How to delete your Instagram account.
Properly, and without regrets.
The full 2026 walkthrough: every screen on iPhone, Android and web, the 30-day grace period explained, and the one step almost everyone skips — saving your photos first. Just want a break instead? See how to deactivate.
Deletion checklist
Delete vs. deactivate — pick the right tool
Delete — permanent
Photos, followers, messages and username erased after 30 days. Nothing comes back. Your linked Threads profile is deleted too. Choose this when you're certain.
Deactivate — reversible
Profile hidden until the moment you log back in. Everything preserved, username reserved, no time limit pressure. Choose this for a break — the deactivation guide has the steps.
The 30-day rule, and the archive that saves your memories
Instagram doesn't delete your account the moment you confirm — it hides it and starts a 30-day countdown. Any login during those 30 days cancels the deletion completely; on day 31, photos, messages, followers and username are gone in a way no one can reverse, including Instagram support. The countdown is a safety net, but it only protects you before it expires — which is why the archive comes first.
Your archive: ten years of photos in one email
The data download (step 1 above) sends you everything the account holds — every photo and story you've posted, your message history, and your complete followers and following lists. It typically arrives within 48 hours. Request it, wait for the email, verify the download opens, then start the deletion. Doing it in that order costs you two days; doing it in the wrong order costs you everything the account held.
If the account is the problem, deletion might be the wrong fix
A lot of deletions are really frustrations: the feed feels bad, the follower count is going the wrong way, or the account attracts the wrong audience. Those have lighter fixes — a deactivation break, a profile reset with a new bio and username, or simply understanding what's happening: our unfollowers tracker shows exactly who left and when, which often turns a vague bad feeling into a solvable pattern. Delete because you're done — not because you're in the dark.
Deleting Instagram, answered
How do I permanently delete my Instagram account?
In the app: Settings and privacy → Accounts Center → Personal details → Account ownership and control → Deactivation or deletion → choose your account → Delete account. Instagram then holds the account for 30 days before permanent deletion. The step-by-step walkthrough above covers every screen.
What happens in the 30 days after I request deletion?
Your profile, photos, comments and likes are hidden immediately, but everything is recoverable: log back in any time within 30 days and the deletion is cancelled. After 30 days, everything is permanently removed and cannot be restored — by you or by Instagram.
Should I delete or just deactivate my account?
Delete if you're done for good — it erases everything after 30 days. Deactivate if you want a break — it hides your profile until you log back in, keeping all photos and followers. If you're unsure, deactivate first; you can always delete later. See our deactivation guide for that route.
How do I download my photos before deleting?
Request your data archive first: Accounts Center → Your information and permissions → Download your information. Instagram emails you everything — photos, stories, messages, followers lists — usually within a couple of days. Only start the deletion once the archive has arrived, because after the 30-day window nothing is recoverable.
Can I delete my account from the app, or only the website?
Both work now. The app route goes through Accounts Center (steps above); on the web, log in at instagram.com and follow Settings → Accounts Center the same way. The old delete-only web page has been folded into Accounts Center.
Does deleting Instagram delete my Threads account?
Deleting your Instagram account also deletes the Threads profile attached to it, since Threads runs on your Instagram identity. If you want to keep Threads, deactivate Instagram instead — or delete only Threads separately from within that app.
Will my username be available to others after deletion?
Eventually, yes — after permanent deletion, the username can become claimable again, though Instagram doesn't guarantee when. If you might want the name later, deactivating (which reserves it) is the safer choice.
Leaving because of unfollows? See who, first.
Before you erase ten years of photos, find out what's actually happening with your followers — free, and without your password.