Published by the Zolyp team ·
How do you make Threads private in the app?
Threads' help centre gives these steps for iPhone and Android:
- Tap Profile or your profile picture in the bottom right.
- Tap Menu in the top right.
- Tap Privacy.
- Tap the toggle next to Private profile.
- Tap OK to confirm. Repeat the steps to switch back to public.
Source: Instagram Help Centre: Switch your Threads profile to public or private, checked 15 October 2026
How do you make Threads private on a computer?
On threads.com:
- Click More on the left, then click Settings.
- Click Privacy, then click Private profile.
- Click the toggle next to Private profile.
- Click OK to confirm.
Source: Instagram Help Centre: Switch your Threads profile to public or private, checked 15 October 2026
What changes when your profile is private?
Meta's help centre compares the two settings. The rows that matter most:
| Setting | Public profile | Private profile |
|---|---|---|
| Who can follow you | Anyone on Threads, without approval | People you approve |
| Who can see your posts | Anyone on or off Threads, including on Facebook | Your followers and people you reply to |
| Who can repost or quote you | Anyone on Threads | Your followers |
| Who can share your posts to an Instagram or Facebook story | Anyone on Threads | No one |
| Who can embed your posts off Threads | Anyone | No one |
| Name, photo, username and bio | Public | Public |
Source: Instagram Help Centre: Differences between public and private profiles on Threads, checked 15 October 2026
What stays the same either way?
- Your profile can still be recommended to people and appear in Threads search
- Search engines may show your profile, but only your username, name, picture, bio and links
- Anyone on Threads can mention you unless you change who can, under Privacy, then Tags and mentions
- Your likes on public posts are visible to anyone, unless you turn on Private likes (Settings, then Privacy), which limits them to you and the post's author
- Anyone who can see a post can take a screenshot of it
- Your Threads setting is separate from your Instagram and Facebook privacy
Sources: Instagram Help Centre: Differences between public and private profiles on Threads, checked 15 October 2026; Instagram Help Centre: Privacy and visibility on Threads, checked 15 October 2026
Should a business profile be private?
For most businesses, no. A private profile's posts can't be shared to stories or embedded, and new people only see them after you approve their follow request, which works against being found. Our advice is to stay public and use reply controls, hidden words and blocking to manage who interacts.
If your concern is reach outside Threads, you don't need to go private. A public profile's posts may be suggested on Instagram and Facebook, and you can switch that off in the app under Menu, Privacy, then Suggesting posts on other apps.
Sources: Instagram Help Centre: Differences between public and private profiles on Threads, checked 15 October 2026; Instagram Help Centre: Manage suggestions of your Threads posts on other apps, checked 15 October 2026
Why can't you switch, or why can people still see your posts?
- You're under 18. New profiles for under-18s are private by default, and Meta says teens aged 16 to 17 can change the setting
- Existing followers still see your posts. Going private doesn't remove them, so remove a follower or block them if needed
- Your fediverse sharing stopped. Going private turns it off and asks other servers to delete your content, which Meta can't guarantee. If you go public again, you must wait 30 days to turn it back on
- Your Instagram is still public. The Threads setting doesn't change Instagram's
Sources: Instagram Help Centre: Switch your Threads profile to public or private, checked 15 October 2026; Instagram Help Centre: Differences between public and private profiles on Threads, checked 15 October 2026; Instagram Help Centre: Create a profile on Threads, checked 15 October 2026
For public business profiles
Disclosure: this is our product. A public profile needs something worth finding. Zolyp plans, writes and designs short Threads posts in your brand's voice and publishes them once you approve each one. There's a 3-day free trial, no card required.
Common questions
Can people see my Threads profile if it's private?
Partly. Your name, profile photo, username and bio are always public. Only followers you approve, and people you reply to, can see your posts.
Does making Threads private make Instagram private?
No. Meta says your Threads privacy choices can be different from your Instagram or Facebook account.
Can people share my private Threads posts to Instagram stories?
No. Only posts from public profiles can be shared to Instagram or Facebook stories.
Are new Threads profiles private by default?
For people under 18, yes. Everyone else chooses public or private when they create the profile, and can change it at any time.
Where do follow requests appear on a private Threads profile?
In Activity, where you can approve or ignore them.