Change your Instagram password from your phone or computer

To change your Instagram password, open Instagram, go to your profile, tap or click the menu icon (three horizontal lines), select Settings and privacy, then Account, then Password. Type your current password, then enter your new password twice. Instagram will confirm the change when ready.

The process is the same whether you use the Instagram app on iPhone or Android, or the website on a computer. You need to know your current password to set a new one — Instagram will not let you skip this step, even if you are logged in.

If you have forgotten your current password, you will need to reset it instead. That process is covered in the section below.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your password from the Settings and privacy menu under Account, and you must enter your current password first.
  • Your new password should be at least six characters and different from passwords you use on other accounts.
  • If you forget your password, use the "Forgot password?" link on the login screen to reset it through email or phone number.
  • After you change your password, you will stay logged in on your current device, but you may need to log in again on other devices.
  • If you think someone else has accessed your account, change your password when ready and review your login activity in Settings.

What to do if you have forgotten your current password

If you cannot remember your current password, you cannot use the Settings menu to change it. Instead, go to the Instagram login screen and tap or click "Forgot password?" below the login button. Instagram will ask for your username or email address.

Enter the username or email address connected to your account. Instagram will send a password reset link to your email address or a code to your phone number, depending on which recovery method is set up on your account. Click the link in the email or enter the code on the reset screen, then create a new password.

This process logs you out of all devices. You will need to log back in on your phone, computer, and any other device where you use Instagram.

How to make a strong password Instagram will accept

Instagram requires passwords to be at least six characters long. The platform accepts letters, numbers, and symbols. A strong password is one that is hard for someone else to guess and different from passwords you use elsewhere.

A good approach is to use a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, at least one number, and one symbol like an exclamation point or underscore. Avoid using your name, username, or birth date. Do not reuse a password from another account, especially not from email or banking sites.

If you use the same password on multiple sites and one of those sites is hacked, someone could try that password on your Instagram account. Using a unique password for Instagram protects you if another service is compromised.

Check your login activity after changing your password

After you change your password, it is worth checking whether anyone else has been accessing your account. Go to Settings and privacy, then Security and login, then Logins. This screen shows every device and location where someone has logged into your account recently.

Look for devices or locations you do not recognize. If you see a login from a place you have never been or a device you do not own, tap or click the three dots next to that login and select "Log out." This removes that session from your account.

If you see many unfamiliar logins, someone may have had access to your password for a while. Change your password again, and consider enabling two-factor authentication in the Security and login section. Two-factor authentication requires a code from your phone in addition to your password, which makes it much harder for someone else to log in even if they know your password.

What happens on other devices after you change your password

When you change your password from the Settings menu, you stay logged in on the device where you made the change. On other devices — your tablet, computer, or a second phone — you will remain logged in until Instagram's servers sync the change, which usually happens within a few hours.

After that sync, you will be logged out on those other devices. The next time you open Instagram on them, you will see the login screen and will need to enter your username and new password.

If you reset your password using the "Forgot password?" link instead of the Settings menu, you are logged out of all devices when ready. You will need to log back in everywhere.

Changing your password if you use Facebook to log into Instagram

If you log into Instagram using your Facebook account instead of an Instagram username and password, you do not have an Instagram password to change. Your login is controlled by Facebook.

To change how you log in, go to Settings and privacy, then Account, then Password. Tap or click "Set a password." Instagram will ask you to enter a new password. Once you set one, you can log in with either your Facebook account or your Instagram username and the new password.

If you want to stop using Facebook to log in and use only an Instagram password instead, you can set a password this way and then disconnect your Facebook account in the Accounts Center (which manages connections between Facebook and Instagram).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to change my password if I think someone hacked my account?

Yes, change your password when ready. Then check your login activity to see if there are unfamiliar devices or locations. If you see suspicious activity, log out those sessions. Consider enabling two-factor authentication so that even if someone learns your new password, they cannot log in without a code from your phone.

Will changing my password delete my photos or messages?

No. Changing your password does not affect any of your content, messages, followers, or account data. It only changes how you log in.

What if I change my password and then forget the new one?

Use the "Forgot password?" link on the login screen to reset it. Instagram will send a reset link to your email or a code to your phone number. You do not need to remember your old password to reset to a new one.

Can I change my password on the Instagram website instead of the app?

Yes. The steps are the same on the website: go to your profile, click the menu icon, select Settings and privacy, then Account, then Password. Enter your current password and your new password twice.

Should I tell my followers that I changed my password?

No. A password change is private and does not affect your account visibility or your followers. You only need to tell someone if you had shared your password with them and want them to know it has changed.