Introduction
Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms, with over a billion active users worldwide. However, sometimes users may want to delete their Instagram accounts due to various reasons. Whether it is to take a break from social media or to protect their privacy, deleting an Instagram account is a straightforward process. In this article, we will discuss the different ways to delete an Instagram account, including deactivating the account temporarily and permanently deleting it.
Reasons to Delete an Instagram Account
There could be several reasons why someone might want to delete their Instagram account. It could be due to the overwhelming pressure of social media, addiction, or simply wanting to take a break. Some people may also delete their accounts to protect their privacy or because they no longer find the platform useful. Whatever the reason may be, it’s essential to understand the different ways to delete an Instagram account.
How to Deactivate an Instagram Account Temporarily
If you want to take a break from Instagram without losing your account permanently, you can choose to deactivate it temporarily. To deactivate your account, follow these steps:
Open the Instagram app and go to your profile.
Tap on the three horizontal lines on the top right corner of your screen.
Select “Settings” at the bottom of the menu and then tap on “Account.”
Tap on “Temporarily Disable Account.”
Select a reason for disabling your account and re-enter your password.
Tap on “Temporarily Disable Account.”
Your account will be deactivated temporarily, and your profile, photos, comments, and likes will be hidden until you reactivate it by logging back in.
How to Permanently Delete an Instagram Account
If you want to delete your Instagram account permanently, you can do so by following these steps:
Go to the Instagram account deletion page using a web browser.
Select a reason for deleting your account from the drop-down menu.
Re-enter your password and click on “Permanently delete my account.”
Once you click on this option, your account, including all your photos, videos, likes, and comments, will be permanently deleted. Note that this action cannot be undone, and you will not be able to recover your account or any of its content.
How to Save Your Instagram Data Before Deleting Your Account
Before deleting your Instagram account, you may want to download a copy of your data. Instagram allows you to download all your photos, videos, comments, and profile information in a zip file. To do this, follow these steps:
Go to your profile and click on the three horizontal lines on the top right corner.
Click on “Settings” at the bottom of the menu and then click on “Security.”
Click on “Download Data” and Enter your email address and password and then click on “Request Download.”
Instagram will then send you an email with a link to download your data. It may take up to 48 hours to receive the email, and the link will be active for only four days. Once you download your data, you can save it to your computer or a cloud storage service.
How to Delete an Instagram Account on iPhone
Deleting an Instagram account on an iPhone is a straightforward process. Follow these steps:
Open the Instagram app and go to your profile.
Tap on the three horizontal lines on the top right corner of your screen.
Select “Settings” at the bottom of the menu and then tap on “Account.”
Tap on “Delete Your Account” and select a reason for deleting it.
Re-enter your password and tap on “Permanently Delete My Account.”
Once you confirm this action, your account will be deleted permanently.
How to Delete an Instagram Account on Android
If you want to delete your Instagram account on an Android device, follow these steps:
Open the Instagram app and go to your profile.
Tap on the three horizontal lines on the top right corner of your screen.
Select “Settings” at the bottom of the menu and then tap on “Account.”
Tap on “Delete Your Account” and select a reason for deleting it.
Re-enter your password and tap on “Permanently Delete My Account.”
Your account will be deleted permanently once you confirm this action.
How to Delete an Instagram Account on Desktop
If you want to delete your Instagram account on a desktop computer, follow these steps:
Go to the Instagram website and log in to your account.
Click on your profile picture on the top right corner of the screen and select “Settings.”
Click on “Privacy and Security” and then scroll down to “Data Download.”
Click on “Request Download” and enter your email address and password.
Instagram will send you an email with a link to download your data. Download your data if needed.
Click on “Delete Your Account” at the bottom of the page and select a reason for deleting it.
Re-enter your password and click on “Permanently Delete My Account.”
Your account will be deleted permanently once you confirm this action.
How to Delete an Instagram Business Account
If you have an Instagram business account and want to delete it, follow these steps:
Go to your profile and tap on the three horizontal lines on the top right corner.
Select “Settings” at the bottom of the menu and then tap on “Account.”
Tap on “Delete Your Account” and select a reason for deleting it.
Re-enter your password and tap on “Permanently Delete My Account.”
Note that deleting a business account will also delete all its associated data, including posts, comments, likes, and followers.
How to Delete an Instagram Account Without Password
If you have forgotten your Instagram password and want to delete your account, follow these steps:
Go to the Instagram login page and click on “Forgot Password.”
Enter your username or email address and click on “Send Login Link.”
Open the email from Instagram and click on the login link.
Once you are logged in, follow the steps to delete your account permanently.
How to Delete an Instagram Account Without Email Access
If you have lost access to the email address associated with your Instagram account and want to delete it, follow these steps:
Go to the Instagram login page and click on “Need more help?” below the login button.
2. Select “Delete Your Account” and enter your username or email address associated with the account.
Follow the steps to verify your identity, which may include providing a government-issued ID.
Once Instagram verifies your identity, you can delete your account permanently.
Note that this process may take several days, and you will not be able to use your Instagram account during this time.
How to Temporarily Disable an Instagram Account
If you don’t want to delete your Instagram account permanently but want to take a break from the platform, you can temporarily disable your account. Follow these steps:
Go to the Instagram website and log in to your account.
Click on your profile picture on the top right corner of the screen and select “Settings.”
Click on “Edit Profile” and scroll down to the bottom of the page.
Click on “Temporarily disable my account” and select a reason for disabling it.
Re-enter your password and click on “Temporarily Disable Account.”
Your account will be disabled temporarily, and your profile, photos, comments, and likes will be hidden until you reactivate your account by logging back in.
How to Reactivate a Disabled Instagram Account
If you have temporarily disabled your Instagram account and want to reactivate it, follow these steps:
Log in to your Instagram account using your username and password.
Your account will be reactivated, and your profile, photos, comments, and likes will be visible again.
Conclusion
Deleting an Instagram account can be a big decision, but sometimes it’s necessary to take a break or move on from the platform. Whether you’re using an iPhone, Android, or desktop computer, the process of deleting your account is straightforward. Remember that once you delete your account, you will lose all your photos, videos, comments, likes, and followers, so make sure to download your data before taking this step. If you’re not ready to delete your account permanently, you can also temporarily disable it and reactivate it later.