personal account offers greater privacy. Business accounts are public by default, and while you can make them private, the core design encourages open visibility. Personal accounts, on the other hand, are built for privacy.

• You can set your profile to Private and control exactly who gets to see your content.
• Reduced visibility to unknown users, making it ideal for personal sharing.

2. Simplified User Experience

Business tools add complexity to Instagram. Personal accounts provide:

• No more promotion prompts encouraging you to boost posts.
• A cleaner, straightforward interface without analytics or shopping tabs.
• No stress about follower counts, engagement metrics, or optimizing for growth.

3. Content Focus

Personal Instagram accounts enable pure content-sharing without analytics pressure, allowing freedom to post content without optimization concerns.

4. Loss of Business Tools (And Why That’s Okay)

Switching removes features that may not serve your goals:

• Analytics & Insights: Gone. No more tracking reach, engagement rates, or audience demographics.
• Promotional Tools: Ads and promotions will be disabled.
• Shopping Features: The Product tags and the Shop tab will no longer be accessible.
• Permanent Data Loss: Analytics data that isn’t backed up beforehand is erased forever.

If those tools aren’t essential to you, moving on to a Personal account is the right choice.

How to grow your business’s Instagram account

Preparation Before Switching Instagram Accounts

Switching Instagram account types requires only seconds, but preparation prevents data loss and preserves your experience.

1. Backup Important Data

• Screenshot or export any analytics data you want to save before making the switch.
• Insights related to audience demographics, post reach, and engagement will be permanently lost once you switch.

2. Update Your Instagram App

• Make sure you’re using the latest version of the Instagram app to avoid glitches during the process.

3. Review Your Goals

• Confirm why you’re making the switch and whether it aligns with how you want to use Instagram.
• If you simply want to simplify your experience, a Personal account is perfect, or you can create a second Instagram account with the same email to maintain distinct profiles.

Now let’s tell you how to switch accounts. Instagram makes it easy!

How to Make Your IG Account Personal

The process to switch Instagram accounts from Business to Personal proceeds quickly and straightforwardly, but first, understand what features you’ll lose:

What You Lose When Switching to a Personal Account

Switching Instagram accounts from Business to Personal removes several brand growth features. If these features remain unused, their absence won’t affect your experience. Features you’ll lose include:

1. Analytics & Insights

• You’ll no longer have access to valuable metrics like audience demographics, engagement rates, and content performance.
• All previous analytics data will be wiped unless you save or screenshot it beforehand.

2. Promotional Tools

• You will lose the ability to boost posts or run paid promotions.
• The option to create ads and promote stories will be disabled.

3. Shopping Features

• Product tagging and Instagram Shop functionalities will be completely removed.
• If you’ve been using Instagram as an e-commerce platform, these tools will no longer be available.

4. Permanent Data Loss

• Any analytics data that you haven’t backed up will be lost for good.
• Once you switch, there’s no way to recover your previous insights.

If these features aren’t essential to you, the switch to a Personal account will be a relief rather than a loss.

How to Switch from a Professional Account on Instagram (Including Creator Accounts)

If you’re using a Professional account on Instagram, whether it’s a Business or a Creator account, the process to change from a professional Instagram account to a personal account follows Instagram’s unified conversion protocol that eliminates all professional analytics and promotional capabilities.

Instagram lets you switch between account types without hassle. But remember, switching from a Professional account means losing some tools and insights. Here’s how to do it.

How to Switch From a Professional Account to a Personal Account on Instagram

Whether you have a Business Account or a Creator Account, the step-by-step process to change your Instagram account type from business to personal follows Instagram’s standardized six-step conversion method that works identically for both professional account types.

1. Open the Instagram App

• Launch the Instagram app on your mobile device.
• Start with a profile tap at the bottom-right, which takes you straight to your main Instagram page.

2. Go to Profile Settings

• Tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) at the top-right corner of your profile page.
• Select “Settings and activity.”

