What happens when you disconnect Instagram from Facebook
When you disconnect your Instagram account from Facebook, you break the connection between the two platforms but you do not delete either account. Instagram will no longer share your data with Facebook's parent company Meta, and Facebook will no longer be able to use Instagram information for ad targeting or other purposes. Your Instagram login, followers, posts, and messages all stay exactly as they are.
The main change you will notice is that you lose the ability to log into Instagram using your Facebook credentials. If you have been using "Log in with Facebook" as your way to access Instagram, you will need to set up a separate Instagram password before you disconnect, or you will be locked out of your account.
Disconnecting does not affect your ability to share Instagram posts to Facebook, though you will need to re-authorize that sharing after you disconnect if you want to keep doing it. The two accounts straightforward stop being linked at the backend level where Meta was pooling your data together.
Key Takeaways
- Disconnecting Instagram from Facebook stops Meta from combining your data across both platforms for advertising and other purposes, but both accounts remain active and separate.
- You must set up a standalone Instagram password before disconnecting if you currently log in using your Facebook account, or you will lose access to Instagram.
- The disconnection process takes place in Instagram settings under "Accounts Center" and requires you to confirm the action twice.
- After disconnecting, you can still share individual posts from Instagram to Facebook, but you will need to re-authorize that feature.
How to disconnect on a phone or tablet
Open Instagram and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap "Settings and privacy", then tap "Settings". Scroll to the section labeled "Accounts and passwords" and tap "Accounts Center".
In Accounts Center, tap "Accounts" at the top. You will see a list of your connected accounts — Instagram should be there, and Facebook should be listed as connected to it. Tap on Instagram, then tap "Remove account" at the bottom of the screen. Instagram will ask you to confirm that you want to remove the connection. Tap "Remove" again.
After you disconnect, Instagram will prompt you to create a password if you do not already have one set up separately from Facebook. Write this password down or save it in a password manager before you close the app, because you will need it the next time you log in.
How to disconnect on a computer
Go to instagram.com and log in. Click your profile picture in the top right corner and select "Settings" from the dropdown menu. On the left side, click "Accounts Center". Click "Accounts" at the top of the page.
You will see Instagram listed with Facebook shown as a connected account. Click on Instagram, then scroll down and click "Remove account". Confirm the removal when Instagram asks you to verify. You will then be taken back to the Accounts Center page.
Instagram will send you to a page asking you to create a password if you do not have one already. This password must be at least six characters long and should be something you can remember or store securely. You will use this password to log back into Instagram from now on.
What to do if you use Facebook login to access Instagram
If your Instagram account was created using "Log in with Facebook" and you have never set a separate password, you must create one before you disconnect. Without a standalone password, you will be unable to log back into Instagram after the disconnection is complete.
To set a password before disconnecting, go to Instagram settings on your phone or computer and look for "Password" under "Accounts and passwords". Click or tap "Change password" and follow the prompts. Instagram will ask for your current password (which would be your Facebook password if you have never set one). If you cannot remember your Facebook password, you will need to reset it through Facebook first.
Once you have a separate Instagram password saved somewhere safe, you can proceed with the disconnection steps above. Test your new password by logging out of Instagram and logging back in with your email address and the new password before you fully disconnect from Facebook.
Reconnecting Instagram and Facebook later
If you disconnect and then change your mind, you can reconnect your accounts at any time by going back to Accounts Center. The process is the same whether you are on a phone or computer: go to Accounts Center, click "Accounts", select Instagram, and look for an option to add or connect Facebook. You will need to log into your Facebook account to complete the reconnection.
Reconnecting does not restore any data sharing that happened before you disconnected. It only starts the data sharing process going forward from that point. Your Instagram followers, posts, and messages are not affected by disconnecting or reconnecting.
What changes after you disconnect
Meta will no longer combine information from your Instagram and Facebook accounts for the purpose of showing you targeted ads. This means the ads you see on Facebook will be based only on your Facebook activity, and ads on Instagram will be based only on your Instagram activity. You may notice that ads become less personalized on both platforms.
If you have set up cross-platform features like sharing Instagram Stories to Facebook or using Facebook Messenger to message Instagram followers, those features will stop working until you re-authorize them. You can turn these back on individually through Instagram settings without reconnecting your accounts at the backend level.
Your login method changes permanently. You will no longer be able to use "Log in with Facebook" on any device. Every time you log into Instagram, you will use your email address (or phone number, if you set that up) and your Instagram password instead.
If you cannot find Accounts Center
Accounts Center is a relatively new feature, and not all Instagram accounts have access to it yet. If you do not see "Accounts Center" in your settings, you can disconnect through the older method by going to Settings, scrolling to "Accounts", and tapping "Linked accounts" or "Connected accounts". Look for Facebook in the list and tap "Unlink" or "Disconnect".
If you still cannot find the option, make sure you are using the most recent version of Instagram. Go to your phone's app store (Apple App Store or Google Play Store) and check for updates. Instagram regularly rolls out new features, and older versions of the app may not have the disconnection option available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will disconnecting delete my Instagram account?
No. Disconnecting only breaks the link between Instagram and Facebook. Your Instagram account, posts, followers, and messages all remain exactly as they were. You can still use Instagram normally after disconnecting.
Can I disconnect Instagram from Facebook if I do not have a separate password?
No. Instagram will not let you complete the disconnection without a standalone password set up first. You must create one in your Instagram settings before you can disconnect. If you cannot remember your Facebook password to verify your identity, reset it through Facebook first.
What happens to my Instagram ads after I disconnect?
Instagram will no longer use your Facebook data to target ads to you. Your ads will be based only on your Instagram activity and interests. You may see fewer personalized ads overall, since Meta has less information about you to work with.
Do I have to disconnect to stop sharing my data with Facebook?
Disconnecting is the most complete way to stop data sharing between the two platforms. You can also limit data sharing by adjusting your privacy settings on both Instagram and Facebook individually, but disconnecting removes the connection entirely at the account level.
Can I share Instagram posts to Facebook after I disconnect?
Yes, but you will need to re-authorize the sharing feature after you disconnect. Go to Instagram settings, find the option to share to Facebook, and log into your Facebook account when prompted. This does not reconnect your accounts — it only allows individual posts to be shared between the platforms.