Do You Need Instagram to Use Threads?

Short answer: to post on Threads, yes — accounts are created from an Instagram login. To browsepublic profiles, no. Here’s the full picture.

Creating a Threads account

Threads sign-up runs through Instagram: your handle, name, and verification badge carry over, and deleting the Instagram account affects the Threads one. That’s also why almost every creator has the same usernameon both apps — if you know someone’s Instagram handle, you know their Threads handle.

Browsing without any account

The Threads app and website push logged-out visitors to sign in, but public profiles are still public. ThreadLookshows any public profile’s followers, bio, and recent posts with no Instagram and no Threads account at all — try @mosseri. For the details, see our guide to viewing Threads without an account.

What carries over from Instagram

• Username, display name, and profile photo
• Verified status
• Optionally, the accounts you follow

Follower counts do not carry over — a creator with 100M Instagram followers may have a fraction of that on Threads. Check the real numbers on the most-followed Threads accounts leaderboard.