Instagram offers a multitude of configuration options. It is not always easy to keep track of all the various settings offered and to select the best settings for your purposes. Our checklist is meant to assist you to protect your account and all your published information in the best possible way.
We have tried to draw up as universally applicable a set of instructions for private users as possible. Nevertheless, the individual configuration options and settings may differ in specific cases. This checklist refers to the Instagram settings available as of 23rd February 2022 as displayed in a desktop computer browser.
As a rule, the settings described here are automatically adopted in the Instagram app. Depending on your smartphone and operating system though, there may be some additional settings in the app which are not discussed here.
To display your account settings in Instagram, click the profile symbol bottom right of the page, then the three bar symbol top right and select entry „settings“ from the menu.
Notifications
| Category | Our recommendation |
|---|---|
| Pause all | Depending on your requirements |
| Posts, Stories and Comments | Depending on your requirements |
| Following and Followers | Depending on your requirements |
| Direct Messages and Calls | Depending on your requirements |
| Live and Video | Depending on your requirements |
| Fundraisers | Depending on your requirements |
| From Instagram | Activate «Support Requests» Activate «Unrecognized Logins» Others: Depending on your requirements |
| Email and SMS | Depending on your requirements |
| Shopping | Depending on your requirements |
Privacy
| Category | Our recommendation |
|---|---|
| Private Account | Activate |
| Hidden Words | Depending on yourrequirements |
| Limits | Comments |
| Comments | Depending on your requirements |
| Posts | Activate «Manually Approve Tags» Others: Depending on your requirements |
| Mentions | Activate «People You Follow» |
| Story | Deactivate «Allow Sharing to Messages» Others: Depending on your requirements |
| Live | Depending on your requirements |
| Guides | Depending on your requirements |
| Activity Status | Deactivate «Show Activity Status» |
| Message | Depending on your requirements |
| Restricted Accounts | Depending on you rrequirements |
| Blocked Accounts | Depending on your requirements |
| Muted Accounts | Depending on your requirements |
| Accounts You Follow | Depending on your requirements |
Security
| Category | Our recommendation |
|---|---|
| Passwort | Manage your passwords outside of Instagram, for instance using a password manager. |
| Login Activity | Regularly check your log-ins. |
| Saved login info | Deactivate |
| Two-factorauthentication | Recommended. The authentification app is preferable to SMS. |
| Emails from Instagram | If you suspect phishing, you can check here whether an e-mail has actually come from Instagram or not. |
| Security checkup | Optionally, you can also register a mobile number, which will then be required for log-in confirmations as necessary. |
| Apps and websites | Regularly close sessions you no longer need. |
Ads
| Category | Our recommendation |
|---|---|
| Ad interests | Depending on your requirements |
| Data about your activity from partners | Deactivate |
| Ad Activity | Here you can see with which ads you have interacted. |
Account
| Category | Our recommendation |
|---|---|
| Personal information | Depending on your requirements and context of the account
Email address:Use a free address without any indication of your identity (e.g.ferrari397@gmail.com). Phone number: Optionally, you can also register a mobile number, which will then be required for log-in confirmations as necessary |
| Close Friends | Here you can select and limit to „Close friends“ if you would like to only share stories with them. |
| Sensitive content control | Here you can control the number of photos and videos which might potentially be unsettling or vulgar. |
