The social media detox is a trend unlikely to go away anytime soon. If you’re ready to cut down or quit social media entirely, you’ve come to the right place. This guide will show you how to delete Instagram permanently or deactivate your Instagram account to take a break. Then, get a powerful anti-tracking app to help prevent Instagram and other companies from following your activity online.
To delete Instagram using your phone app, you need to find the account ownership and control section in the settings menu and select deactivation or deletion.
Deleting your Instagram account isn’t instant. Once a request is made, Instagram will confirm a deletion date, which will be 30 days later. Your account will be temporarily deactivated during this period and then permanently removed if you don’t sign in during the 30-day period.
Whether you’re removing your embarrassing old social media account, reducing the amount of information you share online, or cutting back on the number of social media platforms you’re active on, deleting or deactivating your Instagram is a simple process.
Here’s how to permanently delete your Instagram account from the phone app:
Tap your Profile > Menu > Settings and privacy > Accounts Center.
Tap Personal details > Account ownership and control > Deactivation or deletion.
Choose the account you want to delete and select Delete account > Continue.
Re-enter your password, choose the reason why you’re leaving, and then tap Continue. Your account will now be set for deletion in 30 days.
To temporarily disable your Instagram account via the Android or iOS app, you need to go to Deactivation or deletion in the settings menu under Account ownership and control. Follow the instructions and your account will be hidden from other users.
Nothing will be deleted while your account is deactivated, and you can reactivate it simply by signing in again. While your account is deactivated, it will be hidden online and won’t be visible to your friends or anyone who might search for you.
Here’s how to deactivate your Instagram account using the mobile app:
Tap your Profile > Menu > Settings and privacy > Accounts Center.
Tap Personal details > Account ownership and control > Deactivation or deletion.
Choose the account you want to deactivate. Select Deactivate account > Continue.
Re-enter your password, choose the reason why you’re deactivating your account, and then tap Continue. Your account will now be deactivated.
You can delete your Instagram account on a PC or Mac via the Accounts Center.
Here’s how to delete your account on a computer:
Log into your Instagram account.
Go to More > Settings > Accounts Center.
Click Personal details > Account ownership and control.
Click Deactivation or deletion.
Select your account, then click the button next to Delete account > Continue.
Enter your password, choose a reason for leaving, then click Continue > Delete account.
Another way to delete Instagram is to make a permanent removal request. Sign into the account you want to delete and request a permanent removal. Choose your reason for leaving from the list, re-enter your password, and click Delete to confirm.
The steps for deactivating your Instagram on your computer are identical to those above for deleting an account in Accounts Center — just choose Deactivate account in step 5.
Here’s how to deactivate your Instagram account on a computer:
Log into your Instagram account.
Go to More > Settings > Accounts Center.
Click Personal details > Account ownership and control.
Click Deactivation or deletion.
Select your account, then click the button next to Deactivate account > Continue.
Enter your password, choose a reason for deactivating, then click Continue > Deactivate account.
The difference between deleting your Instagram account and just deactivating it is that once your account is deleted, it’s gone permanently. Deactivating your account is like freezing it: it won’t be visible to your friends and will be hidden from anyone who searches for it, but you can reactivate it anytime and no data will have been lost.
All you need to do to reactivate your Instagram account is to sign back in — either on the mobile app or the website. If you choose to delete your account, you must log back in within the 30-day deactivation period, otherwise you won’t be able to restore it. If your account is deactivated, it will remain frozen and invisible to anyone on the platform until you log back in.
When you reactivate your Instagram account, it will be just as it was when you left.
To gain more control over your other social media accounts, see our guides for deleting or deactivating your Facebook account and Twitter.
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Instagram will only allow accounts to be deleted by the account holder. You must be signed in to delete or deactivate Instagram and re-enter your password to confirm the request.
It takes 30 days for an Instagram account to be deleted. It cannot be done immediately. To give people a chance to change their mind, any deletion request must complete the 30-day deactivation period before the account is permanently deleted.
No. You must sign in to request that your account be deleted.
Instagram accounts cannot be deleted without the correct password or email address. Users can change their password using the Forgot password button on the login screen.
To request a copy of your Instagram data in your Instagram account settings, go to the Menu button > Your Activity > Download Your Information > enter your email address > choose the format of the file > Request download.
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