How to Change a Category on Instagram

Changing your Instagram category is a small tweak that makes a big difference in how people understand your brand at a glance. It's a simple, clickable label sitting right under your name, and getting it right adds instant clarity and professionalism to your profile. This guide will walk you through exactly how to change your category, why it’s so important, and how to choose the perfect one for you.

Why Your Instagram Category Matters (More Than You Think)

That little gray line of text on your profile does more work than you might realize. It’s not just a descriptive tag, it’s a critical part of your brand identity that influences first impressions, communicates your niche, and helps Instagram understand what your account is all about.

It Provides Instant Clarity

The average user decides whether to follow an account within seconds of landing on their profile. Your category label works alongside your bio and photo to instantly answer the question: “Who are you and what do you do?” A label like “Photographer,” “Personal Coach,” or “Restaurant” immediately sets expectations. This kind of clarity is invaluable, as it helps you attract the right followers - people who are genuinely interested in what you have to offer.

It Establishes Professionalism and Credibility

Having a correctly set category signals that you’re using Instagram with intention. It separates hobbyist accounts from serious creators and businesses. For service-based professionals, a category like “Consultant” or “Interior Designer” can lend instant authority. For businesses, a label like “Product/Service” or “Shopping &, Retail” shows you’re open for business, guiding potential customers to see you as a legitimate brand they can trust.

It Helps Instagram Categorize Your Account

While Instagram doesn’t officially confirm all of its ranking signals, it stands to reason that the category you select helps its algorithm understand your niche. By telling Instagram you’re a “Digital Creator” focused on comedy or a “Health/Beauty” brand, you give the platform helpful data. This can influence who sees your content in their Explore page, Reels feed, and content suggestions, connecting you with a more relevant audience that is likely to engage.

First Things First: You Need a Professional Account

Before you can change your category, you need to make sure you have the right type of account. The category label feature is only available for Professional accounts, which come in two types: Creator and Business. If you’re currently using a Personal account, you’ll need to make the switch. Don't worry, it's free and takes less than a minute.

Switching to a Professional Account: A Quick Recap

If your profile is still set to "Personal," follow these quick steps to unlock the category feature, along with in-depth analytics and contact options:

1. Open the Instagram app and go to your profile page.
2. Tap the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) in the top-right corner.
3. Tap Settings and Privacy.
4. Scroll down and tap on Account type and tools.
5. Select Switch to professional account and tap Continue through the introductory screens.
6. The very next step will ask you to select a category! You can choose one now and follow the remaining prompts to finish setting up your profile.

Once you’ve switched, you can change your category anytime by following the steps below.

How to Change Your Instagram Category: The Step-by-Step Guide

Alright, you have a professional account and you're ready to update your label. The process is straightforward and can be done right from your profile on either an iPhone or Android device.

1. Go to Your Instagram Profile: Open the Instagram app and tap your profile icon in the bottom-right corner to navigate to your main profile page.
2. Tap "Edit Profile": This button is located directly under your bio and profile stats.
3. Find the "Category" Setting: On the "Edit Profile" screen, look for the "Category" option. It's usually listed under your name, username, and bio sections.
4. Select a New Category: Tap on "Category." This will open a new screen with a list of suggested categories and a search bar at the top. Use the search bar to find the most relevant one for your brand. Be sure to type in a few keywords to see all available options (e.g., search "create" to see "Digital Creator," "Video Creator," etc.).
5. Choose Your Display Options: After selecting a category, Instagram will take you back a step. You’ll now see a toggle switch labeled “Display on profile.”
   • Turn it ON if you want the category label to be visible to everyone on your profile.
   • Turn it OFF if you want to keep your account categorized on the back end but prefer a cleaner look without the public label.
6. Save Your Changes: Tap "Done" (or the checkmark icon) in the top-right corner of the screen to save your new category. Your profile will update immediately.

Stuck on Which Category to Choose? Here's How to Decide

With thousands of options available, picking the best one can feel surprisingly difficult. The goal is to choose a title that is both accurate and aspirational. Here’s a bit of guidance to help you narrow it down.

Think Like Your Audience

Put yourself in the shoes of someone discovering your profile for the first time. What single term would give them the most insight into your content? You want a label that’s instantly recognizable to your ideal follower. For example, if you sell handmade jewelry, "Jewelry &, Watches Store" is much clearer than a more general title like "Entrepreneur."

