Instagram instagram.com How to delete your Instagram account
Open Settings, go to Accounts Center, choose your profile under deactivation or deletion, pick Delete account and confirm. Deletion isn't instant: you have 30 days to cancel by logging back in, and it can take up to 90 days to finish.
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- instagram.com
- Type
- Delete an account
- Last updated
Step by step
- 1
Download your data first
Use Instagram's Export your information tool before you start. After your profile is deleted, you can't use it any more.
- 2
Open Accounts Center
In Instagram, go to Settings and open Accounts Center. This works on a computer or a phone.
- 3
Choose deactivation or deletion
Select your Instagram profile under the deactivation or deletion option.
- 4
Select Delete account
Pick Delete account, not the deactivate option. Follow the prompts, including any reason and password check Instagram asks for.
- 5
Confirm the deletion
Confirm to submit the request. Your profile stays pending for the waiting period below.
Watch out for
- Deactivating is not deleting. A deactivated profile is hidden and comes back when you log in again.
- You have 30 days after the request to cancel by logging back in. After that your profile and information are permanently deleted.
- Instagram says it can take up to 90 days to finish, and copies of your content may stay in backup storage after that.
- Instagram can't delete a profile for you. You need to be able to log in to request deletion.
- Deleting a Threads profile doesn't delete your Instagram profile.
Other ways to do it
- 1
Use the web Delete Your Account page
Instagram's help page also describes a Delete Your Account page on instagram.com. Pick a reason from the dropdown, enter your password again, then choose the option to permanently delete. The option only shows after you pick a reason.
What stays out there
Deleting the account stops new data going to Instagram. It doesn't reach copies that other companies already hold: data brokers and people-search sites often scrape public profiles, and old search results can keep showing a cached page or a username for a while.
If your name, photos or handle were public before you deleted, check where else they show up. Serus finds where your details are listed and removes them, but it doesn't delete or change your Instagram account itself. That part stays with you, and the steps above cover it.
Frequently asked
How long does it take to delete an Instagram account?
Your profile and information are permanently deleted 30 days after the request, and Instagram says the full process can take up to 90 days.
Can I delete my Instagram account from the app?
Yes, through Settings and Accounts Center on a phone or computer. Instagram's help center also describes a page on instagram.com for the same job.
What's the difference between deactivating and deleting Instagram?
Deactivating hides your photos, comments and likes until you log in again. Deleting removes the profile for good once the waiting period passes.
Can I get my photos back after deleting?
Not after the deletion is final. Export your information before you start, because the tool isn't available afterwards.
Sources
Related guide Guide: How to Delete Yourself from the Internet Something changed? If these steps no longer match what you see, tell us and we'll re-check it.
