Instagram gives you two separate paths: deactivate temporarily or delete permanently
Deleting your Instagram account is permanent and irreversible. Once you submit the deletion request, Instagram removes your profile, photos, comments, and likes within 90 days. You cannot undo this after you confirm it. If you want to pause your account instead—keeping everything intact so you can return later—deactivation is the option to choose. Deactivation hides your profile but preserves all your data for up to one year.
The deletion process itself takes about two minutes on a phone or computer. You log in, navigate to settings, and confirm your choice twice. Instagram will ask you to re-enter your password before the deletion goes through. The 90-day window after deletion is a grace period; if you change your mind during those 90 days, you can contact Instagram Support and request restoration, though there is no may provide they will restore it.
Key Takeaways
- Permanent deletion removes your profile, photos, comments, and all activity within 90 days and cannot be reversed after confirmation.
- You must log into your account to delete it; you cannot delete someone else's account or delete an account you no longer have access to.
- The deletion process requires you to re-enter your password as a final confirmation step.
- If you want to return to Instagram later without losing your data, deactivate instead of delete.
- After 90 days, your account and all associated data are gone permanently from Instagram's servers.
How to delete your account on a phone or computer
On an iPhone or Android phone, open Instagram and go to your profile. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner, then tap Settings and Privacy. Scroll down and tap Account Center, then tap Accounts. Select your Instagram account, tap Account Ownership and Control, then tap Deactivation or Deletion. Choose Delete Account, then tap Continue. Instagram will show you a message explaining that deletion is permanent. Tap Delete Account again, re-enter your password, and tap Delete Account one final time to confirm.
On a computer, log into Instagram.com, click your profile icon in the top right, and click Settings. Click Account Center on the left side, then click Accounts. Click your Instagram account, then click Account Ownership and Control. Click Deactivation or Deletion, select Delete Account, and click Continue. Re-enter your password and click Delete Account to finish.
Instagram will send you a confirmation email to the address associated with your account. You do not need to click anything in that email; it is just a notification that your deletion request was received.
What happens during the 90-day grace period
For 90 days after you request deletion, your profile is hidden from public view. Nobody can find your account, see your photos, or send you messages. Your username becomes available for someone else to use immediately. However, Instagram keeps your data on its servers during this window in case you request restoration.
If you log back into Instagram during the 90 days using the same email and password, your account will be restored automatically and the deletion will be cancelled. This is the only way to undo a deletion request. After 90 days pass, Instagram permanently deletes all your data, and restoration is no longer possible.
If you no longer have access to your account
If you forgot your password, do not have access to the email address you used to sign up, or cannot log in for any other reason, you cannot delete the account yourself. Instagram does not allow account deletion without logging in first.
To regain access, use Instagram's account recovery process. On the login screen, tap Forgot Password, enter your username or email, and follow the steps to reset your password. If you no longer have access to your email, you may be able to use a phone number or Facebook account linked to your Instagram profile. If none of these work, contact Instagram Support through the Help Center and explain that you cannot log in. Support can sometimes help you regain access, though response times vary.
Deactivation as an alternative to deletion
Deactivation temporarily hides your account without removing any data. Your profile, photos, comments, and messages stay on Instagram's servers. You can reactivate your account at any time by logging back in with your username and password, and everything will be restored exactly as it was.
While your account is deactivated, your username is hidden from search, your profile does not appear in other people's follower lists, and nobody can see your photos or send you direct messages. However, your old comments and likes may still be visible on other people's posts, depending on their privacy settings. Deactivation lasts up to one year; if you do not log back in within one year, Instagram may delete your account automatically, though this policy varies.
What to do before you delete
Before you submit the deletion request, download your photos and data if you want to keep them. On your phone or computer, go to Settings, then Account Center, then Account Ownership and Control, then Download Your Information. Instagram will prepare a file containing your photos, captions, messages, and profile details. This can take several days to generate, and you will receive an email when it is ready to download.
If you have a business account, note that deleting it also removes any linked Facebook pages or other connected accounts. If you use Instagram for work or have followers who depend on your account, consider deactivating instead so you can return later if circumstances change.
What Instagram does with your data after deletion
After the 90-day grace period ends, Instagram permanently removes your profile, photos, captions, and comments from its public servers. However, Instagram may retain some data for legal, security, or backup purposes for longer periods. This is standard practice for large platforms and is outlined in Instagram's Data Policy.
Messages you sent to other people may remain in their inboxes even after your account is deleted, because those messages are stored as part of their conversation history. If you want to remove messages before deleting your account, you must delete them individually from each conversation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete my Instagram account if I also have a Facebook account linked to it?
Yes. Deleting your Instagram account does not affect your Facebook account. However, if you have a Facebook business page connected to your Instagram business account, that connection will be removed when you delete Instagram. Your Facebook page itself will remain active.
What if I want to delete my account but keep my username for later?
You cannot reserve a username after deletion. Once you delete your account, the username becomes available for anyone else to claim immediately. If you want to keep the username, deactivate instead of delete, and your username will remain reserved as long as your account is deactivated.
Will deleting my Instagram account delete my Facebook account too?
No. Instagram and Facebook are separate accounts. Deleting one does not affect the other, even if they are linked. You would need to delete each account separately through its own settings.
Can Instagram Support restore my account after the 90 days are up?
Instagram's policy states that restoration is not possible after 90 days. However, you can contact Instagram Support and explain your situation. While they rarely restore accounts after this window, it does not hurt to ask, and response times vary depending on how busy Support is.
What if someone else is using my username after I delete my account?
If another person claims your username during the 90-day grace period and you want to restore your account, contact Instagram Support immediately. Explain that you deleted your account and someone else has taken your username. Support may be able to help, but you must act quickly before the 90 days expire.