How to Create Multiple Instagram Accounts

Can You Have Multiple Instagram Accounts?

Instagram officially allows you to manage up to five accounts on a single device. For regular users who have a personal profile and, for instance, an account for a hobby, this is sufficient. But for businesses, SMM managers, and affiliate marketers who work with dozens or even hundreds of Instagram accounts, this limit is a significant obstacle. The good news is that there are tools available that allow you to bypass this limitation and work with any number of accounts. 

Instagram Rules Regarding Multiple Accounts

The official Instagram rules state that a user can have multiple accounts. However, if you create multiple Instagram accounts and use them for spam, mass liking, or mass following, bans will follow.

Instagram has a sophisticated tracking system that analyzes user behavior. For example, if an account follows 500 people per hour or leaves the same type of comments, Instagram recognizes this as atypical human behavior.

Another important point is the use of prohibited hashtags on Instagram. For example, hashtags related to politics, violence, or protests can lead to a shadowban. When an Instagram account is shadowbanned, its posts are not visible in the general hashtag feed and don’t appear in user recommendations, so the reach of such accounts drops sharply.

Why Instagram May Block You for Multi-Accounting

How does Instagram know that multiple accounts belong to the same person? It’s all because of a digital fingerprint, a unique set of device parameters that websites use to identify their users. This fingerprint includes information about the operating system, screen resolution, fonts, plugins, location, languages, time zone, and other settings.

Instagram's anti-fraud system constantly collects this data. If it sees that several accounts share the same digital fingerprint, it concludes that they are managed by the same person. In this case, the accounts come under suspicion, and Instagram may block them. Changing your IP address using a proxy or VPN doesn’t solve this problem because Instagram sees that the device still has the same digital fingerprint.

How to Create Multiple Accounts on Instagram

The official way to create multiple accounts on Instagram is to use the mobile application. You can add up to five Instagram accounts and switch between them easily. However, as we’ve already mentioned, for affiliate marketers, SMM managers, and digital agencies, this isn't enough. To work with a large number of accounts on Instagram without the risk of being blocked, you need to use an anti-detect browser for multi-accounting, such as Octo Browser.

An anti-detect browser allows you to create isolated profiles, each with its own unique digital fingerprint. To Instagram, it appears as if each account is being launched from a separate device. This allows you to work with dozens and even hundreds of Instagram accounts without fear of being blocked.

How to Switch Between Accounts on Instagram

In the Instagram mobile app, you can be logged into five accounts and switch between them without logging out. To do this, simply long-press your profile photo in the bottom right corner of the screen and select the account you want to switch to.

However, if you need to manage more Instagram accounts simultaneously, you’ll need an anti-detect browser for multi-accounting. With Octo Browser, you can create a separate virtual profile for each Instagram account. The browser saves all your sessions, so you won’t need to keep logging into your Instagram accounts. This is especially convenient for professionals who need to manage multiple accounts quickly and efficiently.

How to Manage Multiple Instagram Accounts with an Anti-Detect Browser

Managing multiple Instagram accounts with Octo Browser is the safest and most effective way to scale your social media presence without being flagged. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to get started.

Step 1: Sign Up and Install the Browser

To begin managing multiple Instagram accounts, first sign up on the Octo Browser website. Once you have created your account, download and install the browser on your device. After the installation is complete, log into your account. You will need to choose a subscription that fits your needs to begin creating profiles.

Step 2: Create Profiles

Octo Browser offers several flexible ways to create profiles, each with its own unique digital fingerprint.

1. Quick Profile

For the fastest setup, click the "Quick Profile" button. Octo Browser will automatically create a new profile with a digital fingerprint that mimics your current operating system, while other settings will be randomized.

2. New Profile

For full control over your profile's settings, click "Create Profile." This opens a detailed profile configuration window.

• General Profile Settings: Give your profile a name, an icon, and a description to keep your accounts organized. You can also add tags to easily filter your list of profiles later.

• Fingerprint and Hardware Settings: Here, you can customize the digital fingerprint. But it's best to let Octo Browser handle most of the settings. Change particular settings only if you know why you need it. We also recommend letting the browser sync your location, time zone, and language with your proxy's IP address to make the profile appear more authentic to Instagram. 

