# How to change Instagram privacy settings: 7 management tips

Are you concerned about who has access to your photos and location data? Securing your Instagram account is a critical step in maintaining your digital privacy.


This guide outlines seven effective methods to manage your settings, from basic account locking to advanced interaction filters.

## Why You Should Audit Your Settings

Social media platforms default to public sharing, which may not align with your comfort level.
* **Prevent Stalking:** Limit who can track your daily movements via Stories.
* **Reduce Spam:** Filter out bot comments and malicious tags.
* **Mental Health:** Control the flow of information to reduce social anxiety.

## 1. Navigating to Privacy Settings

The first hurdle is finding the right menu within the Instagram interface.

1. Go to your **Profile**.
2. Tap the **Menu** (three lines) in the top right.
3. Select **Settings**.
4. Tap **Privacy**.

## 2. The "Private Account" Switch

This is the most robust feature for personal security. When your account is private:
* **Approval Required:** You must approve every new follower.
* **Content Shield:** Non-followers cannot see your feed or stories.
* **Search Protection:** Your content does not appear in public location or hashtag searches.

**How to do it:** In the Privacy menu, toggle the switch next to **Private Account** to the right.

## 3. Managing Comments

You can curate the conversation on your posts by restricting who can participate.

* **Go to:** Privacy > Comments.
* **Select:** "Allow Comments From."
* **Options:** Choose "People You Follow" or "Your Followers" to exclude strangers.

## 4. Controlling Story Visibility

Stories often reveal real-time information. You can hide them from specific users without blocking them.

* **Hide Story From:** Select users who are restricted from viewing your stories.
* **Close Friends:** Create a curated list for sharing more personal moments.

## 5. Activity Status (The Green Dot)

If you value your peace, you might not want others to know when you are active.

* **The Setting:** Activity Status.
* **The Action:** Toggle it off.
* **The Result:** You appear offline, reducing the pressure to reply to DMs instantly.

## 6. Removing Followers

If you have a private account, you might still have unwanted eyes from before you switched.
* **Audit:** Check your follower list.
* **Remove:** Tap the "Remove" button next to suspicious or unwanted accounts.
* **No Notification:** The user is not notified that they have been removed.

## 7. Tag and Mention Controls

Spam bots frequently abuse the tagging feature.
* **Manual Approval:** Enable this setting to review every photo you are tagged in.
* **Privacy:** This prevents unwanted photos from automatically appearing on your profile grid.

## 8. Hiding Like Counts

You can choose to hide the number of likes on other people's posts and your own.
* **Why:** This shifts the focus from popularity to content quality.
* **How:** Look for "Hide Likes and View Counts" in the privacy menu.

## 9. Searchability and Contacts

To further reduce your digital footprint, stop Instagram from recommending your account.
* **Contact Sync:** Turn off contact syncing in the Account Center.
* **Suggestions:** Log in via desktop to turn off "Similar Account Suggestions."

## 10. Taking a Break (Deactivation)

If settings aren't enough, you can step away temporarily.
* **Deactivate:** Your profile is hidden but data is saved.
* **Delete:** A permanent erasure of your account.

Read the full guide at: https://safelyo.com/how-to-change-instagram-privacy-settings/

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