How to Delete or Deactivate Your Instagram Account

In late May 2026, Naomi Gleit, the Head of Product for Meta (the company behind Instagram), announced that the company would soon start rolling out subscription tiers for its flagship social media apps, including Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp. The comments from Meta users under Gleit’s Instagram post were mixed (at best), especially following the most recent Meta update: the inclusion of unskippable “ad breaks.”

So, if you’re one of the people who wants to doom scroll in peace, without interruptions and for free, you may soon be out of luck. But you always have the option to delete your Instagram account or just deactivate it temporarily for a quick breather. Follow along, and we’ll show you how.

How to delete an Instagram account

You can delete an Instagram account from your phone through the Instagram app using Meta’s Accounts Center, or on a computer by using Instagram’s account settings or Instagram’s direct account deletion page in a web browser.

Before permanently deleting your Instagram account, consider downloading a copy of your data. This allows you to keep your photos, videos, messages, and other account information so you don’t accidentally lose content you may want later.

Fortunately, Instagram allows you to back up your entire account easily. To request a backup via the Instagram app, go to Menu (three horizontal lines) > Accounts Center > Your information and permissions > Export your information > Create export.

Using your phone (iPhone or Android)

To permanently delete your Instagram account via your phone, you need to log in to the Instagram app and navigate to your Account’s privacy settings.

Instagram provides a deletion date, which will be 30 days after your request. During this period, your account will be hidden, and if you log in before the final deletion date, your deletion request will be canceled automatically.

Here’s how to delete Instagram from your phone:

1. Open the Instagram app and go to your Account Profile. Tap Menu (three horizontal lines) > Accounts Center > Manage Accounts.

   

2. Tap Manage in the same panel as your Instagram account. Choose Deactivation or deletion > Delete account > Continue.

   

3. Instagram will then show a summary of the data and content you’ll lose when your account is deleted. If you’ve already downloaded a backup, you can proceed by selecting Continue and following the prompts to confirm the deletion request.

Using a PC or Mac

There are two ways to delete Instagram using a Windows PC or Mac: either via a direct link to the Instagram deletion request page, or by navigating from your profile to the relevant settings page in a web browser. With both methods, your profile will be deactivated for 30 days before it is permanently removed.

If you change your mind, you can cancel the deletion process simply by signing in before the end of the 30-day period.

Delete Instagram via settings

1. Go to www.instagram.com using your browser and sign in. Click More (three horizontal lines). Then choose Settings > Accounts Center.

2. Click Manage accounts in the side panel.

3. Select the Instagram account you want to delete and click Manage > Deactivation or deletion > Deactivate account > Continue. Click Continue one more time.

4. Re-enter your password, then click Continue to (finally) confirm deletion.

Why can’t I delete my Instagram account?

If you’re struggling to delete your Instagram account, it’s probably due to one of the following issues:

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  You’re not logged in, or you can’t log in because you forgot your password.

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  You’re missing login details that you need to confirm deletion.

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  You can’t access your authenticator app or email account that you set up for two-factor authentication.

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  You didn’t follow all the deletion confirmation steps after pressing Continue.

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  You have temporary account restrictions, such as being banned or under review, that are preventing your account from being deleted immediately.

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  You have associated Meta accounts, such as Facebook or WhatsApp, that you need to unlink from your Instagram account before deleting it.

How to deactivate Instagram

Rather than permanently removing your account and all data, Instagram account deactivation temporarily hides your profile, photos, comments, and likes until you log back in to reactivate it. You might choose deactivation if you want a break from the platform without losing your content, followers, or account details.

You can deactivate your Instagram account in the mobile app, through the Account Center, or through a web browser on your computer.

On Android or iPhone

To deactivate your Instagram account from your phone, you must submit a request via the settings menu on your profile. You can find it under the Manage Accounts options in the Accounts Center.

Deactivation will hide your account, but nothing will be deleted. To reactivate your account, you simply need to log in — you can restart your deactivation if you’re not ready to come back to the platform. Instagram sets a limit of one deactivation request a week.

Here's how to deactivate your Instagram account on Android or iOS:

1. Open the Instagram app and go to your Account Profile. Tap Menu (three horizontal lines) > Accounts Center > Manage Accounts.

2. Tap Manage in the same panel as your Instagram account. Choose Deactivation or deletion > Deactivate account > Continue. Press Continue one more time, then follow the required instructions to confirm deactivation.

On a computer

The deactivation process on a computer follows a similar process to the phone app, but it’s done through a web browser instead.

Here’s how:

1. Go to www.instagram.com using your browser and sign in.

2. Click More (three horizontal lines). Then choose Settings > Accounts Center.

3. Click Manage accounts in the side panel.

4. Select the Instagram account you want to delete and click Manage > Deactivation or deletion > Deactivate account > Continue.

5. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the deactivation process.

Should you deactivate or delete Instagram?

Deactivating your account is temporary, and you can reactivate it at any time, but deleting your Instagram account is permanent — your profile, followers, photos and videos, comments, and likes will be gone forever (though this full process may take up to 90 days).

Deciding to deactivate or delete Instagram depends on your personal circumstances and goals for social media use.

After deletion, some information may still be retained, including server backups, security logs, and records required for legal or regulatory compliance. Content you previously shared with other users will also be preserved and visible to those recipients. Additionally, information that was shared with third parties before deletion may continue to exist outside Instagram’s control.

What happens when you deactivate your Instagram?

Once your account has been deactivated, your profile, photos, comments, and likes are instantly hidden from other users, your account won’t appear in searches, and people won’t be able to view or interact with your content. However, your data is not deleted immediately and remains stored, meaning you can restore your account and recover your information simply by logging back in.

Will my followers know if I delete my Instagram account?

If you delete your Instagram account, your followers will no longer see your profile, posts, or activity, and your information will be permanently removed from the platform. But, any direct messages you previously sent may still appear in your followers’ inboxes, even after your account is gone.

Alternatives to deleting or deactivating your Instagram

If you’re looking to step back from Instagram without deleting or deactivating your account, there are several ways to reduce distractions and protect your privacy (and sanity).

Here are some practical alternatives to consider:

• Mute accounts you don’t want to see or that are causing you stress.

• Turn off push notifications so Instagram activity, messages, and comments are less distracting.

• Set daily time limits in your cell phone’s settings.

• Create friction with third-party social media blockers, focus apps, or even physical tools like Brick, which forces you to tap your phone against a physical “brick” to open the app you want to check.

• And, my personal favorite! Delete the app icon from your phone’s Home screen — out of sight, out of mind.

How to reactivate your Instagram account

To reactivate an Instagram account, you simply need to sign in within 30 days of deletion: Open the Instagram app, enter your username and password, and tap Log In. Agree to the terms of use (only necessary if they’ve changed since you last logged in).

How to protect your Instagram data

Protect your Instagram data by controlling what you share, who sees it, and how it’s stored. One of the best things you can do is to review ad and data sharing preferences in your Meta settings and try to understand how your data is being used. You should also periodically request a copy of your Instagram data to know exactly what’s stored, where it’s stored, and for how long.

If you’re especially worried about strangers seeing your data or content, set your Instagram account to private and update your share settings so even your friends can’t share your content on their own sites, where people you don’t know could potentially see it.

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