Fake Instagram account: how to create a second Instagram account

Creating a second Instagram account is allowed. You might want one for your business, hobby, pet, fan page or a separate private profile. It only becomes risky when you pretend to be someone else, send spam, use bots or create an account mainly to mislead people. Instagram is strict about fake accounts and poor quality accounts, so it is wise to build your second profile in a genuine and trustworthy way from the start.

Can you create a fake Instagram account?

The term fake Instagram account is often used to mean different things. One person may mean a second profile that does not use their real name. Another may mean an account that copies someone else. That distinction matters.

An extra account with a different username is usually fine, provided you are honest about what the account is. An anonymous hobby profile, a meme page, an account for your cat or a separate page for your business can all be perfectly normal. An account that pretends to be a real person, brand or well known creator is different. That can breach Instagram rules and may lead to reports or removal.

Instagram explains what is and is not allowed in its Terms of Use. In short, misleading people, spam, fraud, impersonation and automated behaviour are risky. If you want to create a second account, use it as a normal profile with a clear purpose.

Create a second Instagram account

Creating a second Instagram account is straightforward. You usually do not need to log out of your main account because Instagram lets you use multiple accounts in the same app. This is useful if you manage a personal profile and a business profile side by side.

How to create an extra Instagram account in the app

1. Open the Instagram app.
2. Go to your profile.
3. Tap the menu with the three lines in the top right corner.
4. Go to Settings and privacy.
5. Scroll to the option for adding an account, or go through the Accounts Centre.
6. Choose whether you want to log in to an existing account or create a new account.
7. Follow the steps to enter your username, password and contact details.

The names of menu items can change because Instagram updates the app regularly. Cannot find the option straight away? Tap your username at the top of your profile, or press and hold your profile photo at the bottom right. The option to switch or add an account often appears there as well.

Switch between Instagram accounts

Once you have added multiple accounts, you can switch quickly without logging out. Tap your profile name at the top of your profile and choose the account you want to use. You can often also press and hold your profile photo at the bottom of the app to switch.

Always check which account is active before you post, comment or send a message. This is one of the most common mistakes people make when managing several accounts. A comment intended for your private account can look very strange when it appears from a business profile.

Use separate details where appropriate

For a personal second account, you can often use your existing details. For a business, brand or larger project, it is wiser to use a separate email address. This makes the account easier to hand over if someone else helps manage it later.

Also turn on two step verification. This is especially important if your account has value, for example because you receive customers, followers, orders or collaborations through Instagram.

Stop Instagram from seeing your account as fake

A new account with no photo, no bio and little activity can quickly look untrustworthy. This applies not only to Instagram, but also to real people. If someone visits your profile and sees only an empty page, they are much less likely to follow you or take your message seriously.

Make your profile recognisable straight away

• Add a clear profile photo.
• Write a short bio explaining what the account is about.
• Use a username that suits the purpose of the profile.
• Publish a few normal posts or reels before you start following many people.
• Do not use a stolen photo of someone else.
• Make it clear when a fan page is not the official account.

Being recognisable works especially well for a business or creator. People should understand within a few seconds who you are, what you share and why they may want to follow you. A profile with only a vague name and no content can quickly feel like spam.

Behave like a normal account

Many fake accounts stand out because of unnatural behaviour. They suddenly follow hundreds of people, post the same comment under many posts or send direct messages to strangers. That is exactly the kind of behaviour Instagram monitors closely.

Try to avoid doing the following with a new account:

• Follow and unfollow many accounts within a short time.
• Post the same comment everywhere, such as only emojis or short spam phrases.
• Send automated messages to new followers.
• Use bots for likes, comments, views or followers.
• Create multiple empty accounts to like or follow yourself.
• Log in through unreliable tools that ask for your password.

If you want to grow, focus on a profile that looks genuine and provides real value. Post content that suits your audience, respond normally to others and give your account time to build trust.

Do not use bots or old automation tricks

In the past, people often recommended tools, proxy services and automated verification to manage many Instagram accounts at once. That is not a healthy way to build an account. It is complicated and unreliable, and it can lead to more verification checks, temporary limits or lost accounts.

Instagram has become much better at recognising behaviour that does not appear human. An account that performs huge numbers of actions in one day, repeatedly logs in from unusual locations or sends the same messages is more likely to attract attention. Even if a tool promises that everything is safe, the risk remains with you.

