Quick Answer (TL;DR)
To delete your Instagram account, open the app and go to Profile → menu (☰) → Settings and privacy → Accounts Center → Personal details → Account ownership and control → Deactivation or deletion. Next, select your Instagram account, tap Delete account, and choose Continue. Then pick a reason, enter your password, and confirm. Instagram hides your profile right away and deletes it for good after 30 days.
The 6 taps in short:
- First, tap your profile picture, then the ☰ menu, then Settings and privacy.
- Next, open Accounts Center.
- Then choose Personal details and Account ownership and control.
- After that, select Deactivation or deletion and pick your account.
- Now tap Delete account, and then Continue.
- Finally, choose a reason, enter your password, and delete.
Important: Do not log back in for 30 days, because logging in cancels the deletion.
Key Facts About Deleting Instagram
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Where is the option? | Accounts Center → Personal details → Account ownership and control → Deactivation or deletion |
| Works on | iPhone, Android, mobile browser, desktop browser |
| Is it instant? | No. Instagram hides your profile now, but full deletion takes 30 days |
| Can I undo it? | Yes, within 30 days, if you log back in |
| Can I undo it after 30 days? | No. Not even Instagram support can restore it |
| Password needed? | Yes |
| Does it delete Facebook too? | No. Facebook is a separate account |
| Does it delete Threads? | Yes, Instagram removes a linked Threads profile too |
| Full data removal time | Up to 90 days after deletion starts |
| Easier alternative | Deactivate (temporary and fully reversible) |
How Do I Delete My Instagram Account on iPhone or Android?
The steps stay the same on both phones.
- First, open the Instagram app and tap your profile picture at the bottom right.
- Next, tap the three lines (☰) at the top right.
- Then choose Settings and privacy.
- After that, tap Accounts Center.
- Select Personal details.
- Now tap Account ownership and control.
- Afterward, open Deactivation or deletion.
- Pick the Instagram account you want to delete, especially if you have more than one.
- Tap Delete account, and then choose Continue.
- Choose a reason from the list.
- Enter your password when Instagram asks.
- Finally, tap Delete [your username] to confirm.
As soon as you confirm, Instagram hides your profile, posts, Reels, Stories, comments, and likes from public view.
Menu looks different? Meta sometimes shows a different Accounts Center layout. For example, you might see Profiles and personal details instead of Personal details. In that case, tap it, choose Manage next to your account type, and then open Deactivation or deletion. Either way, the end of the path stays the same.
How Do I Delete My Instagram Account on a Computer?
You can delete your account from any browser.
- First, go to instagram.com and log in.
- Next, click More at the bottom left, and then click Settings.
- Then click Accounts Center.
- After that, go to Personal details and Account ownership and control.
- Now click Deactivation or deletion and select your account.
- Click Delete account, then Continue.
- Finally, choose a reason, enter your password, and confirm.
If the page stalls or a button does nothing, switch to the phone app. Alternatively, open instagram.com in a mobile browser, because Accounts Center often loads better there.
Old tutorials warning: Some guides still point to old delete pages or direct links. However, those often fail today. Accounts Center is the current route.
How Do I Delete My Instagram Account From Another Phone?
You do not need your own phone. You can delete your account from any phone, tablet, or computer, as long as you can log in.
Steps on a borrowed or different phone:
- First, open the Instagram app or instagram.com in the phone’s browser.
- Next, log in with your username and password.
- When Instagram offers to save your login info, choose Not now.
- Then follow the same steps above, from Accounts Center to Delete account.
- Afterward, log out, and clear the browser history if the phone isn’t yours.
If a security code appears: With two-factor authentication on, Instagram sends a code to your old phone or asks for your authenticator app. However, if you no longer have that phone, use a saved backup code. Alternatively, tap the option to confirm it’s you another way.
If you still log in on an old phone you can’t reach: First, log in on the new device. Then open Accounts Center → Password and security, and end the old device’s session in the section that lists your active logins. This step also helps if you lost the old phone.
Tip: Deleting from a friend’s phone doesn’t touch their account. It only affects the account you log into.
