Why Instagram asks for an email and what it does with it
Instagram requires an email address to recover your account if you forget your password, and to send you notifications about login attempts from new devices. The email you add becomes a backup way to prove you own the account — if someone else gains access to your Instagram password, you can use the email to regain control.
Instagram also uses your email address to send you marketing messages about new features, recommendations, and ads, unless you turn those off in your settings. Your email is stored on Instagram's servers and is covered by Meta's privacy policy, which means it can be used for targeted advertising across Instagram, Facebook, and other Meta platforms.
You can add, change, or remove an email from your account at any time. Most people add an email they check regularly — one that is different from the email they used to create the account, so they have a backup if that original email is compromised.
Key Takeaways
- You can add a second email to Instagram through Settings > Account > Email, and Instagram will send a confirmation link to that email address.
- Your email address is used for account recovery, security alerts, and marketing messages, and is shared across Meta platforms for targeted ads.
- Adding a backup email takes less than two minutes and does not change your login email or password.
- You can remove an email from your account at any time, but keeping at least one email on file makes it much harder for someone else to lock you out.
How to add an email on the Instagram app
Open Instagram and tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner. Tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) in the top right, then tap Settings and privacy. Tap Settings, then scroll down and tap Account. You will see a field labeled Email with your current email address.
Tap the email field. Instagram will show you the email currently linked to your account. Tap Add email or the pencil icon next to the email. Type in the new email address you want to add. Instagram will send a confirmation link to that email address — you must open that email and click the link to finish adding it. Until you confirm, the new email will not be active on your account.
Check the inbox of the email address you just entered. Look for a message from Instagram with the subject line "Confirm your email address" or similar. Click the link in that email. You will be taken back to Instagram, and the new email will now be linked to your account.
How to add an email on Instagram's website
Go to instagram.com and log in. Click your profile icon in the bottom left corner, then click Settings. Click Account in the left sidebar. You will see the Email field with your current email address listed.
Click the email field or the pencil icon next to it. Type the new email address. Click Next or Save. Instagram will send a confirmation email to the address you entered. Open that email and click the confirmation link. The new email is now active on your account.
What happens if you do not confirm the email
If you enter a new email but do not click the confirmation link within a certain time, Instagram will not add it to your account. The unconfirmed email will disappear from your account settings after a few days. You will need to start over and enter the email address again if you want to add it.
This confirmation step exists so that someone cannot add a random email address to your account without your knowledge. Only emails you have actually confirmed will be linked to your account and usable for recovery.
Changing or removing an email from your account
To change an email, follow the same steps as adding one — go to Settings > Account > Email, enter the new address, and confirm it through the link Instagram sends. You can have multiple emails on your account at once. To remove an email, go to the same settings page, find the email you want to remove, and tap or click the delete or remove option next to it.
Keep in mind that if you remove all emails from your account, you will have a harder time recovering it if you forget your password. Instagram recommends keeping at least one email address on file for security reasons.
What Instagram does with the email you add
The email address you add to Instagram is used for account recovery (if you forget your password), security notifications (alerts when someone logs in from a new device), and marketing messages. Instagram also shares your email with other Meta companies, including Facebook and WhatsApp, to create a unified profile for advertising purposes.
You can control some of what Instagram does with your email by going to Settings > Notifications and turning off email notifications for marketing, recommendations, and other non-essential messages. However, Instagram will still send you security-related emails (like password reset links) no matter what you choose. Your email address will still be used for ad targeting across Meta platforms even if you turn off marketing emails.
Protecting your email address on Instagram
Use an email address you check regularly and that you have not shared publicly. If your Instagram account is public, do not put your email address in your bio or captions — scammers look for email addresses they can use to target you. If someone has hacked your Instagram account, change the email address on file when ready, then change the password for that email account itself.
If you use the same email for multiple accounts (Instagram, Facebook, Gmail, banking), a breach of one account puts all of them at risk. Consider using a separate email just for social media, or using a password manager that can generate unique emails for each service. This way, if Instagram is breached, your other accounts remain protected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the same email for multiple Instagram accounts?
Yes, one email can be linked to more than one Instagram account. However, you can only use that email to recover one account at a time — if you forget the password on both accounts, you will need a different recovery method (like a phone number) for the second account.
What if I do not have access to the email I used to create my account?
Add a new email address to your account now while you still have access. If you lose access to your original email later, the backup email will let you recover your account. If you have already lost access to both emails, you can contact Instagram through their help center, but recovery will be slower and may require you to prove your identity.
Will adding an email change my Instagram username or password?
No. Adding an email does not change how you log in, your username, or your password. It only adds a recovery option and updates where Instagram sends notifications.
Can I hide my email address from other Instagram users?
Your email address is not visible on your public profile — only you and Instagram can see it. Other users cannot find your account by searching for your email address in Instagram's search bar.
What if someone added an email to my account without permission?
Go to Settings > Account > Email and remove any email address you do not recognize. Then change your Instagram password when ready. If you cannot access your account, use Instagram's account recovery tool to regain control, then remove the unauthorized email and change your password.