How Instagram can recognise fake accounts and bots

Instagram does not explain exactly how all its checks work. Doing so would make things too easy for spammers. Even so, it is clear that certain patterns can look suspicious. Consider accounts that behave very differently from normal users.

Examples of things that often look suspicious:

• An empty profile that suddenly follows many people.
• Many identical comments under different posts.
• Sending private messages to strangers in bulk.
• Using someone else’s profile photo or name.
• Receiving many reports from other users.
• Logging in through unknown apps or suspicious services.
• Posting content that is misleading, fake or resembles spam.

If Instagram is unsure, the platform may ask for extra confirmation. For example, you may need to enter a code, confirm your email address or check your mobile. Sometimes actions such as following, liking, commenting or sending messages are temporarily limited.

If you often receive security alerts, check which apps can access your account and change your password. If you can no longer access your account, the official page for account recovery through Meta may help.

Manage multiple Instagram accounts without the hassle

Instagram lets you add multiple accounts in the app, often up to five accounts for easy switching. For most people, that is enough. These might include a private profile, a business profile, a hobby account, a second brand page and perhaps a test account.

Managing more accounts can become messy. It is easier to lose track, make mistakes and take on more risk if you use the same weak passwords everywhere. If you have a team, it is better to agree clearly on who manages each account and which content belongs where.

Useful rules when using multiple accounts

• Give every account a clear purpose.
• Use strong, unique passwords.
• Turn on two step verification for important accounts.
• Always check that you are using the right profile before posting.
• Do not create extra accounts just to make yourself appear more popular.
• Remove access for former employees or external partners promptly.

For brands and creators, it is usually better to manage fewer accounts well than to manage many accounts poorly. One active profile with clear content, real comments and a recognisable style often grows better than five separate profiles with little activity.

If you want more control over what you see and who sees you, cleaning up your Instagram experience can also help. For example, you can learn more about turning off suggestions for you on Instagram.

Grow safely with a real Instagram account

A second account works best when you treat it like a real profile rather than a disposable account. Good content, a clear appearance and normal interaction remain the foundation. If you want to support your Instagram visibility, you can take your time exploring the Instagram options from SocialKings.

For a profile that is already set up properly, services such as buy Instagram followers, buy Instagram likes or buy Instagram views can support your own content. Do not treat this as a replacement for a good profile. People mainly stay when your posts, reels and stories are interesting or relatable.

Delete or deactivate an Instagram account

Did you create a second account that you no longer use? You can temporarily deactivate it or permanently delete it. The best choice depends on what you may want to do with the account later.

Temporarily deactivate

Deactivation is useful if you want to take a break. Your profile, photos, comments and likes are then temporarily hidden. As soon as you log in again, the account becomes active again.

This is a suitable choice if you are unsure, temporarily stop a project or may want to use the account again later.

Permanently delete

Deletion is much more final. Your profile, content, followers and messages will eventually disappear. Instagram usually gives you a period during which you can cancel the deletion by logging in again, but do not rely on that if you are unsure. First check whether you want to save any photos, reels or important messages.

The steps may differ depending on the app version. You can find Instagram’s official explanation on the help page about deleting or temporarily disabling your account.

Frequently asked questions about fake Instagram accounts

Is a second Instagram account prohibited?

No, a second Instagram account is not prohibited. Many people have multiple accounts, such as one private account and one for business. It becomes risky if you use the account for spam, impersonation, misleading people or bot behaviour.

Can Instagram tell that I have multiple accounts?

Instagram can use different information to protect accounts and recognise misuse. This may include login behaviour, device information, reports from users and activity on the platform. It is therefore unwise to assume that extra accounts are completely separate from one another.

How many Instagram accounts can I manage in the app?

In the Instagram app, you can add multiple accounts and switch between them easily. For normal use, that is usually enough. If you want to manage many more accounts, things can quickly become confusing, and the risk of mistakes or limits increases.

Am I allowed to have an anonymous Instagram account?

Yes, an anonymous or private second account can be fine, as long as you do not copy anyone or do anything misleading. It is best not to use someone else’s photos, name or personal details.

Why does Instagram ask me to verify my account?

Instagram may ask for verification when the platform wants to check that you genuinely have access to the account. This can happen after a suspicious login, many rapid actions, a new device or a security check. Confirm your email address, use a secure password and turn on two step verification.

Which is better: a fake account or a normal second account?

A normal second account is almost always better. It looks more trustworthy, causes fewer problems and is easier to grow over time. Choose a clear purpose, set up the profile properly and use it normally.