How To Delete or Deactivate Your Instagram Account (2026 Guide)

In 2026, Meta’s own AI support chatbot handed hackers access to more than 20,000 Instagram accounts. This is just the latest reason many users are rethinking whether Instagram deserves their data. You might choose to delete your Instagram account for any number of reasons, including privacy, social media fatigue, or security scares.

Whatever the reason, we’ve got you covered with simple steps to delete your Instagram account and protect your data.

Why delete (or deactivate) your Instagram account?

There are a few reasons why you might want to delete or deactivate your Instagram account, ranging from security and privacy concerns to simply needing a break from social media. First, it’s no secret that Meta (the owner of Instagram and Facebook) collects a lot of data on its users. That alone is enough for many to abandon the platform.

Instagram is a common source of scams, and removing yourself from the environment is an effective way to avoid that risk. Scams and account hacks aren’t the only potential security issue, either. Data breaches are always a concern. Our survey found that 65% of internet users have received a data breach notice in the last year.

Instagram itself was recently involved in a data breach where AI chatbots were used to reset user passwords and gain unauthorized access to accounts. With all this in mind, stepping away from Instagram can be a legitimate way to improve your online security.

Finally, let’s face it. Social media can be exhausting. Sometimes you just need a break from the constant scrolling and comparison that it fosters. Instagram gives you options, whether you want a permanent break or just a temporary vacation from all the noise.

Delete vs. deactivate: what's the difference?

If you’re considering taking a break from Instagram, you actually have two options: deleting and deactivating your account. Deleting your account does just that — deletes it. This is a permanent move. Instagram does provide a 30-day window where you can change your mind and recover the account, but after that, it’s inaccessible.

Therefore, it’s a good idea to download a copy of your data before going through with deletion. Also, keep in mind that the process isn’t instant. It can take up to 90 days for the deletion process to be completed once it begins.

On the other hand, deactivating your account temporarily hides it. Data is not removed from Instagram’s servers, and if you decide to return to the platform, all your posts, comments, and other data will still be there. This works the same way on Facebook, as well, in case you’re considering a wider break from social media.

How to permanently delete your Instagram account

The steps I took to delete or deactivate my Instagram slightly differed from Meta's instructions. But rest assured that deleting your Instagram account is fairly straightforward. The process is similar on iPhone and Android, though account settings layouts may differ depending on your device.  

1. Open the Instagram app and tap your profile picture in the bottom right.

2. Tap the Menu hamburger icon (the three horizontal lines) in the top right corner.

3. Tap Accounts Center at the top of the screen.

4. Tap Manage accounts near the bottom of the page.

5. Tap Manage next to the account you want to delete. You may see Facebook accounts mixed in here, as well, so make sure you choose the right account!

6. Tap Deactivation or deletion.

7. Tap Delete account, then tap Continue.

If you find you’re locked out of your account or it's otherwise compromised, you’ll need to recover it first. If you’re locked out because you forgot your password, you should find a link to reset it on the login page.

If your account was hacked and the email address was also changed, you’ll need to verify your identity with Meta. You can find these options on the login page under Get help signing in. You may also have received an email from Instagram warning you about the change. This notification should have instructions on what to do.

How to temporarily deactivate your Instagram account

Deactivating your Instagram account follows the same basic steps as deleting it. Remember that deactivation is temporary. To reactivate your account, just log back in, and all your data will be there waiting. That makes it an ideal choice if you just need a break from social media but don’t want to delete everything. As always, keep in mind that your settings layout may differ slightly depending on your device.

1. Open the Instagram app and tap your profile picture (bottom right).

2. Tap the Menu hamburger icon in the upper right corner.

3. Tap Accounts Center.

4. Tap Manage accounts.

5. Tap Manage next to the account you want to deactivate.

6. Select Deactivation or deletion.

7. Tap Deactivate account and then Continue.

Download your Instagram data before you delete

Deleting your Instagram account is permanent. You have 30 days to change your mind, but after that, your photos, messages, and other content are gone — unless you make a backup first. You can choose to export to your device or to a service like Dropbox or Google Drive. Here’s how:

1. Open the Instagram app and tap your profile picture in the bottom right.

2. Tap the Menu hamburger icon in the top right.

3. Tap Accounts Center.

4. Tap Your information and permissions.

5. Tap Export your information.

6. Tap Create export.

7. Choose the profile you want to export data from.

8. Choose either Export to device or Export to external service.

9. Follow the prompts to select the data you want to export and set other options.

It can take time to prepare your export, as the process isn’t instant. When your export is ready, you’ll receive an email with a link to your export file. Instagram says the process can take up to 30 days.

Once you receive this notification, you’ll have 4 days to complete the export; otherwise, the file will be deleted, and you’ll have to start again. Make sure you double-check that the file has downloaded successfully before going through with your account deletion!

Bottom line

Leaving Instagram, whether you’re looking for a temporary deactivation or prefer to permanently delete your Instagram account, is a reasonable privacy choice. The good news is that the steps are straightforward once you know where to look.

However, just remember that deleting your app data doesn’t erase data already scattered across the internet, such as on data broker and people search sites. 

To learn more about protecting your data privacy, check out our guide to the best data removal services.

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