How to Delete Instagram Account Permanently or Deactivate (2023)

Jump to…

  • Delete Instagram Account permanently
  • Deactivate Instagram Account temporarily
  • Backup your Instagram Data
  • Is Instagram Safe?

IMPORTANT!

Some Points are needed to be considered before you proceed to delete or deactivate your Instagram account.

If you have decided to take this temporary measure (deactivate your Instagram account temporarily), your photos profile, comments, and likes will be hidden entirely but when you log back, all the activity will be restored itself.

If you have decided to take the permanent measure (to permanently delete your account forever), your photos profile, comments, and likes will go like as they never were there. Keep in mind that you won’t be able to recover.

Try backing up your whole data uploaded on Instagram before saying bye forever and download the whole Instagram activity by following the link.

Most importantly if you decide to re-register your account again, your username will be gone and chances are that someone would have taken that username.

Also, Instagram can’t reactivate deleted accounts so think twice before deleting it forever.

Get an overview of Instagram’s privacy policy from here.

How to Delete Your Instagram Account Permanently

  • Access the “Delete Your Account Page” on your phone browser or desktop page.Note: You can’t delete your Instagram account within Instagram application you can either do it using desktop or via browser on your iPhone or android phone.

  • After visiting, log into your account if you are not already logged in.

    How to Delete Instagram Account Permanently or Deactivate (1)
  • Next to “Why are you deleting your account”, select the reason why you wish to delete your Instagram account from the options in the “drop-down menu”.

    How to Delete Instagram Account Permanently or Deactivate (2)
  • Re-enter your Instagram password.

    How to Delete Instagram Account Permanently or Deactivate (3)
  • Finally click on “Permanently delete my account”.

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How to Deactivate Instagram Account Temporarily?

You may not want to disable your Instagram account permanently for now. If so, you can delete your Instagram account temporarily by following these steps:

  • Log in to your Instagram account from its website via browser as your account cannot be disabled through the app.

    How to Delete Instagram Account Permanently or Deactivate (5)
  • Next, click “Edit Profile.”

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  • Click on“Temporarily disable my account” at the bottom.

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  • Select reason for disabling your account from the drop-down menu next to “Why are you disabling your account“.

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  • Re-enter your password to confirm and procced to disable your account.

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  • Click “Temporarily Disable Account“.

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Note: All of your data and followers with in the profile remain hidden until you reactivate it by logging back in.

How to backup all the data uploaded on Instagram account:

  • Log in to your Instagram account and go to your profile.
  • Click on the hamburger icon and navigate to settings.
  • Click “Data Download” it will ask for your email address and password. You can also click here to view data download page.
  • Once done, your data will be sent to your email address within 24 hours.

Why Would You Delete Your Instagram Account?

With more than 1 billion monthly users, Instagram has become a platform for all kinds of people. From food bloggers to travel influencers, Instagram hosts individuals and groups from all parts of the globe. The platform has allowed users to share daily happenings along with hashtags to create a trend and gain popularity quickly.

A platform of this magnitude that hosts hundreds of millions of daily active users attracts not only average internet users who wish to share their daily activities but individuals with illicit intentions. Cybercriminals are always looking for hot zones that attract several people to target a huge audience easily.

Apps like Instagram attract cybercriminals who are eagerly looking for ways to target individuals. It could be via cyberstalking, cyberbullying, or hacking into a user’s account. Whatever the reason it may be, the costs of such an action can have both monetary and emotional loss to the user.

Many people are now deleting Instagram as the whole concept of taking an interesting picture, then taking forever to edit it, forever to think of a nice caption, and then finally post it after contemplating for hours to get a few likes doesn’t make sense anymore.

That’s not it. Many people are getting tired of seeing perfection 24/7 on the app while the reality on the ground is way different. When you see perfection on a digital screen and compare it to your daily life, it just makes you sick as normal day-to-day life isn’t sophisticated. When most people post their very best and heightened moments, it just isn’t real and instead fake.

More people are also deleting the app as they are starting to conform in a way where you do what everyone else is doing and act as expected from you. It’s easy to understand the extent of social media apps and their grasp on us by simply heading outside to a public place. You’ll notice people on their phones choosing to miss out on incredible moments and experiences.

You don’t have to head far to see the immense reliance people have created around social media apps. For some, posting a picture of their lunch before they start eating has become a norm. For others, sharing their morning face daily and update followers about their whereabouts is a common thing.

Not realizing what immense sharing can have an impact on you psychologically, Instagram users excessively share about their daily happenings and yet complain about feeling alone and unhappy. Studies prove that teenagers are the most affected by the growing involvement of social media apps in our lives.

