How to Create an Instagram Account Step by Step

Creating your Instagram account is the first step toward connecting with millions of people, building a community, and growing your brand. This guide walks you through every step of a proper setup, from the initial download to choosing the right account type for your goals. We'll cover not just the how but the why behind each choice, so you can build a profile that gets results from day one.

Getting Started: Downloading the App and Signing Up

First things first, you need to get the Instagram app on your phone. It’s free and available for both iOS and Android devices. This is your command center for everything you'll do on the platform.

Step 1: Download Instagram

Navigate to your phone’s app marketplace:

• For iPhone users: Open the App Store.
• For Android users: Open the Google Play Store.

Tap the search bar, type in "Instagram," and look for the official app with the familiar camera-like logo. Tap “Install” or “Get,” and wait for it to download to your device. Once it's done, tap the icon on your home screen to open it.

Step 2: Create a New Account

When you open the app for the first time, you’ll see a login screen. Since you're starting fresh, you'll want to select the option to start a new account. You’ll see a button that says “Create new account.”

Instagram will then give you two main options for signing up:

• With a phone number: This is a secure method, as Instagram can send verification codes via SMS to confirm your identity.
• With an email address: This is a great choice, especially for a business or brand account, as it keeps your personal phone number private and lets you manage all your business communications through a dedicated email inbox.

We generally recommend using an email address for any professional account. It helps separate your personal life from your business and makes it easier to hand off management to a team member in the future. Enter your chosen phone number or email address and tap “Next.” Instagram will send a confirmation code to that number or email. Enter the code to verify your identity and move forward.

Building Your Core Profile: Username, Name, and Password

Now you'll set up the foundational elements of your profile. These are some of the most important choices you'll make, as they define your identity on the platform and how people find you. Take your time here.

Step 3: Choose Your Username (@handle)

Your username, also known as your "handle," is your unique identifier on Instagram. It’s what people will type to search for you, how they will tag you in posts, and it's part of your profile URL. It starts with an "@" symbol (e.g., @yourbrandname).

A good username is:

• Memorable and easy to spell: Avoid complicated numbers or random symbols if possible. You want people to remember it easily.
• Consistent with your brand: If you have a business, your username should be as close to your business name as you can get. This creates brand consistency across all your marketing channels.
• Relatively short: Shorter handles are easier to remember and type.

What if your ideal username is already taken? Don't worry. Here are some common and effective ways to find an alternative:

• Add a location: @yourbrandnameNYC, @yourbrandnameUK
• Add a word that describes what you do: @brandnamebakery, @janedoecreative
• Use a simple prefix or suffix: @thejanedoe, @officialbrandname, @brandnameco
• Use underscores or periods as separators: @jane_doe, @brand.name.official (Use these sparingly to maintain readability).

Once you’ve settled on a username, enter it and tap “Next.”

Step 4: Add Your Name

Next up is your "Name." This is different from your username. Your Name appears directly under your profile picture and is much more flexible. While your username is locked in (unless you change it), your Name can be updated easily.

Crucially, both your username and name are searchable on Instagram. This makes your Name field a valuable piece of real estate for keywords. For example, if you're a wedding photographer in Austin, you could set your name to "Jane Doe | Austin Photographer." This helps people find you when they search for "Austin photographer".

• For a personal brand: Use your full name. Maybe add your profession. (e.g., “John Smith | Life Coach”)
• For a business: Use your full business name. (e.g., “The Local Coffee Shop”)

Step 5: Create a Secure Password

This part is straightforward but important. Create a strong, unique password for your new account to keep it safe. Use a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid common words or easily guessable information like your birthday. Using a password manager is a great way to generate and store very strong passwords without having to remember them.

Optimizing Your Profile for Discovery and Growth

With the basics in place, it’s time to fill out the rest of your profile. A complete, professional-looking profile signals to visitors that you’re legitimate and gives them a reason to follow you.

Step 6: Choose Your Profile Picture

Your profile picture is the visual "thumbnail" for your entire brand on Instagram. It shows up in the feed, in Stories, in search results, and in comments. It should be clear and instantly recognizable, even at a small size.

• For personal brands, creators, or coaches: A high-quality headshot is best. Choose a photo where your face is clearly visible, well-lit, and conveys your personality.
• For businesses or organizations: Use your logo. Make sure it's a version that is simple and clear enough to be recognizable as a tiny circle. Avoid versions with small, unreadable text.

