Easy Way to Permanently Deactivate or Delete Instagram Account
Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 1 billion monthly active users. But while many people enjoy using Instagram, others may find it distracting or time consuming and want to take a break or delete their account entirely.
Deleting your Instagram account is permanent and will remove all of your content, including photos, videos, comments, likes, and followers. So, it’s not a decision to take lightly. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about how to delete your Instagram account, from considerations to take before deleting to the step-by-step process.
Key Takeaways
- Deleting an Instagram account is permanent, and all content will be removed.
- You can temporarily disable your account instead of deleting it to take a break.
- To delete, go to settings > help > manage account > delete your account.
- It can take up to 90 days for Instagram to delete your account fully.
- Consider downloading your data before deleting your account.
- Be sure to unlink any other social media accounts connected to Instagram.
Consider Taking a Temporary Break Instead
Before deleting your account, consider whether you may want to take a break from Instagram instead. This allows you to step away for a while without erasing your account and all its content.
Here are a couple of options for temporarily disabling your Instagram account:
- Disable your account: This will prevent your profile and content from being visible to other users on Instagram. You can reactivate your account at any time to restore everything.
- Use Instagram’s daily reminder – You can set Instagram to notify you each day when you’ve reached a predetermined time limit. This can encourage you to spend less time mindlessly scrolling.
- Log out of the app: Simply logging out can create a barrier and an extra step before accessing Instagram again. Delete the app from your phone to make it even more inconvenient.
If you find after an extended break that you really don’t miss Instagram, you can consider permanent deletion. However, temporary disabling gives you the flexibility to change your mind.
Download Your Instagram Data
Before deleting your account, download a copy of your Instagram data for your records. Here’s how to download your Instagram data:
- Go to your Instagram profile and click the menu icon in the top right.
- Select Settings > Security > Download Data.
- Enter your email address and click Request Download.
- You’ll receive an email when your data is ready to download (within 48 hours).
- Follow the link in the email to access your data, which can be downloaded in HTML or JSON formats.
Downloading your data allows you to retain a copy of photos, messages, archived stories, and more. However, your data will be removed from Instagram’s servers once your deletion is complete.
Unlink Connected Accounts
If you have your Instagram account linked to other social media accounts like Facebook or Twitter, be sure to unlink them prior to deleting them. Here’s how:
- Go to your profile and click the menu icon.
- Select Settings > Accounts Center.
- Tap each connected account and click Unlink.
This ensures content from your Instagram won’t be posted to your other accounts once Instagram is deleted.
Consider Your Reasons for Deleting
Before taking the permanent step of deleting your account, think carefully about your reasons for doing so. Here are some common motivations people have for deleting Instagram:
- It needs to be more distracting and time-consuming.
- You’re concerned about privacy or security.
- It causes negative social comparison or poor self-image.
- You want to take a definitive break from social media.
- You feel pressure to keep up an online persona.
- Your account was hacked or compromised.
If any of these resonate with you, deleting your account may be the right personal choice. Just be sure you’ve considered other options like disabling or restricting use first.
How to Permanently Delete Your Instagram Account
If you’ve decided to proceed with permanent account deletion, here is the step-by-step process to delete your Instagram account:
- Log in to your Instagram account through the app or desktop site.
- Go to your profile by clicking your profile picture in the bottom right (app) or top right (desktop).
- Access settings by clicking the three horizontal lines (app) or cog icon (desktop) in the top right of your profile.
- Select Help Center from the menu.
- Choose Manage Your Account > Delete Your Account.
- Select an option for why you’re deleting your account. This is optional but helps Instagram improve the platform.
- Re-enter your password when prompted for confirmation.
- Click or tap Permanently Delete [Account Name] to complete deleting your account.
Once you click to delete permanently, your account will be scheduled for termination and removed within 90 days. You can repeat the steps above to cancel deletion during that window if you change your mind.
What Happens When You Delete Your Instagram Account
Here’s an overview of what happens after you delete your Instagram account:
- Your profile, photos, videos, comments, likes, and followers are permanently removed.