At the same time, as cyberattacks increase on a monthly basis with more victims each time, it only makes sense that you would want to disassociate yourself from an app that can cause you so much harm.

Is Instagram safe?

Update: It was reported in March 2019, that Facebook employees had access to passwords of 600 million Instagram users. An internal investigation was carried out by the company which concluded that passwords stored were not misused or leaked to any third party. However, it is an alarming sign for users who are concerned about their internet privacy and online freedom.

Who’s to say your account details weren’t or can’t be misused? Security experts have advised all users to take precautionary measures before it’s too late!

Apparently, Instagram is safe for use. However, the platform compromises your privacy and security making you vulnerable to external threats by hackers and cybercriminals. For e.g. a hacker can learn a lot more about you by checking out your pictures on Instagram. They can use this information to harm you and hack into your accounts or devices.

Cyberstalkers also use this information to monitor your daily activities and gather enough information so they can blackmail you or harm you in any manner.

It is advised to use a VPN whenever surf online, it not only helps you to remain anonymous but also secures you from hackers to track your activities online.

Get Secured Now Because your Privacy Matters

Want to reclaim your online privacy? You might want to check below how to delete your account guides of social media platforms:

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  • How to Delete Your Google Search History Permanently
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  • How to Delete Google Photos
  • How to Protect Your Webcam from Being Hacked
  • Delete Firefox Search Browsing History
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  • How to Delete Safari on Mac or iOS
  • How to Delete Pokémon Go Account Permanently
  • How to Uninstall Dropbox from Your Desktop or Mobile

FAQs

How to Delete Instagram Account Permanently or Deactivate? ›

Delete your Instagram account. When you delete your account, your profile, photos, videos, comments, likes and followers will be permanently removed. If you'd just like to take a break, you can temporarily deactivate your account instead. For security reasons, we can't delete an account for you.

Is deleting an Instagram account permanently? ›

Delete your Instagram account. When you delete your account, your profile, photos, videos, comments, likes and followers will be permanently removed. If you'd just like to take a break, you can temporarily deactivate your account instead. For security reasons, we can't delete an account for you.

How to delete Instagram account permanently step by step 2023? ›

The process for deleting Instagram is the same for both iPhone and Android. Tap the menu icon in the top-right corner of your profile and tap “Settings.” Tap “Accounts Center” > “Personal details.” Tap “Account ownership and control” > “Deactivation or deletion.”

Why can I not delete my Instagram account? ›

You cannot delete your Instagram account via the mobile app. You can only delete your account by logging into Instagram from your desktop or mobile browser.

Will my account be deleted if I deactivate? ›

Deactivating your account does not fully delete it. When you deactivate your account, Facebook saves all of your settings, photos, and information in case you decide to reactivate your account.

How do you know if your Instagram account is permanently deleted? ›

  1. 1) You cannot login.
  2. 2) You receive a pop-up notification at login.
  3. 3) Friends/Followers cannot find your account in the search.
  4. 4) Friends/Followers cannot send you a DM.
  5. 5) Your account has disappeared.
  6. 6) You account says no posts yet.
Dec 25, 2020

How do I delete my Instagram account at 22? ›

Step 1: Open your Instagram app and click the profile icon. Step 2: Next, tap the hamburger Menu and click Settings in the list. Step 3: Select Account. Step 4: Click Delete Account at the bottom.

How long before an inactive Instagram account is deleted? ›

Instagram states inactive accounts are qualified for deletion if they are not used continuously for a period of 90 days. Yet, the organization seldom erases accounts that soon. However, in order to avoid having their accounts deleted, the staff encourages users to log in and use the platform occasionally.

What are reasons to delete Instagram account? ›

Nine Reasons Why You Should Delete Instagram
  • Regain Control of Your Time. ...
  • Create Real-World Connections. ...
  • Procrastinate Less and Boost Productivity. ...
  • Get Rid of the Social Validation Trap. ...
  • Focus More on Your Goals and Achievements. ...
  • Sleep Longer (and More Soundly) ...
  • Avoid Scams. ...
  • Regain Your Self-Esteem.
Apr 27, 2023

How do I contact Instagram? ›

You can contact Instagram support by phone at 1-650-543-4800 or via Instagram's online Help Center.

Can I deactivate Instagram for 2 years? ›

If you've deactivated your account and don't want to log back in anytime soon in the foreseeable future, it's only natural that you'd wonder if you will lose your data. You don't need to worry about your data because Instagram doesn't have a specific restriction on how long you can keep your account deactivated.

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