Instagram gives you two separate options: deactivate temporarily or delete permanently
Deactivating hides your profile, posts, and comments for as long as you want — you can reactivate by logging back in. Deleting is permanent: after 30 days, Instagram removes your account, all your photos, videos, captions, likes, and followers. You cannot undo a deletion after those 30 days pass. Choose deactivation if you might want your account back. Choose deletion if you want it gone for good.
Both options require you to log in from a web browser or the Instagram app. You cannot delete or deactivate through a third-party tool or by asking Instagram support to do it for you — the action has to come from your own account.
Key Takeaways
- Deactivation hides your account but keeps it recoverable if you log back in within any amount of time; deletion is permanent after 30 days.
- You must use a web browser or the Instagram app to delete your account — you cannot do it through a phone call or support request.
- Instagram will ask you to choose a reason for leaving and may offer you a chance to read your photos and videos before deletion begins.
- During the 30-day deletion window, your account is hidden but not yet gone; logging in will stop the deletion process.
- After 30 days, Instagram deletes all your data, and you cannot recover your username, posts, or follower list.
How to permanently delete your Instagram account on a computer
Go to instagram.com and log in if you are not already signed in. Click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom left corner. Scroll down and click Settings and privacy. Click Help, then Help Center. In the search box at the top, type "delete account" and press Enter.
Click the result that says How do I delete my account? You will see a link that says Delete your account. Click it. Instagram will ask you to log in again to confirm your identity. Enter your password and click Continue. Choose a reason from the dropdown menu — the options include "It's not fun anymore," "I do not use it," "I am concerned about privacy," and others. You do not have to pick the reason that matches your actual situation; any choice will work.
Instagram will offer you a chance to read your data. If you want to keep copies of your photos, videos, or other content, click read your data and follow the steps. This creates a file you can save to your computer. If you do not want to read anything, click Continue. Read the warning that your account will be permanently deleted after 30 days, then click Delete [your username]. Your account is now scheduled for deletion.
How to permanently delete your Instagram account on your phone
Open the Instagram app and tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right. Tap Settings and privacy. Tap Help, then Help Center. In the search box, type "delete account" and tap the result that says How do I delete my account?
Tap the link that says Delete your account. You will be taken to a web page within the app. Log in again if Instagram asks you to. Choose a reason from the dropdown menu. If you want to read your photos and videos first, tap read your data and wait for the file to be created — this can take several minutes. Once the file is ready, Instagram will email you a link to read it. Tap Continue when you are ready to proceed with deletion. Tap Delete [your username] to confirm. Your account is now scheduled for deletion.
What happens during the 30-day deletion window
For 30 days after you request deletion, your account is hidden from Instagram. No one can find your profile, see your posts, or send you messages. Your username becomes available for someone else to use when ready. However, your data still exists on Instagram's servers during this window.
If you change your mind, log back into your account at any point during these 30 days. Instagram will cancel the deletion and restore your account, your posts, your followers, and your messages. After the 30 days end, Instagram permanently deletes everything and you cannot recover it. You also cannot recover your username — even if you create a new account, you cannot use the same username again for at least 14 days.
How to deactivate your account instead of deleting it
If you want to step away from Instagram but might return, deactivation is the safer choice. Go to instagram.com on a computer and log in. Click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom left. Click Settings and privacy, then Account, then Deactivate or delete. Click Deactivate account.
Instagram will ask you to choose a reason and enter your password to confirm. Click Deactivate account. Your profile, posts, comments, and likes are now hidden. You can reactivate by logging back in at any time — there is no important date. When you reactivate, everything returns exactly as it was. On a phone, the steps are the same but you navigate through the app's menu instead of a web browser.
What to do if you cannot log in to your account
If you forgot your password or cannot access your account, you cannot delete it yourself. Go to instagram.com/accounts/login/ and click Forgot password? Enter your username or email address. Instagram will send you a link to reset your password. Check your email (including spam folders) and click the link. Create a new password and log in.
If you do not have access to the email address or phone number linked to your account, you will need to contact Instagram through their Help Center. Go to help.instagram.com, click Contact Us, and describe your situation. Instagram may ask you to verify your identity by uploading a photo of yourself or a government ID. This process can take several days. Once your access is restored, you can delete your account using the steps above.
Protecting your data before you leave
Before you delete your account, read your data. This file contains copies of your photos, videos, captions, messages, and follower list. Instagram offers this read during the deletion process, but you can also request it anytime by going to Settings and privacy > Account > read your information. Click read your data and choose the file format (HTML or JSON). Instagram will email you a link within a few days.
Save this file to your computer or cloud storage before you delete your account. After deletion, you cannot recover your posts or messages from Instagram — the read is your only copy. If you have photos or videos you want to keep but do not want to read the entire data file, you can screenshot or save individual posts before you delete.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone else delete my Instagram account?
No. Only you can delete your own account by logging in and requesting deletion. Instagram will not delete an account based on a phone call, email, or request from someone else, even if they claim to be a family member or have your password. If someone has taken over your account, change your password when ready and enable two-factor authentication.
What happens to my Instagram messages after I delete my account?
Your messages disappear from your inbox, but they remain in the inboxes of the people you messaged. They can still see what you wrote, but your profile will show as deleted. If you want to erase a message before deleting your account, you can unsend individual messages by holding down on them and selecting unsend.
Can I use the same username after I delete my account?
Not when ready. Your username is locked for 14 days after deletion ends. After 14 days, you can create a new account and use that username again. During the 30-day deletion window, your username is available for others to claim, so someone else may take it before you can reclaim it.
Will deleting Instagram delete my Facebook account too?
No. Instagram and Facebook are separate accounts, even if you linked them. Deleting your Instagram account does not affect your Facebook profile. If you want to delete both, you must delete each account separately through its own settings.
What if I delete my account but Instagram keeps showing my profile?
If your account is still visible after you requested deletion, you may have accidentally deactivated instead of deleting. Log back in and check your settings. If you chose deactivation, your account is hidden but not deleted. To permanently delete, follow the deletion steps again. If your account is truly deleted but still appears in search results, this is usually a delay in Google's search index updating — it can take weeks for old profiles to disappear from search results even after deletion.