How to Delete and Deactivate Your Instagram Account in 2025: A Complete Guide
Hello! If you feel it’s time to leave Instagram forever or just need a break, then you are in the right place. The process for deleting or deactivating your account is pretty straightforward once you know how to do it. In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know, from the difference between deactivating and deleting your account to the exact steps you need to take on both your phone and computer.
Let’s dive in and get you back in control of your digital life!
What happens if you delete your Instagram account?
Before you jump into deleting your Instagram account, you need to understand what happens once you do so.
Permanent Deletion:
Once you delete your Instagram account, it will remove all of your profiles, posts, videos, followers, and other data you may have on the platform. This means that:
- No more profile – Your username and profile are not shown to others.
- Data gone forever – This includes photos, comments, likes, and followers; all that will get wiped out once the account is deleted, and none of such information will be recoverable by then.
- You won’t be allowed to sign up again with that same username unless that name becomes available for another person to take. If it’s still there after 30 days, you can try to reclaim it.
Temporary Deactivation:
If you want to take a break but aren’t ready to permanently say goodbye, you can choose account deactivation for a much better alternative. Which means:
- Hidden profile – Your account will disappear from public view, but everything remains intact.
- No permanent loss of data – Once you reactivate your account, all your photos, comments, and followers will be exactly where you left them.
How to Temporarily Disable Your Instagram Account
Deactivating the account is an easy way out if you just want a temporary detox from social media. It will simply hide your profile on Instagram and can be returned to at a later time without data loss.
Here’s how you can do it on both desktop and mobile.
On Mobile (iOS/Android):
- Open Instagram and head to your profile.
- Tap the three horizontal lines (menu) at the top-right of your profile page.
- Go to settings and open accounts Centre > personal details > account ownership and control.
- Tap Deactivate or Delete.
- Tap Deactivate Account, tap to select a reason for deactivating, and tap Continue.
On Desktop:
- Open Instagram in your browser and log in.
- Click the gear icon in the top right corner of your Profile page.
- Click Account Ownership and Control > Deactivation or Deletion.
- Tap Deactivate Account, select a reason, and confirm.
Voila, your account is temporarily deactivated. To reactivate all you need to do is to sign in again!
How to Delete Your Instagram Account Permanently
Ready to say goodbye for good? If you’ve made up your mind, here’s a step-by-step guide to deleting your Instagram account. Make sure to read through everything before proceeding because this action cannot be undone!
How to Delete an Instagram Account on Mobile – Step by Step:
- Open the Instagram mobile application and make sure that you are signed in into the account, which you wish to delete.
- Tap the profile icon in the lower right to go to your profile.
- Tap the three horizontal lines at the top-right corner, then Settings.
- In Settings, tap Accounts Center, then Personal Details.
- Scroll down to Account Ownership and Control, tap Deactivation or Deletion.
- Tap the account you want to delete; tap Delete Account > Continue.
- You will be asked to select a reason for leaving Instagram. Select your reason and tap Continue.
- Type in your password, then click confirm to delete.
How to Delete an Instagram Account on Desktop: Step-by-Step Guide:
- Log in to your account in Instagram via browser.
- Click on your profile picture in the top-right corner and select Settings.
- Click Account Ownership and Control > Deactivation or Deletion.
- Click Delete Account, select your reason, and confirm you want to delete it.
- Enter your password and tap Delete Account.
After confirming, your account will be deleted after 30 days. You will also receive an email with information about the process for deletion.
Things You Should Know Before Deleting Your Instagram Account
Before you delete or deactivate your account, here’s a couple of important things to keep in mind:
- Download Your Data
Before deleting your account, Instagram provides the facility to download all of your photos, videos, comments, and even messages. You can do this under Settings, then Your Activity, followed by Download Your Information. Choose what you want, and Instagram will email you a link to that download. - Deletes are Not Instant
It takes up to 30 days from the date of receipt of the request to process the deletion by Instagram; meanwhile, the account will be deactivated. People won’t be able to see your profile during that time. After 30 days, your account and data are permanently deleted. - Back Up Your Data
Make sure you backup any photos or posts that you might want in the future. Once you delete your account, there’s no going back, and you won’t be able to recover anything. - You Can’t Delete Without Logging In
Instagram requires you to be logged in to delete your account. If you forget your password or can’t access your account, you’ll need to recover your login details before proceeding.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to delete Instagram?
Instagram?
It takes up to 30 days for Instagram to completely delete your account. In that period, your account will be deactivated, and you can still log back in to cancel the deletion.
Can I reactivate my account after it gets deleted?
Once your Instagram account is permanently deleted, it cannot be restored. If you want to return, you’ll need to create a new account.
How to delete an Instagram account without a password?
No, you need to log in to your Instagram and know the password to delete the account. In case you have forgotten, reset your password from the login page of Instagram.