Be Specific, but Not Too Niche

Specificity is generally good, but sometimes an overly niche category that Instagram doesn't offer may box you in. If the exact phrase you want isn’t available, look for the next closest, slightly broader term. For instance, if you’re a "Keto Recipe Blogger," the best available option might simply be "Blogger" or "Digital Creator."

Common Instagram Categories and Who They're For

• For Creators &, Influencers: Digital Creator, Gamer, Artist, Blogger, Musician/Band, Vlogger, Public Figure, Writer. “Digital Creator” has become a fantastic catch-all for modern content creators.
• For Local &, Brick-and-Mortar Businesses: Restaurant, Local Business, Grocery Store, Coffee Shop, Health/Beauty. These help signal a physical location.
• For E-commerce &, Brands: Product/Service, Shopping &, Retail, Clothing (Brand), Health/Beauty, Home Goods Store.
• For Service Providers &, Freelancers: Personal Coach, Consultant, Entrepreneur, Photographer, Real Estate Agent, Marketing Agency.

When in Doubt, Check Your Peers

One of the best ways to get ideas is to look at other accounts in your niche. What categories are your competitors, peers, or favorite creators using? This can offer quick inspiration and show you what terms your target audience is already familiar with recognizing.

To Show or Not to Show: Hiding Your Category Label

After you choose your category, you have to decide whether to make it public. So, what’s the right call? It depends entirely on your brand's strategy and aesthetic.

Why You Might Want to Hide Your Category

• A Minimalist Aesthetic: Some brands and creators prefer a cleaner bio. Hiding the category frees up visual space and puts the focus entirely on your name, profile photo, and bio text.
• Your Brand is Too Broad: If you wear many hats - a founder who is also a keynote speaker and an author, for instance - one single category might feel limiting. In these cases, hiding the label might be better than choosing one that doesn't capture the full picture.
• You Prefer Subtlety: Some people just don't like labels! They'd rather let their content speak for itself and want visitors to form their own conclusions.

Why You Should Probably Keep It Visible

• Unbeatable Clarity: As mentioned, it's the fastest way to communicate what you do. For businesses and service providers, this quick clarification is too valuable to give up.
• Builds Trust: The label adds a layer of professionalism that can build immediate trust. An account labeled "Financial Service" or "Medical Center" feels more official than one without any category displayed.

Remember, even if you hide the label, your account is still categorized in the back end. You don't lose any algorithmic benefits, only the public-facing text.

Troubleshooting: Can't Change Your Category?

Running into trouble? Most issues with the Instagram category setting have simple fixes. Here are a couple of the most common problems and how to solve them.

Problem 1: The "Category" option is missing entirely from the "Edit Profile" screen.

Solution: This almost always means you're still using a Personal account. Follow the steps outlined earlier to switch to a Professional (Creator or Business) account, and the "Category" option will appear.

Problem 2: Your category is synced to a Facebook Page and won't change on Instagram.

Solution: For some Business accounts, the category is pulled directly from the linked Facebook Business Page. If changing it in the Instagram app doesn’t work, try updating it on Facebook. Go to your linked Facebook Page >, Manage >, Edit >, Page Info, and change the category there. The change should then sync to Instagram. You can also manage this connection through Meta's Account Center.

Problem 3: You select a new category, tap "Done," but it reverts to the old one.

Solution: This is often just a temporary app glitch. Try closing and restarting the Instagram app. If that doesn't work, ensure your app is updated to the latest version. As a last resort, restarting your phone often clears up these minor caching issues.

Final Thoughts

Changing your Instagram category is a simple edit that packs a punch. It's a fundamental part of optimizing your profile, providing instant clarity that helps you attract the right followers and establish your brand's credibility. It takes only a few taps but ensures every new visitor immediately understands who you are and what you offer.

Getting details like your profile category right is a key step in building a strong, consistent brand presence online. We know managing that consistency is what really drives growth, which is why we built Postbase to simplify that process. Our visual calendar helps you plan your content strategy at a glance, while our rock-solid scheduler enables you to publish across all platforms from one place, ensuring your message is always clear, whether it's in a Reel or your profile's first impression.