To switch Instagram to a professional account, open your profile menu, go to Settings and activity, then Account type and tools, and tap Switch to professional account. Pick a category, choose Business or Creator, and add the contact details you want shown. Per Sociality, a professional account cannot be set to private, so the profile becomes public.
Before you tap anything
Three things are worth settling first:
- A public profile. Sociality and Buffer both say only a personal account can be private. If yours is locked, it will be open after the switch.
- Contact details. Whatever email, phone or address you add can show up as buttons on your profile. Use details you actually monitor.
- Your goal. Selling products and building a personal brand point to different account types, and you choose between them partway through the flow.
Sociality advises connecting a Facebook Page with a Business account if you plan to run ads. It does not say whether a Creator account needs one.
Step by step in the app
The menu names below follow Sociality’s guide, last updated in July 2026. Buffer, in a piece from November 2024, describes a shorter route: Edit profile, then Switch to professional account. Instagram changes its menus often, so if your screen differs, look for the option named Switch to professional account.
- Open your profile and tap the three-line menu in the top-right corner, then Settings and activity.
- Scroll down to Account type and tools.
- Tap Switch to professional account. If you already have a Creator account, the option reads Switch account type.
- Choose the category that fits you best. You can hide it later.
- Select Business or Creator when prompted.
- Add contact details and, for Business, connect a Facebook Page if you plan to run ads.
Business or Creator: which one to pick
Sociality builds the comparison around who each type is for. Business suits brands, companies and agencies. Creator suits influencers, artists and personal brands.
| Business | Creator | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Brands, companies, agencies | Influencers, artists, personal brands |
| Contact buttons | Full set (email, phone, address, directions) | Optional, can be hidden entirely |
| Category labels | Business categories | Creator labels, which can be hidden |
| Insights | Audience and content analytics | The same, plus daily follower growth and loss for the last 30 days |
| Reels music | Commercially licensed tracks only | Full library, including trending audio |
| Third-party tools | Full API access | More limited API access |
Buffer’s take is that the two types have closely matching features and that the main difference is music access. Sources differ on small details, which is normal for an app that updates often, so check the options on your own screen.
For someone selling on Etsy, eBay or their own store, the practical reading is simple: if the profile is the storefront, Business fits with its full contact buttons and ad access. If the profile is a person showing their work, Creator unlocks the full music library. In our view, a seller who also appears on camera can decide mostly on music, since a track blocked on a Reel that takes off costs more than one missing contact button.
What changes after you switch
- The profile is public.
- Insights appear for your profile and posts, one of the main practical reasons to switch.
- Ad tools become available. Boosting a post is paid even though the account itself is free.
- Selling inside Instagram requires a professional account, which we cover in How to Sell on Instagram.
- If your plan is to earn from your content, read the requirements in How to Monetize Instagram.
Switching types or going back to personal
Switching between Business and Creator keeps your data, according to Sociality. Buffer describes the route for an existing professional account: open the menu, go to Creator tools and controls or Business tools and controls, scroll to Switch account type and pick the other one.
Neither source explains what happens to your insights history if you return to a personal account, so write down the numbers you rely on before you go back.
Mistakes people make during the switch
- Picking a category without thinking. Visitors can see it, though you can hide it.
- Leaving an old email or phone number on the profile.
- Forgetting the profile will turn public.
- Connecting a Facebook Page you do not need. It matters mainly for ads.
- Expecting the account type to bring followers. Reach comes from the content; see How to Grow Instagram Followers.
Frequently asked questions
Does an Instagram professional account cost money?
The account itself does not. Boosting posts and running ads do cost money.
Can a professional account be private?
No. Sociality and Buffer both say only personal accounts can be private.
Do I need a Facebook Page?
Sociality says to connect one with a Business account if you plan to run ads. For switching alone, the steps above do not require it.
Can I change from Business to Creator later?
Yes. Sociality says switching between the two keeps your data.