Can I Delete Instagram Without a Password?
No. Instagram asks for your password on the final step, so you need to know it or reset it first.
How to reset it:
- First, tap Forgot password? on the login screen.
- Next, enter your username, email, or phone number.
- Then open the reset link that Instagram sends you.
- After that, create a new password and log in.
- Finally, follow the delete steps above.
Can you still open Instagram on a device but forgot the password? Usually, you can reset it from Accounts Center → Password and security → Change password with the Forgot password? option. Otherwise, log out and use the login screen.
Signed up with Facebook? If you log into Instagram through Facebook, you may not have an Instagram password. In that case, use Forgot password first to create one, and then delete.
No access to your email or phone number either? Password reset won’t work then. Instead, you need Instagram’s account recovery process, which may ask you to confirm your identity, for example with a video selfie. So recover the account first, and then delete it.
What Should I Do Before Deleting My Instagram Account?
Run through this checklist first, because you can’t go back after 30 days.
Pre-deletion checklist
- ☐ First, download your data. Go to Accounts Center → Your information and permissions → Download your information, and request your photos, videos, and messages.
- ☐ Next, save anything you can’t replace, such as old Reels, your Stories archive, and important DMs.
- ☐ Also, tell close friends where to find you. Your DMs stay in their inbox, but they won’t reach you anymore.
- ☐ Then cancel paid subscriptions or ads, including Meta Verified or active ad billing.
- ☐ Likewise, disconnect apps linked to Instagram, such as scheduling tools and link-in-bio sites.
- ☐ In addition, plan for Threads. Because Instagram deletes a linked Threads profile, download that data too if you want to keep it.
- ☐ Meanwhile, set a password if you use Facebook login, since you need it to confirm the deletion.
- ☐ Finally, check that you can still log into Facebook on its own.
What Happens After I Delete My Instagram Account?
Here is the timeline.
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Day 0 | You confirm, and Instagram hides your profile, photos, and comments from everyone |
| Days 1–30 | Grace period. If you log in once, the deletion stops |
| Day 30 | Deletion becomes permanent, and you can’t reverse it |
| Up to Day 90 | Instagram clears your data from its systems |
What Instagram removes
- Your profile and username
- Photos, videos, Reels, and Stories
- Comments and likes
- Followers and following lists
- Your linked Threads profile
What stays
- Messages you sent. Copies stay in other people’s inboxes, usually without your profile details.
- Your Facebook account, which Instagram doesn’t delete.
- Screenshots or reposts that other people saved of your content.
Can I use the same username again? After deletion, your username may become free for others. You can sign up again with it, but only if nobody else has taken it in the meantime.
Should I Delete or Deactivate My Instagram Account?
Deactivate if you only want a break. Delete if you’re sure you’re done.
| Deactivate | Delete | |
|---|---|---|
| Profile visible? | Hidden | Hidden, then erased |
| Reversible? | Yes, anytime | Only within 30 days |
| How to come back | Log in | Log in within 30 days |
| Data kept? | Yes | Instagram removes it after 30 days |
| Username safe? | Yes | Others may claim it |
| Limits | Once every 7 days | None |
| Best for | Breaks, job hunts, digital detox | Leaving for good |
How to deactivate: Follow the same path (Accounts Center → Personal details → Account ownership and control → Deactivation or deletion). Then choose Deactivate account on the last screen.
What Mistakes Should I Avoid When Deleting Instagram?
- Logging in during the 30 days. Even one login cancels the deletion, and that includes opening the app, reusing an old tab, or letting a third-party app sign in for you.
- Skipping the data download. Once the account disappears, your photos and messages disappear with it.
- Deleting the wrong account. If you have several accounts, check the username on the selection screen.
- Deleting a hacked account. Recover it first, because a hacker may already have changed your email, phone, or password, and you could lose any proof that the account was yours.
- Following outdated tutorials. Old menu paths and direct links often lead nowhere.
- Assuming Facebook disappears too. Instead, you must delete it separately.
- Forgetting Threads. It goes with your Instagram profile.