• Security: You can add a password to a profile for an extra layer of protection. This feature is useful for securing sensitive accounts. Remember, Octo Browser does not store these passwords, so make sure not to lose them.

• Extensions: Install browser extensions if necessary. This allows you to use your favorite productivity tools with your isolated profiles.

3. Templates

If you plan to create multiple Instagram profiles with similar settings, save time by creating a template. In the "Templates" section, click "Create Template" to prepare a sample profile with pre-set parameters like icons, tags, starting pages, extensions, and more. Once created and activated, you can use this template for both quick and new profile creation, as well as for bulk profile creation.

4. Bulk Creation and Import.

For managing dozens or even hundreds of accounts, bulk profile creation is the most efficient method. Click the three dots next to the "Create Profile" button and select "Bulk create." You can create up to 100 profiles at once, using a template or manually configuring settings for all of them. You can also import profile data from .csv, .txt, and .xlsx files.

5. API

For advanced users who want to automate their workflow, you can create and manage profiles via the Octo Browser API. This is ideal for large-scale operations and requires an API token, which can be found in your account settings.

Step 3: Connect Proxies

Connecting a proxy to each virtual profile is a crucial step to prevent Instagram from cross-linking your accounts by their IP addresses. Octo Browser offers a built-in Proxy Shop, but you can use third-party proxies as well.

Step-by-step instructions for adding a proxy:

1. In the profile settings, click "Direct" in the Proxy section.

2. Choose "Set a new proxy" to enter the proxy details (host, port, login, and password).

3. Check the "Save to the Proxy Manager" box and give it a name for future use.

4. Click "Check Proxy" to confirm the proxy is working correctly, then click "Confirm" to save it to your profile.

For bulk proxy management:

1. Go to the "Proxies" tab and click "Bulk Add."

2. You can either drag and drop a file with your proxy data or paste it as plain text.

3. Follow the specified proxy data format and click "Confirm."

4. To connect these proxies to multiple profiles, select the desired profiles in the "Profiles" tab and click "Set Proxy."

Important: You must use a unique IP address for each separate Instagram account. Using the same IP address for different accounts will get them flagged and blocked.

Step 4: Prepare Your Profiles

Instagram is suspicious of new accounts that have no browsing history or cookies. To make your new virtual profile appear legitimate, you need to properly prepare it.

• For existing Instagram accounts: If you're moving an existing Instagram account to Octo Browser, you can import its cookies from your previous browser. In Octo Browser, click the three dots next to the profile and select "Import Cookies." Paste the cookie data manually or drag and drop a cookie file. Make sure the digital fingerprint of your new Octo profile is as identical as possible to the one on your old device to avoid suspicion.

• For new Instagram accounts: Before you create a new account, use Octo Browser’s Cookie Robot feature. This tool automatically visits websites to collect browsing data and cookies, making the profile appear like it has been used by a real person.

  1. Click the three dots next to your profile and select "Cookie Robot."

  2. Paste a list of links to popular websites (e.g., news sites, blogs, and other social media platforms) from the region you want the account to be based in.

  3. The Robot will open these links for a few seconds to collect data. Once it's done, the profile is prepared and ready for you to create a new, legitimate-looking Instagram account.

Step 5: Launch and Manage Your Accounts

After your profile is created and prepared, click the "Start" button. A new browser window will open, and you can log in or create your Instagram account. You can launch multiple profiles at the same time, allowing you to manage all of your accounts from a single interface. Octo Browser saves your sessions, so you will not have to log in or enter two-factor authentication codes every time you launch a profile.

FAQ

Can I have multiple Instagram accounts?

Yes, Instagram allows you to have multiple accounts. Officially, you can manage five Instagram accounts on one device. If you need more, use an anti-detect browser for multi-accounting like Octo Browser.

How many Instagram accounts can I have?

You can manage up to five accounts using the standard Instagram app. However, you can manage an unlimited number of Instagram accounts using an anti-detect browser for multi-accounting.

Can I have 2 Instagram accounts with the same email?

No, Instagram requires each account to have a unique email address or phone number. You cannot create two Instagram accounts with the same email.

How do I manage two Instagram accounts?

If you only have two accounts, you can easily switch between them in the Instagram mobile app. Long-press your account icon in the bottom right corner to select the second account.