You can change your Instagram email in Settings in about two minutes
Open Instagram on your phone or computer, go to your profile, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), and select Settings and Privacy. Choose Account Center, then Accounts, then select your Instagram account. Tap Email and enter your new email address. Instagram will send a confirmation link to that new address — click it within 24 hours to complete the change. Your old email stops working for Instagram login after you confirm.
The process is the same whether you use a phone, tablet, or desktop browser. If you cannot find Account Center, your app may need an update — check your device's app store first.
Key Takeaways
- You must have access to your new email address right now, because Instagram sends a confirmation link you have to click within 24 hours.
- If you lose access to your old email before changing it, you can use your phone number or username to recover your account instead.
- Changing your email does not change your password, username, or any of your posts — only the email Instagram uses to contact you and let you log in.
- If you share an Instagram account with someone else, changing the email locks them out until you give them the new login details.
What happens to your old email after the change
Once you confirm your new email, Instagram stops recognizing your old email as a login method. If someone tries to use your old email to log in, Instagram will tell them the account does not exist under that email. Your old email address is no longer tied to your account in any way.
This matters if you are moving away from an old email provider or if your old email is shared with someone you no longer trust. The change is permanent — you cannot switch back to your old email unless you change it again later.
What to do if you cannot access your new email right now
Do not start the email change if you cannot open the new email address when ready. Instagram only holds the confirmation link for 24 hours, and if you miss that window, the change fails and you have to start over.
If you are switching email providers and your new account is not quite ready, wait until you can receive mail there before you change it on Instagram. If you are changing to a work email and your IT department is still setting it up, do the Instagram change after your first login works.
If you no longer have access to your old email
If your old email is gone or you cannot log into it anymore, you can still change your Instagram email using your phone number or username instead. Go to Settings and Privacy, choose Account Center, then Accounts, then select your Instagram account. Tap Email, and Instagram will offer you the option to verify using your phone number or username if your old email is not working.
You will receive a code by text or see a verification step in the app. Complete that step, then enter your new email address. This path takes a few extra minutes but works even if your old email is completely inaccessible.
Shared accounts and email changes
If you and someone else share one Instagram account and you change the email, that person will not be able to log in anymore. They will see an error saying the email or password is wrong. You will need to give them the new email address and password, or change the password so you can share the new login details securely.
If you want to give someone else control of the account without sharing a password, Instagram offers account roles — you can make them a co-owner or admin through Account Center instead. That way they log in with their own credentials and you do not have to share your password.
Why you might want to change your email
The most common reasons are switching to a new email provider, using a work email instead of a personal one, or removing access from someone who used to share the account. Some people also change their email when they realize they used a typo or misspelling during signup and want to fix it.
Changing your email does not affect your account security on its own — a strong password matters much more. But if your old email is compromised or you no longer check it, moving to a new email means Instagram password reset codes and security alerts will go to an address you actually monitor.
Email change vs. password change
Changing your email and changing your password are two separate things. Your email is how you log in and how Instagram contacts you. Your password is what proves you are you when you enter that email. You can change one without changing the other.
If you are worried someone knows your password, change your password through Settings and Privacy > Password. If you are worried someone has access to your email account, change your Instagram email to a new one you control. If you are worried about both, do both changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for the email change to go through?
The confirmation link arrives in your new email within a few minutes. Once you click it, the change is when ready — you can log in with your new email right away. The whole process usually takes less than five minutes if you have access to both emails.
What if I click the confirmation link by accident and I did not mean to change my email?
If you clicked the link, the change is done. You can change it back by going through the same process again and entering your old email address. Instagram will send a new confirmation link to your old email, and once you click that, you are back where you started.
Can I use the same email for multiple Instagram accounts?
No. Each Instagram account must have its own unique email address. If you try to use an email that is already attached to another account, Instagram will reject it. You will need a different email for each account you own.
Do I need to change my password when I change my email?
No. Your password stays the same unless you change it separately. Changing your email does not reset your password or log you out. You can keep using the same password with your new email.
What if Instagram says my new email is already in use?
That email is attached to another Instagram account. You cannot use it unless you remove it from that other account first. If it is your own account, log into that account and change its email to something else. If it belongs to someone else, you will need to use a different email address.