- You immediately lose access to the account.
- Instagram starts a 90-day process of deleting your account from its servers.
- Your username becomes available for anyone else to claim after the deletion is complete.
- Instagram’s terms allow them to retain some data for business purposes.
Essentially, all of your content and activity will be erased, but Instagram may retain data such as analytics in an aggregated, anonymized form.
Can You Recover a Deleted Instagram Account?
Unfortunately, once you permanently delete your Instagram account, there is no way to recover or reactivate it. The deletion is designed to be permanent, so you cannot retrieve your old profile or username after the fact.
That’s why it’s so important to be 100% certain you want to delete your account before initiating the process. If you have second thoughts within the first 90 days, you can cancel the scheduled deletion. But after the 90-day window ends, there is no account recovery option.
The only way to get your account back after permanent deletion is to create a brand-new account. You’ll have to start fresh with a new username and build up your followers again.
Should You Create a New Instagram After Deleting?
If you regret deleting your Instagram account, you might be tempted to create a new profile. But take some time to reflect before rushing back onto the platform.
Consider what caused you to delete your account in the first place. Were you spending too much time mindlessly scrolling? Feeling down about comparing yourself to others? Need help to maintain an impressive Instagram persona?
If the same problems are likely to reemerge, creating a new Instagram right away may set you up for the same frustrations. Give yourself time away from the platform to break old habits.
If you do create a new account after deleting, set strict limits around usage from the start. Use tools like time limits, muting accounts, and turning off notifications to foster healthier social media habits.
Tips for Living Without Instagram
Deleting Instagram can open up more time in your day and reduce social media-induced anxiety. Here are some tips for adapting to life without Instagram:
- Fill time wisely by picking up new hobbies, reading, exercising, socializing in-person, etc. This prevents boredom scrolling.
- Stay connected by texting or calling friends directly instead of Instagram messaging. Make plans to meet up.
- Limit Facebook usage as well if Instagram causes negative social comparison.
- Consider an alternative like Snapchat or TikTok if you still want a social media outlet. Use them mindfully.
- Delete the app from your phone to avoid reinstalling on impulse. Log out on the desktop too.
- Focus on real life and keep your eyes up to appreciate your surroundings versus viewing life through your phone camera.
The first few weeks without Instagram may feel jarring. But stay committed to the benefits you identified in deleting your account, and soon, not having Instagram will start to feel liberating.
Final Thoughts
Deleting your Instagram account is a permanent, irreversible decision that erases all of your content and profile information from Instagram’s servers. Be sure to download your data and Unlink connected accounts, and seriously evaluate your motivations before proceeding. If you do decide to delete your account, follow the steps outlined above to remove your presence from the platform permanently. While it may feel strange at first, deleting Instagram can free up more time and reduce social media-induced stress.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about deleting Instagram accounts:
How long does it take Instagram to delete my account fully?
Instagram can take up to 90 days after you initiate deletion to completely scrub your account from their systems. However, your account becomes inaccessible immediately after starting deletion.
Can I temporarily disable it instead of deleting it?
Yes, disabling is a great alternative to test drive life without Instagram but retain the ability to reactivate your account. All your content will remain intact.
What exactly is deleted when I permanently delete my account?
All your posts, photos, videos, comments, likes, profile info, followers, messages, etc., will eventually be permanently wiped from Instagram’s servers.
Can someone else claim my old username after deletion?
Yes, once the 90-day deletion process is completed, your old username becomes available for anyone to claim a new account.
Can I download my data before deleting my account?
Fortunately, yes. Before deletion, be sure to download your personal data for your records. The data will aid the deletion process and reduce misuse.
What if I change my mind and want to cancel deletion?
You can cancel a deletion request within the first 90 days before Instagram completes it. Log in and go through the deletion steps again.
Does Instagram retain any of my data after deleting an account?
Instagram’s terms allow them to retain some aggregated, anonymized data for analytics and business purposes, but they remove all personal data.
Jinu Arjun