Instagram displays profile pictures as a circle, so make sure the important elements are centered. The ideal size to upload is at least 320x320 pixels.

Step 7: Write a Compelling Bio

Your bio is your elevator pitch. You have 150 characters to tell new visitors who you are, what you do, and why they should follow you. A great bio clearly communicates value and encourages action.

Here’s a simple formula to follow:

1. Who you are and what you do: Start with a clear statement of your brand's purpose. (e.g., “Modern ceramics for everyday living” or “Helping online coaches scale past $10k/mo”).
2. Who you serve: If applicable, identify your target audience. This helps the right people feel like they’re in the right place.
3. A touch of personality: Add a short line that shows your brand's voice. A key value, an interest, or an emoji can work well.
4. A Call-to-Action (CTA): Tell people what to do next. This is usually pointing to the link below your bio. (e.g., “👇 Shop our new collection” or “👇 Book your free discovery call”).

Use emojis to add visual interest and line breaks (by editing your bio from a desktop browser or notes app) to make the text scannable and easy to read.

Step 8: Add Your Website Link

Your profile's website link is extremely valuable. It is the only place on your main Instagram profile where you can place a clickable link that drives traffic off the platform. Use it wisely.

You can link directly to your website’s homepage, a specific product page, your latest blog post, or a lead magnet. Many creators and brands use "link-in-bio" tools like Linktree or Beacons, which create a simple landing page that houses multiple links. This allows you to direct your followers to a variety of resources from one central link.

Choosing the Right Account Type

By default, every new Instagram account starts as a “Personal” account. However, if you plan to use Instagram for anything beyond sharing photos with friends, you'll want to switch to a professional account. There are two options: Creator and Business.

The Difference: Personal vs. Creator vs. Business Accounts

• Personal Account: This is a basic account with no analytics or professional tools. You have the option to set it to “Private,” so only approved followers can see your content. It’s perfect for casual, personal use.
• Business Account: Built for commercial enterprises, service-based businesses, and brands. Switching to a Business account unlocks access to Instagram Insights (detailed analytics on your followers and post performance), contact buttons on your profile (email, phone, address), and the ability to run official ads and promote posts.
• Creator Account: This is a slightly different type of professional account designed for influencers, artists, public figures, and content producers. It also includes access to Insights, but offers a more flexible inbox with "Primary" and "General" tabs for managing DMs, and provides more category labels to describe what you do (e.g., "Blogger," "Athlete," "Artist").

For most brands and businesses, the Business account is the best choice. Content creators will be better served by the Creator account. Both open up the analytics you need to actually grow.

How to Switch to a Professional Account

1. Go to your profile and tap the three horizontal lines (the hamburger menu) in the top-right corner.
2. Tap Settings and Privacy.
3. Scroll down and tap Account type and tools.
4. Tap Switch to professional account.
5. Follow the on-screen prompts. You’ll select a category that best describes your brand and then choose between Creator or Business.

Final Steps: Securing Your Account and Making Your First Post

Step 9: Turn on Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Before you do anything else, secure your new account. Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security that requires a second code (usually sent to your phone) to log in from an unrecognized device. This is one of the best ways to protect your account from getting hacked.

To enable it, go to Settings and privacy > Accounts Center > Password and security > Two-factor authentication. Follow the steps to connect it to your phone number or an authenticator app.

Step 10: Make Your First Post

Your profile is set up and ready to go! It's time to add some content. Don’t overthink your first post. The goal is simply to have something on your grid so that when people discover your profile, they see you're active. A simple introduction post is always a great start. Simply tap the "+" icon at the bottom center of your screen to create a post, Reel, or Story.

Introduce yourself or your brand. Share a behind-the-scenes photo. Announce that your brand is officially on Instagram. Whatever you choose, write a clear caption, add a few relevant hashtags, and hit "Share." Congratulations, you now have a fully functional - and professionally optimized - Instagram account.

Final Thoughts

Setting up your Instagram account is just the beginning, but creating a strong foundation is a critical first step for long-term growth. By carefully choosing your username, crafting a compelling bio, and selecting the right professional account type, you've put yourself in the best possible position to attract your target audience.

Once your profile is ready, consistency becomes your most important task. That's mainly why we built Postbase - to cut out the chaos of managing social media. We designed our visual calendar to help you easily plan and schedule your content across all platforms, especially video formats like Reels, without the reliability issues or clunkiness that older tools have. That way, you can focus on creating great content instead of fighting with your software.