How to Delete an Instagram Account

Co-authored by A.J. Aldana and Jack Lloyd

This wikiHow teaches you how to permanently delete your Instagram account. Once your account is deleted, your photos, videos, followers, and all other account data will be permanently removed from Instagram after 30 days. If you sign in during that time period, your account will be reactivated, but after that, you're out of luck. If you would rather not delete your account permanently, you can temporarily disable it instead.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

On Mobile

1
Open Instagram. It's the multicolored app that resembles a camera lens. If you're already logged into Instagram, doing this will take you to the home page.
2
Tap
or your profile picture. It's in the bottom-right corner of the screen. This will take you to your profile page.

Advertisement
3
Tap the menu ☰. It's at the top-right corner.
4
Tap Settings at the bottom of the menu.^{[1]
X
Expert Source

A.J. Aldana
Social Media Specialist
Expert Interview. 9 March 2021.}
5
Scroll down and tap Help. It's the option with a question mark (?) icon.
6
Tap Help Center. It's the second item in the Help menu. This opens a web browser window with some instructions.
7
Tap Managing Your Account. It's the second option near the top of the page.
8
Tap Delete Your Account. It's the second option on the page.
- If you want to be sure your Instagram's digital footprint is completely erased, delete each post individually before you delete your complete account.^{[2]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  A.J. Aldana
  Social Media Specialist
  Expert Interview. 9 March 2021.}
9
Tap How do I delete my Instagram account?. Choose this option if you will never want to reopen the same account in the future.
- If you'd rather deactivate the account temporarily until you sign back in, select How do I temporarily disable my Instagram account? instead, and then follow the on-screen instructions.
10
Review the conditions and tap Delete Your Account. The information here lets you know that deletion is permanent, but that you'll have up to 30 days to reactivate it if you change your mind. The Delete Your Account link is the blue text in section 1.
- If you are not signed in to your Instagram account, you'll be prompted to do so now.
11
Select the reason you want to delete your account. Tap the drop-menu and select the reason you are deleting your account.
- If you don't want to state a reason, select Something else.
12
Re-enter your password and tap Permanently delete my account. This will open a pop-up window prompting you to confirm.
13
Tap OK. If you sign back into Instagram within the next 30 days, your account will be reactivated. Once 30 days pass, the account will be permanently deleted and you can no longer sign in.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

On Desktop

1
Go to https://help.instagram.com in a web browser.
- Be aware that deleting your Instagram account is permanent. You will have a 30-day grace period after deletion during which you can sign back in to restore your account. But if you don't sign back in within that period, your account will be deleted permanently.
2
Click Managing Your Account in the left panel.
3
Click Delete Your Account. It's the second option in the left panel.
4
Click How do I delete my Instagram account?. Choose this option if you will never want to reopen the same account in the future.
- If you'd rather deactivate the account temporarily until you sign back in, select How do I temporarily disable my Instagram account? instead, and then follow the on-screen instructions.
5
Review the conditions and click Delete Your Account. The information here lets you know that deletion is permanent, but that you'll have up to 30 days to reactivate it if you change your mind. The Delete Your Account link is the blue text in section 1.
- If you're not signed in to your account, you'll be prompted to do so now.
6
Select the reason you want to delete your account. Click the drop-down menu and select the reason you are deleting your account.
- If you don't want to state a reason, select Something else.
7
Re-enter your password. Type your password in the text field one more time to confirm you want to permanently delete your account.
8
Click Permanently delete my account. This will open a pop-up window prompting you to confirm.
9
Click OK. Now that your account is marked for deletion, it will be permanently purged from Instagram after 30 days.

Expert Q&A

Question

How can you be sure your Instagram is completely erased?

A.J. Aldana
Social Media Specialist
A.J. Aldana is a social media specialist who has been using platforms such as Tik Tok, Instagram, and YouTube for over 5 years. A.J. has worked with brands to curate content that has garnered thousands of interactions for various social media campaigns and is passionate about contributing to innovative and trending articles on wikiHow. He holds a BS in Product Design from Stanford University.

A.J. Aldana

Social Media Specialist

Expert Answer

If you want to make sure that all of your digital footprints are erased from Instagram, go through and delete each post individually before you delete your account.
Question

Is disabling my account the same thing as deleting it?

Community Answer

You won't be permanently deleting your account. Disabling your account just removes your account from anyone being able to view it. You can log back in and use as normal!
Question

Will it immediately be gone?

Community Answer

It will be gone as soon as you hit the delete button. Even if you have logged in to your Smartphone's Instagram app, you will be logged out immediately.