The quickest way to change your Instagram email
You can change the email address on your Instagram account in about two minutes through the app or website. Go to your profile, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), select Settings and privacy, then Account, then Email address. Type your new email, tap Next, and Instagram will send a confirmation link to that new address. Click the link to finish.
The email you use for Instagram serves two purposes: it's how you log in, and it's where Instagram sends password reset codes if you get locked out. Changing it doesn't affect your username, followers, posts, or anything else visible on your profile. Only you and Instagram know which email is attached to your account.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your Instagram email through Settings and privacy > Account > Email address in the app or on the website.
- Instagram sends a confirmation link to your new email address, and you must click it within a set time to complete the change.
- Your old email address stops working for Instagram login when ready after you confirm the new one.
- If you no longer have access to your current email, you will need to use a recovery phone number or contact Instagram support instead.
- Changing your email does not change your username, password, or anything visible on your profile.
Step-by-step: changing your email on mobile or desktop
On the Instagram app: Open Instagram and go to your profile by tapping the person icon at the bottom right. Tap the three horizontal lines in the top right corner. Scroll down and tap Settings and privacy. Tap Account. Tap Email address. Clear the current email and type your new one. Tap Next. Instagram will send a confirmation email to your new address — check that inbox and click the link inside. You're done.
On Instagram.com: Log in and click your profile picture in the top right. Click Settings. On the left side, click Account. Click Email address. Type your new email and click Next. Confirm the link sent to your new email address, the same way as the app.
The confirmation link usually arrives within a few minutes. If you don't see it, check your spam or promotions folder — some email providers filter Instagram's messages. The link expires after a certain amount of time, so don't wait days to click it. If it expires, you can go back to Settings and request a new confirmation email.
What happens if you can't access your current email anymore
If the email address on your Instagram account no longer works — you closed it, lost access to it, or it was compromised — you cannot change it through the normal Settings menu. Instagram will try to send the confirmation link to that old address, which defeats the purpose.
Instead, use your recovery phone number. Go to Settings and privacy > Account > Phone number. If you have a phone number on file, you can use that to verify your identity and change your email. Tap the phone number field, confirm it's correct, and Instagram will send a code to that phone. Enter the code, then you can change your email normally.
If you don't have a recovery phone number either, you will need to contact Instagram directly. Go to Settings and privacy > Help > Report a problem. Explain that you cannot access your current email and ask for help changing it. Instagram support can verify your identity through other means — they may ask you questions about your account history or ask you to take a photo with a code they provide. This process takes longer than the normal email change, sometimes several days.
Why Instagram asks you to confirm your new email
The confirmation step protects your account from someone else changing your email without permission. If a person gains temporary access to your Instagram — through a weak password, a shared device, or a phishing link — they could try to change your email to lock you out. The confirmation requirement means they would also need access to your new email address to finish the job, which is much harder.
This is why it matters which email you use. If you change your Instagram email to an address you share with a roommate, a family member, or a work account you don't fully control, that person could theoretically see the confirmation link and complete the change themselves. Use an email address only you can access.
Changing your email without losing access to two-factor authentication
If you have two-factor authentication turned on — which means Instagram asks for a code from an app or your phone number every time you log in — changing your email does not turn it off. Your two-factor settings stay exactly as they are.
However, if you use an authentication app like Google Authenticator or Authy, make sure you still have access to it after you change your email. The app itself is not tied to your email; it's tied to your phone. As long as you keep that phone or back up your authentication codes, you can still log in. If you lose the phone and don't have backup codes saved, you will be locked out even if you know your password and have access to your new email.
Changing your email if you also want to change your password
You can change both at the same time, but do them in either order — it doesn't matter. Change your email first, confirm it, then go to Settings and privacy > Account > Password and type a new one. Or change your password first, then your email. Either way, you will be logged out after you change your password, and you will need to log back in with your new email address and new password.
If you change your email and then forget your new password, use the "Forgot password?" link on the login screen. Instagram will send a reset code to your new email address. This is why it's critical to confirm your new email before you log out — if you don't confirm it and then lose your password, you could be locked out.
What to do if the email change didn't go through
If you completed all the steps but your email still shows the old address in Settings, the confirmation likely didn't happen. Go back to Settings and privacy > Account > Email address. If it still shows your old email, try the process again. Request a new confirmation email and check your spam folder more carefully — look for any message from Instagram, noreply@instagram.com, or mail.instagram.com.
If you've tried multiple times and the confirmation email never arrives, your email provider might be blocking Instagram's messages entirely. Try changing to a different email address — one from a different provider like Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo — and see if that confirmation email comes through. Once you change to that address successfully, you can change again to your preferred email if you want.
If nothing works, contact Instagram support through Settings and privacy > Help > Report a problem. Describe what you've tried and ask them to help you change your email manually. Include the email address you want to use and any recovery phone number on your account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does changing my email change my Instagram username?
No. Your email and username are separate. Your username is what other people see and use to find you. Your email is private and only used for logging in and receiving account notifications. Changing one has no effect on the other.
Can I use the same email for multiple Instagram accounts?
No. Each Instagram account must have a unique email address. If you try to use an email that's already attached to another account, Instagram will reject it. You will need a different email for each account you own.
What if I change my email and then when ready forget my password?
Use the "Forgot password?" option on the login screen and enter your new email address. Instagram will send a password reset code to that email. Make sure you confirmed your new email address before you log out, or you won't be able to receive the reset code.
Does Instagram notify anyone when I change my email?
Instagram does not send a notification to your old email address or to your followers. No one else knows you changed it. The only person who sees the change is you, in your account settings.
Can I change my email back to the old one later?
Yes. You can change your email as many times as you want, as long as each new email is unique and you have access to it to confirm the change. There is no limit on how often you can do this.