Instagram gives you two choices: deactivate temporarily or delete permanently
When you delete an Instagram account, the platform removes your profile, photos, videos, comments, and likes from public view. Permanent deletion takes about 30 days — during that month, Instagram keeps your data in case you change your mind, but your account is invisible to everyone else. If you deactivate instead, your account hides but stays on Instagram's servers, and you can reactivate it anytime by logging back in.
Most people choose deactivation because it is reversible. You pick permanent deletion only if you are certain you will not want the account back. Either way, you need to do this from a web browser or the Instagram app — you cannot delete through a third-party tool.
Key Takeaways
- Deactivation hides your account but keeps it recoverable; deletion removes it permanently after 30 days.
- You must use Instagram's official app or website to delete — third-party tools cannot do this for you.
- read your photos and videos before deleting if you want to keep copies, because Instagram will not send them to you afterward.
- After you request deletion, your account stays visible for a few hours while the system processes the request.
- If you delete by mistake, you have 30 days to log back in and cancel the deletion.
How to deactivate your account temporarily
Deactivation is the safer choice if you are unsure. Your profile disappears from search results and other people's feeds, but Instagram keeps everything — your photos, followers, messages — waiting for you to come back.
On the Instagram app, go to your profile, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), select Settings and privacy, then Account, then Deactivate or delete. Choose Deactivate account. Instagram will ask why you are leaving and offer options to limit your time instead — you can skip these and continue. Enter your password to confirm, then tap Deactivate account again.
On a web browser, go to instagram.com, log in, click your profile picture in the top right, select Settings, then Help, then Delete account. Follow the same steps. Your account hides when ready, though it may take a few minutes for your profile to stop showing up in searches.
How to permanently delete your account
Permanent deletion is final after 30 days. During those 30 days, you can still undo it by logging back in — your account will reactivate and everything returns. After 30 days, Instagram deletes your data and you cannot recover it.
On the app, go to your profile, tap the menu icon, select Settings and privacy, then Account, then Deactivate or delete. This time, choose Delete account. Instagram shows you a warning that deletion is permanent and asks you to confirm your reason. Enter your password and tap Delete account. Your profile disappears within a few hours, though comments you left on other people's posts may stay visible for a while longer.
On a web browser, the path is the same: go to instagram.com, log in, click your profile picture, select Settings, then Help, then Delete account. Choose Delete account and confirm with your password.
Save your photos and videos before you delete
Instagram will not send you your photos after deletion. If you want copies, read them first — the process takes 10 minutes to an hour depending on how much you have posted.
On the app, go to your profile, tap the menu icon, select Settings and privacy, then Account, then read your info. Tap read or transfer, then read your info. Choose the date range (usually All time), select Photos and videos as the format, and tap Create file. Instagram emails you a link within a few days — the file is a compressed folder you can open on any computer.
On a web browser, go to instagram.com, log in, click your profile picture, select Settings, then read your info. Follow the same steps. This read includes your photos, videos, captions, and some metadata, but not the comments other people left on your posts.
What happens to your messages and tagged photos
When you delete your account, your direct messages stay in other people's inboxes but show as sent by a deleted account — they cannot click your name to view your profile. If someone tries to message you, the message goes nowhere.
Photos and videos that other people tagged you in stay on their profiles and in their feeds. Your name no longer links to a profile, but the image itself remains. If you want those removed, you have to contact each person individually and ask them to untag you or delete the post. Deactivation has the same effect — your name disappears from tags, but the photos stay.
Undo deletion within 30 days
If you change your mind after requesting deletion, log back into Instagram within 30 days using your username and password. Your account reactivates when ready and everything returns — your photos, followers, messages, and settings are exactly as you left them. After 30 days, this option disappears and deletion becomes permanent.
You do not need to contact Instagram support to undo deletion. straightforward logging in cancels the deletion request automatically. If you cannot remember your password, use the Forgot password link on the login screen to reset it before the 30 days end.
What Instagram keeps after you delete
Even after permanent deletion, Instagram may keep some information for legal reasons — payment records if you ran ads, reports you filed about other accounts, or data required by law. You cannot see this data or access it yourself. If you want to know what Instagram retained, you can contact their support team, though they typically do not provide detailed lists.
Information you shared with other apps through Instagram — like login credentials or photo-sharing permissions — stays with those apps. Deleting Instagram does not automatically disconnect you from services that use Instagram to sign in. You should change your password on those services separately if you are concerned about access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone else see my account while it is being deleted?
Your account becomes invisible to others within a few hours of requesting deletion. During that time, your profile may still appear in search results or in other people's followers lists, but clicking it shows an error. After 30 days, all traces disappear.
What is the difference between deactivating and deleting?
Deactivation hides your account but keeps it on Instagram's servers — you can reactivate anytime by logging in. Deletion removes your account permanently after 30 days and cannot be undone after that window closes. Deactivation is reversible; deletion is not.
Do I lose my followers if I deactivate?
Your followers stay in the system during deactivation. When you reactivate, they are still there and you still follow them. If you permanently delete, those connections are gone forever after 30 days.
Will deleting my account remove my comments from other people's posts?
Your comments stay on other people's posts but show as posted by a deleted account — the text remains but your name no longer links anywhere. The post owner can delete the comment manually if they choose to.
Can I delete my account on the Instagram app if I forgot my password?
You need your password to delete, even on the app. Use the Forgot password link on the login screen to reset it, then proceed with deletion. If you cannot access the email or phone number tied to your account, contact Instagram support for help recovering access.