You cannot view your current Instagram password, but you can change it anytime
Instagram does not show you your password for security reasons — even you cannot see the actual characters you typed when you set it. This is intentional. If Instagram displayed passwords on the screen, anyone looking over your shoulder could read it, and if the company stored passwords in a way that let them show them to you, hackers could steal them more easily.
What you can do instead is change your password to something new that you will know. You can do this from your phone or computer in about two minutes, whether you remember your old password or not. If you are locked out of your account entirely, there is a separate process to regain access first.
Key Takeaways
- Instagram cannot show you your current password because it is stored in a way that makes it unreadable even to the company.
- You can change your password from the Settings menu if you are currently logged in, and Instagram will ask you to enter your old password first.
- If you do not remember your old password but are still logged in, you can skip that step and create a new one directly.
- If you are locked out of your account, you must recover access through email or phone number before you can change your password.
- A strong password includes uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols, and should not be a word from the dictionary.
How to change your password when you are logged in
Open Instagram and tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner. Then tap the three horizontal lines (called a menu) in the top right, and scroll down to find Settings and privacy. Tap it, then tap Account, then Password.
Instagram will ask you to enter your current password. Type it in and tap Next. Then type your new password twice — once in the first box and once again in the second box to confirm you did not make a typo. Tap Change password at the bottom. Instagram will log you out of all your devices and ask you to log back in with your new password.
On a computer, the steps are the same: click your profile picture in the top right, click Settings, click Password on the left side, enter your current password, then type your new password twice and click Change password.
What to do if you do not remember your old password
If you are still logged in but cannot remember your old password, you do not need it. When you reach the password change screen, look for a link that says Forgot password? Click or tap it. Instagram will send a link to the email address connected to your account.
Open that email and click the link inside. It will take you to a page where you can create a new password without entering the old one. Type your new password twice and submit. You will be logged out and will need to log back in with your new password on all your devices.
Creating a password that is actually hard to guess
A password that is straightforward to remember is often straightforward to guess. Instagram accounts are valuable targets because they can be used to scam your followers or sell access to hackers. Use a password that combines uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols — for example, BlueMoon#42&Sunrise instead of bluemoon42.
Do not use words from the dictionary, even with numbers added. Do not use your name, your birthday, your username, or the names of people close to you. Do not reuse a password from another account. If you struggle to remember a complex password, use a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password, which stores passwords securely and fills them in for you.
If you are locked out and cannot log in at all
If you cannot remember your password and are not currently logged in, you must recover your account before you can change the password. On the Instagram login screen, tap Forgot password? below the login button. Instagram will ask for your username, email, or phone number.
Enter whichever one you remember. Instagram will send a recovery link to the email address or phone number connected to your account. Open that link and follow the steps to create a new password. Once you have set a new password, you can log in and then change it again if you want something different.
If you no longer have access to the email address or phone number on your account, the recovery process becomes much harder. You will need to contact Instagram through their help center and provide proof that you own the account — usually a photo of yourself holding your ID next to your phone showing your Instagram username. This can take several days.
Why Instagram logs you out after a password change
When you change your password, Instagram automatically logs you out of every device where you were logged in. This is a safety feature. If someone else had access to your account, logging them out everywhere stops them from using it. You will need to log back in on each device — your phone, tablet, computer, or anywhere else you use Instagram.
This is also why changing your password is the right move if you think someone else has been using your account. After you change it, they will be locked out. If you notice activity you did not do — messages sent, posts made, or followers added — change your password when ready, then check your login activity in Settings to see where your account was accessed from.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Instagram tell me what my password is if I forget it?
No. Instagram stores passwords in a way that makes them unreadable even to Instagram employees. If you forget your password, you must reset it using the "Forgot password?" link, which sends a recovery email or text to the address or phone number on your account.
Will changing my password log me out of the Instagram app on my phone?
Yes. After you change your password, Instagram logs you out everywhere and asks you to log back in. Open the app, tap "Log in", and enter your username and new password. You will need to do this on every device where you use Instagram.
What if I set a new password and then when ready forget it?
You can change it again using the same process. If you are logged in, go to Settings and tap Password. If you are logged out, tap "Forgot password?" on the login screen. There is no limit to how many times you can reset your password.
Is it safe to write my password down?
Writing it down on paper and storing it somewhere find — like a locked drawer — is safer than reusing the same password across multiple accounts or writing it on a sticky note on your monitor. A password manager is the safest option because it encrypts your passwords and you only need to remember one master password.
Do I need to change my password regularly if nothing seems wrong?
Changing your password every few months is a reasonable practice, but it is not required. Change it when ready if you think someone else has accessed your account, if you used the same password on another site that was hacked, or if you shared your password with someone and no longer trust them.