3. Navigate to Account Settings

• From the Settings menu, scroll down and tap on “Creator Tools & Controls”, where Instagram centralizes all account type modification options that allow users to change their Instagram account type between personal, business, and creator configurations.
• This is where all your account-related options are located.

4. Choose ‘Switch Account Type’

• Scroll down to the bottom of the Account menu.
• Next, simply tap Switch to see the available account types and make your choice. Select the switch label “Switch Account Type”, which presents Instagram users with the steps to switch back to a personal account from a business account through clearly labeled conversion options.
• Here, you’ll see two options:
  • Switch to Personal Account.
  • Switch to Business/Creator Account. (if you are using a Business Account).

5. Select ‘Switch to Personal Account’

• Tap “Switch to Personal Account” to change your Instagram business profile to a personal profile while Instagram simultaneously removes all business features and notifies users about the professional tools they will lose.
• Instagram will notify you of the features you’ll lose (in-depth analytics, promotional tools, shopping features).

6. Confirm Your Decision

• Read the notification carefully and hit “Switch to Personal Account” to finalize the change.
• Your account will immediately switch to a Personal account with the new settings in place, completing how you switch your account from business to personal on Instagram, while Instagram automatically removes all business-related features and promotional controls.

Alternatives to Switching: What If You Still Need Business Tools?

Alternatives exist for users hesitant about switching to Personal accounts, including profile management through Accounts Center.

1. Switching to a Creator Account

Creator accounts serve as a middle-ground solution for users wanting insights without extensive business tools.

• Analytics: Limited insights like engagement metrics and follower growth are still available.
• Promotional Creator Tools: You can boost posts but not run advanced ads.
• Content Focused: Perfect for artists, influencers, and bloggers who need some metrics without the pressure of sales or ads.

2. Creating a Separate Personal Account

Creating separate Personal accounts allows users to maintain business features while enjoying personal space.

• Use your Personal account for private sharing with friends and family.
• Keep your Business account for promotions, ads, and implementing strategies on how to grow Instagram followers organically.
• Instagram allows easy switching between multiple accounts, so this setup is hassle-free.

3. Using Scheduling Tools for Better Management

If you’re still hesitant about switching and want to maintain a steady flow of content, RecurPost can help.

• Post Scheduling: Plan and schedule content ahead of time so you can focus more on creating and less on managing.
• Content Management: Great for balancing both personal and professional accounts if you decide to keep both.

Tips for a Smooth Transition

Making the transition from business to personal Instagram account smoother requires preparation steps that Instagram users should complete before initiating the account type conversion to prevent data loss and complications. Here are some tips to ensure everything goes as planned:

1. Backup Your Insights

• Before switching, take screenshots or export any important analytics data you want to keep.
• This includes audience demographics, engagement stats, and content performance insights.

2. Update Your Instagram App

• Always make sure you’re running the latest version of Instagram.
• This helps avoid compatibility issues and glitches during the switch.

3. Plan Your Content with RecurPost

• If you want to keep your account active during the transition, schedule posts using RecurPost.
• This ensures your content remains consistent, even if you’re making changes behind the scenes.

4. Clarify Your Goals

• Make sure you’re clear about why you’re switching.
• If the goal is privacy, simplicity, or content-focused sharing, a Personal account is the right choice.

Comparing Account Types: Which Is Right for You?

Conclusion

Switching Instagram accounts from Business to Personal occurs quickly and easily, but requires determining what works best for your needs. Personal accounts deliver simpler, cleaner experiences when analytics, ads, or shopping features become unnecessary.

Back up data and confirm your reasons before switching accounts. The process requires only a few taps, and Instagram allows free switching between account types if you later decide to return to Business or try Creator accounts.

FAQs on How to Switch Instagram Accounts

Ayushi Jain

Ayushi Jain is a content writer with expertise in creating engaging, SEO-friendly content across various industries. With a focus on storytelling and clarity, she helps brands connect with their audience effectively.