Why you would want to delete Instagram:
Are you tired of being bombarded by ads, notifications, and messages from strangers on Instagram? Do you feel like you are spending too much time and energy on a platform that does not respect your personal data or preferences? Do you want to regain control of your online presence and identity and delete Instagram?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you might want to consider deleting your Instagram account permanently. Deleting your Instagram account permanently means that you will erase all traces of your activity and content on the platform and that you will not be able to access or create a new account with the same username or email address ever again.
Deleting your Instagram account permanently can have many benefits for your privacy and well-being. For example, it can help you:
- Protect your personal data from being collected, shared, or sold by Instagram or third-party apps and advertisers
- Save time and money by avoiding unnecessary distractions and temptations from social media
- Improve your mental health by reducing stress, anxiety, depression, or FOMO (fear of missing out) caused by social media
- Focus on more meaningful and fulfilling activities and relationships in your real life
However, deleting your Instagram account permanently is not a decision that you should take lightly.
It is a permanent and irreversible action.
It will have some consequences for your online presence and identity. For example, it will mean that you will lose:
- All your photos, videos, comments, likes, and followers that you have accumulated over the years
- All your memories and connections that you have made on the platform
- All your access and integration to other social media platforms or apps that use Instagram as a login option
- All your potential opportunities or exposure that you might get from Instagram as a personal or professional user
Therefore, before you delete your Instagram account permanently, you should be fully aware of the process and the implications involved. You should also back up or download your data if you want to keep a copy of your information.
In this guide, I will show you how to delete your Instagram account permanently using different devices or scenarios. I will also answer some common questions and share some tips on what to do before or after deleting your account.
This guide is based on the latest information and updates from Instagram as of July 2023. However, Instagram may change its policies or procedures at any time without notice, so please check their help centre for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
If you are ready to learn how to delete your Instagram account permanently and reclaim your privacy, then keep reading.
How to Permanently Delete an Instagram Account on a Computer
If you want to delete your Instagram account permanently using your desktop computer, you can follow these simple steps:
- Go to the Instagram website and log in to your account with your username and password.
- Select Settings from the drop-down menu after clicking on your profile symbol in the top-right corner.
- Click on Privacy and Security in the left sidebar and scroll down to the bottom of the page.
- Click on Delete Your Account under Account Data.
- You will be redirected to the Delete Your Account page, where you will need to select a reason for deleting your account from the drop-down menu. You can choose any option that suits you, or select Something else if none of them apply.
- Re-enter your password in the box below the menu and click on Permanently delete my account.
- You will see a confirmation message that your account has been deleted and that it will take up to 30 days for your data to be removed entirely from Instagram\’s servers.
That\’s it! You have successfully deleted your Instagram account permanently on your desktop. Remember, you won\’t be able to use the same username or email address to create a new account in the future, so make sure you are certain about your decision before proceeding.
How to delete Instagram account permanently on an Android mobile app
The Instagram app for Android does not allow you to remove your account from the app on your phone. You may, however, open Instagram in your browser and deactivate your account permanently that way.
How to delete Instagram account permanently on iPhone
If you are an iPhone user and you want to delete your Instagram account permanently, you can do so by using the Instagram app on your device. Here are the steps to delete your Instagram account on your iPhone using the app:
- Simply open the Instagram app on your mobile device and choose the profile icon in the bottom-right area.
- Tap on the three-line menu icon in the top-right corner and select Settings from the pop-up menu.
- Tap on Account and then tap on Delete Account at the bottom of the screen.
- You will be taken to a web page where you will need to log in to your account again with your username and password.
- Once logged in, you will see the Delete Your Account page, where you will need to select a reason for deleting your account from the drop-down menu. You can choose any option that suits you, or select Something else if none of them apply.
- Re-enter your password in the box below the menu and tap on Permanently delete my account.
- You will see a confirmation message that your account has been deleted and that it will take up to 30 days for your data to be removed entirely from Instagram\’s servers.
That\’s all! You have successfully deleted your Instagram account permanently on the mobile app. Remember, you won\’t be able to use the same username or email address to create a new account in the future, so make sure you are certain about your decision before proceeding.
How to delete an Instagram account temporarily
If you are not ready to delete your Instagram account permanently, but you want to take a break from the platform, you can temporarily deactivate your account instead.
This will hide your profile, photos, videos, comments, likes, and followers until you reactivate your account by logging back in. You can deactivate your account as many times as you want, but you can only do it once a week.
Here are the steps to delete your Instagram account temporarily:
- Go to instagram.com from a computer or a mobile browser and log in to your account with your username and password.
- Click or tap on your profile picture in the top-right corner and select Profile from the drop-down menu.
- Click or tap on Edit Profile next to your username.
- Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click or tap on Temporarily disable my account in the bottom right.
- Next to \’Why are you disabling your account?\’, select an option from the drop-down menu and re-enter your password. After you\’ve picked a reason from the menu and entered your password, the option to disable your account will appear.
- Click or tap on Temporarily Disable Account.
- You will see a confirmation message that your account has been disabled and that it will be hidden until you log back in.
That’s how you can delete your Instagram account temporarily. Remember, you can reactivate your account anytime by logging back in with your username and password.
How to delete Instagram account permanently without a password
If you have forgotten your password and can\’t log in to your Instagram account, you might think that you can\’t delete it permanently. However, there are some ways to get around this problem and regain control of your account. Here is what you can try doing:
Reset your password using your email address or phone number.
This is the easiest and most common way to recover your account. All you need to do is go to the password reset page and enter your username, email address, or phone number associated with your account. You will receive a link or a code to create a new password. Once you have a new password, you can log in to your account and follow the steps in the previous sections to delete it permanently.
Log in with Facebook.