Why Can’t I Delete My Instagram Account? (Troubleshooting)
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Can’t find “Deactivation or deletion” | Update the app, or try instagram.com in a browser |
| Menu says “Profiles and personal details” | Tap it, then Manage, then Deactivation or deletion |
| Password doesn’t work | Reset it with Forgot password? |
| No reset email or SMS arrives | Check spam, confirm the address or number, wait a few minutes, then retry |
| “Something went wrong” error | Log out, restart the app, switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data, and try again |
| Button does nothing on desktop | Use the mobile app or a mobile browser |
| Someone hacked your account | Recover it first with Instagram’s hacked account help, then delete |
| Deletion stopped by itself | You or a connected app logged in during the 30 days. Start again and stay logged out |
Are There Alternatives to Deleting Instagram?
If you want less Instagram but aren’t ready to quit, try these options:
- Deactivate for a temporary break.
- Set a daily time limit in Settings and privacy.
- Turn off notifications, so the app stops pulling you back.
- Switch to a private account to control who sees your content.
- Archive posts instead of deleting them.
- Delete just the app from your phone, and keep the account.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I delete my Instagram account permanently?
Go to Accounts Center → Personal details → Account ownership and control → Deactivation or deletion, choose your account, and select Delete account. After 30 days without a login, the deletion becomes permanent.
How long does it take to delete an Instagram account?
Instagram hides your profile immediately. Then permanent deletion happens after 30 days. In total, removing all data from Instagram’s systems can take up to 90 days.
Can I delete my Instagram account immediately?
No. You can’t skip or shorten the 30-day waiting period. Instagram built it so you can change your mind.
Can I recover my Instagram account after deleting it?
Yes, but only within 30 days. Simply log in and confirm that you want to keep the account. After 30 days, nobody can recover it.
How do I delete my Instagram account from another phone?
Log in on that phone with your username and password, and then follow the normal steps through Accounts Center. However, don’t save your login info. Also, log out when you finish.
How do I delete my Instagram account without a password?
You can’t. First, reset your password with Forgot password, and then delete the account. If you can’t reach your email or phone, you need Instagram’s account recovery first.
Can I delete my Instagram account without my phone number or email?
Yes, if you can still log in and know your password. However, if you can’t log in and can’t receive a reset link, you must recover access first.
Does deleting Instagram delete Facebook?
No. They are separate accounts, even though Meta links them in Accounts Center. Therefore, you must delete Facebook on its own.
Does deleting Instagram delete Threads?
Yes. Threads runs on your Instagram login, so deleting your Instagram account removes a linked Threads profile too. If you want to keep your posts, download your Threads data first.
Will my messages disappear when I delete Instagram?
Not for other people. Messages you sent stay in the recipients’ inboxes. Meanwhile, your own copy disappears with your account.
Can I get my username back after deleting?
Possibly. If nobody else has taken it, you can sign up again with the same username.
How many times can I deactivate Instagram?
You can deactivate once every 7 days. Besides that, there’s no limit on how long an account can stay deactivated.
Can I delete someone else’s Instagram account?
No. You can only delete an account you can log into. Instead, if an account impersonates you or breaks the rules, use the Report option on the profile.
Is deactivating better than deleting?
Deactivating works better if you might return. On the other hand, deleting suits you if you want your data gone and you’re sure you won’t come back.
Ready to Leave Instagram? Your Next Steps
- First, download your data.
- Next, cancel subscriptions and connected apps.
- Then follow the Accounts Center steps above.
- Finally, log out everywhere and stay away for 30 days.
Leaving other apps too? Browse more step-by-step account deletion guides for the platforms you want to leave.
Official help: Instagram Help Center: delete or deactivate your profile · Delete your Threads account
Alex Mu is a digital technology writer focused on Telegram, account management, online privacy, and app troubleshooting. Through clear, practical guides, Alex helps readers understand digital platforms, manage their accounts, and resolve common technical issues. His work emphasizes accurate information, simple explanations, and step-by-step solutions that readers can follow with confidence.
