Deleting your Instagram account permanently is a significant step. It means you will lose all your photos, videos, followers, comments, and profile information, and once the account is gone, it cannot be restored. If you are sure about permanently deleting your Instagram account, here’s a complete guide to help you through the process.
Things to Consider Before Deleting Your Instagram Account
Before proceeding, there are a few key points to keep in mind:
- Data Loss: Once your account is deleted, all of your content, including photos, videos, followers, and comments, will be permanently removed. Instagram does not offer a way to recover this information.
- Download Your Data: If you wish to keep a backup of your data, Instagram provides an option to download a copy of all your photos, videos, and profile information. You can use the Download Your Data tool to save everything before deleting the account.
- To download your data, go to Settings > Security > Download Data, and follow the instructions to receive your files via email.
- Alternatives to Permanent Deletion: If you only want a temporary break from Instagram, you might want to consider temporarily disabling your account instead. Temporarily disabling your account hides your profile and content until you log back in, while keeping your data intact.
Step-by-Step Process to Permanently Delete Instagram Account
Unfortunately, you cannot delete your account through the Instagram app, so you’ll need to use a web browser (either on a computer or mobile device) to access the deletion page.
Step 1: Log into Instagram via Browser
- Open a web browser and go to instagram.com.
- Log into your account using your username and password. If you have multiple accounts, make sure you’re logged into the one you want to delete.
Step 2: Visit the Account Deletion Page
Instagram doesn’t provide a direct link to delete your account from within the app or the settings menu. You need to visit a specific URL to initiate the account deletion process.
- Go to the official Instagram Account Deletion page: Delete Your Account
- Instagram will display a message asking why you want to delete your account.
Step 3: Select a Reason for Deleting Your Account
Instagram requires you to select a reason for deleting your account from a dropdown menu. The options include things like:
- Too busy/too distracting
- Privacy concerns
- Trouble getting started
- Created a second account
- Concerned about my data
- Want to remove something
- Other
Select the option that best represents why you’re choosing to delete your account. Instagram uses this feedback to improve its platform and user experience.
Step 4: Re-enter Your Password
Once you’ve selected a reason for deleting your account, Instagram will ask you to enter your password again to confirm that you truly want to delete the account.
- Re-enter your Instagram password in the provided field.
Step 5: Permanently Delete Your Account
- After entering your password, click “Permanently delete my account”.
- Instagram will confirm that your account and all associated data will be permanently deleted. Once this action is complete, there’s no going back.
How Long Until Your Instagram Account is Deleted?
- Immediate Deactivation: Once you click the delete button, your account is immediately deactivated. This means your profile, photos, videos, followers, and comments will no longer be visible to anyone on Instagram.
- 30-Day Grace Period: While your account is immediately deactivated, Instagram does not permanently delete it right away. They give you a 30-day grace period during which you can change your mind and reactivate your account by logging back in.
- If you log in within those 30 days, you will be able to stop the deletion process and restore your account fully.
- After 30 days, your account and all associated data will be permanently erased, and you will no longer have access to the account.
How to Download Your Instagram Data Before Deleting Your Account
If you wish to keep a copy of your photos, videos, and other data, here’s how to download it before deletion:
- Open Instagram in your browser.
- Go to your profile and click on the gear icon (or three lines) to access the settings.
- Click on Privacy and Security.
- Scroll down to find the Download Data section.
- Click Request Download.
- Enter your email address and Instagram password, and click Next.
- Instagram will email you a link to download your data. It may take up to 48 hours to receive the data, depending on how much content you have on your account.
Alternatives to Deleting Your Account (Temporary Deactivation)
If you’re not sure about permanently deleting your Instagram account, you have the option to temporarily disable it instead. This will hide your profile, photos, comments, and likes until you log back in.
How to Temporarily Disable Instagram Account
- Log into Instagram via a browser (this feature is not available in the app).
- Go to your profile and click Edit Profile.
- Scroll down and click Temporarily Disable My Account.
- Select a reason for disabling the account from the dropdown menu and re-enter your password.
- Click Temporarily Disable Account.
Temporarily disabling your account allows you to take a break from Instagram while keeping all your content intact. You can log back in at any time to reactivate your account.
Conclusion
Permanently deleting your Instagram account is a big decision, as it results in the loss of all your data and connections on the platform. If you’re certain about it, the process is straightforward through a web browser, but make sure to download your data before proceeding. Alternatively, temporarily disabling your account is a great option if you need a break without losing your content.