If you have linked your Instagram account to your Facebook account, you can use it to log in without a password. Just go to the Instagram website or app and click or tap on Log in with Facebook. You will be redirected to Facebook where you can confirm your identity and access your Instagram account. Then, you can follow the steps in the previous sections to delete it permanently.
Report your profile as an imposter account.
This is a more drastic and risky method, but it might work if you have no other options. You can report your own profile as an imposter or fake account and hope that Instagram will take action and delete it for violating their policies. To do this, you need to create a new Instagram account using a different email address or phone number. Then, go to your old profile and tap or click on the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner. Select Report User and then select It\’s posting content that shouldn\’t be on Instagram. Follow the prompts to report the profile as an imposter or fake account. However, be aware that this method is not guaranteed to work, and it might take a long time for Instagram to review your report and decide whether to delete the account or not.
Contact Instagram\’s support team.
If none of the above methods work for you, you can try contacting Instagram\’s support team for assistance. You can do this by filling out this form and explaining your situation. You will need to provide some information about your account, such as your username, email address, phone number, and proof of identity. Also, you might need to answer some security questions or provide some evidence that you are the owner of the account.
However, be aware that this method is not guaranteed to work either, and it might take a long time for Instagram to respond to your request and help you delete your account.
These are some methods you can try to delete your Instagram account permanently without a password. However, none of them are foolproof or easy, so it is always better to remember your password or keep it somewhere safe.
How to delete Instagram account permanently without email
If you have lost access to your email address and can\’t log in to your Instagram account, you might think that you can\’t delete it permanently either. However, there are some ways to get around this problem and regain control of your account. Here is what you can try doing:
Reset your password using your phone number.
If you have added a phone number to your Instagram account, you can use it to reset your password without an email address.
All you need to do is go to the password reset page and enter your username or phone number associated with your account. You will receive a code via SMS that you can use to create a new password. Once you have a new password, you can log in to your account and follow the steps in the previous sections to delete it permanently.
Log in with Facebook.
If you have linked your Instagram account to your Facebook account, you can use it to log in without an email address. Just go to the Instagram website or app and click or tap on \’Log in\’ with Facebook. You will be redirected to Facebook where you can confirm your identity and access your Instagram account. Then, you can follow the steps in the previous sections to delete it permanently.
Contact Instagram\’s support team.
If none of the above methods work for you, you can try contacting Instagram\’s support team for assistance. You can do this by filling out this form and explaining your situation. You will need to provide some information about your account, such as your username, phone number, and proof of identity. Also, you might need to answer some security questions or provide some evidence that you are the owner of the account.
However, be aware that this method is not guaranteed to work either, and it might take a long time for Instagram to respond to your request and help you delete your account.
These are some methods you can try to delete your Instagram account permanently without email. However, none of them are foolproof or easy, so it is always better to have access to your email address or keep it somewhere safe.
FAQs or tips on deleting an Instagram account
Before you delete your Instagram account permanently, you might have some questions or concerns about the process and the consequences. Here are some of the most common FAQs and tips on deleting an Instagram account that you should know:
What is the major difference between deactivating and deleting an Instagram account?
Deleting your Instagram account permanently means that your profile, photos, videos, comments, likes, and followers will be gone forever. You won\’t be able to access your account or create a new one with the same username or email address.
Deactivating your Instagram account temporarily means that your profile, photos, videos, comments, likes, and followers will be hidden until you reactivate your account. You can do this by logging back in with your username and password. You can deactivate your account as many times as you want, but you can only delete it once.
How long does it take to remove an Instagram account completely?
According to Instagram\’s help centre, the deletion procedure might take up to 90 days to complete once it begins. After 90 days, copies of your material may stay in backup storage used by Instagram to recover in the case of a disaster, software fault, or other data loss event. Instagram may also preserve your information for legal reasons, terms of service infractions, or harm prevention initiatives.
Can I reactivate my Instagram account after deleting it?
No, you can\’t reactivate your Instagram account after deleting it permanently. However, you have a 30-day grace period after requesting deletion to change your mind and cancel the request. During those 30 days, your content remains subject to Instagram’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and is not accessible to other people using Instagram. To cancel the deletion request, you need to log in to your account and follow the instructions on the screen.
What happens to my data, photos, videos, and followers after deleting my Instagram account?
After deleting your Instagram account permanently, your data, photos, videos, and followers will be removed from Instagram\’s servers and will not be recoverable. This means that you will lose all the memories and connections that you have made on the platform. If you want to keep a copy of your information before deleting your account, you can download it using Instagram\’s Data Download tool.
How can I download or back up my Instagram data before deleting my account?
You can download a copy of your information from Instagram using their Data Download Tool. This tool allows you to request a file with your photos, videos, comments, profile information, and more.
To use this tool, you need to go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Download Data on the Web or Settings > Security > Download Data on the app.
You will need to enter your email address where you want to receive a link to your data file. It may take up to 48 hours for Instagram to email you a link to download your data.
These are some of the most common FAQs and tips on deleting an Instagram account that you should know. If you have any other questions or doubts, you can check out Instagram\’s help centre or contact their support team.
Conclusion
Deleting your Instagram account permanently can be a tough decision, but it can also be a liberating one. It can help you reclaim your privacy and improve your well-being by freeing yourself from the pressures and distractions of social media. However, before you delete your account, you should be aware of the process and the consequences involved. You should also back up or download your data if you want to keep a copy of your information.
In this guide, I have shown you how to delete your Instagram account permanently using different devices or scenarios. I have also answered some common questions and shared some tips on what to do before or after deleting your account. I hope you find this advice to be both useful and clarifying.
If you are ready to delete your Instagram account permanently, click here to start the process. Or, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below.
Thank you for reading this blog post. I hope you enjoyed it.
