- Switch Threads to private
- What a private profile changes
- What stays public no matter what
- The fediverse catch
- What happens to your existing followers
- Teen accounts
- Should a business go private on Threads?
- Other privacy settings worth a look
- Private on Threads versus private on Instagram
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
To make Threads private, open Threads, go to Settings, then Privacy, and turn on Private profile. After that, only followers you approve can see your posts. Your name, profile photo, username and bio stay public whatever you choose, and the setting is separate from your Instagram privacy.
Making Threads private takes a few seconds, but it doesn't hide quite as much as people expect. Meta's help pages are specific about what changes and what stays visible, and there's one extra step if you ever turned on sharing to the fediverse. Here's how to switch, and exactly what a private Threads profile does.
Switch Threads to private
- Open Threads in the app or at Threads.com.
- Go to Settings. On a computer, click More on the left, then Settings.
- Select Privacy.
- Turn on Private profile and confirm.
To go public again, come back to the same toggle and turn it off. Meta says you can change this setting at any time. Your Threads privacy is managed in Threads itself and affects Threads only, so making Threads private doesn't change your Instagram account, and the other way round.
What a private profile changes
| Question | Public profile | Private profile |
|---|---|---|
| Who can follow you? | Anyone, without your approval | Only people you approve |
| Who sees your posts? | Anyone on or off Threads, including on Facebook | Your followers and the people you reply to |
| Who can repost or quote you? | Anyone on Threads | Only your followers |
| Can people share your posts to their stories? | Yes, anyone on Threads | No one |
| Can your posts be embedded on websites? | Yes | No one can embed them |
What stays public no matter what
This is the part people miss. Meta says your name, profile photo, username and bio are always public, even with a private profile. So if you don't want to be found or recognised, change those too. A private profile with your full name, a clear photo and your job in the bio is still very easy to identify.
Two other details: anyone can still share a link to your threads, though only approved followers will be able to see the post, and when you reply to someone, that person can see your reply even if they don't follow you.
The fediverse catch
If you turned on fediverse sharing, which lets people on other servers in the fediverse follow your Threads posts, switching to private turns that sharing off. Meta says it will ask other servers to delete your Threads profile and content, but it can't guarantee they will, so some of it may stay publicly visible elsewhere. If privacy is your main reason for switching, assume anything you shared to the fediverse could still be out there.
What happens to your existing followers
Switching to private changes who can see your posts from that moment on, but Meta's help pages describe it in terms of who can follow you and who can see your posts: your followers keep seeing what you share. If there are people already following you who you'd rather didn't, switching to private won't remove them on its own. Use the restricted or blocked profiles settings for those accounts.
New people who find you will see your always-public profile details, but not your posts until you approve them as followers. Approve the ones you know and ignore the rest; there's no obligation to accept anyone.
Teen accounts
Meta says anyone under 18 who creates a Threads profile starts with it set to Private. Teens aged 16 to 17 can change that setting themselves. If you're a parent, it's worth checking the setting with your teenager rather than assuming it's still on.
Should a business go private on Threads?
Almost never. A private profile stops people sharing your posts to their stories, blocks embeds and limits reposts to followers, which cuts off the very reach a business account is for. If you want a quieter space, keep your business profile public and use ghost posts for informal thoughts, or keep a separate personal profile private.
Other privacy settings worth a look
Private profile is one switch among several. Meta's settings list shows separate controls in Threads for mentions, tags, online status, hidden words, muted profiles, restricted profiles and blocked profiles. If one person is the problem, restricting or blocking them is often better than locking your whole profile.
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While you're tidying up your accounts, my guides on logging out of Instagram on every device and resetting your Instagram password cover the sister app, which many Threads profiles are built on.
Private on Threads versus private on Instagram
They're separate switches. Meta's settings table lists profile privacy as something you manage in Threads, affecting Threads only. So a private Instagram account can sit alongside a public Threads profile, which surprises people who assume one controls the other. Check both if you want both locked down.
My verdict
Go to Settings, Privacy and turn on Private profile if you want only approved followers to see your posts. Then do the two things most people forget: tidy up your always-public name, photo and bio, and remember anything already shared to the fediverse may stay visible. For a business, stay public and control things with restrict and block instead.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make my Threads account private?
Go to Settings, then Privacy, and turn on Private profile. On a computer, click More, then Settings first.
Can people see my Threads profile if it's private?
They can see your name, profile photo, username and bio, which Meta says are always public. Only approved followers see your posts.
Does making Threads private make Instagram private?
No. Meta lists profile privacy as a Threads setting that affects Threads only.
Can private Threads posts be shared?
Anyone can share a link, but only approved followers can see the post. No one can share it to stories or embed it.
Are Threads accounts private by default for teens?
Yes. Meta says profiles created by anyone under 18 are set to Private by default.
